MANUFACTURING: A DIGITALISED FUTURE 3D PRINTING: THE PRESENT & FUTURE March 2015
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OPTIV The multitalented system for industrial metrology The Optiv multi-sensor brand from Hexagon Metrology opens countless opportunities for you in the quality assurance of precision components. The measuring machines combine a great deal into one system: optical and tactile measurement procedures, flexibility and accuracies from a few microns down to the submicron range. Optiv has the solution for your application – no matter how complex.
Indonesia (Representative Office) Hexagon Metrology Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. Tel: + 65 6463 6242 | Fax: + 65 6463 8030 contact.sg@hexagonmetrology.com
Singapore Hexagon Metrology Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. Tel: +65 6463 6242 | Fax: +65 6463 8030 contact.sg@hexagonmetrology.com
Vietnam (Hanoi Representative Office) Hexagon Metrology (Thailand) Ltd. Tel: +84 4 3253 5666 | Fax: +84 4 3253 5255 contact.vn@hexagonmetrology.com
Malaysia Hexagon Measurement Technologies Sdn. Bhd. Tel: +60 3 5632 8900 | Fax: +60 3 5632 8955 contact.my@hexagonmetrology.com
Thailand Hexagon Metrology (Thailand) Ltd. Tel: +66 2 361 3695 to 9 | Fax: +66 2 746 9607 contact.th@hexagonmetrology.com
(Ho Chi Minh Representative Office) Hexagon Metrology (Thailand) Ltd. Tel: +84 8 5445 6665 | Fax: +84 8 5445 6660 contact.vn@hexagonmetrology.com
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New cutting tools and solutions from Sandvik Coromant March 1 marks the launch of the latest innovations from Sandvik Coromant, designed to increase your productivity and help you stay ahead of competition.
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asia pacific metalworking equipment news Jul-Aug 2014
CoroMill® QD - trouble-free groove The main challenge in groove milling is often chip evacuation, which threatens to harm production efficiency, deliver lower component quality or cause tool breakage, (especially when machining narrow and deep grooves). The new CoroMill QD concept features efficient four-channel internal coolant and dedicated insert geometries with a narrow shape. The combination results in a reliable solution for secure and trouble-free groove milling and parting-off operations.
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ENQUIRY NO 045 Jul-Aug 2014 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
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MAR
2015 CONTENTS 30
METAL CUTTING 24 Drill Geometry: Continuous Revolution
One technology is adding a little ‘twist’ to the traditional twist drill. By Ricky Payling, Dormer Pramet
28
Production Snippet: The Hole Truth
It may be a good idea to take a look at how precise hole making has progressed over time. By Oren Asif and Ilan Turchin, Iscar
GREAT GEAR & SYSTEM 30
Case Study: Keeping It Simple
One research has shown that cellular machining utilising general-purpose CNC machine tools offers advantages over highend, special purpose machines, with no apparent loss of part accuracy or quality.
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IN DESIGN 34
Multiaxis CNC Machine Simulation: A Confidence Booster Machine simulation can go a long way into improving part quality and productivity. By Karlo Apro, CNC Software
38
Enter The 3D World
3D technologies can be used to enhance productivity and reduce costs. By Samson Khaou, Dassault Systèmes
40
Case Study: Proton Drives Design Excellence With Autodesk
42
Digital prototyping can lead to 65 percent time and cost savings. By Chris Lee, Autodesk
FAST FAB 42
Panel Bending With Efficiency & Profitability
Panel benders with high productivity and quick tool setup are distinguished by their speed, flexibility and economy, especially for small lot sizes. Contributed by Simon Hiebl, Trumpf
4
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
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Best choice. With Bystronic already the present – for others still the future Xpert: The pressbrake for maximum repetition accuracy at the touch of a button. Now with ByVision Bending, the 22-inch touchscreen control system for uncompromising user ergonomics. It doesn’t get any easier. Laser | Bending | Waterjet bystronic.com ENQUIRY NO 043
2015 CONTENTS 46
MAR
ASIA PACIFIC METALWORKING EQUIPMENT NEWS (M.E.N.) is published 8 issues per year by Eastern Trade Media Pte Ltd 1100 Lower Delta Road EPL Building #02-05 Singapore 169206 Tel: (65) 6379 2888 Fax: (65) 6379 2806.
FOCUS 46
It’s All About Connections
IoT allows better precision and safety in the metalworking world. By Victor Mieres, National Instruments
VOICE OF A MANAGER 48 Manufacturing: The Digital Frontier
The future of manufacturing may be in the form of gigabytes and binary codes. By Joson Ng
50
Manufacturing Trend: Printing From 2D To 3D
Shaun See of Epson Southeast Asia maps out his company’s plan for the future.
52
Not Quite In The Same Mould
Even though Thailand and the Philippines are ASEAN neighbours, their mould and die industries have had contrasting fortunes over the last 12 months. APMEN spoke with the leaders from the mould and die sector in the two countries to find out more on their industry. By Joson Ng
FEATURES 54 FELA: Creating A Big Impact With Tiny Movements
We take a look at how one scientist made a breakthrough in technology. By Joson Ng
6
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: M.E.N. is available to readers on a per annum subscription basis depending on location: Singapore: S$60.00, Malaysia: S$60.00, Asia Pacific/America/Europe/ Others: S$100.00. Refer to the subscription card in each issue for further details. For change of address, please notify our Circulation Manager. For more subscription information Fax: (65) 6379 2806 Singapore E-mail: nurulhuda@epl.com.sg
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Know What You Are Cutting
IMPORTANT NOTICE THE CIRCULATION OF THIS MAGAZINE IS AUDITED BY BPA WORLDWIDE.
The machinability analysis system shows that the key to a good cutting process is knowledge. By Patrick de Vos, Seco Tools
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Make Laser Cutting Greener
Tjut Rostina takes a look at power consumption and various idiosyncrasies of laser cutting technologies to see how they impact cost.
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Federation of Asian Die & Mould Associations (FADMA)
Oil & Gas: New Frontiers In Southeast Asia
The thirst for energy has led companies to explore areas previously untouched in Southeast Asia. By Joson Ng
Federation of Malaysian Foundry & Engineering Industry Associations
66
3D Printing: The Present & Future
Indian Machine Tool Manufacturing Association (IMTMA)
We take a look at what 3D printing or Additive Manufacturing is doing to the manufacturing space and also some future developments in this exciting segment. By Joson Ng
China Machine Tool & Tool Builders' Association (CMTBA)
EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS 70
Machine Tool Club (MTC)
Event Preview: BuildTech Yangon 2015
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Event Preview: MTA2015
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Learn about the latest: “PowerMILL’s Dynamic Machine Control gives us the confidence to run parts first time on our 5-axis machines.” Brian Kerkstra, Paragon D&E
• Vortex high-efficiency area clearance • Mill/turn programming techniques • Direct modelling capabilities • Multi-axis milling innovations • Reverse engineering tools • On-Machine Verification options and much more!
Unlock the power of Delcam software
Visit www.delcam.tv/lz and see how Delcam software could benefit your business!
Delcam headquarters Small Heath Business Park, Birmingham, B10 0HJ Tel: +44 (0)121 766 5544
Delcam (Malaysia) Sdn.Bhd. Wisma UOA II, 20-1, No.21, Jalan Pinang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +603-2711 0145
PT. Delcam Indonesia Perkantoran Pulomas satu Gedung-1, Lt-3 Room 12A Jl.A Yani No2, JAKARTA, Indonesia Tel: (62)-21-4894964
Delcam S.E.A. Pte. Ltd. 6001 Beach Road, #18-01 Golden Mile Tower, Singapore 199589 Tel : +65 97233095 & +65 64511124
Delcam Vietnam Representative Office Office 602, 159 Dien Bien Phu, Binh Thanh Dist, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tel : +84 8 35144078
Beijing Delcam Integrated System Co., Ltd. Rm. A411, Jinyu Jiahua Building, No.9, 3rd Street , Shangdi, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China Tel +8610 6298 5591
Delcam (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. 11 Rama II Road Soi 54 Lane 4-3, Samaedam, Bangkhuntien, Bangkok 10150 , Thailand Tel: +66 2 899 1182-4
ENQUIRY NO 099
EDITOR’S NOTE Published by:
EASTERN TRADE MEDIA PTE LTD (a fully owned subsidiary of Eastern Holdings Ltd)
Reg No: 199908196C
What’s
Trending Now?
senior editor Joson Ng
josonng@epl.com.sg
business development manager Randy Teo randyteo@epl.com.sg
editorial assistant Sharifah Zainon
sharifah@epl.com.sg
graphic designer Jef Pimentel
jeffreypimentel@epl.com.sg
circulation executive Nurulhuda binte Suhaimi nurulhuda@epl.com.sg
I n t h e w o r l d o f Tw i t te r a n d Instagram, what’s trending is king. If you get on the right side of what’s trending, you can expect plenty of website hits. When the people of Hong Kong gathered to protest governmental electoral reforms, the hashtag #occupycentral became popular overnight. People from all over the world took to Twitter to add their thoughts. In case you were wondering, there were more than 2.3 million tweets and the whole incident evolved to become the #UmbrellaRevolution. Imagine that you are an operator of an online umbrella shop, a creative use of a hashtag could have helped generate tremendous traffic to your website. The point I am trying to make is the importance of catching that trend and seizing that opportunity. In the metalworking world, things may not be as volatile as the retail marketplace but that does not mean we can afford to pay little attention to what is going on around us.
In this issue of Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News, we are bringing you the latest trends in the manufacturing world. For instance, digitalisation is increasingly being thought of as a new frontier as it allows a quicker response to changing technology. Over at the 3D printing space, the technology is allowing the production of merchandise that is borne out of software systems that enable mass customisation and automated manufacturing. In addition, traditional players in the 2D printing sphere (Epson, Canon and Xerox) are looking to try their hands in the 3D printing market in the near future. Finally, this issue is incidentally my final one with Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News. I have enjoyed bringing news and various technological and business trends to you over the last six years. The experience has been an enriching one and I would like to thank you all for being a part of the journey.
assistant circulation manager Chiang Hui chianghui@epl.com.sg
contributors Ricky Payling Oren Asif Ilan Turchin Karlo Apro Samson Khaou Chris Lee Herr Simon Hiebl Victor Mieres Shaun See Patrick de Vos
All rights reserved. No portion of this publication covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced in any form or means – graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, taping, etc – without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. Printed in Singapore by Fabulous Printers Pte Ltd MCI (P) No. 037/06/2014 PPS 840/09/2012 (022818) ISSN 0129/5519
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Fully integrated performance
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ENQUIRY NO 041
BUSINESS NEWS UCIMU: Italian Machine Tool Orders Up In Q4 Of 2014
Suzuki To Build A New Plant In India
Italy: In the fourth quarter of 2014, the index of machine tool orders, processed by the studies department of UCIMU-Sistemi Per Produrre, registered a 19.1 percent increase compared with the same period of the previous year. The global outcome was determined by the positive results achieved by the manufacturers in Italy, as well as abroad. The index of orders collected in the foreign markets reported a 19.3 percent upturn versus the period October-December 2013. The domestic orders index recorded a new growth, in the amount of 18.8 percent in comparison with the same period of the previous year. On an annual basis, the index showed an average increase amounting to 14.7 percent in comparison with 2013. The outcome was determined by the positive performances of manufacturers in the foreign market (+10.1 percent), as well as by the good results achieved in the domestic market (+37.2 percent), which went back to investing in capital goods, supported by the introduction of the New Sabatini Law. “This last survey,” said Luigi Galdabini, president of UCIMU-Sistemi Per Produrre, “highlights that there were five consecutive quarters of growth registered by the index processed by our Studies Department; this certainly confirms a good expectation for the near future, taking into account that the collection of orders will materialise in production in the next six to eight months.” “On the other hand,” he said, “the recovery of the Italian demand for machine tools shows that the manufacturing industry of our country is getting back on track. We hope that this new phase will be confirmed even in the long term, to the benefit of the whole country.”
I nd i a : Su z u k i ha s la id t he foundation stone of the new plant in Gujarat, India. At the ceremony, Osamu Suzuki, the compa ny’s chairma n & CEO said: “To build our new plant in Gujarat is the opening of a new era for us, and it is the second Suzuki Project in India. Under the ‘Make in India’ program proposed by the Prime Minister HE Narendra Modi, we will set up a production plant here in Guja rat, with high focus on productivity and efficiency. The plant will start with the annual production capacity of 250,000.” The plant is likely to start production from mid-2017. The tota l inve stment a mount is expected to be approximately JPY 60 billion (US$505 million). Vehicles and parts produced at the plant in Gujarat will be supplied only to Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), and distributed through MSIL’s sales network. MSIL will concentrate on investing in development of products and strengthening of sales force, and Suzuki will invest in the new production company.
Our new exciting product offering for 2015.
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RELIABILITY. PRICE. REPUTATION.
Haas ST-55 Heavy-Duty, Large-Through-Bore Turning Center
= TOTAL CUSTOMER VALUE. WE KNOW what it’s like. We’re MACHINISTS, too. We CUT METAL every day.
That’s why we’re driven to make sure that every Haas CNC machine is trustworthy, affordable, and always backed by the industry’s best after-sale service.
Haas Factory Outlet Singapore Philippines
+65 6643 6878 +63 2 915 8725
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w w w. H a a s C N C . c o m
Malaysia Vietnam
+60 3 9059 1877 +84 8 3844 7192
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BUSINESSNEWS
Nissan Reports A 23.6 Percent Rise In Net Income For First Nine Months Of FY2014 Yo ko h a m a , J a p a n : N i s s a n Motor has announced i mprove d f i n a nc ia l re su lt s for the nine months to December 31, 2014, as solid US sales, cost efficiencies and favorable currency movements contributed to a 23.6 percent rise in net income to JPY 338.8 billion (US$2.8 billion). Operating profit rose to JPY 417.9 billion for the period, re pre se nt i n g a 5. 2 p e rce nt margin on net revenues that climbed 11.1 percent to JPY 8.09 trillion. “Nissa n delivered solid financial results in the first nine months of the fiscal year, reflecting rising US sales of our
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latest models and a normalising ye n - do l l a r e xc h a n g e ra te ,” said Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO. “We a nticipate good fullyear results as our product offensive and positive momentum in North America a nd Western Europe offsets volatilit y in other ma rkets. Given these trends, a long with the continuing impact of currency movements and cost controls, we are today revising upward our full-year financial forecast.” The company now expects to report a net income of JPY 420 billion for the fiscal year on projected revenues of JPY
11.15 trillion. In China, where Nissa n is the leading Japa nese ca r bra nd, unit sa le s rose 5.2 percent to 879,000 units for the nine-month period. For the calendar year to December 31, sales were up 0.5 percent to 1.22 million units amid signs of slowing Chinese growth. Globally, the company sold 3.835 million vehicles in the first nine months of fiscal 2014, a 4.4 percent rise year-on-year. T h e a u t o m o b i l e ma nufacturer's A llia nce st rate g y, b a se d a rou nd it s pa r tnership w ith Renault, continued to deliver synergies a nd technolog y- sha ring b e n e f i t s . To t a l u n i t s a l e s for the Alliance reached 8.5 million vehicles for the 2014 calendar year.
