Month: February 2023

Set-up times are the pain point of every workshop. Modern machine shops need to stay competitive by utilising products that increase efficiency. 5th Axis is leading the way in their fully integrated line of workholding solutions. It's important to consider when purchasing zero-point work holding systems these three factors.  The zero-point workholding systems: Will not be made redundant if a machine shop chooses to robotically automate their production. Is modular enough to accommodate many different styles of fixturing (vices, chucks, tombstones, and jigs). It can adapt to holding a high density of components. The 5th Axis work holding system utilises the same components throughout its entire product range allowing users to expand as needed. When a customer is ready to automate, a readymade ‘cleat’ can be fixed to existing vices/fixtures to accommodate a robotic gripper and pneumatic base. It uses the same stud pattern mounted to the machine eliminating the need to purchase a new system. MSC Moto started back in 1995 when Mark Cumming offered to make a motorcycle steering damper for a friend and was told it would be too challenging. Since…

Pemamek Oy and Pemamek LLC have introduced the Skyhook Pro Intelligent Positioners building upon their proven Skymaster Pro positioning technology. Controlled by an RC32H-wired remote control and intelligent software, the Skyhook Pro positioners can work with heavy loads of up to 15 tons. The ability to pre-program and modify movements as needed has eliminated the need for clamping and increased productivity by 70%. They can also be rotated +/-180 degrees for optimal positioning. Additionally, because the programs are generated ahead of time by more experienced welders, those new to the trade can continue operations for optimal working cycles using just the remote control and a pedal. This also provides for safer operation. The Skyhook Pro positioners require virtually no installation, requiring just a few fasteners and cables. Inside an electrical cabinet on the backside of the positioner contains a proprietary communication system connected by Wi-Fi technology to mobile phones, tablets and laptops for programming, diagnostics, and maintenance schedules, providing a vehicle for importing or exporting work cycle information to other Skyhook machines. They are easily integrated with Pema Column and Booms…

Registrations are now open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2023), held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 9-12 May 2023. Run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2023 will occupy more than 10,000 square metres of exhibition space at the MCEC, with more than 270 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. Don’t miss out!  Register online now at australianmanufacturingweek.com.au There are seven Zones on the vast floorspace of Australian Manufacturing Week, which takes up almost of the MCEC. Each zone focuses in on particular aspects of manufacturing in Australia. These include: Austech Machine Tools, sponsored by ISCAR; Additive Manufacturing Zone; Australian Manufacturers Zone, sponsored by Sutton Tools; Manufacturing Solutions Zone, sponsored by Adobe; Robotics & Automation Zone; Weld and Air Solutions Zone, sponsored by AtlasCopco; and the Plastic Technology Zone. ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION The Robotics & Automation Zone will feature the latest state-of-the-art equipment and processes for the optimisation of manufacturing operations. Robots are practical technologies, with artificially intelligent software brains, created and designed…

Paradigm shifts in technology are something that Vollmer has kept abreast of since the company’s beginnings in 1909. With saw blade production and servicing instilled in the very DNA of Vollmer, the Biberach manufacturer has been the industry benchmark for generations. To retain its industry-leading position, Vollmer has now introduced its next generation of saw blade sharpening and servicing machines, the CS860 and CSF860. To celebrate the launch of the latest generation machines, Vollmer’s Product Manager Thomas Wenger discusses the new CSF860 technology for side grinding saw blades in more detail. “The CHD and CHF machines were based on a completely different construction to our new technology,” explains Wenger. “The CHF side grinding machine was designed in 2000 and we evolved this machine until we reached the limit of what could be achieved with the existing construction. Now, with a new foundation, new drives and software technology – we can add new benefits for our customers.” With a new foundation, construction, frame, software and hardware – the new CSF860 is an entirely different machine from its predecessor, the CHF270. As with all machines…

