UK NEWS

Onwards and upwards

The Vigilance Group, comprising MACH Machine Tools and Machine Tool Sales Online (MTSO), has strengthened its sales operations in the Midlands with the appointment of Stuart Woolridge as its new Midlands area sales engineer.Having completed his apprenticeship at Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley, where he qualified as a machine setter, Woolridge joined DMG Mori, firstas an applications engineer before gaining promotion to assistant engineering manager in double-quick time. He has significant experience in pre-sales and customer service.
For further information www.machmt.co.uk

Productive Machines launches force optimisationapp

A cloud-based app designed to enhance machining strategies by offering cutting force predictions and feed rate optimisation for the CNC machine tool market is nowavailable from Productive Machines, one of just 10 start-ups around the world to have been invited to the Boeing innovation accelerator programme.

The new ‘Feed Rate Calculator’ web app – the first in a range of smart tools under development by the team at Productive Machines –- empowers manufacturers to make fast decisions about the use of untested milling processes. It allows users to obtain accurate forecasts of cutting forces expected on the cutting tool, thus unlocking significant cost and time savings.

The start-up’s founder, Erdem Ozturk, says: “Our goal is to do nothing less than to put an end to the age-old machining challenge of destructive chatter vibrations. This new app is the first in a line of easy-to-use tools that harnesses the power of AI to provide simple, easy-to-use tools that enable manufacturers to increase cutting efficiency, reduce machine times, prevent waste and improve product quality.”

To celebrate the launch, Productive Machines is offering a limited-time opportunity for manufacturers to try theFeed Rate Calculator for free. The offer allows businesses to experience the benefits of precision machining optimisation first-hand and witness the potential improvements in their operations.

Ozturkadds: “Our team has been working tirelessly to develop tools that will not only make precision machining more efficient, but also more accessible to manufacturers of all sizes. We believe that Feed Rate Calculator will pave the way to our upcoming suite of cloud-based optimisation and predictive maintenance products due to be released next month.”
For further information www.productivemachines.co.uk

New frontiers in composite part manufacture

CGTech, the developer of VERICUT verification, simulation and optimisation software, is announcing a reseller agreement with Bristol-based iCOMAT, pioneer of the first-ever defect-free tape-steering process for composite component production. The special worldwide arrangement will see iCOMAT sell and support a dedicated version of VERICUT VCP/VCS software in support of its patented manufacturing process for composites.

iCOMAT’s industrial cells comprise a proprietary tape-laying head mounted as an end effector to a state-of-the-art six-axis industrial robot arm, all located inside a safety cell. As part of this solution, programming and virtual simulation will come via a special version of VERICUT VCP (VERICUT Composites Programming)/VCS (VERICUT Composites Simulation) software complete with a new interface specifically for iCOMAT’s technology. iCOMAT will be the exclusive reseller of this software worldwide.
For further information www.cgtech.comwww.icomat.co.uk

Clearing sets student on path with F1 team

A Coventry University student is gearing up for a dream graduate position in Formula 1 after finding the perfect course through clearing.Titus Takyi Adarkwa, 22, will soon be playing a key role as part of former F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton’s team, having secured a graduate position in the quality department at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains.

“I’ll be checking over the engines for Lewis Hamilton’s and George Russell’s Formula One cars, ensuring there are no defects,” says Adarkwa.“I will also be involved in examining the power units and seeing how they can be improved. It feels a bit daunting to be part of a team that has the drivers’ lives in its hands.There’s a lot of pressure, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

It’s been quite a journey for Adarkwa, who back in 2019 was facing some difficult choices after just missing out on the grades he needed to take up two university offers.Despite the setback, he set about looking for alternative courses, eventually finding his way to a clearing open day at Coventry University. The rest, as they say, is history.

“I’d been doing a bit of research on different universities and knew from attending Warwick previously that there was another university close by that lots of people were visiting, so I decided to take a look at Coventry’s clearing open day,” he says.

During his studies at Coventry, Adarkwa founded the university’s Manufacturing Society and, as president, organised a special live taskmaster event at the Ellen Terry building.
Coventry University’s established links with Mercedes helped put Adarkwa in the frame for the graduate position.
For further informationwww.bit.ly/3LrzI7x

Bringing more accuracy to standards for long axes

The latest release of Renishaw’s CARTO software suite, version 4.9, provides analysis-based data-stitch functionality for long axes using Renishaw’s XM-60 multi-axis calibrator and XL-80 laser system. The new analysis-based data-stitch function in CARTO Explore allows users of XM-60 and XL-80 laser systems to analyse stitched data to international standards. By adding this function to CARTO Explore, those tasked with calibrating longer axes can now easily stitch together and analyse data captured from the XM-60 using the target-based measurement mode.

In short, the added capability enables XL-80 laser system users to break down measurements of longer axes into smaller sections and stitch them together. This capability reduces the environmental (noise) effect on each section and increases the accuracy of the total measurement.

Dan Throup, product owner for calibration software, says: “Adding data stitch for the XL-80 laser enables measurement of long axes in several short sections, which is particularly beneficial now that short-range straightness optics, with better performance, are usable for longer axis measurements.”

Renishaw demonstrated the CARTO software suite, its premium digital ecosystem for the company’s laser calibration products, at EMO 2023 in Hanover last week.

CARTO consists of three applications: Capture to collect laser measurement data; Explore for analysis to international standards; and Compensate for error correction.
For further informationwww.renishaw.com