Hexagon Metrology Opens Office In Hanoi, Vietnam
NSSMC Bags Innovator Award
Viet na m: Hexagon Metrology has opened a representative office in Hanoi, Vietnam late last year to better serve the existing and future customers in Hanoi. “This is an important move for Hexagon Metrolog y a s we b el ieve t hat everything that requires understanding o f t h e c u s t o m e r s’ business must be done locally, close to the customer’s development and manufacturing facilities. We are confident that our local organisation will continue to contribute to the growing success of our customers and also Hexagon Metrolog y,” said Taveesak Srisuntisuk, MD of the company. Lim Boon Choon, president of the APAC region, said: “The inauguration of our new Hanoi representative office is a proud moment for us as our presence will now be felt in Asia’s growing metrology market. We have also set up a precision centre for hands-on metrology product and solutions demonstration. We also plan to scale up the centre in due course with Hexagon Metrology’s new technologies.”
Japa n: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation ( NSSMC) was recognised as a mon g t he world’s top 10 0 most innovative corporations, by receiv ing a ‘Thomson Reuters 2014 Top 100 Global Innovator Award’ for the third consecutive year. This award gives recognition to those companies which have ca rried out innovative R& D ac t i v it ie s a nd out st a nd i n g intellectual property activities. For this award, the four basic criteria of evaluation are: patent volume, global reach, success r a te , a n d p a te nt i n f lu e n ce indicated by citations. O f t h e w o r l d ’s t o p 10 0 innovators named for 2014, 39 are Japanese companies, an increase from 28 in 2013. Among them, NSSMC is the only steel company given an award for a third consecutive year.
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
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German Quality from Europe´s No.1! 60,000 quality tools More than 500 leading brands The System Partner â&#x20AC;&#x201C; always by your side Exclusive premium brand GARANT
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Top reliability requires premium tools. Hoffmann Quality Tools Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. 25 International Business Park #02-61/64 German Centre, Singapore 609916 Tel.: +65 65 62 81 63 Fax: +65 65 62 81 61 asia-pacific@hoffmann-group.com www.hoffmann-group.com
ENQUIRY NO 038
20 - 23 May 2015 PWTC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Hall 4 Stand No. 4410
BUSINESSNEWS
Hoffmann Group Achieves Record Sales
Munich, Germany: The Hoffmann Group has crossed the billion-euro sales mark for the first time. According to the company, the key reasons for the company's best annual result in its entire history are its ability to generate customer benefits through its advisory expertise in the field of quality tools, and to underpin these over the long term with targeted investments. For the first time in almost 100 years of the company's history, the group's annual global turnover has crossed the billion-dollar mark to come in at €1.047 billion (US$1.19 billion). This represents an increase of 8.9 percent compared with the previous year. The group has consolidated its market position both internationally and in Germany, which remains, as before, its most important market. Nevertheless, 28 percent of the group's overall turnover was generated internationally. “Whilst continuing to focus clearly on our home market, we are strategically on track for continued healthy growth internationally,” stressed Mr Banasch. “Our newly-opened workstations and storage centre in Odelzhausen is helping us realise our ambition of offering our customers the best in quality and service at all times. Our services range from specialist advice on planning to the expert installation of individually configurable products for operational facilities at our customers’ premises,” added Mr Banasch. The group believes that there is still good potential for growth worldwide, and has plans to enter additional new markets this year. “Our model as a system partner with a unique, three-fold combination of trading, manufacturing and service expertise is not only being successfully embraced in Europe, as our international experience shows. We are therefore convinced that we can support small, mediumsized and large companies throughout the world in optimising their procurement processes and improving productivity,”he said. 14
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
SPRING Singapore Supports SMEs To Restructure & Grow Singapore: Amidst the challenging economic environment, rising bu si ne ss cost s a nd lab ou r constraints of 2014, SPR ING Singapore supported 9,000 SMEs through some 12,000 upgrading projects to boost productivity and enhance competitiveness, as well as to capture growth opportunities through innovation, internationalisation or partnerships. Close to 90 percent of the companies which benefited were micro and small enterprises with S$10 million (US$8 million) or le ss i n a n nua l reve nue . When fully implemented, these projects will create S$8 billion of added value to the economy and 22,000 jobs. The number of partnerships between large organisations and SMEs continues to grow. Last year, more than 400 SMEs collaborated with large public and private organisations to upgrade their capabilities or develop new products. Through such partnerships, the SMEs also get the chance to build their track records and expand their businesses. Intel, which is leading a project with 40 SMEs to develop wireless communication technologies, has also linked the SMEs up with potential customers. Some of these leads have translated into business opportunities. One of these SMEs, Gridcomm, is currently developing a system to control street lighting for a customer introduced by Intel. As part of its continuous drive to improve its processes, SPRING launched an online portal last ye a r for t he applicat ion of grants and submission of claims. SPRING also enhanced the Micro Loan Programme, where riskwww.equipment-news.com
When microns matter Raise output, improve accuracy and lower costs Fierce competition is putting pressure on manufacturers to increase output and improve quality while reducing costs.
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BUSINESSNEWS sharing for the government was raised from 50 to 70 percent for young companies. I n re sponse to fe e dback from the SME community, the organisation has also provided 20 percent cash advance on approved grants to ease the cash-flow for SMEs undertaking these projects. To build a pipeline of strong, competitive enterprises, the organisation works with various partners such as the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE Ltd) to nurture start-ups and help them grow. Last year, they appointed two accelerators to identify and co-invest in promising medical technology ventures. In total, more than 160 start-ups were supported by SPRING and its partners. Tan Kai Hoe, the organisation’s chief executive, said: “2014 has not been easy for SMEs, but many have risen to the challenge. These SMEs have taken the initiative to develop new capabilities, i mprove pro du c t i v it y, a nd found new avenues of growth. This restructuring journey will continue in 2015 and SPRING is committed to suppor ting SMEs on this path. The global economic outlook for 2015 is still uncertain, which makes it even more important for SMEs to look for ways to innovate and hone their competitive edge, to be in a stronger position to capture future growth opportunities.”
Haas Automation Tops US$1 Billion Mark In 2014
US: Haas Automation has reported that its annual revenues exceeded US$1 billion for the first time in the company's history in 2014 — an increase of more than 11 percent over 2013 — making it the best year ever for the machine tool builder. The company also built more than 14,000 units in 2014 — a 22 percent increase over 2013, and an all-time record. Sales of the company’s CNC machine tools were strong throughout 2014, with a number of records set in the third and fourth quarters. September was the second-best sales month ever for the company due partly to a successful IMTS. October yielded records for machine tool production and sales, with more than 1,400 machines built and revenue exceeding US$100 million. Third-quarter revenues also set a company record, only to be surpassed by record revenues in the fourth quarter. The total number of Haas machines sold during 2014 topped 13,000 units — an increase of more than nine percent over 2013. The company also shipped more than 14,000 units worldwide during the year — a 21 percent increase over 2013 — with 53 percent going to international markets. “It was an incredible year,” stated Haas GM Bob Murray, “our best year ever and we owe a lot to our international customers. We will continue investing in our growing international markets to ensure that all Haas customers receive the high-quality products and world-class service they deserve.”
Endless Possibilities
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BrightLine fiber: Breakthrough in laser cutting. Through thick and thin with the solid-state laser: the new BrightLine fiber option now lets you achieve excellent cut quality when processing thick sheets and the ultimate in productivity when processing thin sheets. Using one and the same machine to process your entire range of parts, you can look forward to impressive edge quality with stainless steel up to 25 mm thick, the tiniest contours, much easier removal of parts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; combined with maximum productivity when cutting thin sheets. No more compromises!
www.trumpf-machines.com/trulaser5000-revolution
ENQUIRY NO 052
BUSINESSNEWS
Posco Builds Cold Rolled Steel Plate Plant In India India: Posco has completed a plant for cold rolled steel with an annual capacity of 1.8 million tons in the Vile Bhagad industrial complex in India’s Maharashtra State in late January. The company plans to use the cold rolled steel plant to strengthen its position as the number one global automotive steel maker in India by producing automotive
materials for luxury cars. In addition, the cold rolled steel plant will now provide a stable supply of cold rolled materials to the Continuous Galvanising Line (CGL, 450,000 tons annually) and Annealing and Coating Line (ACL, 300,000 tons annually), which are currently in operation. The compa ny expects to secure its competitiveness in
the local market by supplying automobile companies such as General Motors and Volkswagen, as well as the top automobile companies in India, including Tata, Mahindra & Mahindra and Bajaj. Furthermore, it can contribute to achieving the ‘Made in India’ policy strongly pursued by the Indian government in the manufacturing sector.
Robert Proksa, Jaworzno, Poland
ASEAN CEOs Most Optimistic About Global Economy For 2015
Singapore: Fewer CEOs than last year think global economic growth will improve over the next 12 months, though confidence in their ability to achieve revenue growth in their own companies remains stable, say the more than 1,300 CEOs interviewed worldwide in PwC’s 18th Annual Global CEO Survey. Global Economy CEOs are less optimistic about global growth prospects than a year ago, with 37 percent of CEOs thinking global economic growth will improve in 2015. This is down from 44 percent last year. Significantly, 17 percent of CEOs believe global economic growth will decline, more than twice as many as a year ago (seven percent). The remaining 44 percent expect economic conditions to remain steady. Regionally, the results show wide variations. CEOs in ASEAN are the most optimistic about the global economy with 49 percent anticipating improvement, followed by Asia Pacific (45 percent), the Middle East (44 percent) and North America (37 percent). On the other hand, only 16 percent of CEOs in Central and Eastern Europe expect economic improvement. CEOs in emerging economies like India (59 percent), China (46 percent) and Mexico (42 percent) are more optimistic about the economy than those 18
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
in developed economies like the US (29 percent) and Germany (33 percent). Revenue Growth Despite the overall declining outlook for the global economy, CEOs remain confident about prospects for their own company; 39 percent worldwide said they are ‘very confident’ their company’s revenues will grow in the next 12 months. That is the same as last year; though up slightly from 36 percent in 2013. Regionally, ASEAN CEOs are more confident of revenue growth at 47 percent when compared with the global average of 39 percent. This is also up from last year’s figure of 45 percent. In the longer term, 54 percent of ASEAN CEOs are very confident of their own company’s prospects for revenue growth over the next three years — higher than the global average of 49 percent. On top of this, 71 percent of ASEAN CEOs said that there are more growth opportunities for their company today than there were three years ago, again higher than the global average of 61 percent. Commenting on this, Yeoh Oon Jin, executive chairman, PwC Singapore said: “The increase in CEOs’ confidence in their companies’ revenue growth in ASEAN is a strong signal that business sentiment in the www.equipment-news.com
BUSINESSNEWS region remains strong despite a less optimistic outlook globally. We are confident that Southeast Asia, as a region, will continue to grow as an attractive investment destination. This bodes well for Singapore as we remain as a favoured regional headquarter location.” CEOs in the Asia Pacific region (45 percent) are also confident of revenue growth, about the same as last year. The Middle East is still one of the most optimistic regions with 44 percent of CEOs very confident of revenue growth, although this is down markedly from last year’s 69 percent. CEO confidence in growth is higher in North America, rising to 43 percent from 33 percent. CEOs in Western Europe (31 percent) and Central and Eastern Europe (30 percent) are least optimistic about their company’s growth prospects. Strategies For Growth Globally, CEOs rank the US as their most important market for growth over the next 12 months, placing it ahead of China. Overall, 38 percent of CEOs say the US is among their top-three overseas growth markets, compared with 34 percent for China, 19 percent for Germany, 11 percent for the UK and 10 percent for Brazil. In contrast, 46 percent of ASEAN CEOs name China as the most important market for growth over the next 12 months, followed by the US (38 percent), and Indonesia (21 percent). CEOs say they will undertake a number of business strategies to strengthen their companies in the coming 12 months. Overall, 71 percent say they will cut costs, 51 percent will form strategic alliances or joint ventures, 31 percent will outsource a business process or function, and 29 percent will complete a domestic M&A (up from 23 percent last year). In ASEAN, 61 percent of CEOs plan to implement cost-reduction initiatives, while 53 percent plan to enter into a new strategic alliance or joint venture.
What Worries CEOs Most? Over-regulation again tops the list of concerns, named by 78 percent of CEOs worldwide. This is up six points from last year and is now at the highest level ever seen in the survey. In ASEAN, the top threat is listed as geopolitical uncertainty (89 percent), followed by increasing tax burden (82 percent), and over-regulation (78 percent). Other top concerns cited by CEOs globally are availability of key skills (73 percent), fiscal deficits and debt burdens (72 percent), geopolitical uncertainty (72 percent), increasing taxes (70 percent), cyber threats and the lack of data security (61 percent) — going up rapidly from 48 percent last year — as well as social instability (60 percent), shifting consumer patterns (60 percent) and the speed of technological change (58 percent). Globally, CEOs concerns are up in all areas compared to last year with the exception of energy costs where they are slightly down at 59 percent. Talent Diversity & Adaptability Half of CEOs around the world say they will increase their headcount over the next 12 months, while 21 percent expect a decrease (this remains about the same as last year). In ASEAN, 67 percent of CEOs expect to increase headcount in the next 12 months, with only 13 percent planning to cut their work force this year. As CEOs seek to meet the challenge of finding the right people, 81 percent globally say they are looking for a broader range of skills, compared with 87 percent in ASEAN. Interestingly, while nearly two-thirds of CEOs’ organisations (64 percent) worldwide have a diversity and inclusiveness strategy, only 55 percent of ASEAN CEOs have one. Of those who have such strategies, 95 percent say it has improved their bottom line in ASEAN, compared with 85 percent globally.
