WorldSkills announces 2019 team

The UK’s best and brightest young skilled apprentices and students have been selected to represent all four nations in Team UK at the ‘Skills Olympics’ in Kazan, Russia (22-27 August).

More than 30 young professionals from sectors such as engineering, construction, and digital and IT, have cleared the highest hurdle in a two-year challenge to be the best in the world. These skilled young people have already triumphed in regional and national competitions and had one more momentous obstacle to overcome at team selection events the length and breadth of the UK. The results were revealed at Loughborough University.
For further information www.worldskillsuk.org

CGTech to stage event with Kyocera SGS and LMg

The developer of Vericut CNC simulation, verification and optimisation software, CGTech, is partnering with Kyocera SGS and LMg Solutions to hold an event which will demonstrate emerging technologies that help manufacturers realise productivity improvements.

Taking place at the Kyocera SGS head office in Wokingham on 22 May, the theme of the ‘Lunch & Learn’ event is single operation manufacture and optimisation of complex components. CGTech will shine a light on the features and benefits of its Vericut Force Milling module with live software demonstrations and presentations.
For further information https://is.gd/efedeq

Crankshaft deburring made easy

A standard brush-based machine for the deburring of complex engine components such as crankshafts and camshafts has been introduced by Kadia.

EC-Brush has five programmable axes, each with a rotary drive providing right/left rotation for the brush and the workpiece. The component is clamped against a point in a three-jaw chuck, with the brush rotating at about 500 rpm, and the part at 30 rpm.
Kadia’s EC-Brush features linear axes that provide the brush’s back/forward and lateral oscillation movement, and a traversing range for the centre. The latter enables different crankshaft/camshaft lengths to be clamped, so that any variant for three- to six-cylinder engines (for passenger cars or small commercial vehicles) can be deburred in any desired succession. Loading and unloading can be carried out manually, semi-automatically or fully automatically to suit requirements.
The brush, which is at the heart of the machine, is equipped with long and short fibres made of abrasive nylon. Only one operation is required, as the shaft is completely immersed in the brush. The long fibres reach from the cheeks up to the connecting rod bearings, while the short fibres deburr the main bearings area. Particles and flaky burrs, which typically occur during drilling or grinding, are reliably removed, says Kadia. A choice of fibre type allows adaptation to the component material. EC-Brush also permits wet machining.
For further information https://kadia.de/

Anca iView aids single set-up tool grinding

Anca’s iView now enables single set-up cutting-tool manufacture through the semi-automatic measurement and compensation of profile tools, end mills and drills.

A newly developed camera bracket increases the measuring capabilities of iView to inspect a tool’s end face, and measure land widths, lip distances and chisel angles, without the need for camera commissioning or qualification.
“To remain competitive in tool manufacturing, more and more businesses are looking towards automation or semi-automation,” says Thomson Mathew, Anca’s software product manager. “Taking the time to set up the infrastructure smartly is delivering significant business advantages, such as improved productivity, better access to machine data and lower production costs.
Tooling manufacturers use iView to take an image of the ground tool using the camera and then compare the data with an ideal overlay profile generated by the iView software, without having to take the tool out of the grinder. This capability means faster set-up time and better accuracy, as the ground tool is checked against the tool requirements in one clamping.
Accurate to 0.002 mm, iView allows the accurate comparison and measurement of the actual cutting tool against the profile. The technology automatically compensates the tool and, based on the overlay and profile error, it is adjusted and re-ground. This process also eliminates any accuracy loss that can occur when tools are transferred between grinding and measuring machines.
One iView camera can be used across multiple machines in Anca’s MX, TX and GX/FastGrind range. The latest bracket assembly, which is suitable for new and retrofit applications, allows the iView camera to be mounted horizontally, inside machine.
For further information www.anca.com

‘Made for Space’ conference date set

A two-day ‘Made for Space’ conference being staged by the MTC will be held on 2-3 May.

The event will host international experts who will explain the opportunities available for manufacturers in the space industry. Keynote speakers are set to include: John Vickers, principal technologist, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA; and Thomas Rohr, head of materials and processes at the European Space Agency. Also speaking will be Graham Peters, chair of UK Space, and Graham Turnock, chief executive of the UK Space Agency.
MTC chief technologist David Wimpenny says the UK space sector had trebled in size since 2000, with further growth predicted. This ongoing expansion presents a significant opportunity for high-value manufacturing companies in the UK. Topics covered at the Made for Space conference will include additive manufacturing, automation and robotics, surface engineering, high-performance coatings, and advanced joining technology. Early bird tickets are available until 31 March.
For further information www.the-mtc.org/madeforspace