Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has provided all mould and die shops using its WorkNC CAM software with immediate access to its model preparation software, integrating production workflows from any CAD model format to CAM so they can machine parts more efficiently and avoid costly errors.

The transition from engineering to production can be lengthy without the right tools to efficiently prepare solid models for manufacturing, impacting profitability. By providing WorkNC customers with access to its robust and fully featured CAD application, Designer Companion, Hexagon has made it easier to prepare any mould or die for machining while simplifying the challenge of working with a wide range of file types from different CAD suites.

For further information
www.worknc.com

Dugard has strengthened its portfolio of turning centres with the arrival of the Pinacho brand of conventional and CNC flat-bed lathes. Dugard will be aiming to sell the SE series of user-friendly intuitive CNC lathes, the ST series of precision flat-bed lathes and the SH series for heavy-duty roughing.

Dugard sales director Colin Thomson says: “The Pinacho brand has more than 70 years of pedigree in building high-quality machine tools. With the company manufacturing its machines in the Basque region of Spain, an area synonymous with many of the world’s leading machine tool brands, we’re delighted to bring such a prestigious name into the Dugard portfolio. The Pinacho range will complement our existing offering of turning centres, which ranges from the compact Hanwha sliding-head turning centres through to the robust SMEC range.”

For further information
www.dugard.com

Leicester-based JWA Tooling has recently invested more than £2.5m in an additional factory, three new FANUC EDM machines, three new automation-ready Mazak machining centres, a Doosan Lynx turning centre and a Colchester Harrison Alpha 1400XC lathe. The link that is increasingly tying these machines together is work holding and clamping technology from Hainbuch.

Says company founder John Wood: “If you analysed our company, you’d see that we have lots of machines and lots of set-up time, which means the machines can be stopped for longer than they are running. We have chosen to address this issue by investing in new work-holding systems.”

For instance, when JWA Tooling invested in a Colchester Harrison Alpha 1400XC manual and semi-CNC turning centre, the decision to invest in a Hainbuch Torok 65 manual chuck was influenced by the ability of the chuck to offer fast and precise changeovers. The flexibility of the Hainbuch Torok 65 also permits fast changeover from ID clamping to the OD jaw clamping of components.

More recently, when the company decided to install a Doosan Lynx 2100LY turning centre, the subcontract manufacturer once again opted for work-holding technology from Hainbuch with the Top Plus 65 combi pull-back collet chuck.

“The reason for picking this particular design of chuck is quite critical, as we have been well established with round collets over the years,” says Wood. “However, if you look at modern machines with live tooling and C-axis configurations, you need to index accurately and know where the component faces and locations are. So, with the Hainbuch system and its hexagonal fitting, you can identify your mark on the chuck and the collet and put the collet back in the identical position.”

For further information
www.hainbuch.com

A new, high-precision, electrically actuated vice for securing workpieces on vertical, horizontal, five-axis and mill-turn machining centres is now available from Roemheld UK. It is possible to integrate the operating functions of the Hilma AS 125 E into the machine’s CNC system or regulate them via a separate control.

The Industry 4.0-compatible vice is equipped for automatic jaw change, making it suitable for unattended machining involving the robotic loading and unloading of components, as is often found in series production environments. Users can manufacture entire families of parts without manual intervention.

Roemheld’s AS 125 E lowers operating costs by eliminating the need for hydraulics or pneumatics, and by retaining the holding force without the power supply connected thanks to the self-locking mechanical spindle. The motor precisely adjusts the tightening torque, so the holding of thin-walled components and other delicate workpieces can take place without damage. The vice is also suitable for applications where the risk of contamination by hydraulic oil must be avoided.

Guido Born, the product manager in Germany responsible for the launch, says: “Beta tests in production applications have shown that the electric vice lends itself well to the accurate retention of parts, as the pressure may be finely controlled to suit the workpiece material and geometry.

“The automatic jaw change has been particularly impressive,” he adds. “One user told us that the system paid for itself quickly and plans further investments. Electromechanical designs are now being developed for other proven clamping systems in the Roemheld range and will be released in the near future. Additionally, we are planning further innovations such as using sensors in our hydraulic work-holding systems to help determine clamping force.”

For further information
www.roemheld.co.uk

A specialist engineering company has invested more than £700,000 to develop tools which provide greener, faster and safer solutions for decommissioning in the energy sector. Decom Engineering has updated its pipe coating removal (PCR) equipment, which cleans decommissioned or surplus pipelines of multiple coatings, so they can be repurposed for use on other projects. Based in Northern Ireland, Decom has also upgraded its cold cutting saws, which have been deployed on international decommissioning projects, as oil and gas operators replace or remove ageing infrastructure.
The latest modifications to its single-blade cutter will allow the company to target a new revenue stream, assisting clients in recovering conductors from decommissioned oil and gas rigs. Decom also believes there are opportunities for its patented saws to be deployed on offshore wind farm repair and maintenance projects, as well as onshore pile cutting.

For further information www.decomengineering.co.uk