UK NEWS

Manufacturing hotspots

The Advanced Engineering show, which takes place at the NEC at the end of this month, has published its league table of top 20 high-value manufacturing hotspots in the UK.

The table places Sheffield at the top of the pile, narrowly beating last year’s winner – Bristol – by just two points. The highest new entry this year is Cambridge, which comes in at number 4. Other new entrants are Northampton, Poole, Telford, Swindon, Banbury and Chesterfield. The biggest improvers in the table since last year are Milton Keynes, which moves from 10th to 3rd, and Nottingham, which moves from 8th to 5th.
For further information www.advancedengineeringuk.com

Tungaloy becomes member of WEAF and MAA

As part of its strategic drive to infiltrate the aerospace market and introduce the aviation sector to its cutting tool solutions, Tungaloy UK has joined both the Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA) and the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF).

Tungaloy will now be actively participating in events and collaborative projects to further raise awareness of the Japanese cutting tool brand. The company has extensive knowledge and experience of the global aviation and defence industries, and by joining both organisations, Tungaloy is looking to transfer its expertise, knowledge base and product lines to members of the groups.
For further information www.tungaloy.com/uk

RPI supplies Rolls-Royce with five iMAPs

RPI UK, a specialist developer and manufacturer of precision positioning devices for high-accuracy rotary and angular inspection systems, has supplied five integrated measurement assembly platforms (iMAPs) to Rolls-Royce and its approved MRO facilities.

iMAP, which is said to reduce inspection times by 90% and improve gauge repeatability and reproducibility by up to 10 times, will be used by Rolls-Royce to measure and assemble engine turbine rotors at its sites in Derby and Germany.
Atlanta-based Delta Airlines, which carries out MRO of the Rolls-Royce Trent engine, has also purchased an RPI iMAP machine – the first one sold to a Rolls-Royce approved MRO facility.
Jim Palmer, RPI’s sales manager, says: “We’ve been working with Rolls-Royce for over 30 years so its great news that both Rolls-Royce, and their approved MRO facilities, are choosing to invest in iMAP, which has been independently verified to give significant operational improvements over traditional measurement methods.”
iMAP’s data acquisition software AccuScan enables manufacturers to measure up to 4000 data points on up to eight surfaces simultaneously (per revolution), thereby significantly reducing process times compared with other available methods. This significantly improved inspection data is then used by IntelliStack, iMAP’s rotor stacking program, to solve the mathematical problem of how to best assemble a multi-stage rotor assembly and achieve minimum runout or unbalance of the finished rotor.
Combining a motorised
high-precision air bearing rotary axis, rigid column unit, anti-vibration granite base and AccuScan multi-channel circular geometry inspection software, IMAP is intended to deliver productivity improvements in turbine rotor assembly.
For further information www.rpiuk.com

Instant measurement system available from Vision

Vision Engineering has announced the general availability of its TVM field of view (FOV) video measurement system.

The non-contact TVM combines a small footprint with larger system performance and ease of use. Time-saving, instant FOV measurements and a moving stage allow larger components to be measured quickly and easily.
The TVM series includes the TVM20 and TVM35, with FOV sizes of 20 and 35 mm respectively. Both systems are designed to meet rigorous quality assurance applications in automotive, aerospace, medical and plastics manufacturing. Cylindrical, flat or square components can be measured instantly within the FOV at the click of a mouse.
As with other measurement and inspection systems from Vision Engineering, TVM systems can be configured to suit specific applications, including small pressed components, turned parts, injection moulded plastics, tubes and cables, while the addition of a manually controlled stage extends measurement for larger components up to 200 x 100 mm.
The combination of the TVM’s flat-field telecentric lens and collimated sub-stage lighting, featuring a newly developed quadrant LED ring light, creates a sharp image of components on the HD monitor, and significantly improves the video edge detection of complex parts such as threads and valves.
The TVM’s user-friendly software comprises a suite of features that includes simple data import/export, image stitching and reporting facilities.
TVM20 and TVM35 systems are manufactured in the UK at Vision Engineering’s global headquarters.
For further information www.visioneng.com

Aberlink – a Helix Precision decision

Hull-based subcontractor Helix Precision Machining has recently invested in a Zenith 3 CMM from Aberlink, as company director Lee Sansam explains: “To help prevent non-conformance situations and rework, we apply a company-wide, ‘right-first-time’, total quality approach to all of our processes, and make regular strategic investments in the best-available inspection aids.”

Taking the opportunity to compare the merits of various machines, Helix Precision agreed that, due to its large capacity, speed of operation and accuracy requirements, the Zenith 3 from Aberlink was the CMM of choice for the company’s future needs.
“It particularly helped that Aberlink’s intuitive software made the Zenith 3 the easiest to use of the CMMs we considered,” says Lee Sansam. “Furthermore, unlike other brands, Aberlink provide unlimited free software updates, while it was also the least expensive of the machines we looked at.”
Following the CMM’s installation and an Aberlink training course, quality staff at Helix Precision quickly mastered the new CMM’s operating system. To further exploit the Zenith 3’s automatic CNC inspection routines, quality personnel will soon begin writing part programs for repeat work.
“We will then be able to instantly recall the relevant program, load a single large component or multiple smaller parts on to the Zenith 3, then start a fully automatic CNC measuring routine,” says Sansam. “On completion, when required, our new CMM will also generate detailed inspection reports.
“Our Aberlink’s Zenith 3 has already proven to be a great success. Not only has it enabled the rapid, precise measurement of complex components, but has improved our accuracy capability and significantly speeded-up the throughput of work in our busy quality department.”
For further information www.aberlink.com