THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Enhancing the UK’slaunch capability

Skyrora and Spirit AeroSystems are announcing a new collaboration on orbital launch capability. UK-based launch-vehicle manufacturer Skyrora is developing an agile, end-to-end launch service to provide access to space for small satellites globally. Having conducted a test launch of the suborbital Skylark L vehicle in October 2022 as part of the company’s incremental learning approach, Skyrora is well on track to become the first UK company to vertically launch satellites from the UK, expecting to conduct up to 16 launches per year once at scale.

Spirit’s presence in the UK space sector is growing. Its broad offering of adaptive manufacturing and testing solutions in metallics and composites, at both its Scotland and Northern Ireland facilities, brings significant industrial capacity to Skyrora’s launch proposition. Leveraging Spirit’s aero-structures expertise, the companies will explore opportunities to transition Skyrora’s orbital launch vehicles from development to full-scale production.
For further information www.spiritaero.com

Construction of EMIoT gets underway

Derby College Group (DCG) reports thatground has been broken for the upcoming East Midlands Institute of Technology (EMIoT) at the Roundhouse Campus, marking a significant milestone in the development of cutting-edge education and training facilities in the region. The facilityis poised to become a beacon of excellence, with collaboration between academia and industry in addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in technology-related fields.

A partnership between Derby College Group, the University of Derby, Loughborough College and Loughborough University, the EMIoT aims to deliver a world-class, research-orientated, employer-led learning facilities, founded on clean growth and digital delivery. It is working closely with global employers, including Rolls-Royce, Uniper, Toyota, National Grid ESO, Alstom, Fujitsu and Bloc Digital to ensure programmes deliver a workforce with future-ready skills.
For further information www.derby-college.ac.uk

Student success in robotics

The winners of the 2023 WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition, held in conjunction with FANUC UK, were announcedat an awards ceremony in Manchester last month. Representing the best of the UK’s rising robotics talent, Hannah Currie and Peter O’Neill from Northern Regional College in Northern Ireland beat over 50 talented young apprentices and students to take gold at the national finals, which were held over three days at FANUC’s UK headquarters in Coventry. The duo now have the chance to represent Team UK at the WorldSkills International Industrial Robotics competition in 2024.
For further information www.bit.ly/484XXBj

Knowledge Hubs will be core theme at MACH

MACH 2024 (15-19 April, Birmingham NEC), will attempt to help reverse UK manufacturing’s poor record for adopting new technology. The show’s organiser, the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA),is ona mission to spearhead growth by using its flagship event to launch its new Knowledge Hubs initiative.The programme helps manufacturers learn more about the potential offered by the latest technologies, as well as when to adopt it and how to implement it to best effect.

The initiative received a major shot-in-the-arm with the recent announcement of £4.5bn of Government funding to support advanced manufacturing. The funding will directly benefit several of the exhibition’s key themes, especially energy efficiency, with the fund earmarking £960m for clean energy manufacturing through a Green Industries Growth Accelerator.
For further information www.machexhibition.com

Single-opmachining of heavy-duty chains

Precision Chains in Dudley makes heavy-duty roller chains for use in quarrying, agriculture andescalator applications, to list but a few. The smallest chain link is 2” and the biggest can weigh as much as 25kg.

Ian Thomas, general manager of Precision Chains, says: “Our challenge was to find a better way of manufacturing therollers, pins and bushes required for the chains. Previously, we had to turn, mill, cross-drill, drill down the centre, counterbore and deburr them. All these operations were very labour intensive and time consuming with set-ups on up to three machines, not to mention all the handling involved. Furthermore, moving between these machines has an impact on accuracy.”

Precision Chains chose an XYZ TC320 LTY with parts catcher, swarf management and Hydrafeed bar feeder. The XYZ TC320 LTY has a Siemens 828D control with ShopTurn for easy programming of the Y axis and live tools. It can chuck up to 300mm diameter and has a bar capacity with the bar feeder of up to 78mm diameter. The machine features Ceratizit tooling with two sets of live tools for cross drilling, milling flats and machining lubrication spirals. The company also doubles up with some tools performing both turning and facing operations.

“We run the XYZ TC320 LTY from 07:30 to 21:30, making a complete part in one operation with one operator checking the machine from time to time while completing other tasks,” says Thomas. “We’ve also been able to dispose of two machines which we no longer need.”

Four people underwent training on the XYZ TC320 LTY at XYZ Machine Tools’ Nuneaton office and, working from drawings, the trainees were quickly confident in using the machine and Siemens control.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com