Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News - Displaying items by tag: CNC control

Okuma: GA26W Grinder

Okuma’s new GA26W high speed, compact grinder is equipped with the intelligent OSP-P300G CNC control. The open architecture OSP-P control runs on a Windows-based platform and fully integrates the machine, motors, drives and encoders.

Platform-Based Design For Modern CNC Applications

Machine Tools

Machine builders are starting to face limitations with the traditional CNC control, opening the door for platform based approach to CNC as they allow higher performance, flexibility and cost management. By David Chia, MD of Beckhoff Automation

Quick Box - Features

Digitalisation Of The Manufaturing Sector (Part II)

In Part II of the "Digitalisation Of The Manufacturing Sector", we look at its evolution towards an Industry 4.0 manufacturing model. By Imtiaz Ahmed, Asia Pacific Mobil SHC Brand Manager, ExxonMobil Lubricants

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Getting The Finest Quality

Haimer’s shrinking technology enriches machining centres with precision. Contributed by Wolfgang Klingauf.

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Putting The Automation On Automotive

With articulated robots and advanced software applications that can simulate every stage of production, one company’s robotic solutions help a luxury automotive maker construct their signature models. Contributed by Comau.

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Quick Box - Machine Tools

Let’s Get Grinding

Pat Mccluskey, co-founder of ANCA shares the advances in linear motor technology and how they will improve the tool grinding process.

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Making The Right Choice: Smart Materials

APMEN interviewed Prof Dr Tim Hosenfeldt, senior VP, corporate innovation, Schaeffler, on the importance of material choice and the application of smart materials in the manufacturing and production sector.

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Rolling On Forward

With more autonomy to the Southeast Asian operations, Schaeffler hopes to get a further foothold in the region with its offerings. Syed Shah speaks to Mark Gabel, VP industrial and aerospace, Schaeffler Southeast Asia, to get his inputs on the company’s plans and directions for the region in 2016 and beyond.

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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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Getting The Costs Down

Having an effective CMM machine makes a difference when it comes to large scale machining in order to keep material and production costs down. Contributed by Renishaw.

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Getting Back To The Roots: Revisiting Applications

We have come a long way since the introduction of software applications which can reap healthy rewards in machining, metrology and manufacturing. Syed Shah takes you back on a spin down memory lane.

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Quick Box - Sheet Metalworking

Cutting And Weld Preparation: The Many Faces Of Plasma Cutting

Tex Whiting, consumable sales manager for Hypertherm explains to us about the many forms of plasma cutting under different conditions and how to get the best out of it.

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Efficiency & Sustainability in Sheet Metalworking Machinery: Getting All Green About It

The global sheet metalworking industry is a major user of energy and the cost of electricity is becoming more expensive every year. Paul Hillam, area export manager, SafanDarley tells us more about energy reduction trends in the sheet metalworking arena.

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Innovating The Cut

Oliver Hergt, editor corporate communications, Bystronic shares with APMEN some highlights from the fields of laser cutting, bending, and software during the Bystronic event in Tianjin had a focus on customers’ increasing requirements for higher productivity.

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Quick Box - Product Highlights

Mitsui Seiki: Vertical Machining Centre

Mitsui Seiki has evolved its Vertex 550-5X line of machines with new features and capabilities, and a broader range of options and configurations within the series. The model series, comprising six distinct models, is now called Vertex 55X II. Linear axes (X, Y, Z) strokes are 550 mm x 600 mm x 500 mm.

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Seco: 150.10-JETI Parting-off System

The Seco 150.10-JETI parting-off system comprises high speed steel blades (available in 15 mm, 20 mm and 25 mm sizes), Jetstream Tooling technology and tool blocks with coolant inlets. These deliver a high-pressure coolant straight to the cutting edge, providing an effective means for penetrating the friction zone between the cutting edge and workpiece.

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Mazak: Variaxis i-800 Vertical Machining Centre

The Variaxis i-800 vertical machining centre has multiple-surface, simultaneous 5-axis machining capabilities for processing large, heavy parts with complex profiled surfaces in single setups.

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Manufacturing Applications

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