Month: April 2016

The global bicycle industry was worth US$48bn in 2014, driven by the sale of about 133m bikes. It is expected to reach an estimated US$65bn by 2019 on the back of rising fuel prices and growing traffic congestion. Boutique bicycle manufacturers Astir Frames, Bouwmeester Composites and Finch Composites are taking advantage of SA’s strong manufacturing history and access to university testing facilities to gain a foothold in the potentially lucrative cycling market. Astir Frames specialises in long-lasting tailor-made titanium bicycles. The bikes are built using parts from around the world and assembled in Adelaide. Astir’s founder James Moros said the decline of the automotive industry in the state was opening doors for him. General Motors Holden’s car manufacturing plant in Adelaide will close next year, costing thousands of jobs not only at the plant but also at component manufacturers that have supplied it for decades. “If there are factory machines that are idle, I’ll ask to use them. I’m not scavenging, but I’m utilising available equipment that other people aren’t using at the time,” he…

Remote Visual Inspection (RVI) of materials, components and structures allows engineers and technicians the ability to inspect internal surfaces and other features of an engine, motor or machinery. Videoscopes are used to carry out inspections without causing damage to delicate parts of an aircraft. Olympus — a world-leading manufacturer of optical, electronic and precision engineering products — has been at the forefront of videoscope development for many decades. A videoscope is an inspection instrument that consists of a small camera mounted on a length of cable. The camera can be controlled remotely by an operator while it is inserted in the cavity to be inspected. Modern videoscopes incorporate powerful LED light sources that are delivered through the tip of the probe, as well as motors to move the lens tip assembly. According to Sean Fogarty, Senior Sales Specialist at Olympus in Queensland, the greatest advances and improvements for…

What these triggers show is that your business’ tax compliance – in particular the annual income tax return – is more than a routine process. The ATO uses this as a key method to assess audit activity and select businesses for review. Businesses demonstrating best practice will have an active tax risk management process in place, involving senior management and key external advisors. Have financial performance that is out of kilter with your industry As a matter of course the ATO will statistically analyse your business’ tax returns. For manufacturing businesses one aspect is performance compared to industry peers. If your data is inconsistent with the industry, this can be an indicator of tax issues. The ATO releases industry benchmarks, though they are limited for the manufacturing industry due to the diverse range of businesses in the sector and…

Adelaide company Micro-X has recently won a contract with the Department of Defence to demonstrate the technology for stand-off imaging of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The company also has a contract with the Department of Defence to demonstrate a mobile X-ray unit prototype to be used in portable army hospitals and by “shock trauma platoons” on the edge of battle zones. Micro-X recently moved its headquarters from Victoria to South Australia in preparation for the production of its core product, mobile X-ray machines for the medical industry. Managing Director Peter Rowland said Micro-X had successfully produced an 80kg mobile X-ray machine – just a fraction of the size and weight of the 500kg-600kg machines that are traditionally used in hospitals. He said Micro-X had the rights to apply technology from a company in the US that was commercialising the carbon nanotubes as the electron emitter within the X-ray tube. “In one of these 600kg monsters, the X-ray tube itself weighs about 26kg and if you…

Running 11-13 May at the Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park, this year’s NMW offers insights and information that could spark positive change for your business. NMW 2016 will give manufacturers their ‘first look’ at several game-changing technologies: including Australia’s first public exhibition of the much-anticipated Sawyer from Rethink Robotics, at 11.40am on 12 May. Distributed in Australia by Impact Robotics, Sawyer is a collaborative robot – cobot – which works safely alongside people, without needing to be caged. “We’re participating in NMW to fire up people’s imaginations with how advanced collaborative robots like Sawyer can quickly, easily take over machine tending, packaging and other precise but repetitive and wearying tasks,” comments Impact Robotics’ Jo Levett. “For as little as $4/hr, you can free up your staff for the higher order work that can move your business ahead.” NMW 2016 will also serve as the launchpad for Australian company 3D Brink’s newest 3D printer, which for the first time in the…

Cemented carbide is a hard material used extensively in cutting tools intended for machining. Within an industrial context, references to carbide or tungsten carbide usually refer to this cemented composite. Carbide cutters deliver many advantages. In the vast majority of cases, they provide a better surface finish on the machined part, and allow faster machining compared with high-speed steel (HSS) cutters. In addition, carbide tools can withstand higher temperatures at the cutter/workpiece interface than standard HSS tools, which is the principal reason for their faster machining capability. Carbide usually provides superior performance for the cutting of tough materials such as high-alloyed steel or stainless steel, as well as in situations where other cutting tools would wear away faster, such as when performing high-quantity, extended production runs. Industries began using cemented carbide for cutting metals in the 1930s. Since that time carbide has become by far the most popular material for production of cutting tools. While some tools that feature relatively small sizes are wholly produced from carbide, others use carbide in the cutting area only. Originally the…

