Product News

Superalloys – metal alloys which reflect their complex alloyed structure – feature extremely high elevated temperature strength, and therefore often are referred to as high-temperature superalloys (HTSA) or heat-resistant superalloys (HRSA). The history of superalloys started with the development of gas-turbine engines that required reliable materials for high operating temperature ranges. As a result of intensive research and progress in metallurgy, modern superalloys provide a long service life for working temperatures more than 1,000 deg.C. Understandably, the largest superalloy consumers today are aerospace and marine engine producers. Superalloys are also very common in the medical industry, which effectively use them for prosthetic implants in orthopedic surgery. In addition, superalloys have become widespread in power generation and the oil & gas industries as crucial materials for essential parts of various devices. Exceptional high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance are the undeniable advantages of superalloys. However, there are two sides to the coin: superalloys are not only highly priced, but their machinability is poor, which can…

Toolbox can also provide an innovative 3D unfolding service, whereby it can be fed full 3D schematics of a product and it will select precisely all the 2D sheet metal surfaces required to be cut by a laser workshop. It’s also possible to create the drawing without using any CAD software, using Toolbox’s Quick Part parametric parts library. Quick Part has a broad range of customisable parts, including brackets, flanges, gussets, and plates that can be adjusted to the specific needs of the user. “ToolBox is designed to put the tools in the hands of small laser cutting and fabrication workshops that are looking to grow their business,” says Felipe Lechuga, President of Tempus Tools. “It helps with cleaning drawings, part creation or extraction, and laser cutting calculations, so the business can quote more jobs and expand its operations. With the shift to Industry 4.0, slow quoting processes just aren’t competitive anymore, so job shops need new tools to get…

With this in mind, the compressed air specialist has converted its DS-2 refrigerant dryer in the lower power range to refrigerant R 513A. This has much lower global warming potential than the refrigerant previously used but does not compromise on performance in any way. The result: an extremely energy-efficient dryer series with the lowest CO2 footprint on the market. Meeting the climate objectives means finding solutions that are environmentally-friendly and, most importantly, reduce greenhouse gases. This applies to the compressed air industry too. In order to optimise the CO2 footprint of its refrigerant dryers, BOGE has begun using a new refrigerant, R 513A, instead of R134a for its DS-2 series in the power range up to 10 cubic metres per minute. This reduces the GWP value (Global Warming Potential) by around 60%: from 1,430 to 573. The CO2 equivalent, ie. the impact the substance has on the climate compared to carbon dioxide, also decreases accordingly. The greenhouse effect of the new refrigerant over the 100-year period studied is much lower…

The implementation of Closed-Loop Manufacturing (CLM) across its manufacturing capability using Siemens’ Manufacturing Execution System (MES) will enable HeliMods to achieve development and production of high-complexity, high-value, scalable solutions using a single digital thread across the entire product lifecycle. The implementation of the software was enabled by a $350,000 co-investment grant from the AMGC and will support HeliMods’ global and local growth trajectory in aerospace, defence, air ambulance and other key industries. In total, the project will see an investment of $808,543 from combined AMGC, industry and in-kind contributions. The announcement was made at HeliMods’ premises in Sunshine Coast by Federal MP Andrew Wallace “Thanks to this project, HeliMods is now the only Australian business with Defence Production Approval that is using such a Closed Loop Manufacturing system, offering Australia a unique new sovereign defence industry capability-based right here on the Coast,”…

When drilling holes in most aerospace components, manufacturers have three chances of getting the hole correct – after which, it will be impossible to rework the hole within the required design specifications. If just one hole misses those three chances, by diameter, surface finish or delamination, the entire component will need to be scrapped. Given the enormous value of aeroplane components, holemaking is a risky business. That applies especially when drilling composite materials, which place new demands on machining. Holemaking has emerged as one of the most common machining processes when working with composites. Machining composite materials – which combine two or more materials with different physical and chemical properties – involves cutting, or fracturing, of the fibre part of the material. If this is done incorrectly then layers of the composite material peel away from where they belong. This is known as delamination, and according to…

In any industry, motors are major consumers of cost and energy. In addition to the high maintenance costs, it is estimated that more than 65% of electrical energy in industry is consumed by motors. Manufacturers of motors are working hard to produce ever more efficient motors and governments the world over are introducing regulations to encourage their uptake. Whether you are looking to lower the cost of running your facility, reduce the risk of unplanned downtime, or reduce the carbon footprint of your manufacturing operations, here are some useful factors to consider when maintaining your motor. A need for speed control Variable speed drives (VSDs) are an increasingly popular way of allowing manufacturers to achieve cost savings and energy efficiency gains. Without a VSD, the motor will always operate at full speed but the use of a VSD will match the speed to the application.…

