Month: April 2018

Adding rotating tools to turning centres means you can combine several set-ups in a single machine for a more streamlined and productive machining process. To accomplish this, turn-mill machines were introduced in the 1990s. The initial idea was to enable driving a milling cutter, drill or threading tap on one or more tool positions in the turret to eliminate limitations of polar interpolation and other related programming difficulties. To improve reach, an extra set of ways was added to move the rotating tool across the spindle face. This was accomplished by mounting the tools on revolver sides or on its face, by installing the Y-axis ways on a slanted bed or by using an independent milling head. Both machine tool makers and manufacturers soon recognised the benefits of integrating both milling and turning operations. Today, the Y-axis option has become a…

Potential applications for the proton battery include household storage of electricity from solar photovoltaic panels, as done currently by the Tesla ‘Power wall’, which uses lithium ion batteries. With some modifications and scaling up, proton battery technology may also be used for medium-scale storage on electricity grids – like the giant lithium battery in South Australia – as well as powering electric vehicles. The working prototype proton battery uses a carbon electrode as a hydrogen store, coupled with a reversible fuel cell to produce electricity. It’s the carbon electrode plus protons from water that give the proton battery its environmental, energy and potential economic edge, says lead researcher Professor John Andrews. “Our latest advance is a crucial step towards cheap, sustainable proton batteries that can help meet our future energy needs without further damaging our already fragile environment,” says Professor Andrews. “As the world moves towards inherently-variable…

The Flinders team has partnered with Swinburne University of Technology, advanced materials company First Graphene and Melbourne-based manufacturer Kremford. The collaboration is developing a GO-powered battery, a super-capacity energy storage alternative to emerging lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology. Graphene is the lightest, strongest, most electrically conductive material available and has been predicted to generate revolutionary new products in many industry sectors. But so far unreliable quality and poor manufacturing processes has prevented an industrial graphene market. In 2015, Flinders scientists were awarded an Ig Nobel Award for creating the Vortex Fluidic Device (VFD) and using it to unboil an egg. The device has also been used to accurately slice carbon nanotubes to an average length of 170 nanometres using only water, a solvent and a laser, and to process graphene to a high quality for commercial use. VFD creator and professor of clean technology at Flinders Professor Colin Raston said the production of GO from graphite ore with minimal waste was an important part of the collaborative project.…

The movement of goods from A to B may seem a simple process on paper for the average consumer. But it has taken years of development, progress and innovation to reach this level of streamlining, and that process is only becoming faster and more efficient. For the industrial supply chain, this can be an intricate process, involving a variety of stakeholders with countless variables to consider along the way when moving goods from one place to another. Road, rail, air and sea transport, warehousing, packaging services – there are many different facets involved in the process and adding value to every step of the supply chain. Giving the freight and logistics providers, and their customers – manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers – the opportunity to see the businesses, technology and innovation leading the cutting edge of progress within the Australian and international supply chain firsthand is one way to help the industry…

In CNC systems, the design of a mechanical part and its manufacturing program is highly automated. The part’s mechanical dimensions are defined using computer-aided design (CAD) software, and then translated into manufacturing directives by computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software. The resulting directives are transformed by post-processor software into the specific commands necessary for the chosen machine to produce the component. What that means, in simple terms, is that the days of “one man, one machine” are now a fast-fading memory. One programmer at a computer console can program, implement, and supervise machine work that would be the equivalent of several operators on lathes, grinders, routers, mills, and shapers in earlier times. Computer-controlled, automated machining methods can achieve reaches, holds, and other actions that human operators and conventional machines typically don’t do efficiently. Generally, lathes and machining centres have two axes, but more sophisticated models have more, allowing for more advanced jobs to be…

Broens began operations in Sydney’s south-west suburbs in 1979. Thriving as a manufacturer providing subcontract toolmaking and general engineering services, it soon diversified into sectors such as automotive, aerospace, medical, mining and heavy industry. In 2007, it took over two companies in Elizabeth, northern Adelaide – Static Engineering and Calbic Engineering – and consolidated them to form Broens SA. By then, Broens was a globally respected provider of design, manufacturing and engineering solutions, exporting to more than 16 countries and involved in projects such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the F35 Joint Strike Fighter. However, towards the end of 2016, the company was placed into liquidation. At that point Adelaide City Engineering Pty Ltd came into the story. Adelaide City Engineering was formed in 2003 by Timothy Lillie as a new venture. The aim of the business was to provide quality services with continual improvement to its customers while also providing a safe…

The Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame recognises exemplary companies in the manufacturing industry. This year’s event is being delivered in partnership with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). The theme of this year’s awards is Advancing Victorian Manufacturing, highlighting innovation and the strengths of Victorian companies in advanced manufacturing. There will also be a new award, Woman Manufacturer of the Year, to recognise outstanding women working in the manufacturing industry. Other categories include Young Manufacturer of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year and Leader in Workforce Skills Development and Company Induction. Awards will also be given to companies operating in high-growth manufacturing sectors: transport, defence & construction technologies; medical technology and pharmaceuticals; new energy technologies; and food & fibre. “I’m proud that this year’s awards feature the new Woman Manufacturer of the Year award, recognising all of the women in the sector breaking down barriers and succeeding in their careers,” said Victorian Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll. “These awards are all about celebrating advanced…

