Prodrive has a long history in motorsports, competing and winning its first event, the Qatar International Rally, in 1984. Since then, the company has been unstoppable, winning a multitude of titles across a wide range of motorsport disciplines.

Earlier this year, the company entered the Dakar Rally in partnership with the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the new team, Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX). The Dakar Rally takes place over two weeks, with stages covering hundreds of miles across a range of challenging, off-road terrain in Saudi Arabia.

To prepare for the event, the BRX team began development on the Hunter T1, its new two-car factory team driven by nine times World Rally champion Sébastien Loeb, and 25 times Dakar Rally legend Nani Roma. Roma secured fifth place overall in the 2021 race, the first time any team has achieved such a high ranking on its first attempt at the Dakar Rally.

With work only beginning in late 2019, the BRX team suddenly came up against what would be one of the biggest challenges that hit the industry thus far.

“We often put ourselves in tough positions time-wise, but Covid-19 really threw a wrench in our already-tight timeline,” says Paul Doe, chief engineer at Prodrive. “In the UK, there was a lockdown that effectively forced us to close the factory for a while. Development that should have taken about a year was compressed into nine months. Instead of testing in July, we didn’t end up turning a wheel on a car until October 2020.”

With the Dakar Rally scheduled for the first two weeks of January 2021, this put an immense amount of pressure on the whole team. Although BRX includes 40 people to design, engineer, service and operate the Hunter T1 vehicles, the team was stretched thin with an atypically shorter timeline. Additionally, although Prodrive offered in-house manufacturing, fabricating and machining capabilities, the team was competing for resources with other projects.

When Doe decided to add the MakerBot Method X 3D printer, recommended by DSM (a global supplier of carbon-fibre materials), to his team’s toolbox, it became a game changer. The Method X enabled his team to prototype and print much-needed parts quickly and conveniently as well as experiment with different applications, on and off the course. With the unlimited possibilities of additive manufacturing, prototyping and part production became much more streamlined and cost-efficient.

Innovation has always been a core tenet at Prodrive. The company utilises a wide range of technology to ensure it stays ahead of the competition. Adding Method X to its repertoire of cutting-edge technologies afforded Prodrive an added opportunity to save even more time during its shortened production schedule.

“There is a massive list of benefits from using the MakerBot Method X compared with a normal production method, such as speed and responsiveness,” explains Doe. “When it came to designing parts on the car, the first thought often starts with printing a component off the 3D printer to see how it would turn out. The ability to try the part first before committing to the final product allows us to make changes easily and quickly. This rapid iteration also allows us to stay pretty close to our production timeline, while saving a ton of money.”

With two Method X 3D printers, the BRX team was able to engineer some parts at the factory in the UK as well as on site at the rally.

A Method X was loaded on to one of the BRX maintenance trucks that the team had set up in the desert. The printer was used on-site to produce fabricated parts, or to fix a component that would otherwise have needed steel or aluminium fabrication.

“We carried this machine with us in the truck and printed remotely in the middle of nowhere – literally where you can’t see traces of civilization – yet here we are using this kind of machine,” says Doe. “We took advantage of the speed of 3D printing parts in the middle of our test programme”.

The BRX team used Method X to print over 30 parts on the Hunter T1, including a mount for a suspension position sensor and a sculpted nozzle mount for the cockpit’s fire suppression system. Of particular note, the suspension position sensor allowed the engineers to look at the damper performance, vehicle dynamics, wheel alignment, drive shaft and more. The sensor generates data and relays information back to the team for better analysis, which can then be used to improve vehicle performance. The mounting system was printed with MakerBot’s nylon carbon fibre.

Prodrive points out that the entire process to get the suspension mount just right took only 90 minutes, from having the 3D printed mount on the ground sheet in the middle of the desert, to observing it, to making updates and reinforcements to the design in the truck, to launching production on Method X. With the new part in their hands, the technicians were ready to put it on the car and continue collecting data.

