Bowers Group has introduced the Innovatest Falcon 600 pre-configured automated hardness testing system into the UK marketplace. The Falcon 600 provides a fully integrated platform for complete Vickers, Knoop and low-force Brinell hardness testing needs, with a standard force range of 1 gf to 62.5 kgf (with the option of going down to forces of 0.1 gf).

“Fully automatic as standard, the Falcon 600 is a cost-effective alternative to the fully specified Falcon 500 machine, while retaining Innovatest’s mechanical design and optics,” says Martin Hawkins, Bowers Group sales director.
Innovatest Falcon 600 units also boast a range of CNC stages, with an 18 Mp, 4K HD camera system featuring zoom and automatic focus, as well as full colour image technology. Furthermore, the 15” HD touchscreen operator interface offers easy-to-learn workflow control.
Bowers Group represents Innovatest’s range of high-end hardness testers in the UK and Ireland. Made in the Netherlands, the Falcon 600 is covered by Innovatest’s newly introduced 25-year warranty programme, which the company says is a first in the material testing industry.
For further information www.bowersgroup.co.uk

Marposs has struck a partnership with DP Technology, the author of Esprit CAM software. According to Marposs, Esprit software represents one of the easiest ways to add probing cycles to existing cutting programs. Through Esprit, Marposs will provide customers with a turnkey solution for creating everything from simple bore measurements to complex measuring cycles.

Probing cycles from Marposs will be available in Esprit software so that measuring a component on a five-axis or multi-tasking machine will become simple.
The digital twin supplied by Esprit software, thanks to the availability of machine kinematics, and workpiece and 3D probe files, will permit users to not only program a measuring cycle but to add and simulate all the movements required to reach the part in its position. The goal is providing the customers of Marposs and DP with a new and easy way to measure simple and complex parts on every type of machine tool, always deploying the best probing solution, and being able to program and simulate additional inspection cycles in the blink of an eye.
Probing is an established best practice for maximising the efficiency, quality, capability and accuracy of machine tools. Touch probes on CNC machining centres and lathes can be used to identify and set-up parts, measure features in-cycle for adaptive machining, and verify finished component dimensions.
”Most of our customers, especially those working in the mould and die, aerospace and 3C sectors, often seek cycle
time reductions without compromising quality,” says Roberto Bruni, sales and marketing manager. “Here, the type and number of touch points become the solution, and Esprit will help to speed up this research. For this reason, we believe Esprit with Marposs probes will provide the perfect solution.”
For further information www.marposs.com

Collaborative robot (cobot) technology expert Universal Robots has launched Service360, a support offering that enhances performance, increases uptime and mitigates risk through seamless collaboration.

Chris Wilson, vice president of service at Universal Robots, says: “We’re empowering our customers to proactively monitor, optimise and safeguard cobot performance with enhanced support and preventative maintenance. Service360 protects production lines, maximises uptime, reduces risk and enables success by ensuring manufacturers are prepared for the unexpected.”
For further information www.universal-robots.com

The latest addition to hyperMILL CADCAM software from Open Mind is the Additive Manufacturing suite, which is designed to satisfy the requirements of industrial 3D printing processes. As a universal software solution, hyperMILL – together with this option – will provide efficient hybrid processing with simultaneous additive and subtractive processing on a single machine platform.

hyperMILL Additive Manufacturing opens up an array of flexible options for DED (directed energy deposition) and WAAM (wire arc additive manufacturing) processes in terms of five-axis simultaneous processing. Both laser-based powder nozzle machining heads and wire arc additive manufacturing can be controlled using the software for selective material deposition, as well as conveniently programmed and automatically simulated for collision avoidance.
Open Mind’s hyperMILL suite now allows the potential of additive manufacturing to be exploited using powder-bed fusion (PBF). If 3D-printed parts do not offer the desired precision, or support structures have to be removed, the components can be machined afterwards by means of five-axis machining. Even hard-to-reach areas can be machined in a secure manner using hyperMILL, says Open Mind. As an integral part of the process chain, the CADCAM system supports reworking of this nature. The printed components are analysed, milled to size and examined.
Additive and subtractive manufacturing processes are increasingly being combined in a single machine tool for hybrid manufacturing. With this in mind, hyperMILL now enables users to program the cladding and the milling routines together. True-to-detail application and removal simulation, as well as stock tracking between individual machining steps, assure process reliability.
For further information www.openmind-tech.com

Chiron and Gühring have set a record of machining 1000 cubic centimetres of steel alloy (16MnCr5) in 60 seconds, which equates to a metal removal rate of 8 kg of steel per minute.

The record was set on a Chiron FZ 16 five-axis machining centre using a Gühring RF 100 Speed P tool – a roughing cutter specially adapted for machining steel, high-tensile steel and cast iron. RF 100 Speed P has a 48° helix angle with unequal cutting-edge partitioning that ensures a soft, quiet cut and smoothness in machining. This capability reduces the load on the machine and increases the volume performance.
For further information www.guhring.co.uk