IHS Automotive Forecasts A 88.6 Million Unit Global Light Vehicle Market In 2015
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Southfield, US: With 2015 off to a good start, IHS Automotive, part of IHS, forecasts global automotive sales for 2015 to reach 88.6 million, an increase of 2.4 percent over 2014, continuing an unbroken five-year run of sales recovery and growth from the low point set in the depth of the Great Recession in 2009. However, a slowdown is being sig na lled w ith just two of the high-potential BRIC markets likely to see increased sales this year. China will lead the sector’s volume grow th, though IHS March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
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BUSINESSNEWS
United Grinding To Optimise Processes With PuLs Program
Switzerland: United Grinding has developed the PuLs program, which optimises all internal processes for the benefit of its customers. PuLs stands for precision and passion, the two main pillars of the company philosophy. With this program, the group aims to eliminate all waste and further optimise internal procedures and production processes. "We want to avoid all activities in our value creation chain, which do not bring any benefit for the customer," says Heinz Poklekowski, financial director of the group. "PuLs is a customised concept, not an off-the-peg solution," says Michael Horn, chief operating officer of the group. As well as processes in production, development and administration processes are also put to the test. Summing things up, Mr Poklekowski says the program is "not so much a program but rather a company philosophy". He says there is no end date, but is work in progress. Therefore, it should be seen as an inner attitude, a way of thinking, which is aimed at permanent improvement and increasing customer benefit. expects the market to slow from 2014. The North American market will continue its upswing, though the pace differs by country. The size of the contraction of the Russian car market remains a significant wild card that will impact the European market throughout the year, according to the analysis, while other countries in the region continue to recover 20
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
at a rate of 2.5 to 3 percent, helped by the European Central Bank’s (ECB) commitment to full-blown Quantitative Easing (QE). APAC Growth Continues To Lead Industry For the APAC region in 2015, C h i n a’s e c o n o m i c g r o w t h will decelerate further, to 6.5 percent from 7.4 percent in
2014, as a result of industrial overcapacity and weakness in the real estate sector. However, analysts still expect light vehicle sales in China to grow by seven percent in 2015 to 25.2 million units, a ided with increased auto finance penetration, fast dealership e x pa nsion a nd gover nment vehicle scrappage programs. According to the analysis, the current anti-trust campaign environment could alter the relationships among consumers, dealer and OEMs. The campaign is expected to have a long-lasting effect on premium parts/vehicle prices in China. Coupled with this, t h e m o m e n t u m co u l d l e a d to dow nwa rd adjustment in premium pricing, which helps provide solid foundation for premium vehicle penetration to further increase in China in the next decade. The analysts expect premium vehicles in China to top two million units in 2015 w ith yea r- over-yea r growth of 15 percent. They also expect SUVs to re ma i n t he fa ste st- g row i n g segment in China in 2015. “We s e e S U V m a r k e t sh a r e (a s percent of passenger vehicle s a le s) to i nc re a se f ro m 2 6 percent in 2014 to 28 percent in 2015 as consumers look to this segment to address evolving tra nspor tation needs,” sa id Lin Huaibin, manager, China light vehicle sales forecast, IHS Automotive. In India, falling inflation, lower interest rates, energ y prices and a regained confidence will help lift the car market into growth mode starting in 2015 after a two year lull. US Growth Stimulates Global Demand Levels Nor th A merica continues to b e a n imp etu s to globa l www.equipment-news.com
BUSINESSNEWS
Global Sales Growth Continues Amid Volatile Price Signals From a global perspective, the auto industry is now being faced with and will have to adjust to very large and widespread e xc ha n ge rate move me nt s, commodity and raw material price changes and, of course, the new low oil prices. The last two will be significant tailwinds for the auto sector, its margins and for most of the world consumers, but at the sa me time, their unpredictability will mean longterm business plans will likely change at a more cautious pace. www.equipment-news.com
World Crude Steel Output Increased By 1.2 Percent In 2014
Fran Gambín, Murcia, Spain
light vehicle demand levels. Improving credit conditions t h rou g hout t he re g ion a nd susta ined, but tenuous, economic growth among the countries in the region have helped to motivate total auto sales levels. “A lt hou g h t he e co no m ic conditions and pace of recovery differ slightly among the North American countries, consumer confidence, credit availability a n d p e n t- u p d e m a n d h av e played key roles in sustaining auto demand momentum since t he G re at Re ce s sio n ,” s a id Chris Hopson, manager, North American light vehicle sales forecasting, IHS Automotive. “This should help motivate sales once again in 2015.” I H S Automotive projects regional light vehicle sales volume in North America to hit more than 20 million units in 2015, up 2.5 percent from last year. In the US, analysts continue to b elieve t he upside r isk s for auto de m a nd a re more apparent than the downside risks. With a strong exit to 2014, and gasoline prices currently plunging, consumers may feel even more positive throughout 2015. The IHS Automotive US light vehicle sales forecast for 2015 is 16.9 million units.
Brussels, Belgium: World crude steel production reached 1,662 million tonnes (Mt) for the year 2014, up by 1.2 percent compared to 2013. In 2014, the Middle East, the smallest region for crude steel production had the most robust growth. Crude steel production in the EU (28), North America and Asia grew modestly in 2014 compared to 2013, while in the CIS and South America it decreased. Annual production for Asia was 1,132.3 Mt of crude steel in 2014, an increase of 1.4 percent compared to 2013. China’s* crude steel production in 2014 reached 822.7 Mt, an increase of 0.9 percent on 2013. China’s share of world crude steel production decreased from 49.7 percent in 2013 to 49.5 percent in 2013. Japan produced 110.7 Mt in 2014, a 0.1 percent increase from 2013. South Korea’s crude steel production was 71.0 Mt, an increase of 7.5 percent compared to 2013. The EU recorded an increase of 1.7 percent compared to 2013, producing 169.2 Mt of crude steel in 2014. In 2014, crude steel production in North America was 121.2 Mt, an increase of 2.0 percent on 2013. The US produced 88.3 Mt of crude steel, up by 1.7 percent compared to 2013. In December 2014, world crude steel production for the 65 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 133.7 Mt, an increase of 0.1 percent compared to December 2013. The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 65 countries in December 2014 was 72.7 percent. It is 2.4 percentage points lower than December 2013. The average capacity utilisation in 2014 was 76.7 percent compared to 78.4 percent in 2013. Note: * China issues a preliminary year-end crude steel production figure in January based on monthly production figures issued for the year. The preliminary figures for 2013 and 2014 are used in this press release to make a year-on-year comparison. The 2013 preliminary figure issued in January 2014 was revised from 779.0 Mt to 815.4 Mt in January 2015. The 2014 preliminary figure issued this month is 822.7 Mt. This is likely to be revised.
Your Intellectual Property
March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
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BUSINESSNEWS
John Nyberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
Alstom To Provide Track Work For Delhi Metro
India: Alstom has been awarded a contract worth €25 million (US$28.6) by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to provide track work on the new line 7 of Delhi Metro by the end of 2016. This line is 59 km long and includes 38 stations. It is part of the Delhi Metro Phase III project to extend the metro network from six to eight lines. With the two new lines expected to open in early 2017, the number of commuters is projected to go up from three million currently to about four million. Alstom has been present in India for more than a century. The company recently opened a facility at Sri City to build metro train sets and has a manufacturing unit in Coimbatore for traction systems and an engineering unit specialised in signalling solutions in Bangalore.
Hyundai Heavy Industries Hands Over The World’s Largest Cylindrical FPSO South Korea: Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has announced that Goliat FPSO, the world’s largest cylindrical FPSO ordered by Eni Norge, has sailed away from its yard. The 64,000 ton cylindrical floater, measuring 112 m in diameter and 75 m in height, is designed to store one million barrels of crude oil per day. The FPSO will be installed in the Goliat field in the Barents Sea, 85 km northwest of Hammerfest, with start-up expected by mid-2015. With the 490-meter-long H-Dock, specifically designed to build megasized offshore facilities and the two 1,600 ton gantry cranes at its Ulsan offshore yard, HHI has built nine over-two-million-barrel FPSOs to date accounting for more than 60 percent of the world’s market share.
Ditzingen, Germany: Ten years ago, Trumpf was one of the founding members of the network ‘Knowledge Factory — Companies for Germa ny’. With va rious different programs, the company has successfully reached more than 1,800 students in nearly 2,500 project hours, and advised numerous founders. “The Wissensfabrik is a n initiative across all knowledge levels — from the kindergarten to t h e s t a r t - u p ,” s a i d t h e compa ny’s leader Dr Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller. “We show young people how business works, from product design to manufacturing and marketing.” “We're currently inspiring each other with Industr y 4.0. Today's kids grow up in 22
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
Trumpf
Trumpf Engages Youth With A Knowledge Factory
the dig ita l world w ithout a problem, but only few of them k now how to develop t he technolog y themselves, and how it can be sensibly used for new business models.” This is why the Wissensfabrik is currently working on an IT
project for students, aimed at providing an insight into the rapid development of IT solutions and their diverse applications in companies. At Trumpf, students will use a 3D printer to produce a product they previously designed in the classroom. www.equipment-news.com
BUSINESSNEWS
Bombardier Appoints First Authorised Service Facility For Commercial Aircraft In India
E a s t Ha r t for d, U S: Pratt & Whitney PurePower engines w ill prov ide power for 32 Mitsubishi Regional Jets ( M R J ) u nder a n a g re ement announced by Japan Airlines (JAL) and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. PW1200G engines w ill power the a ircra f t a nd Pratt & Whitney will provide f l e e t m a n a g e m e nt su p p o r t services for the engines. “ We ' r e v e r y e x c i t e d t o introduce the MRJ and Geared Turbofan engine as our next generation regiona l aircra ft fleet solution,” said Yoshiharu Ueki, president, Japan Airlines. “We believe the GTF engine technolog y w ill deliver st rong ca sh op erat ing cost improvements, environmental b enefit s a nd b e come a key enabler to our future regional network strategy.” T h e P u r e Po w e r G e a r e d Turbofa n eng ine fa mily ha s more than 6,200 orders, including options. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet is a family of 70 to 90-seat nextgeneration aircraft featuring Pratt & Whitney's PurePower engine and aerodynamics to reduce fuel consumption, noise and emissions.
Toronto, Canada: Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has strengthened its global presence by appointing GMR Aero Technic Limited (GMR Aero Technic) of Hyderabad, India as an Authorised Service Facility (ASF) for its Q400 turboprop. Under the ASF agreement, which takes effect immediately, GMR Aero Technic will offer Bombardier customers the full range of line and heavy maintenance services from its facilities located at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, India. The 27,300 sq m Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility is certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for line maintenance, and by both EASA and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA, India) for heavy maintenance. “We’re very pleased to welcome GMR Aero Technic onboard as one of our trusted Authorised Service Facilities — the first in India to provide local Q400 aircraft operators, as well as those in the surrounding regions with maintenance expertise and first-class customer service close to their bases of operations,” said Todd Young, VP, Customer Services, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.
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Bombardier
Bombardier
Pratt & Whitney To Provide Engines On MRJ Aircraft
March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
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METAL CUTTING Drill Geometry:
Continuous
Revolution One technology is adding a little ‘twist’ to the traditional twist drill. By Ricky Payling, application specialist for rotary tools, Dormer Pramet
T
he t ra d it io n a l ‘ Tw i s t Drill’ has been around for more than 150 years and its overall design has changed very little during this time. This is recognition, if it was ever needed, of the invention from A merica n mechanic Stephen Morse from Massachusetts back in 1863. While the style and general use of a standard twist drill remains very close to its original ro o t s , t he re i s a co n s t a nt re quirement to pu sh t he boundaries and find new ways to enhance performance, extend tool life and reduce overall costs.
I n c i d e n t a l l y, t h e C T W geometry is a key feature of the R459 multi-material drill. Including the technolog y in the product ra nge mea ns it is easier to re-grind the drill and it offers a more consistent long-term performance. It will ensure the drill is restored to as
close to its original properties as possible after regrinding, p r o v i d i n g a co s t e f fe c t i v e solution in a simplified manner. CTW Explained Traditionally, web thinning is performed a s a n additiona l operation after point grinding. A dr il l p oi nt is t h i n ne d by shortening the length of the chisel edge to reduce the thrust force needed when drilling. C T W te c h nolog y si mpl i f ie s the chisel thinning process a s the depth is a lready set and therefore no adjustments a re needed dur ing reg r ind, regardless of drill length. CTW increases both flute volume a nd cross sectiona l st re n g t h. T he combi nat ion of t he se e le me nt s e n su re s consistent forces throughout the drilling cycle, with little or no
The point design of the R459 drill after machining stainless steel for 30 minutes.
Tool Life Enhancing Technology There are plenty of motivations to produce simple a nd reliable solutions to support a nd re solve ma nu fac tu r i n g challenges in an efficient and cost effective manner. This has given rise to the development of a distinctive feature into the working end of the traditional drill. One example is the Cont inuou sly T h in ne d Web (CTW ) technology developed by Dormer Pramet. Its rotary drilling range provides customers with a variety of benefits to suppor t the life of the cutting tool, without compromising performance. 24
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
www.equipment-news.com
METALCUTTING increase in power requirement as the drill penetrates deeper into the hole. This, in turn, allows increased cutting speeds and greater performance reliability without compromising tool life. A New Lease Of Life Re-grinding a drill can be a costeffective solution for an end-user to extend the life of a cutting tool, but it can be a complex procedure a nd needs to be performed accurately to ensure the product achieves a consistently good level of performance. G e n e r a l l y, a d r i l l a f te r the re - grinding process will retain around 75 to 80 percent of its original qualities a nd performance, but with CT W included, this increases to 90 to 95 percent. A lso, a reg rind compa ny work ing w it h a batch of drills incorporated with the technology will reduce its lead t ime, compa re d w it h t hose that do not. This offers a quick turn-around for customers and simplifies logistics. Machine dow nt ime is a lso kept to a minimum. Installing the CTW technology into a drill not only
Mr Payling feels a regrind company working with a batch of drills with CTW can reduce its lead time
enables the complex ities of the re-grinding operation to be reduced but because an amount of the web thinning is built into the design, the symmetry of the tool is retained after re-grind. This means the drill will not degenerate over time and will maintain its torque strength after repeated re-grinds. By integrating part of the webthinning feature within the flute
Installing the CTW technology into a drill not only enables the complexities of the re-grinding operation to be reduced, the drill will also not degenerate over time and will maintain its torque strength after repeated re-grinds.