Engineers at RMIT University have developed a method to use disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) to make concrete stronger, providing an innovative way to significantly reduce pandemic-generated waste. The RMIT team is the first to investigate the feasibility of recycling three key types of PPE – isolation gowns, face masks and rubber gloves – into concrete. Published in the journals Case Studies in Construction Materials, Science of the Total Environment and Journal of Cleaner Production, the studies by RMIT School of Engineering researchers demonstrate the potential for PPE to be used as reinforcement materials in structural concrete. The studies found that shredded PPE could increase the strength of concrete by up to 22% and improve resistance to cracking. The RMIT School of Engineering team’s industry partner, Casafico Pty Ltd, is planning to use these research findings in a field project. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, an estimated 54,000 tonnes of PPE waste has been produced on average globally each day. About 129bn disposable face masks are used and discarded around the world every month. First author, PhD researcher Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch,…

Hydrogen production should be carefully regulated and consumers informed about emissions credentials if Australia is to achieve a sustainable energy economy and net zero emissions by 2050, QUT experts warn. Published in Sustainable Energy & Fuels, a QUT analysis shows the differences between hydrogen production based on a generic primary fuel source – coal, natural gas, or renewables – and the resulting carbon dioxide (CO2) that needs to be abated for net zero emissions. Associate Professor Jonathan Love from the QUT Centre for Clean Energy Technology and Practices said the analysis highlighted considerations for future studies, policy deliberation, and consumer regulatory frameworks for clean electricity and transport. “We need to consider the end-to-end process to produce and use hydrogen if we are to say it’s sustainable and is part of the clean energy transition,” Professor Love said. “Different fuel cells produce very different outcomes when considering the best use of fuel for sustainability outcomes. “There is no current policy that links consumer fuel cell technology choices with the primary energy source or emissions, so hydrogen producers could end up making sustainability outcomes worse. This highlights…

Continental ContiRe.Tex technology, an industry-first for the tyre market, received the prestigious Good Design Awards Winner accolade in the Engineering Design category in recognition for outstanding design and innovation. The technology uses a sustainably sourced superior material to completely replace the need for conventional polyester. Together with fibre specialist and textile manufacturer OTIZ, Continental Tyres developed a special technology to recycle PET bottles without the intermediate chemical steps previously needed, making the polyester yarn functional for the heavy mechanical demands of tyres. The Good Design Awards are the highest honour for design and innovation in the country and reward projects across eleven design disciplines covering more than 30 categories and sub-categories. The Australian Good Design Awards, the country’s oldest and most prestigious international awards, date back to 1958 in celebrating the best new products and services on Australian and international markets. Projects recognised with an Australian Good Design Award demonstrate excellence in professional design and highlight the impact a design-led approach has on business success, social and environmental outcomes. “We are pleased to share that Continental Tyres contribution…

Over 300 companies in Australia have Genox recycling equipment installed, making it one of Australia’s leading manufacturers of recycling machinery. The company is perhaps best known for its focus on providing the latest recycling technology at an extremely competitive price point, empowering large and small companies alike to achieve their environmental KPIs and actively contribute to the true circular economy. Genox’s range includes stand-alone shredder and granulator units, automatic metal and tyre recycling systems, through to complete washing plants for size reduction, washing and separating of contaminated plastics and other materials. The company’s latest innovation is the SPS Series Pelletising System: a 3 in 1 integrated system that includes plastic waste size reduction and filtering, pre-heating and underwater pelletising. The innovative design allows for an extensive range of soft plastics and rigid flakes plastics to be processed. This includes LDPE packaging film, agricultural film HDPE, milk bottle flake, PP bottles and plastic flake recovered from e-waste. The SPS system is especially efficient and stable for low-bulk density materials. The variable speed cutter compactor (with air-flush) cuts the plastics into flakes. Heat created by…

Capable of achieving runout of less than two microns, the four-axes CPX Linear grinder is the solution for grinding tool blanks. The CPX Linear has a large working envelope and powerful grinding spindles to achieve the highest precision and productivity for blank preparation in the market. High material removal rates form as the primary function of the machine without compromising on dimensional accuracy and surface finish of <0.2Ra. The grinder utilises the peel and pinch-peel grinding methods. The peel method of grinding is associated with the roughing wheel and the capability of high material removal rates (MRR). This is all made possible with the advancement in grinding wheel technology with its grain structure, bonding, and construction. From a process perspective, these advancements give higher aggressiveness numbers, whereas grinding aggressiveness refers to the depth at that the grit can penetrate the material. High material removal rates in grinding cannot be achieved just with high-performance grinding wheels. It requires the machine, grinding spindle, stiffness of different machine elements and the grinding coolant system to be carefully designed to extract…

