INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Industry 4.0-enabled bar feeds

1st Machine Tool Accessories has revealed that all bar feeds produced by its principal Iemca can now be Industry 4.0 enabled.

Wireless data communication allows much more information to be transmitted in comparison with a hard-wired connection. According to the company, the solution is unlike those offered by competitors in that it allows customers to integrate the equipment more conveniently: instead of requiring connection into a factory’s intranet to achieve wireless data flow, the Iemca bar feed and lathe communicate via the cloud. In Italy alone there are already more than 300 Iemca Industry 4.0 bar-feed installations.
Reliance solely on an Internet link simplifies set-up. The configuration also has the advantage that equipment status and performance can be monitored on a PC, tablet or a smartphone away from the factory.
In a further development from Iemca, the company has launched what it says is the first bundle loader capable of being added to a bar feed already installed and running in a factory. Called the Caddy F, the device is capable of accommodating a 250 mm diameter bundle of bars weighing up to 2.5 tonnes. The loader is of open design so can easily be replenished with new stock material.
Availability has also been announced of a Caddy P version, which is a multi-rack system capable of providing up to 2 m of additional capacity. Both the Caddy F and the Caddy P have been designed to allow access to the bar feed by means of a rail system mounted on the floor.
For further information www.1mta.com

New CEO at Anca

Dr Christopher Hegarty will be appointed CEO at tool and cutter grinder specialist Anca group from 1 July 2018, succeeding Grant Anderson.

After eight years in the role at Anca, Anderson will retire at the end of June. Hegarty joined the Anca group from Switzerland in July 2017 as the engineering manager of CNC machines, and more recently as general manager of that division. He has also worked at machine tool manufacturers in Europe and Australasia, including over 15 years as CEO or general manager in other organisations.
For further information www.anca.com

Laser measurement in control

A new laser-measuring system was given its UK debut at MACH 2018 last month and is promising to reduce the time taken to measure cutting tools by 60%. Blum-Novotest, which says it has 95% of the global machine tool market for this technology, provided live demonstrations of the LC50, the next generation of the laser and latest addition to the Digilog family.

The LC50 was fitted to a Fanuc Robodrill on the company’s stand, where visitors were able to witness how the laser optics, new-design shutter protection system and HPC nozzle provide in-machine measurement data. Blum Novotest expects the new product to generate over £500,000 of new orders over the next two years, with the main interest coming from manufacturers supplying high value parts to the automotive, motorsport and aerospace sectors.
“By evaluating the analogue signal rather than the digital one, we can take thousands of measuring values of all cutting tool edges every second, resulting in highly dynamic measurement of tool parameters,” explains managing director David Mold. “In essence, this technology is 60% quicker than conventional in-machine measuring. Even the coolant influence is bypassed by automatically filtering out dirt
and coolant residue on the tool.
“The LC50 is targeted at customers who really need to control the whole machining process and want to implement Industry 4.0 standards in their manufacturing operations as it allows them to control the variables of cutting tool, workpiece and temperature.”
For further information www.blum-novotest.com

Laser projector optimises manufacturing

The TracerM laser projector from Faro Technologies enables users to perform positioning, alignment and assembly tasks, quickly, accurately and safely.

Faro’s TracerM projects a laser on to a surface or 3D object, providing a virtual template that allows companies to improve productivity, reduce waste and eliminate rework. The laser template is created using a 3-D CAD model that facilitates the projection of a detailed laser contour of components or areas of interest, removing the need for physical templates and tools, and reducing the potential for human error.
TracerM provides long-range projection from 1.8 to 15.2 m. The device includes Faro’s Advanced Trajectory Control (ATC) function, which ensures fast projection with dynamic accuracy and a rapid refresh rate, minimising the ‘flicker’ associated with other systems.
Faro’s 3D laser projector can also be used in series for use on large assemblies; multiple TracerM devices can be controlled from a single workstation to provide a virtual template in a single (or shared) co-ordinate system.
For further information www.faro.com

3D scanning CMM introduced

Creaform, which is represented in the UK by Measurement Solutions, has launched the Cube-R automated dimensional inspection solution.

This optical 3D measuring machine utilises the Creaform MetraScan 3D-R metrology scanner for parts ranging from 1 to 3 m in size. The company says that Cube-R delivers both speed and volumetric accuracy, offering a realistic and comprehensive alternative to CMMs and other robot-mounted, structured-light 3D scanners.
According to Creaform, Cube-R can inspect several hundred parts a day, even on dark or reflective parts with complex geometry. Importantly, the machine offers simultaneous operation of data acquisition and analysis as part of a continuous and uninterrupted measurement flow. There is said to be no accuracy drift over time.
“Quality control managers are looking for integrated solutions that enable the detection of assembly problems earlier in the manufacturing process, all while reducing waste and downtime to ensure better productivity and higher product quality,” says Jérôme-Alexandre Lavoie, product manager at Creaform. “The Cube-R was designed with that in mind. It is the latest addition to our R-Series automated inspection solutions, which also include technology integration for clients seeking customised dimensional measurement solutions.”
For further information www.creaform3d.com