“That was new for us,” states Doe. “In the past, we’ve used additive manufacturing, but we didn’t have the capability to do it so spontaneously. In addition, the materials we used on Method X, particularly the nylon carbon fibre, exhibited higher performance than what we had experienced in past years. There are quite a few parts in the car, such as the engine bays and wheel side near the brakes, where the environments reach up to 120°C and where traditional FDM materials start to struggle, forcing us to revert to aluminium which is costly. In this case, we were able to print parts in nylon carbon fibre, which is able to reach very high temperatures. The carbon print heads on Method X really opened up a lot of new applications for us.”

Doe adds: “With the density of the materials being so low in comparison with traditional aluminium or steel fabrications, we were able to make parts that were much lighter than what a typical part would have been. And it allowed us unlimited freedom to effectively test our parts.”

Using the nylon carbon fibre, the BRX team also printed a lightweight sculpted mount for one of the nozzles of the fire suppression system located at the centre of the cockpit. Due to the sheer size of the cars, each vehicle was outfitted with two fire suppression systems.

With an extremely hot turbo engine, 500 litre fuel tank and other highly flammable materials, fire suppression is critical. Typically, the team would have needed to create that nozzle out of traditional heavy metal, like steel or aluminium, which can be time-intensive and costly.

Nylon carbon fibre is a lightweight alternative to metal due to its high strength, heat resistance and stiffness properties.

“We wanted to move away from the typical folded aluminium bracket as much as we could, and instead have a more premium feel in the cockpit,” says Doe. “Method X allowed us to experiment with a new type of nozzle. The sculpted mount was a nice balance of form and function. In fact, it looked 10 times better than what we had in the past, and with no egregious costs.”

With Method X at its disposal, the Prodrive team has begun to explore new and different applications, from car parts to manufacturing aids and tooling. While the company still has physical parts stored and managed on-site, its digital inventory is also growing.

“With the Method X 3D printers nearby and a digital inventory of parts and tools, we’re able to print on-demand and work with more agility and efficiency,” concludes Doe. “We have very ambitious plans to increase the number of vehicles on our roadmap in the coming years. As we continue to scale up, we may need more than a couple of machines in our collection. The cost is relatively low in comparison with other kinds of manufacturing processes, but the investment will pay off in the long-run. We have loads of projects coming, so there will be more opportunities to test the Method machines.”

For further information
www.makerbot.com

Mills CNC Automation has recently supplied a new Doosan collaborative robot (cobot) to NPI Solutions Ltd, a precision subcontractor based in Irvine, Ayrshire. The M1013 cobot, with its 1.3 m reach radius and 10 kg payload, is integrated with a Doosan DNM 350 5AX five-axis machining centre previously acquired from Mills CNC in 2016. Since installation, the cobot has proved its worth by helping NPI to optimise the spindle uptime on the Doosan machine, minimising operator interventions and improving output.

NPI is a company committed to continuous improvement and best practice. As such, the business regularly monitors, collects and analyses machine-tool performance data; calculating the effectiveness and efficiency (OEE) of the equipment it uses. The objectives are to accurately identify production ‘pinch points’, to remove and/or reduce the issues that cause machine downtime, and make manufacturing processes as productive as possible.

Says NPI’s managing director Kevin Priestley: “We invested in a Doosan five-axis machining centre five years ago to make us more productive, efficient and competitive. The ability to machine precision parts in one set-up, via 3+2 and 4+1 machining, was the appeal…and the goal.”

However, analysis of the machine’s performance over a period of time revealed that it was failing to deliver the expected results.

“It wasn’t the machine’s fault,” explains Priestley. “It was directly related to the type of production work we do, which is characterised by low volumes and small batches, and by short part cycle times.”

Being a high-mix, low-volume component manufacturer meant that the DNM 350 5AX could be idle for long periods each day to allow for frequent job set ups and changeovers.

“Machines don’t make money if they are not making chips,” states Priestley. “To improve our profitability we needed to increase the spindle uptime on our DNM 350 5AX.”

The company subsequently began to explore automation as a means of improving the machine’s utilisation and output.

NPI is no stranger to automation or unmanned operations, having previously invested in high-performance bar feeders to increase the productivity and performance of its CNC turning operations. To increase the productivity of its DNM 350 5AX machine, the company explored a number of automation options before deciding on the cobot investment.

Says Priestley: “There were a number of potential automation solutions available. We looked at automatic workpiece pallet-change systems and industrial robots, but their cost, floor-space requirements and complexity ruled them out.”