Imagine a system that gathers the energy from a braking train as it approaches a station, briefly stores it, then reinjects it into the train’s power supply as it accelerates on its way. Such an energy redistributor has been applied as an alternative to building and connecting a new rectifier substation on the Metro Trains Melbourne (Metro) Hurstbridge Line Upgrade Project. The Australian-first application of ABB’s 1,500 Volt DC ABB Enviline Energy Storage System (ESS), which not only stores but also returns the surplus braking energy back to the grid, will allow the Metro service to make more efficient use of electricity, increasing its sustainability and allowing it to add extra trains at a lower than usual cost; passengers will experience a smoother ride – no more spilled coffee. The pilot project, completed six months ago, has had to negotiate several obstacles, call them mountain ranges, on its three-year journey to completion. But two indomitable ABB…

EV pioneer Savic Motorcycles has achieved two major manufacturing milestones on the road to commercial production, with the successful completion of their customised Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Bosch Australia, and the first all-weather road tests on urban and semi-rural roads. Within Australia, it is a legal requirement for all road vehicles to be fitted with ABS units, and Savic chose to partner with the industry-leading team at Bosch Australia to develop the ABS for its high-performance C-Series motorcycles – which are due to arrive on Australian roads later this year. “Bosch will be providing a motorcycle-specific ABS module for us, which will be used in every 11+ kW electric motorcycle that Savic Motorcycles will produce, starting with the C-Series,” said Dennis Savic, CEO and founder of Savic Motorcycles. “Partnering with Bosch enabled us to develop an innovative program using their existing ABS9.1MP system and a current C-Series prototype to produce specific software tailored to our requirements.” Development of the ABS program involved handing a 2022 C-Series prototype over to Bosch, which was fitted with the ABS module, an extensive range of…

TRUMPF has showcased a range of solutions to make sheet-metal fabrication more sustainable at this year’s European trade fairs, 33BIMU and EuroBLECH. The high-tech company aims to leverage its position as a solution provider to help customers make their factories more competitive and eco-friendlier. “Our customers have seen huge increases in the cost of production due to higher energy prices. Our technologies reduce the use of energy-intensive materials and are less power-hungry overall. By offering more sustainable and lower-carbon methods of sheet metal fabrication, we can help companies fight more effectively against climate change and slash the cost of materials and manufacturing,” says Stephan Mayer, CEO of Machine Tools at TRUMPF. The solutions TRUMPF presented at EuroBLECH include its new ‘Eco Cooler’ system that controls the temperature of laser-cutting machines using pure water instead of chemical refrigerants. This novel cooling solution uses 80% less energy than conventional systems and is 100% non-polluting. Digitalisation and automation still driving the future of the industry TRUMPF continued to expand its market-leading position as a premier supplier and user of digitally connected sheet-metal fabrication solutions. “Digitalization and automation…

ANCA Machine Tools has been servicing customers manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of industries around the globe, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, and medical, for nearly 50 years. Founded by Pat Boland and Pat McCluskey 48 years ago in Melbourne, ANCA Motion Tools has grown into a truly global organisation with manufacturing sites and branch offices in all the major continents. Today, ANCA Machine Tools (hereafter referred to as AMT) is a market leader in quality CNC grinding machines. AMT’s success results from its continuous development of cutting-edge technology and a focus on innovation. Continuing in that tradition, AMT launched several new machines during the past eight years, aiming to strengthen the value proposition they offer customers. Significant inclusion to their range is the FX Linear and MX Linear machines. Both machines are powered by LinX® Linear Motor (International Patent Pending) developed by ANCA Motion, a sister company of AMT. Before FX Linear and MX Linear machines, AMT had been silent observers of linear motor technology for many years. “AMT was aware of the benefits that linear motors can bring.…