The advantages of EBW include a high power density with very low overall heat input and therefore minimal distortion. EB welded parts require a minimal, if any, post-weld machining and unlike other fusion welding processes, they require no shielding gases. The weld quality is exceptional, with deep penetration and a narrow fusion zone resulting in near parent metal strength. EBW is used for joining ferrous metals, light metals, and precious metals and their alloys to themselves or to each other, such as aluminium, nickel, copper, stainless steel, platinum, titanium, tungsten and tantalum. Typical applications include aerospace, automotive, marine and integrated electronics. The low heat input means that, for example, internally mounted, heat sensitive electronic packages may be sealed in a welded enclosure without damage. EB Fusion provides a unique EBW service to industry Australia-wide, in conjunction with high-precision CNC turning and engineering capabilities, with a specific focus on metals and engineering thermoplastics such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The electron beam welding system                                                                                                                                 The EBW system…

APAS is a family of automation solutions designed for the flexible, networked, smart factories of the future. APAS robots can take over dangerous, strenuous, monotonous and dirty jobs, leaving people free to do higher-quality work. Unlike many systems available on the market, however, they can safely be used as mobile and flexible solutions, without any guarding. Visitors to the event had the chance to see the new APAS assistant up close, and to learn about its ground-breaking features, such as its innovative new ‘Sensor Skin’ safety technology, and its highly intuitive, user-friendly operator interface. The event also included a tour of Bosch’s diode manufacturing facility, where it was possible to see the APAS assistant in action in a manufacturing environment. Bosch’s plant already boasts an impressive degree of automation, and the way that APAS had been incorporated onto the production line demonstrated the extent to which its standardised operating concept and interconnectivity allow flexible integration into…

Sue Smith is the Executive Officer at the Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN)’s national and Victorian office. Smith hopes that the proposed defence spending will also provide increased business opportunities for AIDN’s 700-plus members. These are located Australia-wide, comprising mainly defence and security SMEs, plus Primes such as Boeing and Thales. “The largest chapter is AIDN-Vic with 240 members,” says Smith. “We disseminate information to our chapters Australia-wide and run networking functions.” This February, Smith, sponsored by AIDN-Vic. and 10 AIDN SME members, joined Team Defence Australia (TDA)’s exhibition and delegation at the Singapore Air show. A number of potential opportunities were identified by AIDN-Vic members during the air show. Smith explains: “TDA is an integral part of the Department of Defence, and it helps promote export of Australian industry products and…

In contrast to traditional tactile methods, InfiniteFocus is able to perform 3D measurements without touching the surface. It measures whole areas instead of only surface profiles, and delivers true colour information in addition to the 3D data. Focus variation combines the small depth of focus of an optical system with vertical scanning to provide topographical and colour information from the variation of focus. The main component of the system is a precision optic containing various lens systems that can be equipped with different objectives, allowing measurements with different resolution. With a beam splitting mirror, light emerging from a white light source is inserted into the optical path of the system and focused onto the specimen via the objective. Depending on the topography of the specimen, the light is reflected into several directions as soon as it hits the specimen via the objective. If the topography shows diffuse reflective properties, the light is reflected equally…

The function of the part and system capability drives the designer to allocate the ‘acceptable’ amount of deviation to the perfect part, while ensuring mating parts fit properly and function as intended. The goal of tolerancing is to achieve the best balance between high cost with tolerances too tight, and low cost with tolerances too loose. Traditional tolerancing methods were simple – every dimension had a ± allowance. If the drawing dimension stated: 10.00mm ±0.10mm, then an acceptable part would measure between 9.90mm and 10.10mm. Progression in the engineering process and part design drove a new method of implementing tolerances: geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T). Using relatively simple tools, GD&T allows for more comprehensive, consistent tolerances for key dimensions, with a focus on part function and feature relationships rather than the traditional ‘trial and error’ approach. The benefits of GD&T are well documented and wide-ranging: it helps avoid rejection of functionally acceptable parts, simplifies gage design, allows for bonus tolerances for increased part acceptance, improves the quality of your product, and…

In the first three months of this work year, 22 Australian workers had already been killed on the job. Australian businesses are being strongly urged to take responsibility for their own safety, value their wellbeing and positively pursue safety as a priority whist at work. Employers, business leaders and employees are particularly being urged to play a more active role in developing safer workplaces for all. Safety Leaders Group and myosh will be speaking at a series of free seminars at Safety in Action, expanding on how to empower staff to take ownership of safety and ways to measure and effectively develop the leadership practices that drive safety. They will be joined by safety experts who will share the latest research, discuss regulatory compliance issues and showcase technological innovations. “Creating a safety culture is an important part of the conversation at Safety in Action with an internal industry poll highlighting 87% of Australian workers believe their workplace could benefit from workplace safety improvements,” said Keith Barks at…

What if there was ONE parameter that on a daily basis describes comprehensively what happens, and is linked directly with the bottom line? Just one number sent to you wherever you are at that moment that means you know if the facility made or lost money. Well there is a measure, and it is called Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), based around the following factors. 1) The Total Available Time per year is 365 x 24 hours, and this is what the banks charge you interest on. Banks do not reduce your interest premiums if you only work one shift. 2) The Operating Time Planned is the manufacturing time planned, which could be one shift or whatever. The balance time not planned for is called Unplanned. 3) Actual Running Time is the time taken to produce the output. Output is zero during downtime. 4)…