NPI required a more economically-viable and ‘simpler’ solution: one offering quick installation to transform the DNM 350 5AX into a flexible, automated manufacturing cell.

“We had investigated cobot technology before,” remembers Priestley. “The versatility of cobots in addition to their safety, their relatively lower investment cost and ease of deployment were attractive propositions. When we found out that Mills CNC, through its newly-created Automation Division, could supply us with not only a Doosan cobot but also project manage and undertake its installation and provide comprehensive training and applications support – we decided to put our plans into action. We visited Mills CNC Automation’s facility in Leamington to meet the application engineering team and discuss our specific requirements in more detail. Ultimately we gave the ‘green light’ to the investment.”

To undertake what are essentially machine-tending operations, NPI worked alongside Mills CNC Automation engineers to select the right cobot for the job. The chosen cobot (based on the dimensions and weight of parts machined on the DNM 350 5AX) was the M1013 model.

Offering a 10 kg maximum payload and 1.3 m reach, the M1013 also features six high-torque sensors that provide ‘best-in-class’ collision protection. The M1013 was supplied with a controller, a teach pendant, an RG6 (OnRobot) gripper and a Schunk work-holding package.

Situated adjacent to the DNM 350 5AX which, as part of the installation was fitted with an automatic door opening/closing facility, the cobot is programmed to pick up blanks positioned on a peg table and load them, in turn, into the machine where they are machined to completion.
Once machining operations are complete, the cobot takes the finished component from the machine and places it back on the peg board in its predetermined position. This cycle then repeats, with no operator intervention, until the completion of all parts.

Parts machined on the DNM 350 5AX are typically made from aluminium. These components vary in size from 15 x 15 x 15 mm at one end of the spectrum, through to 150 x 150 x 20 mm at the other. Cycle times can be as short as 2 minutes, or up to 60 minutes depending on part size, complexity and features.

“The ambition to create a flexible automated manufacturing cell has been realised through the cobot investment,” says Priestley. “During the day, the cell is programmed to machine components (with relatively short cycle times) unattended, allowing operators to work on other machines or perform other tasks. For parts with longer cycle times the cell is programmed to run attended overnight.”

NPI’s new cobot cell has helped it improve productivity, efficiency and competitiveness. The DNM 350 5AX is now running at 85% efficiency as opposed to just 50% efficiency prior to the cobot investment.

NPI is quick to acknowledge the skill and expertise of Mills CNC Automation’s engineers in designing and installing its new flexible automated manufacturing cell.

Says Priestley: “Everything went smoothly, from the design of the system through to its installation, proving out, and on-site and remote training. Mills CNC Automation took the time to understand our requirements. They demonstrated [up front] the productivity gains we could expect to realise from the investment – and they have been proven right. The support they provided throughout the project was first class, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.”

NPI’s automated cobot cell has now been operational for six months. Such have been the productivity and efficiency improvements realised that the company is now actively considering investing in a second cobot.

Concludes Priestley: “Despite the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, we’ve been unbelievably busy over the past 12 months. To meet demand from customers for our precision machining services, we will be investing in more automation in the near future.”

For further information
www.millscnc.co.uk

A specialist in precision pressed parts and machined components has invested more than £100,000 in the installation of a new high-speed press line to boost capacity ahead of a raft of new opportunities. Source Engineering, which employs 32 people across its two divisions in Plympton, has leveraged the expertise of Bruderer UK for a machine to carry out the work of four conventional HME power presses.

Established in 1992, the company has gone from strength to strength, building and maintaining experience and knowledge across all aspects of its business. Source Engineering is continuing to develop that knowledge by training the next generation of engineering and toolmaking apprentices, ensuring that the company continues to thrive into the future.

Source Engineering is always looking to move forward and continually improve, whether it is product improvement or developing production processes. The firm stays competitive and improves quality by developing new production techniques, automating processes and investing in the best equipment – from EDM wire erosion machines for the tool room, through to Swiss-made high-speed/high-precision presses for the press shop.