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form, the design is effectively thinned throughout the life of the drill, without passing on the costs and difficulties associated with this additional operation to the user. Also, as thrust forces are kept consistently low, the result is less wear and tear on the machine tool, providing another time and cost saving benefit for the end-user. Test Results CTW is currently featured in the R459 drill for applications up to 8xD in a wide range of materials. A key feature of the drill is its versatility in machining a variety of materials. Recent in-house testing conducted by Dormer Pramet using the drill on aluminium, hardened steel and stainless steel, showcased h ow t h e te c h n o l o g y co u l d withstand differing applications and conditions. D u r i n g a te s t i n v o l v i n g stainless steel 316L with cutting data of VC 35m/min at a feed of 0.1mm/rev (1,395 rpm at 140 mm/min), the drill ran for 30 minutes of contact time and showed a small amount of pick March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
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METALCUTTING
The CTW technology appears to improve tool life, the regrind process and reduces costs. The Continuously Thinned Web (CTW) geometry
up, with a nice even wear scar across the cutting edges. Similarly when machining aluminium, the drill was run at Dormer catalogue data VC 285 m/min (11,340 rpm) at a feed of 0.26 mm/rev (2,950 mm/min). A fter 30 minutes of contact time, the drill showed minimal wear across cutting edges with a small amount of pick-up. In the development of the R459 with CT W, the cutting tool manufacturer performed a series of competitor testing, w he re t he d r i l l p e r fo r m e d well aga inst five others. To ensure fa irne ss a ga inst the competition, all the drills were tested in the same conditions. With hole depth set at 40 mm and machining hardened steel (AMG 1.5), speed was 80 m/min at 5,092 rpm, with 0.09 mm/rev feed at 458 mm/min. Among those tested, only one other competitor lasted the full 30 minutes, drilling more than 340 holes without any problems. In the same time frame, another lasted half an hour but offered a poor finish and noisy performance, while one more lasted the time but only at 7xD capability. The remaining two failed inside 20 minutes. From the initial test, the best per for ming competitor wa s then selected to compare tool life using the same conditions. The R459 lasted for a further 26
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
80 minutes, drilling 900 holes without any problems, while the competitor was badly worn after completing the same operation. The tests showcased that even with the CT W web t h i n n i n g fe a t u r e i n c lu d e d , deep-hole drills can perform su cce s s f u l l y i n a r a n g e o f
mater ia l appl ic at ion s. T h is consistent per forma nce, enhanced tool life, improved regrind process and ultimately a reduction in costs, offers a win-win solution for all. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2001
Turn to page 80a or log on to www.equipment-news.com to enquire
Dormer Pramet: Deep-Hole Drill Dormer Prametâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solid carbide drill R459 is suitable for applications up to 8xD. Capable of machining a variety of materials including steel, stainless steel, cast iron, copper and aluminium, the drill has been specifically developed to overcome problems typically associated with deep-hole drilling. The drill broadens the existing MP-X range which already comprises 3xD and 5xD solid carbide multi-material drills. A key feature of the drill is its Continuously Thinned Web (CTW) geometry, which increases both flute volume and cross sectional strength. The drill is available in diameters from 3 mm to 16 mm, including 0.1 mm increments up to 10.0 mm, and features a titanium aluminium nitride (TiAlN) coating. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2002
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The Art of Grinding.
A member of the UNITED GRINDING Group
S41 The Allrounder for complex grinding jobs.
If you think that you already know everything about grinding machines, you don't know the S41 yet. New technical developments ensure flexibility, high precision and short auxiliary times. The patented StuderGuide® guideway system with high-precision linear drive is just one of the advantages of the S41. It also boasts further technical features: you can choose from a large number of wheelhead variants. With up to four grinding wheels, the S41 fulfils virtually every requirement in complete machining. www.studer.com – «The Art of Grinding.» ENQUIRY NO 044 DKSH Taiwan Ltd. · 10F, No. 22, Lane 407, Ti-Ding Blvd., Section 2, · Neihu Technology Park, Taipei 114, Taiwan, R.O.C. · Phone 02 8752 7661 and 04-24721782 ext. 112 · www.dksh.com.tw/machinetools 02-8752
METALCUTTING
Production Snippet:
The Hole Truth It may be a good idea to take a look at how precise hole making has progressed over time. By Oren Asif, hole making technical advisor and Ilan Turchin, reaming technical advisor, Iscar
T
he global metal machining industry requires faster, more accurate and longer lasting hole cutting tools that are able to deliver higher quality control standards. This demand has given rise to the need to slash hole making times, reduce users’ costs and improve product quality. Cutting tool manufacturers have responded in a number of ways, mainly in terms of geometry, tool life and efficiency. These
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asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
improvements have resulted in better circularity, straightness, concentricity and surface finish. For example, Iscar’s HCPIQ Sumocham drilling heads feature concave cutting edges, w h ic h a l l ow g ra du a l e nt r y into material. This measured penetration reduce s torque and cutting forces and e n h a n c e s t h e d r i l l s’ s e l f centring capability. In addition, tighter dimensional tolerances are achievable.
The cutting tool maker added that the HCP drilling heads are made from a TiAlN PVD nanolayer coating grade that is said to provide extended tool life, including good peeling resistance and slow, stable wear progression. Also, by eliminating pilot hole operations, the drilling heads reduce machining cycle times and half the number of tools required for a given drilling operation. Reaming — The Final Process In the world of reaming, there are also improvements made to products in order to increase productivity and enhance quality. They are designed to achieve good roundness and cylindricity. These factors are important because the reaming operation is often the final process in a machining cycle. Tool failure at this stage will damage the part and in most cases result in scrappage. Therefore the use of a reliable reaming tool is essential. In terms of roundness, it refers to a tolerance zone that is limited in the me a suring plane and perpendicular to the axis by two concentric circles. The cutting tool maker is able to achieve a va lue of 1 µ m and greater with its reamers, depending on the workpiece material and machine condition. A s far as cylindricity is concerned, the company’s reamers can achieve the cylindricity of 2 µm and greater, depending on the workpiece material and machine condition. Drilling followed by reaming usually produces a hole quality and surface finish that is as close to theoretical perfection as possible. In order to achieve this, Iscar claims that its reamers are able to achieve a mean roughness of Ra 0.05 µm or greater, depending on the workpiece material. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2003
Turn to page 80a or log on to www.equipment-news.com to enquire
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Industry applications
Quick change system with unique clamping design - Easy to replace the head while in the machine Asymmetrical pocket design for high quality holemaking & reliable performace Rigid drill head clamping & enhanced body rigidity to maximize productivity Drill diameter range: 26.0mm - 41.0mm (3xD & 5xD)
1040 Gachang-ro, Gachang-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu 711-865, KOREA +82-53-760-7640 +82-53-768-8055 www.taegutec.com
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ENQUIRY NO 050
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GREAT GEAR & SYSTEM
Case Study:
Keeping It
Simple
One research has shown that cellular machining utilising general-purpose CNC machine tools offers advantages over high-end, special purpose machines, with no apparent loss of part accuracy or quality.
I
f you a re a big spor ts fan looking for some inspirational story on how Dav id triumphed over Goliath, a good stor y is the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Miracle on Iceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. It depicts how
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t he U S nat iona l ice hockey team (made up of amateur and collegiate players) displayed steely resolve and teamwork to defeat the highly fancied Sov iet Union national team,
which had won the gold medal in six of the seven previous Olympic Games. The underlying factor here is undoubtedly teamwork. In the world of sports, teamwork can sometimes overcome individual br i l l ia nce . I n t he worl d o f metalworking, teamwork is also a strong virtue. According to Haas Automation, using multiple, affordable CNC machine tools in a deliberate and clever way can benefit the user in terms of g re ater f le x ibilit y, lower investment and running costs a nd, ultimately, lower costper-pa r t compa red to using h i g h - e n d , sp e c i a l p u r p o s e machines. www.equipment-news.com
GREATGEAR&SYSTEM Machine placement is more important than previously imagined.
Finding The Flow T h e co m p a n y ’s c l a i m i s supported by an independent study on lean machining at the Technische Universität ( TU ) Darmstadt in Germany. A recent rep or t f rom t he u n ive r sit y demonstrates that the use of several, modestly priced CNC machine tools arranged in a cellular configuration can offer benefits over the use of more e x p e n si ve sp e c ia l - pu r p o se machines configured for ‘donein-one’ operations. The idea for the research was based on the perceived absence of lean manufacturing principles applied in widespread machining operations at manufacturing companies of all sizes. Although deployed widely in a ssembly a nd process engineering env ironments (t y p i c a l l y i n t h e v o l u m e a u to m o b i l e m a n u f a c t u r i n g sector), the principles of flow as a central element of lean manufacturing have not often been transferred successfully to machining operations, and www.equipment-news.com
are rarely to be found at all in Europe. “In German companies, job shops are usually organised in a way that similar technologies a re g roup e d . For e x a mple , a ll milling machine s of t he factor y a re located ne x t to each other and all lathes are located next to each other,” said Jörg Böllhoff, research assistant (Center for Industrial Productiv ity) of Technische Universität Darmstadt. “A product that requires both milling and turning operations would for example be processed on t he lat he f i r st , t he n b e transported to the warehouse, and after a certain period of time, finished on the mill. To achieve cost e f fe c t ivene ss, the products are processed in certain lot sizes which causes f u r t her t ra n sp or tat ion a nd stora ge e f for t. T h i s me a n s there is no efficient one piece - f low from machine to machine as it is usually known f rom f i na l a sse mbly i n t he automotive industry.” In order to address
t he i s su e o f ‘lac k o f f low ’, the re sea rch tea m set up a cellular manufacturing system, which is essentially a group of heterogeneous equipment (in this ca se, CNC machine tools) to manufacture a family o r g ro u p o f si m i l a r p a r t s . Typically, the concept involves the arrangement of machines in a U-shape to aid flow and balance work-in-progress with ‘takt’ time (the average unit pro duc t ion t ime ne e de d to meet customer demand). “U-shaped lines have several advantages. For instance, one worker ca n operate severa l machines. This gives him a good overview of all machines and a short distance to walk,” he said. Good scalability and flexibility is another advantage that he mentioned. “Depending on your customer’s demand, you could operate a U-cell with only one or more operators and therefore change your capacity (assuming the operator, and not the machine is the bottleneck),” he added. March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
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GREATGEAR&SYSTEM
F i na l ly, a U - shap e arrangement also means that the start and end of the line are at the same position. “Raw materials are delivered and finished goods are picked up at t he sa me point. T his results in less effor t for logistics. In addition, the short distance from the last to the first machine in line is pa r ticula rly impor ta nt if only one worker operates all machines in the line.” Comparing The Two To demonstrate the potential advantages, a reference production line was established at the PTW’s Process Learning Factor y (CiP). The ‘done -inone’ line features two, highspecification machine tools: a 3, 5 axes CNC horizontal machining centre with tombstone fixture, and a CNC multi-axis automatic turning centre. According to Mr Böllhoff, the machines in the ‘done-in-one’ line 32
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
have better individual capabilities. Some of the extra capabilities (for milling) are automatic palette change to enable parallelisation of processing and set up; 3,5 axes; and four-face tombstone for workpiece clamping with automatic rotation. For the lathe, it has two spindles and an automatic workpiece handling system. The competing line, a machining cell, features two Haas Super Mini Mill 2 and two Emco Concept Mill 250 three-axis
machining centres, as well as a Haas SL-10 and an Emco Concept Turn 250 two-axis CNC lathe. The report notes that the investment for the two machines in the ‘done-in-one’ line totalled €780,000 (US$882,000), while that for the six CNC machine tools in the cell configuration was €340,000. A n economic comparison between the two machining line configurations (based on 2,000 parts per week, and one worker on each line) is as follows. The ‘done-in-one’ line required 15 shifts to complete the 2,000 parts. The lead-time was 35 minutes, while the unit cost of each part (without material) was calculated at €3.95. The cellular machining configuration took 12.6 shifts to finish the 2,000 components to an identical specification, lead-time was reduced to 10 minutes, and unit cost to €2.55. As an alternative scenario, if two workers are deployed in the machining cell, the unit price climbs slightly to €3.10 as a result of the additional labour cost (but still cheaper than the €3.95 unit cost of the ‘done-in-one’ line). The number of shifts are reduced to 9.8 and lead-time is cut from 10 minutes to seven. Using a capacity comparison based on 15 shifts, the ‘done-inone’ line will complete 2,000 parts; the cell with one worker will finish 2,377 components (a 19 percent
Using multiple affordable CNC machine tools in a deliberate and clever way can benefit the user in terms of greater flexibility, lower investment and running costs and, ultimately, lower cost-per-part. www.equipment-news.com
GREATGEAR&SYSTEM Evenness
Ring Surface Notch
Figure 1 Deepness
increase); and the cell with two workers will complete 3,064 parts (a 29 percent increase).
Diameter ring surface • Tolerance: 39.9555 ± 0.039 mm • cpk=2.27 , cp=3.12
Quality In all cases, the study ensured p a r t accu rac y a nd qu a l it y standards were maintained. The less expensive, general purpose machines were said to be able to produce to a similar standard as the special-purpose machines. APMEN asked Mr Böllhoff just how accurate the parts produced in the U-shape line are. “There a re ba sica lly two different parts that are produced in our machining cell — the bottom and the piston rod of a pneumatic cylinder. Overall, we have two different variants of the cylinder bottom, which are made from aluminium, and then eight variants of the piston rod (stainless steel),” he said. According to him, a process feasibility study was done for the cylinder bottom. Figures one and two show the evenness of the ring surface.
“In our cell we use two Haas Super Mini Mill 2 and two Emco Concept Mill 250 to machine the cylinder bottoms. The piston rods are produced by using a Haas ST10 and an Emco Concept Turn 250. The numbers presented (left) are the ones for the cell with the Haas and Emco machines. “We mainly wanted to state that it is possible to keep the qua lity sta nda rds of a rea l industrial product with such a setting (low cost machinery, multiple pneumatic clampings, high manual workload etc). “In fact the cpk figures for our high-tech cell are worse. The main reason is the clamping situation in that cell. So at the moment we cannot do an appropriate comparison of the two concepts in terms of quality,” he said. F ut u re co st s cou ld a l so be taken into consideration when comparing the different approaches. In the case that the production line needs to be expanded, introducing a new machine to the cell will be considerably cheaper than introducing a machine to the ‘done -in- one’ line due to the large disparity in their individual purchase prices. With a good selection of
Evenness of the ring surface • Tolerance of: 0.04 mm • The results of the corresponding process feasibility indices are: cpk=1.35, cp=1.45 Deepness of the notch • Tolerance: 1.45 ± 0.05 mm • cpk=1.41 , cp=1.87 www.equipment-news.com
Diameter
Figure 2
machines and a good formation, this example has proven that even in metalworking, sometimes general-purpose machines can be combined to out-perform machines of a higher grade. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
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INDESIGN
Multiaxis CNC Machine Simulation:
A Confidence Booster Machine simulation can go a long way into improving part quality and productivity. By Karlo Apro, product marketing, technical manager at CNC Software, Tolland, CT USA
M
ultiaxis CNC equipment has the potential to improve accu rac y and reduce machine cycles even for geometrically complex work. However, to take full advantage of this potential, the shop has to move outside of its comfort zone and use equipment aggressively. Because this increases the potential for catastrophic interferences and collisions, the user may back off and use the equipment conservatively, defeating its purpose. This article will explain how machine simulation can help multiaxis users achieve superior results that are both safe and highly efficient and then move
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on to creative uses that provide unique competitive advantages. Machine simulation provides you with additional layers of visualisation so that you can zoom in and zoom out at will to observe everything that will happen during your machining process. You can move the simulation along very quickly in program segments where you are certain that the part, tool, holder fixtures, and peripheral devices (eg: robots) are in no danger of colliding. When everything is happening in a confined space, you can slow the simulation down to observe these interrelated movements in slow motion or step through them in block fashion.
