Machine Building

Forbo saves money with BOGE compressor

BOGE has cut Barnsley-based Forbo Flooring's energy bills following the installation of its C15F 11kW variable speed compressor. The unit replaces an old 18.5kW machine, one of two at the site. Forbo Flooring was so pleased with the installation that it plans to replace a second 18.5kW compressor, which currently acts as a back-up, with another BOGE C15F unit in due course.

17th August 2016

Automated hydraulics for machine builder provided by zenon

Traceability, data logging and graphical displays are in high demand in the modern hydraulics environment. As customers' requirements become more complex, the hydraulic control experts at machine builder Pressure Design focus on increasing their automated solutions offering, with the support of COPA-DATA's HMI/SCADA software, zenon.

16th August 2016

Upgraded backstop clutch improves bucket elevator reliability

When a bucket elevator manufacturer was experiencing reliability problems with its backstop clutches, resulting in intensive maintenance and frequent replacement, it turned to Tsubaki. Replacing the trapped-roller design with a sprag clutch delivered higher torque capacity and longer life.

11th August 2016

Collaborative robot for adhesive application quadruples output

R. A. Rodriguez (UK) has supplied a Universal Robots UR3 tabletop robot and Robotiq 2F85 gripper to help The Filter Design Co create an automation cell that has quadrupled output. Payback is likely to be in less than six months.

8th August 2016

Machine shop saves EUR24,000 PA thanks to NSK spindle bearings

When a manufacturer of heat exchangers was experiencing frequent production stoppages due to bearing damage on the spindles of its horizontal machining centres, the company turned to NSK. After comprehensive analysis, NSK recommended fitting its sealed, high-precision, angular-contact ball bearings, which has helped the company to save EUR24,000 per annum in replacement bearings and labour costs.

5th August 2016

3D printing builds success for Renishaw sponsored Moto2 bike

French Moto2 team TransFIORmers won its first race at the CEV Repsol European Championship in Barcelona in June 2016. The team used a new front suspension system including an additively manufactured (3D printed) titanium wishbone produced using Renishaw"˜s AM250 manufacturing system. The component is a good example of effective part consolidation, with a weight saving of 600g compared with the original welded steel component.

28th July 2016

bigHead's fastenings for offshore wind turbine maintenance hatch

bigHead Bonding Fasteners are regularly challenged to provide custom designed fastenings for its customers. Whilst the standard range of over 400 mild steel and stainless steel "˜bigHeads' provide efficient and effective discrete fixings, whether embedded or surface bonded to composite materials, there are some applications that benefit from a design approach where the characteristic bigHead welded fixing is engineered and adapted to actually improve the final design, to enhance its performance or reduce costs - and even to facilitate increased safety.

27th July 2016

Cake-frosting robot masters the art of pastry decoration

Swiss confectioner Suteria Chocolata AG has been producing its famous Solothurner Torte - still the chocolatier's bestseller - for a century. Never wavering from its original and delicious recipe, several years ago the company enlisted the help of a new pastry chef - a compact FANUC LR Mate.

27th July 2016

Mechatronics drive system ensures positioning accuracy

Schaeffler has worked closely with Siemens Healthcare to develop a drive system that enables computer tomography (CT) machines to be moved from one hospital treatment room to another. This will benefit patients, as they can now be diagnosed more quickly after a stroke.

27th July 2016

Alpine Components sells FLIR T1020 thermal camera to BP

FLIR distributor Alpine Components has sold a FLIR T1020 high-resolution thermal camera to oil industry giant BP. The advanced new camera is being used for a range of tasks that extend from checking sludge levels in tanks to checking for blocked pipes.

26th July 2016