The BSTA 200M 20 tonne stamping press from Bruderer was identified as the ideal solution for the company’s latest requirements and is now up and running at Source Engineering’s Langage Business Park facility, achieving 300 strokes per minute. This rate represents a 200% increase in production output across a range of products destined for the automotive, electrical wholesale and oil and gas markets.

Engineers at the firm have freed up an additional 500 sq ft of production space to use for the introduction of new projects, and to help Source Engineering cope with an increase in demand for its range of automation solutions.

Andy Dunkerley, chairman at Source Engineering, says: “Buying a Bruderer is like buying the Swiss watch of machines; you get unrivalled precision, speed and repeatable quality, all wrapped up in a relatively small footprint. We already had one in another part of the factory and were fully aware of its capabilities. So when it came to looking at how we optimised the factory floor space by replacing four machines with one high-speed line, we called in Bruderer’s technical experts to review the options.”

He continues: “They really understood what we were looking to achieve in space utilisation without giving up the versatility and the volumes, which basically meant we needed one machine to do the work of four.”

The Bruderer BSTA 200M high-precision, high-performance stamping press was identified as the preferred option and was fitted with a high-speed servo feeder and pallet de-coiler to help achieve precision control of material de-coiling and pinpoint pitch through the progression press tool.

Specified with a tool area of 510 x 400 mm, the machine can deliver up to 1800 strokes per minute, and is capable of handling a maximum material thickness of up to 2 mm and material width of 100 mm. The Bruderer BSTA 200M has also been equipped with ‘Press Force Monitor’, a feature which ensures protection of the press from overload. In addition, this technology limits tool damage if any stray material is pulled back up into the process – stopping the machine within a stroke, even at high speed.

Pablo Gutierrez, technical director at Source Engineering, goes on to add: “Sales are now back to pre-pandemic levels and we are looking to grow, with our ability to provide design, tooling and manufacturing all in one place driving the need for more production space. Our long-standing relationship with Bruderer UK has been pivotal in giving us a faster and more flexible machine, while also delivering capacity to install different types of presses or a dedicated assembly area to support bespoke automation work.

“There are lots of new opportunities domestically and overseas, and we are hoping to turn some of this potential into contracts that will see turnover rise by 20% over the next 12 months,” he continues.

Adrian Haller, managing director of Bruderer UK, says: “This is a perfect example of how the technical expertise of our team and the power of our presses can be combined to find a solution that does the work of four machines in one. Tolerances of manufactured process speed have improved significantly, while the ability to achieve fast press-tool changeover has been achieved due to the in-built Bruderer application of SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Dies).

He adds: “We’ve been working with Andy and Pablo for nearly a decade and have got an excellent relationship with the technical team at Source Engineering. This was a project that really excited us as we could use our technology to provide an immediate operational solution and, importantly, a way of supporting the company with its ambitious expansion plans.”

Source Engineering, which is approaching 30 years in business, has developed new control boxes that help monitor the part as it goes through production. The company has already supplied a number of models to Bruderer UK for installation on its machines and is looking to expand its offer further over the coming year.

For further information
www.bruderer.co.uk

Although only founded in 2004, the directors at Machfab Engineering can offer more than 60 years of manufacturing expertise in all aspects of machining, sheet metal and fabrication. But regardless of experience, everyone can learn new tricks – and for this Birkenhead-based company, the learning curve has taken a new twist with investment in 3D printing and CNC machine tools from Dugard.

Servicing customers in sectors as diverse as automotive, aerospace and offshore, through to petrochemical, pharmaceutical and food, Machfab offers a complete service portfolio that includes conventional and CNC milling and turning, jigs and fixtures, breakdown and repair work, press tool manufacture, reverse engineering, prototyping, R&D, and sheet metalworking. Some of these services were not previously available.

As Machfab Engineering director Ian Hazlehurst says: “Two years ago, we had the idea to diversify the company. We’ve always predominantly been a conventional machine shop and we wanted to get into CNC machining – but we had to offer something different to everybody else. So, we went down the 3D printing route to get into additive manufacturing. We worked with the Liverpool Innovation Fund and managed to get funding from them to purchase our first 3D printer.”

