THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Smart machining event success

A machining solutions provider staged an ‘Irish’ first when it hosted its Smart Factory Machining event last week. The Engineering Technology Group (ETG) threw open the doors at its County Kildare showroom on 6-8 March to provide around 140 delegates with an insight into the latest CNC machine technology, turnkey solutions, automation and shop floor data systems.

Working in partnership with cutting tool partner Guhring, there was a host of live demonstrations on a Hardinge V710S three-axis mill, a Quaser MF400UH five-axis machining centre and a Nakamura WY150 twin-turret, twin-spindle lathe with Y-axis functionality on both turrets. Visitors also witnessed a Hyfore workholding and tooling display, and the Halter U20 LoadAssistant in action, unloading and loading billets to a simulated lathe with three-jaw chuck – the first time this technology has been showcased in Ireland.
For further information www.etgireland.ie

TDI Challenge 2018 – entries open

The MTA has launched the 2018 edition of its competition for design, technology and engineering students: the Technology Design and Innovation (TDI) Challenge sponsored by Close Brothers. Previous winners and participants have used the TDI as a springboard into the industry, with last year’s winner in the 17-19 age category, Halimah Ershad of Forest School in London, receiving an undergraduate scholarship to the Dyson School of Engineering.

TDI 2017, Mazak, 5th July 2017, MTA

The TDI Challenge 2018 has four categories, and is open to anyone in the UK who has created an impressive design, technology or engineering project within school: individual student aged 14-16 (GCSE/KS4/BTEC L2); individual student aged 17-19 (A-Level/BTEC L3); student group (three to six members) aged 14-16 (GCSE/KS4/BTEC L2); student group (three to six members) aged 17-19 (A-Level/BTEC L3). The competition is free to enter, and students can win prizes including an iPad, GoPro, UE Boom Speaker, drone plus many more. Closing date for entries
is 11 May.
For further information www.mta.org.uk/tdi

MAN creates 125 jobs after record year

An industrial collective is casting aside the shadows of Brexit by recording its best ever year, with a £10m increase in sales, paving the way for 125 new jobs. The Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), which comprises eight subcontract manufacturers and an engineering design agency, has taken full advantage of the positive exchange rate and a desire to utilise British innovation to win contracts across the automotive, aerospace, electronics, renewables and medical sectors.

All nine firms have experienced growth over the past 12 months and benefitted from sharing best practice, purchasing power and working together to target new clusters. The expansion now means that MAN employs a 1000-strong combined workforce across 15 factories and boasts an order book that is fast approaching £90m, with 40% sent overseas.
For further information www.man-group.co.uk

Gearing up for WIN trade fair

The WIN Eurasia Metalworking and WIN Eurasia Automation fairs will this year be coming together under the same roof between 15-18 March in Tüyap, Istanbul. In line with the demands of the sector, these two established trade fairs of the Eurasia region will merge for the 2018 edition. WIN Eurasia Metalworking attracted 385 exhibitors from 19 countries at the 2017 show.

At this year’s event, exhibitors and visitors will have the opportunity to showcase and experience the 360° manufacturing industry. From sheet-metal processing to metal-forming technologies; automation services to electrical and electronic equipment; hydraulic and pneumatic services to intralogistics; WIN Eurasia 2018 will be bringing all the ecosystem needed for the factories of the future.
For further information www.win-eurasia.com/en

Aerospace firm expands five-axis machining

A seventh five-axis machining centre has been installed at Preston-based, tier-two aerospace subcontractor, TGM, primarily to cope with increasing volumes of Airbus A350 work. Two years ago, each month the firm was delivering four port and starboard aircraft wing sets comprising 20 parts each, whereas today 10 sets per month are required and the number will climb further over the next two years.

The latest addition to the firm’s five-axis capacity is a Hurco VMX42SRTi, which has conversational programming capability built into its WinMax control system. TGM director Sarah Stephens says: “We already had eight three-axis Hurco machining centres on-site, including one with an add-on rotary axis, so were familiar with the manufacturer’s twin-screen, menu-driven control system and graphical user interface.
“Our operators have always found it to be user friendly for shop-floor programming, and on the latest machine only the fifth B-axis that swivels the spindle head is different, so adaptation was easy,” she adds. “The skill sets were already in place to create five-axis cycles involving the positioning of both rotary axes.
“We purchased extra WinMax software to run on a laptop and use it to program around 90% of jobs run on the Hurcos, including the five-axis machine, with data for the remaining work entered at the controls on the shop floor. Essentially, the Hurco software is an inexpensive way of preparing components for 3+2-axis machining. It is like an extra CAM seat but costs vastly less than the £50,000 purchase price and £5000 annual maintenance of one of our top-end CADCAM packages alone.”
For further information www.hurco.co.uk