Geoinventions Consulting Services, in collaboration with Griffith University and supported by the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC), has secured $420,000 in cash and in-kind funding to prototype the novel sensors using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology for smart highway applications. Once developed, the multi-functional sensors will measure the stress-strain behaviour and soil-infrastructure interaction of roadways to identify potential risks and safety issues. Barry Kok, Geoinventions’ Operations Director, said the IMCRC activate collaboration would connect Geoinventions with the Industry 4.0 capability needed to deliver the first-ever Australian-made MEMS geotechnical sensors. “This project will help pave the way for Geoinventions to establish itself as a leading Australian geotechnical consultant and instrument manufacturer in collaboration with Australian manufacturers,” he said. “It will also be a catalyst for Geoinventions to migrate from using the conventional ‘one sensor, one location’ ‘vibrating wire’ sensor technology to the proposed ‘multi-sensors, one location’ efficient MEMS-driven sensor technology. This will empower Geoinventions to push boundaries in the competitive business world and make an impact in national and…

There is stored energy and there is kinetic energy – or movement. Motors turn the first into the second. As with everything else, ways to create movement have evolved. One comparatively recent kind of actuation, tubular linear motion, is gaining in favour in applications as diverse as machine tool building, factory automation, packaging, printing and material handling. ANCA Motion is an Australian developer and manufacturer of motion control systems, hardware, and software, including for its sister company, ANCA CNC Machines. ANCA CNC Machines has used LinX tubular linear motors for its globally-renowned tool and cutter grinders since 2014, introducing them in their FX Linear and MX Linear tool grinding machines. Customers have also welcomed the better surface finish, increased efficiency and improved reliability gains at reduced operating cost in their machines incorporating LinX tubular linear motors within the precision toolmaking industry, where micron-level resolution,…

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…

Metalmaster garage presses range from 10 tonnes up to 50 tonnes in terms of capacity. They are ideal for home workshops or mechanical repair shops, and are well suited to the needs of engineering and light manufacturing applications. The popular Metalmaster 20-tonne HP-20PP Workshop hydraulic press has a robust design and is constructed from industrial-grade C channel. The press has an adjustable sliding cylinder ram, a pressure gauge calibrated in both metric and imperial, and bending vee plates. The 20-tonne hydraulic ram and pump unit are also easily removed for use on other pressing jobs outside a workshop, such as straightening or bending. The HP-20PP hydraulic press features an adjustable sliding head, allowing up to 320mm of travel between the centre of the vertical posts. To accommodate offset pressing jobs, the user simply loosens the clamping plate bolts and the head of the press can be moved sideways. The Metalmaster HPF-50 trade press includes a…

Fortescue Metals Group’s Chairman and founder, Dr Andrew ‘Twiggy ’ Forrest, surprised a few with his first Boyer Lecture of 2021, highlighting the mining giant’s commitment to renewables, green hydrogen, and ultimately to the production of green steel . Acknowledging his group’s significant greenhouse gas contribution – two million tonnes a year, more than the entire emissions of Bhutan – Twiggy said the answer is not in stopping mining iron ore, which is critical to the production of steel and to humanity, but instead ensuring that iron ore and steel activity use zero-emissions energy. Twiggy believes green hydrogen – the purest source of energy in the world – could replace up to three-quarters of global emissions, if we improve the technology and add scale. He argues that the green hydrogen market could generate revenues – at the very least – of US$12 trillion by 2050. So, as the…

“Stainless” and “corrosion” steel are generally used synonymously, along with other terms such as rust-resistant steel, inox steel, and non-corrosive steel. Stainless, originally meaning “free of red rust stains”, was developed as a result of iron oxidising. Corrosion is caused by chemical and physical-chemical reactions. There are different types of corrosion. Stainless steel can be divided into the following groups, according to their main functional features: Corrosion-resistant steel: resistant to corrosion under normal conditions. Oxidation or rust-resistant steel: resistant to corrosion under high temperatures in aggressive environments. Heat-resistant or high-temperature steel that does not change its strength under high temperature stress. Therefore, corrosion-resistant steel can be considered a type of stainless steel. The functional features of these stainless-steel groups determine the choice of a steel grade as a material for cutting tool design. For a manufacturer involved in machining stainless steel, the key…

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the Taskforce was aimed at addressing the need to support NSW manufacturers by putting the policies in place that create local jobs and support local industry. “We currently import the more than 86,500 tonnes of steel that form the foundations for critical energy infrastructure – including some finished manufactured goods,” Barilaro said. “As we come out of this recession, we need to lead by example by backing our local supply chains, local manufacturers and local jobws. This Taskforce will make sure we have the knowledge we need to do just that, and unlock regional NSW’s renewable energy manufacturing potential.” Energy Minister Matt Kean said the Taskforce will look at everything from material sourcing and supply to contracting arrangements, and explore ways to give NSW manufacturers a competitive advantage in emerging ‘green’ supply industries. “Industry tells us we will need more than 650,000 tonnes of steel to deliver our three Renewable Energy Zones,” said Kean. “My priority is finding ways…