Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News - Displaying items by tag: Smart Press Shop

Schuler: The Smart Press Shop

The simulation of the entire system optimises output and reduces the time required for commissioning.

EuroBLECH 2016

Schuler’s launched it’s “Smart Press Shop” concept at EuroBLECH, demonstrating how networking solutions in forming technology can increase not only process reliability, but also cost-effectiveness in production.

Quick Box - Features

Rosy Future For Asia Pacific

The aerospace industry in this region is expected to be on the up, says aircraft manufacturers.

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Voice Of The Industry: Is Now The Time To Try Direct Digital Manufacturing?

Scott Crump, chairman and chief innovation officer of Stratasys explains how direct digital manufacturing, otherwise known as 3D printing, is fast emerging as a disruptive technology that may make manufacturers rethink manufacturing.

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Walking Amongst Giants: The Chinese Growth Miracle

China at this point, despite some jitters in the stock markets remained poised to challenge the United States as the world’s top economic superpower. With this, manufacturing in China has seen unprecedented growth but will this economic fairytale sustain? Story contributed by Exxon Mobil.

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Quick Box - Machine Tools

Ensuring Accuracy On The Shop Floor

With many shop-floor measurement options available in today’s marketplace, understanding the technology differences and the impact they have on performance before selecting a system. Sea Chiahui, regional product manager - stationary at Hexagon Manufacturing Asia Pacific gives an insight into the operating principles behind its 4.5.4 SF and 7.10.7 SF coordinate measuring machines.

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It’s Always Better To Do It Yourself

We see how a Taiwanese contract manufacturer improved their delivery of parts for an optical communication components and sub-systems supplier by moving production in-house. By Matt Bailey, international correspondent for Haas Automation

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Human-Robot Collaboration To Drive The Automotive Industry (Part II)

Teamwork between human and machine is key in enabling manufacturers to ride on the growth of the automotive industry. By Shermine Gotfredsen, general manager, APAC, Universal Robots

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Quick Box - Metrology & Design

Laser Trackers: Accuracy In Aircraft Assembly

These trackers make extremely appealing metrology instruments, especially the ability to capture large volumes of 3-dimensional coordinate data quickly and in real-time. By Minta Chen, marketing specialist, Faro.

The accuracy of an aircraft assembly jig directly affects the precision of a piece that it produces, which, in turn, affects an aircraft’s flight safety and the safety of its crew and property.

Typically, laser trackers are used to inspect the aircraft assembly jigs which form part of the production line. Once component parts of the jig are manufactured, they are put together to become the tool on which aircraft assembly takes place.

Inspection of aircraft tooling jigs with the laser tracker.

These trackers are extremely appealing metrology instruments due to their size, portability, repeatability and accuracy. In addition, the ability to capture large volumes of 3-dimensional coordinate data quickly and in real-time, appeal to the technicians involved.

Through accurate measurements taken, a technician can check to ensure that various component parts are in the right position and within tolerance, as stipulated by design. Without the tracker, these measurements would not be possible with common measurement methods such as fixed coordinate measuring machines or traditional tools.

Manufacturing Applications

Not too long ago, manufacturers had to perform tests on parts and components using stationary coordinate measurement machines (CMMs). This proved vexing and difficult if you were trying to measure large parts or parts still on the production machine. With the portability of laser trackers, 3D measurements can now be completed with unprecedented speed and minimum disruption.

The aerospace industry was one of the earlier adopters in the technology. Using one or more laser trackers, metrology engineers could rapidly and accurately deliver 3D measurements and process improvements.

Tianjin TQM Feiyue Aviation (a subsidiary of Tianjin Motor Dies) based in Tianjin, China, focuses on aviation equipment technology development, transfer and consultancy, as well as the manufacturing of aviation equipment such as spare parts and aircraft sheet metal parts.

Tooling for a Bombardier C-series hatch door.

The company purchased a Faro Laser Tracker back in 2008. Tianjin TQM Feiyue’s project manager, Yan Zhichao, said: “At that time, Airbus was using the Faro Laser Tracker on their shop floor. That prompted us to purchase from Faro, because we wanted to ensure consistency between us and our customer.”