Eliminate On-Machine Programming & Proofing There are still many five-axis CNC users who program parts at the machine and then single-step through the program to make the first piece or cut a test part using a foam workpiece. Another old school trick is to replace the cutting tool with a pipe cleaner and run the program on a finished part. Then, an experienced programmer will spend hours or even days watching close calls with the pipe cleaner and altering the program to avoid them. This is a tremendous waste of spindle time and programming time. One user we know of spent an average of 10 hours creating programs at the machine. Today, he uses Mastercam with five-axis machine simulation. He can create programs and simulate comparable first piece programs in an hour. This gives him nine additional hours for programming, frees up the machine for 10 additional hours of machining time, and allows a qualified operator to set up and attend more than one machine on the shop floor. Improve Part Quality Simultaneous five-axis motion allows you to reach areas that would be either impossible or very inefficient to reach with traditional methods. The drawback is that when you move the machine in the continuous five-axis mode, the rotary brakes must be off. The machine is running in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;looseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mode. To minimise the error unavoidably generated in this mode of operation, it is essential to position the workpiece in the machineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sweet spot. The sweet spot is a location near the centre of the machining envelope where the shortest possible tool can be employed to reach all of the areas that require machining with axis movements that are as close as possible to the centre of their range of travel. www.equipment-news.com
INDESIGN You accomplish this by creating the toolpaths and then simulating them at various locations until you arrive at the ‘happy place’ where tool movements are tightly choreographed (minimal air cutting), well-supported and all potential interferences have been detected and avoided. When simulating five -axis toolpaths, these are the rule of thumb that allow you to quickly achieve the most important quality and safety improvements: • Minimise and control all motion. • Consider every element of the cutting process. • Keep the tool as short as possible. • Design fix tures that allow minimum distance between the workpiece and the machine’s rotary centre point. • Eliminate air cutting. (Special tools a re ava ilable w ithin the simulation software to facilitate this.) • Avoid collisions at any cost. Expand Multiaxis Capabilities When newcomers think about multiaxis machining, their minds often jump to the manufacturing of complex geometries like blisks and impellers. These are, in fact, very complex examples of five-axis work and only a small percentage of fiveaxis users actually make parts like these. There is actually a long list of multiaxis CNC capabilities ranging from simple four-axis contouring to continuous five-axis machining of complex geometries. W henever possible, ga in e x p er ie nce on t he si mple r multiaxis machining strategies using machine simulation as a learning and training tool. Once you become proficient in a relatively straightforward multiaxis www.equipment-news.com
A foam workpiece is sometimes used for test cuts.
machining application, move on to something a little more difficult. If you are proficient in threeaxis programming, it is fairly simple to move into single setup three + two program using the multiaxis system to index the part to the correct coordinates for the next machine operation. Indexing the part on a multiaxis machine (with the confidence the clearances have been checked via machine simulation) is vastly more productive than changing setups for multiple operations on a three-axis machine. With this sequential approach to growing your five-axis expertise, your equipment will be paying for itself in very short order. Get Creative & Achieve Competitive Advantages Machine simulation will assure the safety of your manufacturing process. Then you can move beyond safety to achieve the b i g p ayo f f s re su lt i n g f ro m your enhanced manufacturing efficiency and creativity. Here are some examples. • Try out the same job on multiple machines. • Accurately estimate multiaxis machine time for complex parts. • Grow unattended machining capabilities.
• Achieve higher machining density. • Integrate machine simulation with iterative design processes. • Experiment with advanced machining strategies away from the machine. • Provide faster turns on short run and prototype parts. • Respond faster to new program and market opportunities. • Present multiaxis machining capabilities to your customers. Important Multiaxis Preliminaries Before a shop can enjoy the ma ny benefits of machine simulation a nd adva nced CA M softwa re for multia x is machining, a number of steps must be ta ken. These steps will assure that the types of simulation chosen are most appropriate and that the results generated via the simulation process will be accurate and trustworthy. 1. Choose between CAM (intermediate code) and G-code simulation There are two types of machine simulation: March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
35
INDESIGN CAM Simulation (such as Mastercam’s Machine Simulation) examines the intermediate code generated by the CAM software in combination with a CAD model of the machine and associated tooling to generate the various components of the machine motion. G - co de Simu lat ion (eg: Vericut from CGTech) uses the actual G-code generated by the postprocessor and detailed machine models including kinematics to generate an ultrahigh resolution simulation of the manufacturing process. CAM-based machine simulation does not cost a lot and it is easy to implement and use. It can be very effective most of the time. However, since it does not work from the G-code (which is the form of instructions the machine actually operates from) and does not incorporate machine kinematics, CAM simulation is not as accurate or as reliable as G-code simulation. 2. Build your virtual machine carefully If you are going to use CAM simulation, then you will need to create a model of your machines w ithin the CA M softwa re.
Machine simulation can sometimes be a training tool.
Although this may sound like a daunting prospect, creating the machine model is usually quite straightforward. Mastercam makes it easier by providing a library of generic multiaxis CNC machines, which can be used as a template for developing the model from your specific machine. Modeling involves inputting specific dimensions taken directly from the machine or from the OEM’s literature. G-code simulation involves a much more extensive modeling process, which is typically done by the software provider.
Simulation can potentially free up a lot of time for programmers.
3. Resolve post processor issues The post proce ssor is a n intermediate software that translates code generated by the CAM software into G and M code that is understood by a specific CNC machine. CAM software is shipped with generic post processors that must be tweaked to satisfy a myriad of machine specific options. T he user ca n opt imise his post processor so that his machine will behave as desired (and provide accurate simulations) by working through documentation provided by the post processor vendor and activating or deactivating various ‘switches’ in the post. Or it may be faster and more satisfying in the long run to hire an expert to install and clean up the posts. 4. Get training For those ma k ing the transition from 3D to five-axis programming with little or no five-axis experience, just a little training can go a long way to establishing a far more productive mindset. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
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F-senso CHUCK MeasUreMent systeM Maximum control for the best results in your production
Evaluation of the centrifugal behavior through Evaluation of the centrifugal behavior through measurement of clamping force and rotational speed measurement of clamping force and rotational speed High flexibility through broad clamping ranges High flexibility through broad clamping ranges Easy handling without any additional attachments Easy handling without any additional attachments Broad clamping range of 75 - 175 mm through interchangeable pressure pins and broad measuring Broad clamping range of 75 - 175 mm through interchangeable pressure pins and broad measuring range from 0 - 100 kN per jaw. Suitable for 3 jaw chucks - even when it rotates - and vices. Intuitive use range from 0 - 100 kN per jaw. Suitable for 3 jaw chucks - even when it rotates - and vices. Intuitive use of the tablet as well as the included software. Ensure the optimum use of your clamping tools with of the tablet as well as the included software. Ensure the optimum use of your clamping tools with RÖHM F-senso chuck. ENQUIRY NO 054 RÖHM F-senso chuck. RÖHM Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. | www.roehm.biz | info@sg.roehm.biz | Hotline: +65 96255123 RÖHM Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. | www.roehm.biz | info@sg.roehm.biz | Hotline: +65 96255123
PSA Peugeot Citroen
INDESIGN
Enter The
3D World
3D technologies can be used to enhance productivity and reduce costs. By Samson Khaou, MD AP South, Dassault Systèmes
M
anufacturers today have to produce at a faster rate and at lower costs, without compromising on product quality, to remain competitive in a global economy. They are expected to predict product durability and lifespan, estimate the operating range for a given design or family of designs, understand whether their product will work as intended, and how well it will be received by customers. Additionally, there is added pressure from better accessibility and affordability of technologies like robotics, wireless connectivity and 3D printing, which is lowering the entry barrier to the industry and raising competition levels.
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Today, manufacturers are embracing technologies like 3D modelling and simulation to help them improve on return on investment by raising productivity and/or lowering cost. In other words, they are tapping on these technologies to achieve what was previously impossible. Modern day 3D simulation tools allow manufacturers to create virtual models of machine tools, robotic assemblies, workcells and lines based on the digital definition of the product. These virtual models, in turn, allow them to validate, synchronise and optimise manufacturing processes before they are implemented on the shop floor, reducing manufacturing time and cost.
3D In The Design Phase By tapping on 3D simulation, ma nufacturers nowadays are identifying possible issues downstream right at the design phase. This is a remarkable advantage as changes can be made at the design phase relatively inexpensively compared to making corrections on the plant floor. T his way, 3D simulation effectively helps to identify design flaws and eliminate down time and repair costs. Manufacturers that successfully leverage digital manufacturing solutions can therefore, expect to see reduced lead time to market and increased production throughput. Additionally, 3D modelling and simulation has made significant inroads into product testing. Manufacturers can not only eliminate the need for building expensive prototypes for testing, but also reduce cost by taking away manual or physical testing altogether. Digital 3D models also offer an advantage over static models, which, although very detailed, will not show potential problems related to how machines may operate. www.equipment-news.com
INDESIGN Design ca n a lso work concurrently with production by using a common 3D digital platform relying on one original set of data. Take the automotive industry for instance: more than €1 billion (US$1.14 billion) per year is spent today by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) across the world for producing prototypes before a vehicle is validated for mass production. We se e a new t re nd emerging: NPD (No Prototype Development). This requires a phenomenal transformation in adopting digital technology ac ross t he orga n isat ion to optimise the ‘verification and validation’ process and reduce manufacturing cost significantly. Three dimensional simulation ha s e f fe c t ively e mp owere d designers and engineers with the capability to verif y and improve on design, and test out operational rules of material ha ndling a nd systems even before their installation. This clearly reduces the inherent r i sk s a n d e n o r m o u s co s t s involved in automotive projects. Cutting Downtime With 3D Simulation Downtime in the production process is obviously undesirable in manufacturing. Manufacturers have a need to verify beforehand
that their equipment a nd machines will work properly from the outset. New automation softwa re enables control engineers to work in parallel with manufacturing on a virtual production platform to test how a line will perform prior to any physical build. Virtual commissioning allows the debugging of the code on a Product Lifecycle (PLC) that will be used on the manufacturing floor weeks or months before the integration of all the devices — such as tooling, robots, clamps, safety devices, electrical, hydraulics a nd pneu mat ic s — o ccu rs. This can save weeks to months in the debugging process by enabling the user to set up workcells with smart devices and link the logical behaviour for those devices or machines in the workcell to validate them before commissioning on the shop floor. With the help of simulation and virtual testing solutions, ma nu facturers ca n achieve optimal performance of equipment, as well as expand manufacturing capability and capacity. Results have shown that manufacturers get about 50 percent return on time savings, and an overall ROI of up to 400 percent by tapping on virtual
PSA Peugeot Citroen
‘No Prototype Development’ or NPD is an emerging trend.
Samson Khaou
commissioning. Once again, this translates to bringing products to market quicker, with higher quality and lower overall costs. Simulation — An Integral Part Of Design M a nu fa c t u r e r s u s e d to b e able to simulate la rge - sca le factory layout, but not to the level of detail that is useful in actua lly optimising their overall processes. Today, we talk about 3D modelling and simulation enabled design. It already is an invaluable tool for manufacturers throughout the PLC, helping them reduce cost and shorten time to market. Incredibly, we a re in the middle of a digital revolution — a revolution that will have a major effect on what we do and on how the world does business. In the future, 3D modelling and simulation will be an integral part of design. It will be a time when simulation will be used for everything, not only to design products but also to understand life and nature as well. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2202
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March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
39
INDESIGN
Proton Case Study:
Driving
Design Excellence
Digital prototyping can lead to 65 percent time and cost savings. By Chris Lee, regional industry manager, manufacturing, ASEAN, Autodesk
I
n order to stay ahead in the automotive manufacturing industry, Proton realised that it is crucial for the company to fortify its offerings by designing a e s t he t ic a l l y e xc it i n g a n d progressive vehicles while at the same time, ensuring that high quality is met. T he compa ny conducte d a research and their findings revealed that a low price point is no longer the only factor that attracted customers. In fact, a car purchase is also an emotional purchase decision. Features such as a vehicle’s ‘look and feel’ have often influenced the customer’s buying decision and keeping this in mind, the car manufacturer has decided to tap on this emotional appeal. Azlan Othman, chief designer at Proton Holdings Berhad says: “The voice of the customer is very important to us, as is technology
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and visual perception. We are no longer depending on low prices to entice customers to our showrooms. Instead, we believe that our product design will be our unique selling proposition in the market.” Design Tools “Technology advancements are changing the business landscape for us — especially in design,” says Mr Azlan. With that in mind, the company’s design team used Autodesk software to explore their design potential better. “When you are designing, there are a myriad of possibilities of creating something and then it’s crucial to have a software that offers you all this and allows you to align your efforts to the time and money spent,” he says. For example, Autodesk Alias Design provides a complete
toolset for sketching, illustration and image editing. This facilitated in limiting Proton’s need for expensive physica l models, along with time-consuming linear processes. The ability to generate a 3D drawing gave the company the option to create and manage frequent design iterations, which in turn contributed massively in time reduction and in turn increasing its speed to market. “Over the years, we have progressively saved 20 percent of total time spent on the design phase over the previous project. Our consistent usage of design technology allows us to multitask effectively and even work on multiple projects at any given time,” he says. Accelerating Design Time With Digital Prototyping In their journey to build the Proton Prevé, the design team was given a very short timeline for completion. To meet this tight deadline, the project required a robust system to support fast ideation, online reviews and realistic renditions. The team collaborated with consultants in Italy and used Autodesk’s digital design software. This not only helped ease collaboration but also aided in building seamless workflows between both the teams that were accurate and error free. Utilising digital prototyping technology extensively in the initial design process for the first time, the car manufacturer successfully reduced time and cost of scale model development by 65 percent for the Proton Prevé, which was launched in 2013. L o o k i n g a t t he i r re ce nt projects, the Proton design team is confident that design will be the game changer and catalyst to propel the company ahead. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2203
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ENQUIRY NO 040
FAST FAB
Panel Bending With
Efficiency & Profitability Panel benders with high productivity and quick tool setup are distinguished by their speed, flexibility and economic benefits, especially for small lot sizes. By Simon Hiebl, Trumpf
D
Trumpf
ifferent bending m e t h o d s h av e t h e i r ow n ad v a nt a ge s. To select the perfect te chnolog y, it is impor ta nt to k now what the customer pro duce s. I n t he p a st , t he decisive criteria were primarily the production quantity and thickness of the material. Now, t he ma nu factu r ing t rend is moving towards small lot sizes. This plays nicely into the
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ha nds of semi - automat ic machines. Their advantage is that they can be run more quickly than fully automatic machines. This is relevant especially for small lot sizes. In these semi-automatic units, the blank holders are changed automatically. While the operator is preparing for the next component or starting t h e p ro g r a m , t h e m a c h i n e au to m a t ic a l l y c h a n g e s t he blank holders.
