February 10, 2022
Dynamic milling or advanced roughing are typical descriptions of this time- and cost-saving strategy. These CAM-based strategies are ones that centre on a cutting tool’s arc of contact and its average chip load. By adapting the tool’s arc of contact via its CAM-generated toolpath, roughing speeds are increased, effectively controlling process temperature, applying higher feeds per tooth, and increasing depths of cut to significantly shorten overall part machining cycle times – all without placing any additional strain on machine tool spindles. Arc of contact and thermal load in relation to cutting speeds A cutting tool’s arc of contact is an independent variable that influences thermal load on the tool and is the key to optimised roughing operations. The maximum arc of contact on any tool is 180 degrees (its diameter). At a full arc of contact, the radial cutting depth (or cutting width) is the same as the cutter diameter, and represented…
February 10, 2022
Brisbane-based Minecorp Australia is an industry leader in fleet vehicle modification, working across many industry sectors, including military & government, mining & resources, construction & civil, services & utilities, and hire leasing and dealers. The company uses the Demmeler tables and accessories to firstly produce prototypes for clients, including roll-over protection systems (ROPS), tray bodies, tool & service boxes, and vehicle accessories. Once a design is finalised for a client, the Demmeler system is used to produce a jig that will then be used over and over to manufacture the item. “By manufacturing our jigs, we free up the table for other work, particularly for R&D and prototypes,” says Minecorp Australia’s Business Manager, Sheree Lamont. For example, in the manufacture of the roll-over protection systems (ROPS) for a vehicle, a jig is used to ensure the tubing is in the right place and is cut and fabricated accurately to fit. “The jig needs to be made accurately so we get the same result every…
February 10, 2022
ISO 14001 is a voluntary standard that sets out criteria for implementing an effective environmental management system. It guides businesses in systematising and improving their environmental management efforts and promotes methods to protect the environment and contribute to a sustainable future. AMTIL member Elexon secured the certification by demonstrating that consideration of the environment at every stage of the production cycle is a top priority. “With the electronics industry and its products having a higher-than-average impact on today’s environment, we take waste elimination, effective and efficient production processes and smart and responsible product design considering the whole lifecycle of our product, very seriously,” said Elexon CEO Frank Faller. Management Systems and their successful installation in company processes has always been a key focus for Elexon Electronics. The manufacturer received ISO 9001 15 years ago, just one year after establishing the company. “We can’t be complacent and we will continue to improve every aspect of the production processes, keeping the whole lifecycle process in mind,” said Elexon’s quality manager, Kylie Warren. “We need to make sure that we drive down waste…
February 3, 2022
The full Oxford Economics report has so much detail in it, I found it hard to know where to start in giving you some information that may be of interest. So what I have done is focus on areas that may give some context to the overall report and highlight some high-level activity that is apparently on the global stage. The most recent survey data points to weaker manufacturing activity in the quarter from July-September 2022. The lower right quadrant of the Global Supply Chain Barometer shows a manufacturing sector still expanding, but in most cases, surveys have weakened significantly over the last three months. The lower left corner is consistent both with shrinking manufacturing output and worsening over the last three months. Of the major economies shown in this graph, only India and Indonesia are still seeing an…
February 3, 2022
Lovitt Technologies Australia is a leading manufacturer of complex, precision engineered, structural components and assemblies for commercial, business and military aerospace platforms. Central to the company’s current and future success is the selection and use of best in class CNC machining equipment. Flying in the face of the impact of the pandemic on Australian business and the economy, the company made two very significant investments during 2020 and 2021: a Mazak Vortex e-1600V/10 five-axis machining centre, and a Mazak Variaxis i-700 MPP five-axis machining centre equipped with a Mazak Multiple Pallet Pool (MPP) – all supplied by John Hart. “COVID-19 has had an impact on our business, but our vision and commitment are long-term,” says Bruce Ramsay, Manufacturing Director of Lovitt Technologies Australia. “Our decision to invest in these machines was driven by a combination of seeing a market for larger structures where we felt we had something to offer, and the need to do existing work more efficiently to remain competitive. “We considered all brands with an Australian presence for each requirement, but Mazak had the…
February 3, 2022
Craft Health is a healthcare research & development company committed to 3D-printed personalised healthcare. When it began looking for an accurate and precise print head for the manufacturing of personalised tablets, it came across ViscoTec. The solution that it needed had to comply with any regulatory requirement for manufacturing of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. The ViscoTec print head vipro-HEAD convinced with its technology: using the endless-piston principle, it is possible to achieve accurate and precise dosing of Craft Blends – a proprietary mixture of different GRAS excipients for 3D printing and various controlled release profiles. Other advantages of ViscoTec are the stepper motor version in the print head, that allows easy integration to already existing gantry systems for 3D printing. Moreover, the wetted and non-wetted surfaces can be clearly separated and cleaned accordingly. To meet the requirements of Craft Health, the wetted surfaces of the vipro-HEAD were customised and refabricated using SS316L material to comply with FDA regulations. Dr Seng Han Lim is the co-founder…
February 3, 2022
In an Australian and industry first, the agreement between the two Adelaide-based companies will see Tindo and Reclaim PV working towards a sustainable solution to address the problem of solar panels going to landfill when they’re disposed of – a problem that could amount to 100,000 tonnes of modules by 2035. The agreement comes as Reclaim PV continues to add partners to its national recovery and recycling network and commences recycling at its Lonsdale facility in Adelaide, and Tindo Solar installs an upgraded production line in its new factory. Shayne Jaenisch, Chief Executive Officer of Tindo Solar, said while his company did not have an immediate solar panel landfill problem because Tindo products were made to last 25 years, Tindo Group’s installation business took hundreds of end-of-life panels from roofs every month, to be replaced by Tindo Solar panels, which presented an opportunity to direct the old panels to Reclaim PV facilities. “We have partnered with Reclaim PV because as Australia’s only…
February 1, 2022
Six of the seven activity indices in the Australian PMI fell in December and January (readings below 50 points indicate contraction in activity, with lower results indicating a faster rate of contraction), with only the sales index increasing (up 1.7 points to 52.3). Production (down 0.6 points to 51.9), new orders (down 8.0 points to 51.3), and stocks (down 6.1 points to 52.5) remained mildly positive following stronger results in November. Innes Willox, Chief Executive of Ai Group the national employer association said: “Australia’s manufacturers reported a modest contraction in performance over December and January as businesses reported further disruptions to supply chains and as staff availability emerged as a major constraint on many businesses. Cost pressures were keenly felt with input prices continuing to rise and the selling prices index indicating only a partial recovery of these costs in the market.” Three of the six manufacturing sectors in the Australian PMI reported positive conditions in December and January, with…