Seven years later, the company purchased a Laser Tracker Vantage, the CAM2 Measure software, as well as the Prime from Faro. Two additional laser trackers and a FaroArm in were added in 2015.

Making Full Use

At TQM Feiyue, the team’s work revolves around different assembly jigs and transportation jigs. Despite the wide-ranging measurement needs of between 8 – 16 m, and accuracy requirements of 0.05 – 0.08 mm, the laser trackers were able to meet the company’s variety of needs. Separately, the FaroArm is used to verify smaller-sized tooling at time of delivery, or used to complement the Laser Trackers in measuring difficult-to-reach areas.

Inspecting a LE700 small aircraft assembly jig with a laser tracker.

In 2015, TQM Feiyue built and commissioned a complete set of aircraft assembly line for General Aviation International (Xi’an) Aircraft Technology (Gavin) line of private jets. The laser trackers were used to perform measurements and inspections, especially in the final stages of the project, before handover.

The company found that its usage of the laser trackers increased over time, with its team clocking as much as 12 hours on the devices each day. The increase in frequency is linked to the need for accuracy on the assembly jigs. The team would bring the laser tracker on-site to take pre-delivery measurements. In addition, as a post-sales service, TQM Feiyue would deploy the laser trackers at their customers’ premises 60 percent of the time, using the device on a variety of work environments.

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Inspect Early, Reduce Wastage

Inspection software to verify potential errors on machined parts are critical to ensuring wastage and eventually improving cost savings. By Peter Dickin, Marketing Manager, Delcam.

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Deal With Free-Form Surface Measurement The Tactile Way

What happens when you are presented with the prospect of measuring free-form surfaces without optical measuring options? Contributed by CP Chuah, GM, commercial operations Asia Pacific, Wenzel Asia.

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Quick Box - Sheet Metalworking

Getting Up To Speed

“Fibernomics” (as coined by Bystronic), describes an all-encompassing economic principle which seeks to give the competitive advantage in today’s sheet metal fabrication environment. It begins with the company’s fibre laser cutting system. Contributed by Oliver Hergt, editor corporate communications, Bystronic.

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Fibre Laser Reaching Out To Medium Sheet Thicknesses

We see how fibre laser cutting technology is a meaningful extension to existing CO2 laser cutting systems. By Oliver Hergt, editor corporate communications, Bystronic Group

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Getting The Right Punch

The concept of punching designates a slitting process in which a sheet is severed in one stroke while shapes such as round holes are created in the part, and external contours are cut with single strokes. Punching specialist Trumpf takes a swing at explaining the methodologies and innovations of punching.

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Quick Box - Product Highlights

Schuler: Crossbar Robot

Schuler's Crossbar Robots are used to transfer parts from one stage of a press line to the next. They can remove up to four parts at a time from the die, change their orientation where necessary, and place them directly into the next die.

The manufacturer says the robot is suitable for automating conventional mechanical and hydraulic press lines - also for loading and unloading - as well as for retrofitting existing lines.

A modified drive system with two motors and transmission has boosted the robot's speed - and halved its weight: making the 'artificial arm' some 20 percent more dynamic. The maximum load (including tooling), however, has remained unchanged at 90 kilograms.

The robot is based on a six-axis industrial robot, to which Schuler's engineers have added a further two axes. These represent the hand of the robot arm and the horizontal drive, thus increasing maneuverability, flexibility and output.

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Fluke: 279 FC Thermal Multimeter

The 279 FC Thermal Multimeter is the first test tool to integrate a full-featured true RMS (TRMS) digital multimeter (DMM) with a thermal camera in one device to speed troubleshooting.

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Trumpf: Versatile Press Brake

Trumpf says high axis speeds and acceleration rates coupled with operating aids make the TruBend Series 5000 a machine capable of high productivity. In addition, the manufacturer has included a control that allows easy human-machine interaction. Called the Touchpoint TruBend control, it offers different views, which focus on the essentials while still providing all the familiar options.

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