I n c i d e n t a l l y, Tr u m p f i s making its debut in the market for panel bending technology. The panel bending machines in the TruBend Center Series 5000 are semi-automatic machines. This means that the machines automat ica lly ca r r y out a ll t he bending steps for e ach bending edge. The operator only needs to insert, rotate and remove the blanks. Everything else is done by the two -axis p a r t m a n ip u l a to r, wo r k i n g automatically in conjunction with the bending tools. One Tool For Different Bending Radii I n t he p a s t , i nco r p o ra t i n g differing radii in a single component was often avoided since such items could not be manufactured economically, and the component therefore had to be made by putting two separate parts together. With panel bending, it is now possible to generate differing radii in a single workpiece very
The technology facilitates exact bends, right from the very first item www.equipment-news.com
FASTFAB quickly, and without extra tool setups. This raises productivity and is a good way for designers to realise their wish for larger rounded areas in trim panels and satisfy requirements for exceptional geometries.
and much more. The machineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s f lex ibilit y makes it possible to produce small and large components, narrow and broad bent sections, and a variety of radii without having to change tools. That expands the operating range t remendously a nd, in tur n, boosts the utilisation rate of these machines. High Precision Manufacturing Finished material and polished or brushed stainless steel, in particular, have proved to be ver y sensitive to scratches. Here, the panel bending machine s a re suitable for this application because they are precise and use bending tools which a re robust a nd mecha nically stable. This means they can process with a minimum of tool marks.
ENQUIRY NO 047
From Small To Large Sheet Metal Components Among the materials typically processed with the TruBend Center Series 5000 are mild steel up to 3 mm thick, stainless steel up to 2.2 mm, and aluminium up to 3 mm. Galvanised and painted sheet metal can also be processed. The machines in the series can not only bend large parts, but are suitable for bending small components. The minimum component depth (ie: profile width) can be as little as 40 mm. Here, the machines
once again capitalise on the benefits of the semi-automatic design, since the narrowest profile width for fully automatic machinery is about 120 mm. Na rrow bends a nd the a b i l i t y to p r o c e s s s m a l l e r parts are also, quite clearly, a ssets offered by the pa nel bending machines. They cover a broad range of applications while in the past, certain parts had to be ma nufactured on other machines. E xa mples include door f r a m e s , sm a l l sh e e t m e t a l components for agricultural use, and electronic equipment casings. It is also possible to process sheet metal components for household appliances, for work shop or reta il fittings, commercial kitchens, automobiles, building facades, all kinds of automatic equipment,
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March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
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Trumpf
A nother point to note is the accuracy of repetition for these bending machines, which are precise to the hundredths of a millimeter. The bending qua l it y i s h ig h e nou g h for la ser welding to be ca rried out immediately afterwards. One of the reasons for the high quality is an integrated video camera functioning as an angle assistant. This makes it possible for the operator to compare the actual and specified bending angles and to make corrections as needed. In addition, it is possible to make enhancements in qua lit y for the follow ing b e nds since t he op erator can use the first bend as the basis for a very exact angle comparison. W i t h t h e r e j e c t i o n r a te sig nifica ntly reduced, the ma nufacturer says the ver y first part meets specifications. This is particular important when it come s to shor t production runs.
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Trumpf
FASTFAB
With the TruBend Center Series 5000, the manufacturer is making its debut in the market for panel bending technology
Adjusting Height To Enable Negative Bends & More Certain panel bending machines come with a height-adjustable two-axis part manipulator â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a component can be bent in a number of different ways,
at different edges. Here, even negative bends are possible, and this feature is totally unrivalled. In fully automatic machines, a sheet must always lay flat to accom mo date rotat ion through 90 degrees. This
Additional bending tools can be automatically set up in order to bend tabs or stepped edges. www.equipment-news.com
FASTFAB
means that sheets with upward a nd dow nwa rd bends ca n be processed only on semiautom at ic u n it s l i ke t ho se mentioned above. The height-adjustable twoaxis part manipulator also offers further advantages. Different gripper modules — including mechanical clamps, magnetic holders and vacuum grippers — can be mounted. Since the height can be adjusted, even smaller components can be secured on an edge which has already been bent. The result, as previously mentioned, is that the machines can bend narrow profiles, right down to 40 mm. The panel bending technology shows its benefits whenever the blanks to be bent have raised areas or recesses. In contrast, fully automatic units could encounter problems gripping parts if they have punched openings in the middle. These are the fundamental reasons that make the panel bending technology flexible and economical. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2301
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MagicShoe: Redefining Comfort Question: How do you replace that foot switch? Answer: By attaching that switch to your foot. While manufacturer Trumpf is not going to surgically attach a foot switch to your foot, they have come up with a shoe that houses a sensor system, which in turn helps operate the pressbrake. Trumpf
With panel bending, it is now possible to generate differing radii in a single workpiece very quickly, and without extra tool setups.
Developer Dr Klemens Freudenthaler, predevelopment at Trumpf Maschinen Austria said the reason for coming up with a ‘MagicShoe’ is to help operators go about their work in a more comfortable manner. “The position of the foot when operating a tethered switch is not very ergonomic. Moving the pedal around all the time is inefficient and annoying — especially when executing sequences of bending operations,” he said. According to him, the team developed and evaluated all kinds of ideas during the brainstorming phase but eventually concluded that the stroke would have to be triggered by the operator’s foot, since the hands are always busy positioning and holding the sheet metal component. Even though the primary objective of the shoe is to improve ergonomics, safety requirements are important considerations too. “Since the MagicShoe communicates wirelessly with the press brake, the interface has to meet the same high safety standards. Additionally, we had to ensure that the operator was inside the machine’s operating range when actuating it with the shoe. Neither could the machine ever be tripped by accident. This meant that the operator’s foot movement to start the bending process had to be as safe and unequivocal as possible. Finally, the shoe had to be as comfortable as a standard safety shoe,” he said. Like all inventions, the development stage was a challenging one and Dr Freudenthaler had his fair share of stumbling blocks. “The greatest challenge by far was finding a motion pattern that the operator could perform as easily and comfortably as possible and that nevertheless fulfilled all the safety requirements. The second difficult task was designing the mechanical elements for the sensor system built into the shoe,” he said. The solution, in a nutshell, was to test the product thoroughly. He said: “We tried it out and refined it, working with colleagues from our in-house metal shop. The goal was to examine ergonomics and efficiency under production conditions. During this period, we never failed to consider whether the release pattern was indeed safe. Under no circumstances could it be possible to actuate the press brake by accident. At one point, the team collected measurement data for the routine foot movement patterns of 40 test persons. The team investigated these after each development step to make sure that the new triggering motion was not among these movements. The release pattern fulfils the safety requirements only if it is not in the measurement data.” Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
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FOCUS
It’s All About
Connections IoT allows better precision and safety in the metalworking world. By Victor Mieres, VP of Emerging Markets, National Instruments
R
apid advancement in te c h n o l o g y h a s n o t only led to exponential economic growth but also changed the landscape of industrial applications across sectors. As companies become more dependent on applications and equipment that enable greater connectiv ity and efficiency, te c h nolo g y comp a n ie s a re also pushing the boundaries of innovation. Today, we see a world that is increasingly becoming s m a r te r, m o r e a u to m a te d , portable and connected. This is the Internet of Things (IoT). In the metalworking world, IoT is characterised by intelligent industrial systems that can support end-to-end operational efficiency, productivity and safety. Other wise k nown as cyberphysical systems, these intelligent
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systems integrate computational systems with physical processes. These connected devices enable production and assembly processes that are significantly improved in terms of quality and speed. In a recent report, titled ‘Analysis of The Internet of things Market in Asia Pacific in 2014’, analyst firm Frost & Sullivan said IoT expenditure in the manufacturing industry would be one of the fastest growing with a CAGR of 52.7 percent between 2014 and 2020 in Asia. B e t we e n 2 014 a nd 2 017, Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are among the fastest growing IoT markets, aside from Singapore, due to their large presence in manufacturing and production, including the meta lwork ing industry. Additionally, when the
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) takes effect later this year, steel demand in the region is expected to be further boosted with the implementation of various infrastructure projects to enhance ASEAN connectivity. In particular, the construction and ship building sectors look to benefit from increased steel demand. According to the South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute, ASEAN imported a total of 37 million tons of steel products in 2012, with approximately 80 to 90 percent of the total import volume for construction and ship building. Over time, the development of connected devices and smart factories will enable companies in these two key metalworking sectors to improve quality and safety, increase productivity and efficiency, and ultimately enjoy a greater slice of the market. Factory Of The Future IoT is giving rise to a whole new level of precision that supports the long-term growth of the metalworking industry. In an ambitious research and technology programme called ‘Factory of the Future’, Airbus aims to revolutionise its production processes by leveraging IoT. Manufacturing an aircraft www.equipment-news.com
FOCUS involves tens of thousands of individual steps that must be followed precisely. It involves the assembly of large heav y equipment and parts, precise alignment, quality assurance and traceability, which to this day are still done manually. Using National Instrumentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; platform, a team of engineers at Airbus have designed tools and wearable devices with embedded intelligence that support â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and in some cases, replaced â&#x20AC;&#x201D; these labour intensive processes. The ability of these connected devices to communicate with one another and with a central control infrastructure eliminated manual data logs and procedures. U l t i m a t e l y, t h e a i r c r a f t manufacturer is envisioning a full suite of smart tools that will automatically measure and adjust tools to the correct settings as well as monitor and log the results of the operator action. Safer Workplace Human risks in the metalworking industry in Southeast Asia are proportionately higher, as it is home to some of the largest manufacturing and production houses in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. With IoT becoming part of the blueprint of a typical smart factory of the future, human risks which characterise the industry could be significantly mitigated. Automation and lesser reliance on human intervention can result in an improvement in safety, productivity and efficiency. This entails processes enabled by a series of interconnected industrial systems that communicate and coordinate data analytics with each other through remote tracking, monitoring and analysis. Imagine an IoT-enabled safety device at hand that processes real-time data in a metalworking factory environment, and where necessary, sends signals to warn workers of impending potential www.equipment-news.com
IoT is giving rise to a whole new level of precision that supports the longterm growth of the metalworking industry. Victor Mieres
hazards on the ground if they are within proximity, or provides real-time useful advice to workers dealing with complex process to reduce human errors. In the machining and shipbuilding trades, IoT prove most valuable in terms of tool fabrication and mould making processes, where repetitive movement results in regular wear and tear of machinery. With IoT, such industrial systems will be able to adjust to the environment in which they operate. Instead of running up until failure, machines would be able to monitor, analyse and schedule their own maintenance or, better yet, adjust their control algorithms to compensate for a worn part and then communicate that data to other machines and relevant people in the process line. Better Cost Management Harmonising the entire manufacturing, delivery and ordering processes will ultimately help metalworking manufacturers save costs. With cloud-based applications, the physical ordering proce ss ca n be completely eliminated, due to consumption tracking. Onsite -sensors and monitoring of data can be used to keep track of inventory and automatically place orders with vendors without customer or supplier intervention. The information gathered will be useful in proactively maintaining inventory levels, keeping customers
satisfied, and also provides necessary information to suppliers and manufacturers to accurately forecast production levels and more effectively control costs. Future Of IoT In The Metalworking Space The value of more connected, smarter processes are definitely gaining ground globally. Challenges such as underdeveloped connectivity infrastructure and the significant investment in IoT continue to hold back companies from fully inve sting in IoT deployments; but on a positive note, there are partnerships between governments and among technology companies to propel the industry forward. There are alliances, consortiums, and standards to enable the development of industrial IoT. For example, the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) consists of companies like Bosch, Cisco, General Electric, IBM and Intel. It is thought that the consortium will become one of the key consortiums to bring the vision of the industrial Internet to reality. A s intelligent systems in the industrial IoT move ahead, the ability to easily program, prototype, and develop systems will enable successful, costeffective implementations across industries, including metalworking, in the near future. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
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Elementa1, Slovakia
VOICE OF A MANAGER
Manufacturing:
The Digital Frontier
The future of manufacturing may be in the form of gigabytes and binary codes. By Joson Ng
D
igitalisation is not new. T h e m u si c i n d u s t r y underwent the process of digitalisation years ago and the cassette tape paid t he pr ice . I n photo g ra phy, films nearly became obsolete. T h e s e e x a mp l e s m ay h av e shown how household items got consigned to the storeroom but it is also worthwhile to note that the ramification of digitalisation was not only felt
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in the technolog ica l re a lm. Bu sine ss mo dels were a lso changed to keep up with shifts in consumer habits brought about by this movement. Manufacturing is undergoing similar changes. In a more open and inclusive manufacturing world, digitalisation is a real enabler and many companies are taking digitalisation seriously. Siemens for instance is ma k ing digita lisation a
v i sion for 2 02 0. I n a pre ss briefing, Rajiv Ghatikar, VP & GM (A SE A N/Australasia) for Siemens PLM Software gave his take on how digitalisation can shape the future of metalworking in ASEAN. Digitalisation In Metalworking “Digitalisation is a big thing for Siemens AG. They use it as a corner stone for the 2020 vision. The whole world needs to be more digitalised and we need to be more interconnected through the digital medium,” he sa id. Accordi n g to h i m , digitalisation allows a quicker response to changing technology. “The days of people taking a drawing on a piece of paper using a pencil is over,” he said. W h i le t hat may b e t r ue , it is interesting to know how this paradigm shift will affect meta lwork ing a s a whole. www.equipment-news.com
VOICEOFAMANAGER
“The days of people taking a drawing on a piece of paper using a pencil is over.” - Rajiv Ghatikar on the impact of digitalisation in manufacturing
Rajiv Ghatikar
Using the automotive sector to explain his point on how digitalisation speeds up and improves manufacturing, Mr G hat ik a r sa id: “Automot ive suppliers typically require the ability to respond (quick ly) to the OEMs. Driven by order forms that are fairly aggressive, they are designing things that help them to make a product, maybe at lower costs or with better features or functions.” He added that they have a solution where they bring to market as a campaign. In doing so, they are able to provide a solution that is more tailored to what their customers’ pain points are. At the end of the day, digitalisation to him boils dow n to m a k i n g a pro ce s s more industry relevant, in the context of openness. Is ASEAN Ready? While digitalisation is touted as the future of manufacturing, the future may come too soon for some countries in ASEAN, especially those considered www.equipment-news.com
to be frontier economies like Mya nma r a nd Ca mbodia. In order to ga in a foot hold in such places, Mr Ghatikar feels it is important to appreciate the level of development in indiv idua l countrie s a nd tailor their plans to introduce digitalisation at an effective and comfortable rate. At the end of the day, digitalisation involves a lot of mindset change, he said. “Siemens PLM in Myanmar i s b e g i n n i n g to t a ke s o m e shape. We were in Myanmar about one year back, talking to universities and schools about an adoption campaign where we donate our software in such a way that it can be part of the curriculum. I hope those people who are going to be the future managers will start using it. Hopefully we will do that well and once we get there, we want to appoint cer ta in pa r tners a nd dist r ibutors, a nd sta r t combing the commercial part of the market in stages. We are not heading too ambitiously
into commercial enterprises yet a lt hou g h Mya n ma r ha s lif te d sa nct ions a ga inst U S technologies. “In Myanmar, we have been working with the government to try to plant the seeds in place first but the country does take its time with its processes and we respect that.” F i n a l l y, w e a s k e d i f h e fe el s i f Sie me n s’ v ision for digitalisation in 2020 is a tad too early for ASEAN. “I think ASEAN needs more time. Hopefully by 2020, we will have the AEC. I am waiting anxiously, to see when can we remove trade barriers, when can someone set up an entity in T ha ila nd, produce t here and export seamlessly with no tariffs, into Malaysia. When that happens, it (ASEAN) becomes a huge market. If you can get the ASEAN economic platform to provide that foundation, we can go faster.” Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
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VOICEOFAMANAGER
Manufacturing Trend:
Printing From
2D To 3D
Shaun See, GM, Epson Southeast Asia (commercial and industrial division), maps out his company’s plan for the future. APMEN: According to reports early last year, Epson is planning to develop 3D printing within ‘the next five years’. Do you have any updates on that front? Shaun See (SS): In 2D printing, we are seeing rapid growth for printing solutions for items like labels and textiles that require fast turnaround and high mix, 50
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low volume production. 3D printing is similar in that it offers opportunities in on- demand printing. We believe that the market for 3D printing will grow, and are especially interested in 3D printing as a tool for industrial production. Our plan to have a 3D printer in five years’ time is still on track. We are also looking towards developing a full line-up in 10 years.