Having a stand enables AMTIL to show our support for members visiting or exhibiting at NMW, while also providing the opportunity to engage with Australian manufacturing businesses more generally and discuss the ways it can help them. For our members, there’ll also be ‘Happy Hour’ drinks at the stand from 4.00pm on the Wednesday and Thursday of the show (9 and 10 May). So any members at the show should drop by Stand 3426 for refreshments and a chat. AMTIL’s presence at NMW will also serve as a curtain-raiser for an extensive program of events that we have planned between now and May of next year. Most notable among these will be the 2018 AMTIL National Conference, which will be held at Leonda by the Yarra in Hawthorn, Melbourne, on 22 August. The one-day event follows on from last year’s highly successful inaugural Conference, held at the same venue. Conference plans taking shape This year the theme for the AMTIL National Conference will be…

For example, every 10% reduction in total vehicle weight achieves an average fuel economy improvement of 4.9%; however, a decrease of 100kg in the weight of a car can also cause a 3%-4.5% increase in safety risk. One way forward is to develop new materials that are lighter and stronger than those they replace. Responding to the needs of vehicle manufacturers, steel makers around the world are developing new advanced high-strength steels (AHSSs) that are both lighter and stronger than conventional steel, offering improved fuel efficiency without compromising safety. According to an environmental case study reported by the World Steel Association, the use of every 1kg of AHSSs in a five-passenger family car could achieve a total lifecycle saving of 8kg greenhouse gas, which corresponds to a 5.7% reduction in emissions over the life of the vehicle. In their paper ‘Thermomechanical processing of advanced high strength steels’, University of Wollongong (UoW) researchers Professor Zhengyi Jiang and Dr…

Using an innovative and progressive business model, Flow Power tackles the issue of price and environment with a unique offering. Its renewable power, sourced from Ararat Wind Farm, can be used in real time to offset grid electricity consumption, potentially saving thousands of dollars in energy costs. ANCA, a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines, will now buy its power from Ararat Wind Farm through a power purchasing agreement (PPA) to access fixed rates for long-term savings. While very common around the world, this deal is one of the first in Australia. The generation is offset against the business’s use, so that when ANCA uses more than what is generated in an interval, Flow Power sources additional electricity from the wholesale market to power the operation. When ANCA uses less, there is an option to selling the electricity back to Flow Power at an agreed price or back to the wholesale market. “At ANCA we are always looking for…

The free-to-attend event offers unrivalled access to renowned exhibitors and world-class speakers over three days. Themed ‘Where Innovation Meets Opportunity’ in recognition of the leads, lessons and partnerships formed at the event each year, NMW 2018 will focus on and explore the impact of digital transformation, innovative design and business management on the manufacturing industry. The exhibition area will showcase more than 150 exhibits by leading companies from around the world, across 12 Product Zones: advanced materials, additive manufacturing, automation & robotics, electrical, engineering, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), machine tools, packaging and plastics, industrial safety, supply chain and logistics, warehousing and materials handling, and welding technology. This year’s speaker program also features a leading-edge series of seminars, showcases, workshops and networking sessions. The event will host 40 presenters including Dresden Optics Founder Bruce Jeffreys, Plastfix’s CEO Mario Dimovsk, Apollo Kitchens’ Managing Director Peter Bader, AusIndustry’s Director of Accelerating Commercialisation Larry Lopez, and SSS Manufacturing’s CEO Chris Brugeaud. “National Manufacturing Week is Australia’s only fully integrated annual manufacturing exhibition, and provides an unrivalled opportunity for delegates to…

The Tonsley Manufacturing Innovation Hub (TMI Hub) at Flinders University’s Tonsley campus in Adelaide is designed to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technology among high-tech and manufacturing businesses, as well as fostering research & development. The launch of the state-of-the-art facility comes at a time when the Australian economy is transitioning from a traditional manufacturing base to more digitalised, knowledge-based industries following the end of automotive manufacturing with the closure of Holden’s Adelaide plant late last year. The TMI Hub was officially opened on 9 February by South Australian Manufacturing and Innovation Minister Kyam Maher. The Minister said it was important to ensure the advanced manufacturing workforce and companies had the ability to compete globally in niche markets as the economy transitioned. “Industry 4.0 is the next technological wave that will create opportunities for South Australia’s advanced manufacturers to diversify into growth sectors such as defence, food and health,” said Maher. “The TMI Hub will further cement Tonsley’s reputation as a global centre of excellence for industry and research collaboration, with…

If successful, this cutting edge new technology could form part of the Government’s Future Submarines Program (SEA1000), the largest and most complex military program ever undertaken in Australia. SEA1000 involves the design and construction in Adelaide of 12 highly advanced submarines with a range in excess of 33,000km and capable of operating independently for up to 80 days. For a non-nuclear submarine those figures are already impressive. CSIRO and QinetiQ will work on making it even more so. “Together, we’ll be testing whether MOFs can allow submarines to remain submerged longer,” says CSIRO Project Leader Associate Professor Matthew Hill. “MOFs have the largest internal surface area of any known substance, which can be optimised to capture gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). The more CO2 MOFs can capture and store, the longer a submarine can potentially remain underwater, undetected.” “If proven, MOFs could give Australian submarines an edge: a performance advantage…