The company bought a Stratasys Fortus 380mc. Explaining the reason for buying the machine, Hazlehurst continues: “We bought this machine primarily to get into prototyping for R&D work. However, if we got a project that needs final production parts, we would never be able to offer the service to manufacture those components, which is why we invested in CNC machining – to offer customers the full package.”

Another reason the company opted to invest in CNC machine tools was that it was not always competitive on batch work or small production runs of components.

“We weren’t competitive on volume work as everyone has CNC machines and we had conventional machines, which meant our production times were a lot longer,” explains Hazlehurst. “So we decided – as part of the project with the 3D printer – to invest in two Dugard machining centres.”

The subcontract manufacturer simultaneously purchased a three-axis Dugard 1100 machining centre with a rotary table and a Dugard 1000E machining centre.

“The story behind the 1000E is that Dugard actually gave us the machine as a ‘test model’ as we had initially decided to buy the larger Dugard 1100,” says Hazlehurst. “The Dugard 1000E machine was installed for our guys to learn on – and we liked the machine so much we bought it, as well as the larger Dugard 1100 machine.”
For a company that had not yet stepped into the realms of CNC machining and had a history steeped in conventional machining, the initial loan of a CNC machining centre to prepare it for CNC production goes a long way to demonstrate the service provided by Dugard Machine Tools.

Referring to the larger of the two machines and why the company chose the Dugard 1100, Hazlehurst recalls: “We wanted a solution that gave us the diversity of components that we could put on the machine. We’ve installed a 4th axis unit so we can offer additional services and flexibility. We also have a Renishaw probing system, which means we can take measurements of parts before we remove them from the machine – as certain customers asked if we could do that. Equally important is the fact that the machine has a large bed and a powerful spindle, where we can take large chunks of material off. And we can machine hard steels as well.”

The Dugard 1100 VMC provides a work envelope of 1100 x 610 x 560 mm in the X, Y and Z axis respectively, with a 1000 kg maximum table load accommodated on the 1250 x 600 mm bed. A 20 to 10,000 rpm speed capability guarantees high levels of torque throughout the speed range.

Complementing this attribute is the 24-position automatic tool change carousel and the BT40 spindle taper that permits heavy-duty cutting on a complete range of materials, including challenging aerospace-grade metals. Furthermore, both machines supplied to Machfab include a Siemens CNC, although FANUC and Mitsubishi options are also available to suit end-user requirements.

The Dugard 1000E that was initially installed as a ‘test model’ is a cost-effective VMC with similar characteristics to the Dugard 1100 VMC, which is why the company opted to keep the trial machine alongside the larger 4th axis Dugard 1100.

“Now we have the Dugard machines, we know we can make the parts and make them right,” concludes Hazlehurst. “The machines also make us competitive, so we pride ourselves on the fact that we know our pricing will be right and we will deliver on time. Our customers will always get exactly what they ask for.”

For further information www.dugard.com

When faced with the need to find high-precision, flexible measuring devices that could satisfy the challenging inspection needs of two company divisions, Stuart Hill, development engineer at AM Hydraulics, communicated each division’s diverse requirements to Faro UK and requested demonstrations of suitable portable CMMs.

In the course of the subsequent in-house demonstrations, the speed, precision and capacity of Faro’s Quantum-M 3D ScanArm proved it to be the ideal portable inspection solution for AM Hydraulics’ large components. Likewise, when measuring the relatively smaller workpieces for the company’s AM Tooling division, the recently launched Faro Gage measuring arm confirmed its accuracy specification, in addition to its quick set-up and ease of use abilities. The outcome of these successful demonstrations was an order for both Faro products.

Trading since 1978, AM Hydraulics has continuingly expanded and is now a major force in the UK hydraulics manufacturing sector. Areas served by this progressive, family owned business include aerospace, nuclear power, earthmoving, oil and gas, and wind power.

Based in a recently opened, purpose-built manufacturing facility in Birmingham, AM Hydraulics offers an all-embracing, ‘one-stop’ service. The company’s end-to-end production capabilities include milling, finish grinding and hard chrome plating. In addition to meeting challenging delivery deadlines, AM Hydraulics’ level of autonomy enables adherence to rigorous quality control standards.

