Machine Building

Child safety device uses igus bearing

As part of its Young Engineers Support (YES) programme, igus supports innovative student projects such as "˜EMKindersicherung'. In Germany, the 94,000 calls made to the Poison Information Centre for burns and intoxications of children every year show that household cleaners constitute a real threat. To prevent these accidents, a team of seven students of TU Darmstadt at the Faculty of Electrical and Information Technology have developed a special child safety lock.

20th September 2018

Motion control for 3D laser mapping application

3D Laser Mapping Ltd is a high technology design, manufacturing and consulting company, based in Nottingham, UK. Its LiDAR scanning hardware and data analysis systems are used for mapping large structures - capturing, processing and providing three dimensional information for surveying tasks such as buildings, road networks and railways as well as creating digital terrain and elevation models of specific landscapes.

18th September 2018

Spring manufacture creates bespoke closure for gin bottles

Spring manufacture is rarely glamorous. However, all that changed when European Springs and Pressings were invited to design a bottle top for probably the most beautiful gin in the world.

17th September 2018

Elesa interlocked hinge specified for TRAKRAP wrapping systems

The team at TRAKRAP produce low-waste transit wrapping systems for food and related products. As long-term customers of Elesa for a wide variety of equipment components, they use standard hinges and handles in their machine protection enclosures. So it was fortuitous that visiting an Elesa exhibition stand, one of the TRAKRAP engineers came across their ingenious CFSW combined hinge and electrical cut-off switch for just this situation.

13th September 2018

IDS 3D vision system helps robots assemble flat-pack furniture

As part of a research project, scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a robot that can independently assemble the individual components of an IKEA chair without interruption in less than 10 minutes. The robot consists of an Ensenso N35 3D camera from IDS and two robot arms equipped with grippers to pick up objects.

12th September 2018

Additive manufacturing in human-powered landspeed record attempt

Renishaw is providing additive manufacturing (AM) expertise to the University of Liverpool Velocipede Team (ULV Team). As part of the ARION4 project, Renishaw built the central titanium support (CTS), a vital component of the bike to support the team's attempt to break the current hand cycle land speed record. From the 10th to 15th of September 2018, hand cyclist Ken Talbot and Paralympian Karen Darke MBE will race at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge at Battle Mountain, Nevada, USA.

12th September 2018

Procusini 3D food printer relies on NTC temperature sensors

The Procusini 3.0 is a 3D food printer, recently launched in its third and revised generation with NTC temperature probes from Variohm EuroSensor.

11th September 2018

Reliable shear protection device for oil change containers

Changing hydraulic and transmission oil in offshore wind power plants is a challenge. Therefore, Speedwind Offshore has developed an innovative container-based system for rapid and clean oil changes at sea - currently the only one worldwide which has been certified by DNV GL. In the shear protection device, the company relies on EAS-axial overload elements by mayr power transmission.

7th September 2018

Electromagnetic safety brakes linear axes

With the new LGR-3 linear gantry robot, Fibro Läpple Technology GmbH provides a modular system for loading and unloading machines as well as for handling workpieces. It allows for diverse customer requirements to be flexibly implemented. In the electric version of the gantry, the company relies on the tried and tested ROBA-linearstop safety brakes by mayr power transmission to secure the vertical axes. These feature high positioning accuracy and are backlash-free, thus reliably ensuring the safety of people and materials.

7th September 2018

Non-contact safety sensors for meat processing machines

Laska grinders, cutters and mixers are sophisticated meat processing machines that can pose significant hazards due to the knives located within them. Contactless sensors have proven to be the perfect components for monitoring flaps and locks for safety purposes. Not only are they reliable, but as they have no edges, corners or slots, are also extremely hygienic.

6th September 2018