INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Qatar agrees contract for Typhoon

BAE Systems and the Government of the State of Qatar have entered into a contract, valued at approximately £5bn, for the supply of Typhoon aircraft to the Qatar Emiri Air Force along with a bespoke support and training package. The contract is subject to financing conditions and receipt by the company of the first payment, both of which are expected to be fulfilled no later than mid-2018.

The contract provides for 24 Typhoon aircraft with delivery expected to commence in late 2022. BAE Systems is the prime contractor for both the provision of the aircraft and the agreed arrangements for the in-service support and initial training. Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems chief executive, says: “We are delighted to begin a new chapter in the development of a long-term relationship with the State of Qatar and the Qatar Armed Forces, and we look forward to working alongside our customer as they continue to develop their military capability.”
For further information www.baesystems.com

Mubadala puts R&D front and centre

Mubadala has announced plans for its aerospace, renewables and ICT platform to invest a further AED82.5m in R&D over the next five years. The funding will be used to accelerate several technology development projects that focus on differentiating concepts from Industry 4.0, including 3D printing, digital manufacturing and advanced materials.

The programme will build on the success of an existing R&D initiative launched in September 2015, and will support the growth strategies of Strata Manufacturing (Strata) and Turbine Services & Solutions (TS&S), two of Mubadala’s aerospace/industrial businesses.
For further information www.mubadala.com

Six-axis tool grinder unveiled

The new six-axis Ewag Compact Line tool grinder from Walter Ewag has been designed as a small-footprint, flexible solution for the grinding of inserts in tungsten carbide, cermet, ceramic, PCBN and PCD. Peripheral grinding is also included in the machine’s capabilities, alongside optimised kinematics and C-axis motion, which together ensure the application of protective chamfers on the inserts’ main cutting edges.

According to Ewag, machine downtime is minimised by the Compact Line’s short travel distances and integrated six-axis Fanuc robot that offers agile handling and a high degree of flexibility for loading complex inserts. A ‘three-in-one’ dressing unit offers wheel dressing, regeneration and form ‘crushing’ (for profiling diamond grinding wheels) in a single package.
Machine traverses in the X, Y and Z axes are 450, 180 and 150 mm respectively, while axis resolution is 0.0001 mm. The 5.5 kW grinding spindle produces 10,000 rpm.
Machine usability and effectiveness is also said to be guaranteed by the integrated ProGrind software, while the Fanuc control system enables all grinding routines to be programmed quickly and easily via its user-friendly touch-screen panel.
For further information www.walter-machines.com

First self-regulating flat-finishing machine

Thielenhaus Microfinish says it has introduced a trendsetting innovation on the path to Industry 4.0: based on the proven MicroStar platform, the machine-tool manufacturer has managed to develop the first self-regulating flat-finishing machine, MicroStar iQ. Until now, no reducing processes were possible with parameters such as flatness.

The eight-station machine for combination processing does not just ensure highly precise workpieces, but consolidation of the process stream. In the area of active magnetic spindle technology, the magnetic fields of the bearings retain the spindle both radially and axially, and perform the feed motions. The MicroStar is equipped with a synchronous spindle, which is capable of varying and/or oscillating highly dynamic speeds during the process. Due to the speed variation, the tool can always be maintained within an easy-cutting range. HyperFinish processing is also possible with this system by overlapping the main oscillation with an additional high-frequency oscillation.
A new HyperBrushing process that was developed especially for the machine ensures equal or even better results than those achievable by a high-pressure deburring unit, which can thus
be omitted from the whole process to save costs, says Thielenhaus. This deburring technology with special kinematics of the brushes improves the symmetrical rounding ratio of the flat surface to the casing and ensures more constant deburring results. According to the company, this is particularly important in the case of holes in components used for injection technology, which may be subjected to pressures of more than 2000 bar.
For further information www.thielenhaus.com

Ypsotec celebrates 100 years with Tornos

On its 100th anniversary, Grenchen, Switzerland-based Ypsotec, which also has a facility in Tábor, Czech Republic, decided to take its next step towards the future and enter the field of multi-spindle turning technology, choosing a Tornos MultiSwiss 6×16.

An urgent order for 1,300,000 pieces by one of Ypsotec’s customers prompted the company to rethink its operation. First, Ypsotec managers had planned to outsource production to China for financial reasons, but understood they had to invest in new technologies to remain competitive. The company thus had the impetus to break new ground and the MultiSwiss entered the stage.
According to COO Piero Tschanz, the targets set were difficult to achieve with the company’s existing single spindle lathes: “We had to increase our productivity. At the same time, we wanted to avoid structural measures such as a plant extension. Multi-spindle technology quickly came to the fore. After initial analysis, the Tornos MultiSwiss soon turned out to be a solution that aroused our interest.”
As far as ergonomics are concerned, the machine boasts various attributes, including integrated peripherals and good access to important areas. To facilitate work set-ups, Ypsotec is banking on Göltenbodt quick-change toolholders.
“To date, the machine has proved to be a reliable partner and we are fully satisfied with the result,” says Tschanz. “It was very easy for our employees to get accustomed with the new technology and the significant advantages of the machine features in terms of floor space, as well as higher productivity. The hydrostatic bearings on the machine offer distinct benefits with regards to tool life and surface finish.”
For further information www.tornos.com