A provider of measurement systems gave a UK debut to advanced machines at the MACH 2024 exhibition in Birmingham last month that will help industry work smarter and faster.

Carfulan Group, which has seen sales soar to £20m this year, showcased more than £1m of new technology at the show, including the unveiling of three multi-sensor measurement solutions.

OGP UK, Carfulan Group’s multi-sensor measurement system specialist, launched the Fusion 400, the Shapegrabber Ai620 and the E-Series E7, all of which provide accurate and precisequality control measurements in industrial applications.

Chris Fulton, joint managing director of the Carfulan Group, says: “We were excited to be back at MACH for another year and couldn’t wait to build on what was our most successful show back in 2022.I don’t think we’ve ever had so much new technology to showcase in the UK for the first time and it was great to see visitors get hands on with all of our solutions – all of which will help reduce downtime, cut waste, improve quality and boost output.”

OGP was joined on the stand by ViciVision UK, which showcased its Techno M614 for the high-precision inspection of complex components in industries such as aerospace, automotive and medical. Also on display was the Prima 306, an optical measurement system that Carfulan says provides high-precision measurements for turned parts in seconds.

Carfulan Group sales director Rob Thompsonconcludes: “Despite what people are saying, the UK is alive with innovation and there is a definite pull towards reshoring, which will create a lot of opportunities.We want to help firms exploit this and the launch of our new technologies will do just that, giving them greater control, greater output and greater quality.”

For further information www.carfulan.com

Bristol-based automation technology company Insphere Ltdis the first company to join the Renishaw Channel Partner Programme as a specific provider of the Renishaw RCS product series. Insphere has become an Official Channel Partner, supporting the installation and integration of Renishaw’s RCS products for industrial robots, including the RCS L-90 ballbar, the RCS T-90 tri-ballbar system and the RCS P-series probing solution.

Insphere serves automation customers throughout the UK. The company focuses on developing game-changing manufacturing technology that enables smart factories and facilitates a more sustainable future. Known for its flagship Iona system, which aims to improve robot accuracy and fixture alignment, Insphere represents a natural fit as the first Renishaw Channel Partner to offer the RCS product series.

Ben Adeline, CEO of Insphere, says: “The manufacturing industry is at an exciting inflection point with intelligent automation now becoming a reality. We’re delighted to collaborate with Renishaw in offering new and exciting products in this space. Renishaw’s automation range perfectly complements our broader portfolio of products including Iona and our Ora software platform, both of which aim to improve robot performance and process control.”

He adds: “By applying these solutions to industrial robots, we enable enhanced levels of flexibility, autonomy and awareness, creating more versatile and higher performance automation solutions.”

For further information www.renishaw.com/industrial-automation

Apex Dynamics has been selected as the supplier of a key component by rotary measurement specialist Rotary Precision Instruments (RPI) UK because of the fast delivery, low backlash, low noise and good value offered by its AF series precision planetary gearboxes.

The world’s largest manufacturer of rotary devices, RPI UK was looking for a new supplier when lead times rose sharply after the Covid-19 pandemic and the company found it more difficult to source parts. After seeking a reliable supplier that could meet its very specific requirements for high-accuracy measurements and angular positioning, the company turned to Apex Dynamics, which provides delivery times of 2-3 weeks.

In this case, the gearbox had to fit into the existing design of a rotary table for CMMs. The AF series gearbox is now used in RPI UK’s LabStandard and QuadDualPurpose assemblies. Itmounts to a motor via a pulley arrangement with a belt that drives a worm and wheel arrangement.

Each Apex AF series gearbox has 100% optimised helical gearing, low backlash and easy mounting, reports the company. High precision taper roller bearings equip the gearboxes to handle high axial and radial loads and output torque ranges from 14 to 2000 Nm.

RPI UK technical manager Adrian Blake says: “High levels of accuracy are key to the success of our application-specific products. As a key component of our CMM rotary table, the low backlash provided by the AF series gearbox means that it positions correctly, an essential feature for our machines as it forms part of the drive assembly.All the gearboxes we’ve purchased are running smoothly and have met our calibration standards.”

For further information www.apexdynauk.com

Due to the significant growth of its subcontract CNC turning and machining service, Alrose Products invested in a selection of precision measurement instruments from Bowers Group to improve turnaround times and deliver high-quality machining processes. Enhancing its operations with both a Baty Venture vision system and a Trimos V7 height gauge, the company now offers the highest levels of accuracy to customers by measuring to very tight tolerances with consistent precision.

“Buying any equipment is a consideration as there are so many factors involved, not least the investment of capital,” says Jon Aconley, managing director at Alrose Products. “However, knowing the reputation of Bowers Group and understanding what’s on offer made it far easier. The equipment was agreed and ordered, delivered on time and to specification, while the back-up service has been faultless.”

Bowers says that its instruments adhere to strict tolerance standards, ensuring consistent and reliable measurements across all operations. This consistency eliminates the potential for operator-induced variations, providing the business with enhanced accuracy and confidence in their measurement data.

The Baty Venture Vision System features powerful optics and intuitive software in support of measurement capabilities that include dimensional analysis, surface inspection and defect detection.Key features include high-resolution cameras, precision motorised stages and intuitive software interface, which allow for rapid and accurate measurement of complex parts with minimal user intervention. According to Bowers, the system’s robust construction and ergonomic design ensure reliability and ease of use in demanding manufacturing environments.

The Trimos V7 height gauge features a touch-display and lateral insert holders, serving as a versatile tool for workshop environments.

For further information www.bowersgroup.co.uk

Manufacturers wishing to inspect components machined to tight tolerances, but unwilling to invest in an expensive, ultra-high-accuracy CMM, now have the option of selecting theAltera C HA (high accuracy) from LK Metrology. Available in five sizes, the largest 15.9.7 model was exhibited on the company’s stand at the MACH 2024 exhibition in Birminghamlast month.

These ceramic-bridge machines are constructed from the same components as the standard Altera C range, but are optimised during build at the company’s Derbyshire production facility to deliver 16% higher accuracy during a measuring cycle, with 13% better repeatability and 50% more accurate scanning. Volumetric accuracy is from 1.3+L/350, repeatability from 0.0013 mm and scanning accuracy from 0.002 mm.

When implementing design improvements to the Altera C HA, the company paid particular attention to upgrading the moving bridge. The spread of the air bearings supporting the main drive leg is now wider to increase the stiffness of the bridge assembly by 17% overall, which is particularly beneficial during high-speed movements. Advantages to the user are considerable, as measuring uncertainty when chasing tolerances down to microns is significantly better. For the same reason, LK further stiffened the bearing mountings and improved their alignment.

The pre-loaded, wrap-around air bearing configuration runs with a reduced air film thickness for low energy consumption and gives repeatable measurement results, even at fast axis speeds, reports LK. Friction drives provide smooth motion together with exact positioning at continuously varying speeds, as well as zero backlash and overload protection.

Multi-sensor capability is provided, with the Renishaw PH10M motorised probe head able to deploy a touch-trigger probe, scanning probe or laser scanner.

For further information www.lkmetrology.com