APMEN: President Minoru Usui said he expects Epson’s printers to ‘change everything’. Which aspect of 3D printing is your company trying to change? SS: We believe that one of the biggest issues for 3D printing is gaining acceptance as an industrial production process. Most of the products out there a re mainly used for ma k ing plastic models or household items that don’t require a high level of accuracy. Epson aims to take this a level higher, but there are a number of challenges to tackle before we can create a product that is suitable for industrial use. First of all, we need to print with a far wider range of ‘inks’, for example metals and plastics. www.equipment-news.com
VOICEOFAMANAGER The company is looking to move from 2D to 3D printing.
After that, we need to improve the printing accuracy to the micron level, and finally, we need to increase productivity (speed). We will be applying our innovation and creativity towards improving in all these areas and developing a line-up of products that will lead the market. APMEN: Would your printer print metal parts as well? S S : O u r a i m i s to c h a n g e everything. When it comes to 3D printing, we want our machines to make anything, and, who knows, that could one day extend to cars and car parts. What kind of materials that would involve is difficult to say at this point, because it will take time to improve the technology and materials and find the best way forward. APMEN: With established players like Stratasys and 3D Systems rapidly expanding and enhancing their products, what is Epson’s strategy to make sure you are able to catch up with arguably the leaders in 3D printing? S S: Epson understa nds the printing market and customer www.equipment-news.com
needs, and has also acquired the technical expertise to create products that will be accepted by the market. We believe that our core Micro Piezo and other inkjet printing technologies are
suited to 3D printing and we are continuing our research and development in this field. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
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Epson Opens Centre Of Print Innovation Epson recently opened its first ever Centre of Print Innovation in Singapore, a regional one-stop centre providing solutions and developments in printing for professional customers. The centre comprises three areas: Commercial Printing, Label Solutions and The Digital Lab, each showcasing products built around the company’s original compact, energy saving and high precision technologies. The centre also houses a media and printer evaluation lab, which will serve the company’s partners in two ways. It will provide them with the opportunity to evaluate the widest range of locally available compatible label media, allowing them to make informed purchasing decisions. In addition, partners can also distinguish which printer would best serve their business needs. “We are very excited to launch the Epson Centre of Print Innovation, which is dedicated to applying our innovative technology to our partners’ businesses to help improve their efficiency, versatility and capability,” said Endo Koichi, MD of Epson Southeast Asia. “With our history of innovation, we will continue to refine our range of print technology enhancements and work with companies to achieve their business goals.” Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
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VOICEOFAMANAGER
Not Quite
In The Same Mould Even though Thailand and the Philippines are ASEAN neighbours, their mould and die industries have had contrasting fortunes over the last 12 months. APMEN spoke with the leaders from the mould and die sector in the two countries to find out more on their industry. By Joson Ng
Thailand: On Course For Recovery
A
sk anyone in Thailand a nd t hey would tell you the first ha lf of 2 014 h a s n o t b e e n good for the country. As the world watched a once peaceful kingdom plunged into a state of unrest, manufacturing activities suffered. The Wall Street Journal reported back in February 2014 that Hino Motors was scaling back production in Thailand a nd other automa kers were predicting a drop in sales. Fast forward a few months, t he p ol it ic a l sit u a t io n h a s stabilised and the frowns are slowly reversing in the land of smiles. This scenario is repeated in several industry verticals and the mould and die sector is no exception. A PMEN sat down with Kamon Nakasuwan, president of the Thai Tool & Die Industry Association ( TDIA) and asked him to sum up his take on a tremulous 2014 in an exclusive interview. According to him, major car makers generally launch 8 to 10 models in Thailand every year but this has stopped for certain brands. While this downward trend is expected to hit the mould and die sector hard, Mr Kamon remains positive as he believes mould and die makers in Tha ila nd would “recover quickly”.
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H e s a id c a r m a ke r s c a n recover in 2015 and the mould a nd die ma kers in Thaila nd will do better. He added that most c a r ma nu fac tu rers i n Thailand have accepted the situation and understanding is the key ingredient for all parties involved to move on. “I think for Thai people who know the (political) situation very well, it is normal but for foreigners, it is a big problem,” he said. It is not immediately clear
how the business side of things will eventually pan out, but a s fa r a s te ch nolog y go e s, the mould and die industry in Thailand is in for an exciting time, according to Mr Kamon. New materials used in t he automot ive indu st r y are causing seismic shifts in t h e m a nu fa c t u re o f m o u l d a nd die. He sa id t he inf lu x of light but strong materials into the automotive industry geared towards reducing fuel consumption has resulted in a Kamon Nakasuwan
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VOICEOFAMANAGER “big change” in mould and die making. One e x a mple he sa id, is bioplastics. Commonly used to make car bumpers and interior parts, they have influenced the stamping process. He added
that new programs are needed to assist the assembly and try out processes. Looking at the introduction of new generation materials, he said: “It is a big era for mould and die manufacturing. I think mould and
die makers in Thailand need new know-how and new technology to help the design (of mould and die) and mould making.” Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
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The Philippines
O
ver in the Philippines, Philip Ang, president of PDMA or Philippine Die & Mold Association told A PM E N t hat t hings in manufacturing, including mould and die production, have been on an upward trend. In fact, he has predicted a “big growth” in the industry, possibly in the double digit range in 2014 and the momentum looks set to continue well into 2015. “In the Philippines right now, we have a big outcome from 2013. Since the government’s concentration is on manufacturing, they have given an emphasis on training and have provided a budget for that,” he said. “(2015) will be a good year also. There are a lot of companies from other countries coming in. South Korean (companies) are constantly coming in as well as the Japanese (companies). He added that domestic growth is rising too, particularly in the consumer products, automotive and semiconductors segments. H e a l s o n o te d t h a t t h e gover n me nt ha s sig ne d a n a g re e m e nt to d e v e l op t h e Mindanao area in the south of the country. As such, there are “very big” potential there for infrastructure development, manufacturing, tourism as well as agriculture. Even as developments are sprouting up across the country, he feels technology in the country is lacking behind. To give an example, he said that they are relying a lot on manual labour
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Philip Ang
now. As such, they are hoping to add special technologies that are not widely available in the country at the moment (eg: robotic factory automation) to help boost production capability in order to fulfil the demands for high efficiency and high volume production with low cost. In order to future proof the country’s mould and die industry, t he a ssociation ha s a t wo pronged strategy. The first is to seek governmental assistance to upgrade or modernise production machinery and the second step is to produce more skilled labour. Referring to training as the “most important thing”, he said every country needs new blood. To help the country maintain a
steady supply of skilled workers in the mould and die making space, a big step has been taken. Mr Ang told APMEN that the mould and die sector is getting a die and mould solutions centre, which is established by government funding. The centre, according to him, will arm the country with new technologies as it plays “catch up” with its ASEAN neighbours. Although Mr Ang referred to the mould and die industry in his country as a “baby”, there is growing belief in the market that the ‘baby’ has the potential to play a significant role in the ASEAN mould and die sector in the not too distant future. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
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FEATURES
FELA:
Creating A Big Impact With
Tiny Movements
We take a look at how one scientist in Singapore made a breakthrough in technology. By Joson Ng
I
n the film industry, there a re t he O sc a r s a nd t he Golden Globe. In innovative technologies, there is the R&D 100 Awards, an international competition that recognises the 100 most technologicallysignificant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year. In late 2014, the Singapore I n st it ute o f M a nu fac t u r i n g
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Te c h nolo g y or S I M Te c h , a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, A*STAR, announced that one of their locally-developed innovations has won an ‘Oscar’. A Flexure - Based Electromagnetic Linear Actuator (FELA) was accorded the award as it successfully broke through the millimetres travel range,
a limit encountered by other nano-positioning actuators. In addition, it is applicable to an array of precision instruments and equipment because it is able to deliver nano-positioning capability with the flexibility to configure the output resolution at an affordable price, all contained within a single package. APMEN sat down with the brain behind FELA, Dr Daniel Tat Joo Teo, scientist (Mechatronics) at SIMTech to talk about his thoughts on winning the award as well as the trials and tribulations in developing the actuator. “The whole division knew (first) as I was at a conference in France. I woke up one morning and received a lot of messages. I am not sure if I was extremely happy or not but my only feeling back then was: 10 years of hard work has finally been recognised in some form,” said Dr Teo. Ten years ago, he was pursuing his PhD and back then, he had to build everything from scratch. “It is not just about inventing an actuator. It is actually a process that took me through science, design, engineering and manufacturing,” he said. For instance, for his initial design, he used SolidWorks to cross check the stresses and strains on the elastic bending for the supports. www.equipment-news.com
FEATURES
Dr Teo had to build the FELA from scratch.
The Beginnings Back in 2003, Dr Teo was involved in the development of high precision stages. It was by no means a new field but he felt there were certain gaps that needed addressing. He said the stages were driven by piezoelectric effect, which is a technology commonly used. Even as high precision is achievable for nano range positioning, the travel range was limited. In the end, he decided to build the nano-positioning actuators by adopting electromagnetic actuation w ith ela stic joint members (flexure joints). In doing so, F E L A ca n deliver na nometric re solution over millimeter stroke range and has the flexibility in reconfiguring the positioning sensitivity. He was however immediately faced with a challenge. “We have this constraint. Although electromagnetic force has been used in the industry, the merit of using electromagnetic force is that it is frictionless. However, to harness the frictionless nature, the support must also be frictionless,” he said. In order to build frictionless s u p p o r t s , D r Te o s t u d i e d www.equipment-news.com
the funda mentals of ela stic bending and came out with new formulations to provide a longer range. Approximately a year after he embarked on this journey, a prototype was finally ready. “We built the first in 2005. That was just the initial phase, to see if it is workable. In doing so, we also set a milestone in terms of Technology Readiness Level for industry (TRL, a SIMTech bench mark). The next thing is to see how we can push (the product) to the mass market,” he said.
Manufacturing W it h he lp f ro m M ic ro S te e l Precision, a manufacturer of precision components, Dr Teo’s product took its first big step towards industry adoption. It is at this critical juncture that he had to make a significant cha nge to F EL A in order to satisfy industry demand. The earlier version of F EL A was r e c t a n g u l a r i n sh a p e . T h e industry version however, is circular and smaller in size. “When it is in a rectangular form, ever y thing is more predictable, including the f o r m u l a t i o n . We a r e n o w pu shing for a sma ller size. When we start to push towards another extreme, we have to change shape, we have to go from rectangular to circular,” he said. This cha nge ha s brought about challenges in predicting the behaviour of the device as well as a profound change in the machining process. Wire cut EDM process was used to manufacture the flexure joints of the FELA. Although t he mac h i n i n g work se e m s straight forward enough, there was significant effort put into it because tolerances are tight
The earlier version of FELA was in a rectangular form.
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FEATURES Ultimately, problem-solving is all about communication, he said. “These are the type of things I need to sit down and work out with the machinist. We need to find out what kind of wires is available. What is the best tolerance or surface roughness we can achieve,” he said.
The development of the FELA is useful for the next generation of high-precision systems
a nd a ny v iolations in a ny part would render the whole a ssembly process fur ther downstream impossible. Coupling the tolerance issue with the change in shape and size, a difficult ta sk for the machinists just got harder. “In the past, we were talking about a rectangular shaped FELA of size 80 to 100 mm. Now (circular version), we are touching 50 mm in diameter, (roughly) half the size. The assembly work is also difficult because you have magnets inside it that are repelling each other,” he said. A nother cha llenge in the manufacturing and assembly processes is that a coil is moving b e t we e n t wo m a g ne t s (for electromagnetic effect), and the spacing between the coil and the magnet is about 0.1 mm. Taking these factors in mind, Dr Teo had to tighten his designs dimensionally and this made the EDM process a particularly challenging one. “The tolerance is so high that the manufacturing process needs to be controlled, especia lly when we are ma nufacturing the circular (version of FELA) b e c au se conce nt r icit y now comes into play,” he said, before 56
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adding that he had numerous meetings with the machining team in order to understand their manufacturing limitations. One of those limitations was the diameter of the wire that the EDM machine uses. The smallest diameter they could get hold of was about 0.2 mm. F o r D r Te o , t h e o t h e r challenges faced during the wire cut EDM phase are the gap in cutting certain radius and thicknesses. According to him, the radius is already limited to 0.1 mm due to the 0.2 mm wire diameter. There is no alternate solution. The only way is to constantly think about these lim itat ion s when de sig n ing every piece of components that forms FELA. “There are limitations in what existing EDM technology can achieve. For example, if I want to achieve a thickness of 80 µm (thickness of the elastic beam supports), we have to send it to Switzerland,” he said. Finally, he ended up using a prefabricated metal shim plate instead. He added that these shims are generally used in precision levelling purposes and therefore, they have high dimensional tolerance, eg: ±0.01 mm.
What’s Next? Accordi n g to S I M Te c h, t he development of the F EL A is useful for the next generation of high-precision systems such as the nano-imprint lithography systems, micro -/na no - sca le positioning systems, micro -/ nano-metrology systems, micro-/ nano-machining systems, micro-/ nano-manipulation systems, and bio-medical instruments. Its high energ y- efficiency and simplicity of construction, coupled with its maintenance-free and low cost bearings help make it a cost effective solution in a wide range of high-precision systems. Interestingly enough, Dr Teo did not plan for the device to have that many applications when he first started out. Back then, FELA was meant to realise ultra-high precision layer-overlayer fabrication in the nanoimprinting process. He said: “FELA was not meant to replace any technology. It was meant to bridge a technology gap that has been absent for the last 50 years. We are just trying to bridge the nano world and meso world.” Like FELA, which is taking on more applications as it becomes more popular in the industry, Dr Teo is looking to take on more projects and break new frontiers. He told APMEN that he hopes to “break another new barrier” by using anti-gravity technology to achieve better resolution and range in his next actuator. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
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FEATURES
CGI
Adhesion/ Ductility
Abrasiveness
Hardness
Steel AISI 4041
Duplex stainless steel
Adhesion/ Ductility
CGI 62 % CGI 20 % CGI 5 %
Strain Hardening
Thermal Conductivity
Abrasiveness
Hardness
Adhesion/ Ductility
Strain Hardening
Thermal Conductivity
Know What You Are Cutting The machinability analysis system shows that the key to a good cutting process is knowledge. By Patrick de Vos, corporate technical education manager, Seco Tools
P
roductive machining is never ‘a piece of cake’. One key reason is that machining is not like baking, where all-purpose flour works well in a wide range of recipes. On the contrary, there is no all-purpose workpiece material for machined products. Different product applications require workpiece materials with widely differing performance properties. Automotive axles, for example, need the toughness of low-alloy steels. Turbine engine components on the other hand require the heat resistance of nickel-base alloys.