As an ISO9001-accredited business and an approved supplier to many blue-chip companies, the quality of AM Hydraulics’ output is of paramount importance. In addition to undertaking final inspection routines, dedicated quality inspectors make detailed in-process checks at every stage of production. Given the size (up to 3000 mm diameter) and weight (up to 20 tonne) of the company’s workpieces, administering an efficient in-process quality regime presents a range of challenges.

Now in use at AM Hydraulics, the Faro Quantum-M ScanArm is designed to deliver outstanding levels of inspection precision in less than pristine environments, such as on the shop floor. The robust Faro product carries certification to ISO 10360-12:2016, a rigorous international measurement quality standard, and tests to IEC 60068-2 standards for shock, vibration and temperature stress relief.

In addition to performing efficient tactile inspection tasks, the Quantum-M ScanArm is able to undertake precise, non-contact scanning routines thanks to the use of its Faro Blu Laser Line Probe HD. Faro’s next generation of blue line laser technology enables five times faster scanning than previous models, even when used on complex surfaces comprised of dark or reflective materials.

When compared with its predecessor, the Quantum-M ScanArm is 20% lighter in the hand and, as it requires no warm-up time, is always ready to use. These qualities ensure improved levels of productivity by enabling operators to work longer and more comfortably.

The use of industrial-grade wireless connectivity and dual, hot-swappable batteries supports the Quantum-M ScanArm’s data-transfer capabilities and its continuous operation in remote areas of the factory floor without the need for external power.

Explaining AM Hydraulics’ improved inspection efficiencies, Hill says: “Given the size of our workpieces we chose a Quantum-M ScanArm with a 2.5 m capacity, and it has proven ideal. In addition, as it’s easily transportable and quick and simple to set-up, it helps that our operators can carry the Quantum-M ScanArm to all of our production areas and quickly put it to work carrying out detailed inspection work using its touch probe or non-contact laser probe. Although our staff are experienced in using precision equipment, given the nature of the production areas, it helps that the Quantum-M ScanArm is so tough.

“In addition to delivering the levels of speed, accuracy and capacity we sought for our large parts, the Quantum-M has significantly reduced our inspection data capture times,” continues Hill. “Staff are now able to instantly download collected data, store it directly to a computer and compare it against nominal CAD data.”

Equally challenging, although different in scale, are the inspection requirements of the business’ AM Tooling division. AM Tooling specialises in the manufacture, assembly and repair of press tools, as well as providing a jig and fixture design and manufacturing service.

“Along with accelerating AM Tooling’s inspection work and data flow, the Faro Gage has enabled us to increase our precision capabilities,” explains Hill. “Also, as it’s so flexible, the Gage has helped to lessen our reliance on hand tools, such as calipers and height gauges, and reduce the use of numerous measuring instruments spread around the shop floor. Our Faro Gage is now making a major contribution towards upholding AM Tooling’s demanding quality standards.”

As the most accurate and affordable FaroArm ever produced, the recently launched Faro Gage is suited to performing inspection tasks on small to medium size components. The intuitive and versatile portable CMM boasts a 1.5 m working volume and a volumetric accuracy of 0.022 mm. Thanks to the Gage’s performance for hard probing applications, it is able to eliminate inspection bottlenecks and greatly reduce reliance on fixed CMMs.

Says Hill: “The success of both AM Hydraulics and AM Tooling is due largely to the quality of each division’s output and their efficiency levels, which allow competitive quotes to be tendered and business to be won. To make sure that we maintain these advantages, we regularly invest in state-of-the-art production and inspection technologies.

“Our two co-located divisions share the same passionate quality culture, although given the difference in their manufactured products, each has very specific inspection requirements,” he adds. “Therefore, when a decision was taken to make a major investment in portable inspection equipment, as an enthusiastic user of previous generations of Faro products, I related each division’s inspection requirements to Faro UK.

“On witnessing detailed, in-house demonstrations of a Faro Quantum-M ScanArm and a Faro Gage, I was very impressed by the latest developments and convinced that each suggested solution ticked each division’s precision and efficiency boxes. Our two new portable inspection technologies provide us with a major advantage over the use of a fixed CMM as, along with final inspection, we are able to use them to perform in-process checks on workpieces that remain located in machine tools.”

For further information
www.faro.com