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As reflected in their specific performance capabilities, all workpiece materials exhibit different levels of the five basic physica l proper tie s. T hose properties are abrasiveness, hardness, and thermal conductivity as well as tendencies toward adhesion/ductility and strain hardening. T h e p ro p o r t i o n s o f t h e individual properties in a n indiv idua l workpiece material largely determine its machinability. A relatively soft low-alloy steel will exhibit strong tendencies to adhesion that can lead to edge buildup on a tool
Abrasiveness
Hardness
Strain Hardening
Thermal Conductivity
and diffusion wear, while the poor thermal conductivity of a tough nickel-base alloy can result in extreme cutting temperatures that will cause a tool to deform and fail. The Role Of Material Properties In Machining Results I n t he or y, k nowle d ge o f a workpiece’s specified mix of alloying elements can be used to determine the choice of cutting tools and cutting conditions that will produce predictable wear patterns and good productivity. But the reality is often different. In fact, the cutting tool and machining parameters indicated for a certain workpiece material often do not produce entirely satisfactory results. Va r iabil it y i n work pie ce material composition is the reason. As in any manufactured product, a range of tolerance exists for the elements of a workpiece material’s makeup. To confirm this phenomenon, Seco examined a series of pieces of raw stock, all of them nominally www.equipment-news.com
FEATURES A machinability analysis system
Quantitative measurements of five material properties 1. Adhesiveness, represented by elongation at the break
2. Strain hardening factor, use Dn to analyse
5. Abrasiveness, represented by the carbon content C% or by analysis of hardness distribution
σ σ Dn= σ X σ σ σ σ
UTS
Y
Y
Yref
- Ultimate tensile strength
UTS Y Yref
4. Hardness
the same workpiece material, and measured the five properties before machining. Some of the properties were equal among the pieces of stock, but others showed large differences. When the basic properties dif fer bet we en work pie ce s, the cutting tool will behave differently and productivity may decline. To establish a m e t h o d to re co g n i s e su c h variations and provide guidance re ga rding ways to improve tool performance, Seco joined a project with steel suppliers a nd other meta lwork ing related companies in the early 2000s to create a system. It measures workpiece properties and uses that data to predict machinability independent from applications such as turning, milling and drilling. A Machinability Analysis System The resulting machinability analysis system is based on quantitative measurements of the five material properties www.equipment-news.com
- Yield strength of the material - Yield strength of the reference material
3. Thermal conductivity
listed earlier. Hardness and therma l conductiv ity a re measured via standard methods. Carbon content or analysis of hardness distribution provides data on abrasiveness. Measuring chip elongation at the chips’ breaking point enables quantitative measurement of
adhe sion tendencie s, a nd a formula relating the material’s tensile and yield strength to the yield strength of a reference material produces a measure of strain hardening. The property data points are charted on a five-pointed grid or pentagram. Low values appear Adhesion and ductility
Adhesion Ductility Chip formation and adhesion
Strain Hardening
Abrasiveness
Hardness Cutting material:
Cutting geometry:
Toughness Tough coaching
Sharp edge radius High rake angle
Thermal Conductivity Cutting conditions:
Tool wear:
Temperature control
Micro chipping (BUE) Flaking, notch wear
March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
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FEATURES Hardness
Adhesion Ductility
High pressure and temperature
Strain Hardening
Abrasiveness
Hardness Cutting material:
Cutting geometry:
Cutting conditions:
Tool wear:
Hard or tough (feed depending)
Small rake angle
Low feed and DOC
Plastic deformation Chipping / breakage
near the centre of the pentagram, and high values towards its borders. The area enclosed by the data points provides a graphic image of the sum of the materialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tendencies. Connecting the five single property data point results produce a five-sided polygon within the borders of the pentagram grid. Separate from picturing a specific workpiece materialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blend of properties, the system provides guidelines for each of the five basic properties alone in terms of suggested cutting material, geometry, and cutting conditions. The system also describes typical tool wear patterns. For e x a mple, mater ia l adhesion tendencies create a need for tough tool substrates with tough coatings, sharp edge radii and high rake angles, and cutting conditions biased toward temperature control (usually speeds high enough to carry heat away in the ductile chip). Tool wear patterns include micro chipping, built-up edge, flaking, and notch wear. On the other hand, tools aimed at handling material hardness should have ha rd or tough 60
Thermal Conductivity
asia pacific metalworking equipment news March 2015
substrates (depending on the feed rates employed), cutting edges featuring small rake angles, and be applied at low feed rates and depths of cut. Typical tool wear includes plastic deformation, chipping, and breakage. Machining materials that tend to strain harden require tools with toughness and small nose radius and well adapted cutting edge geometries, applied at low cutting
speeds and high feed rates and depths of cut. Prominent tool failure modes include plastic deformation, chipping and notching. Materials such as superalloys that exhibit p o or t he r ma l conduc t iv it y mandate the use of tools with high compressive strength, high rake angles and strong cutting edges. Low cutting speeds and feeds are typical, and tools may fail via plastic deformation or simply a high rate of wear. F i n a l l y, t o o l s h a n d l i n g abrasive workpieces, should, unsurprisingly, be engineered with abrasion-resistant substrates and strong cutting edges. Low feed rates and cutting speeds but high depths of cut are appropriate. Wear mechanisms include flank and crater wear and notching. When the system is applied to a specific workpiece material, it represents a blend of the materialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s properties that emphasises their interrelated effects. Process Adjustments When initial machining results are not as expected, this integrated approach is useful because it e n a b l e s to o l s a n d c u t t i n g Strain hardening tendency
Adhesion Ductility
Localised loads
Strain Hardening
Abrasiveness
Hardness
Thermal Conductivity
Cutting material:
Cutting geometry:
Cutting conditions:
Tool wear:
Toughness
Small nose radius Cutting edge geometry
Low cutting speed High feed and DOC
Plastic deformation Chipping / notching
www.equipment-news.com
FEATURES parameters to be adjusted to modify the results. For example, if a material is expected to show high adhesion tendencies, it is assumed that the chips will be long. However, if chips are longer or shorter than expected, it is a sign that the adhesion tendencies are either greater or less than first thought. Viewing the pentagram, or even simply knowing the indicators of the performance influences of other properties, can help a machinist adjust tool features and cutting parameters to the actual properties of the workpiece. It is very much like adjusting the elements of a cake recipe when the first baking operation does not meet expectations. Work piece materia l classifications based on material composition and structure such as those established by ANSI in the United States and ISO in Europe are useful. But they are only starting points for the development of machining processes because properties may vary within the same classification as well as among separate pieces of stock. For example, stainless steel is defined as a steel alloy that is at Thermal conductivity
Adhesion Ductility Hard carbides and oxides
Strain Hardening
Abrasiveness
Thermal Conductivity
Hardness Cutting material:
Cutting geometry:
Cutting conditions:
Tool wear:
Abrasion resistance
Strength
Low cutting speed and feed High DOC
Flank - crater wear Notching
least 12 percent chromium. However, there are stainless steels with higher percentages chromium as well, and production variations can further alter the mix. Even though they are all stainless steels, when the different compositions are machined, cutting behaviour is different because the compositions and structures are not the same. Because the pentagram system
Adhesion Ductility
High temperatures in cutting zone
Strain Hardening
Abrasiveness
Thermal Conductivity
Hardness Cutting material:
Cutting geometry:
Cutting conditions:
Tool wear:
High compressive strength
High rake angle, strong point/edge
Low cutting speed and feed
Plastic deformation High wear rate
www.equipment-news.com
Abrasiveness
does not simply classify workpiece materials, it is a source of practical tips or guidelines that enable machinists to understand what they see in terms of expected and actual tool performance. The system does not describe the workpiece material as bad or good, but illustrates how differing combinations of properties can change the interaction between the workpiece and the cutting edge. The key is to find the combination of tool properties that best fits the workpiece material properties. Conclusion The goal of machining is to produce parts and make money. A key influence on the machining process is the material properties of the part. Therefore, directly or indirectly the end cost is influenced by the workpiece materials. B et ter u ndersta ndi n g of workpiece material properties leads to fewer problems and g re ater productiv it y in the machining process and therefore cost- efficient and profitable manufacturing results. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2602
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61
FEATURES
Make Laser Cutting
the use of gases or reflective mirrors, the cost incurred for such consumables can be done away with. It is important to note however, that for the cutting of thicker materials, a CO2 machine would still be preferred.
Greener
Tjut Rostina takes a look at power consumption and various idiosyncrasies of laser cutting technologies to see how they impact cost.
M
a nufacturers a re consistently churning out products t hat are lightweight, economical and environmentally friendly. One obvious way to achieve that aim is to develop a product that uses less energy or power. One of the factors that dictate the amount of power needed in laser cutting is the type of material that is being cut. For example, more power is needed when cutting heavier and thicker steel, or the reflective aluminium and stainless steel. One of the biggest challenges in laser cutting is in power consumption. In fact, the power efficiency for the type of laser cutting varies widely, from 5 to 45 percent. To e n s u r e t h a t p o w e r consumption is kept at a minimum, manufacturers have revisited their options and one of the methods to help reduce cost and in turn help the environment is by employing the use of fibre la ser cutting. For ex a mple, comparing a 3 kW fibre machine to a CO2 laser cutting machine, it is noted that the fibre machine uses only a third of the power required for the CO2 machine. In a case -study published by the International Journal of Sustainable Manufacturing, the authors compared a CO2 lasercutting machine with a fibre laser based machine in terms of energy consumption. What they have found is that the largest energy
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consumption during production time was from the CO 2 laser source and chiller unit. At other times, the chiller took up 12 percent of the total energy consumption each year to keep it running. On the other hand, the fibre laser machine did not require any additional energy when it is at rest or in off-mode. Due to the energ y efficiency of the fibre la ser source, 16.6 MWh was saved during production time. Reduce Cost Of Consumables With increased power usage, there would inevitably be a higher cost to the process incurred by consumables such as the nozzles, gases and optics. As the fibre laser cutting m ac h i ne do e s no t re qu i re
Waste Reduction A nother a rea that ca n be improved to achieve a better environmental footprint is in waste reduction. Often, due to human error, wastage occurs as scrap is produced from the cutting of the raw materials. One way to minimise the a m o u n t o f s c r a p m a te r i a l is through a process called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nestingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The process employs the use of software analysis that takes into account the shapes to be produced, and how these shapes should be laid out such that a minimum amount of scrap material would be produced. The software also considers t h e c h a r a c te r i s t i c s o f t h e material, and can automatically resolve constraints that come w i t h a p r i n te d p a t te r n o r fibre direction. The software would also be able to identify a defective material that needs to be discarded.
Solar energy can help manufacturing facilities reduce energy costs and offset its carbon footprint.
www.equipment-news.com
FEATURES
Sheet metal is optimised to yield the highest number of parts in a bid to minimise the amount of scrap material
Did You Know? While diodes for CO2 machines can last for an average of 10,000 to 20,000 hours, diodes on fibre machines can go between 50,000 to 100,000 hours. With the long stretch of diode life, chances of a breakdown are also less likely with less frequent changes of the diode required.
Reduce Carbon Footprint By choosing an energy efficient laser cutting machine that is suited to the type of material that would be cut, the manufacturer has also helped reduce the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carbon footprint with less energy consumption. An environmentally friendly record is also a factor for companies when considering whom they should work with, given the concessions shared by the government to encourage clean and green processes. Looking at the bigger picture on being environmentally friendly, manufacturers of laser cutting machines have also implemented solutions to reduce ca rbon footprint. For example, a Belgian ma nu fac tu re r ha s re ce nt ly installed solar electrical cells on the rooftops of two of its facilities
in a pro-active drive to reduce energy costs and to offset its carbon footprint. The company was then able to generate up to 15 percent of its annual electricity consumption in renewable solar energy, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions for the next 20 years by up to 5.5 million kg. Compact Footprint The machines of this generation a re b e com i n g i ncre a si n g ly compact, and it is an added bonus if the machines are integrated with several processes such as
Employing the use of fibre laser in cutting can help reduce cost
welding or drilling. As the fibre laser machines are generally compact in size, this allows it to be easily integrated into an existing manufacturing system. As it can be utilised for more than just cutting, it will significantly reduce the total equipment cost, as compared to buying separate machines for each process. The compact footprint will also give more room for expansion. Moving Ahead By carrying out environmentally and cost efficient solutions in the day-to-day operations of the production line, companies can take advantage of the benefits of an environmentally responsible business. With such strong empha sis on env ironmental sustainability, businesses are now more aware of its importance, and how customers also take into consideration the role these companies play before participating in a business deal. As such, it is important that businesses implement effective strategies to save the environment and also cost, so that future generations can also benefit from todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2603
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March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
63
Oil & Gas:
New Frontiers In Southeast Asia
James Knight, UK
FEATURES
The thirst for energy has led some companies to explore areas previously untouched in Southeast Asia. By Joson Ng
C
rude oil and natural gas, like other natural resources, have a finite supply. This means it is bound to run out eventually. While some observers have come up with estimations on when our precious commodities will run out, others have sought solace in alternate sources of energy. Although the total amount of oil and natural gases is not increasing, it is not all doom and gloom because our ability to find and extract oil and natural gases from new sources has increased over the years. This has given rise to frontier regions over the world. In Asia, there are two main frontiers that are garnering serious interest. They are Myanmar and East Indonesia. Myanmar The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily oil & gas production, (as of November 30, 2014) according to U Lynn Myint, GM of North Petro-Chem Corporation (Myanmar), is 8,300 bbl crude oil and 65 mmscf gas
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from 12 oil fields and three gas fields (Onshore). He also said there is a further 8,000 bbl condensate and 2.0 BCF from four gas fields (Yadana, Yetagun, Zawtika and Shwe) offshore. In terms of ex por ts, the country mainly supplies Thailand and China (1.4 BCF and 0.3 BCF respectively). It uses 0.3 BCF for its own consumption. The country also has an extensive network of oil pipeline, with one reaching China that is 771 km long. He sa id there a re plenty of opportunities for foreign companies to get themselves involved and the potential is tremendous as there are a number of undiscovered oil & gas fields in the country. Based on his estimates, the probable number of undiscovered gas fields in Myanmar stands between 15 to 45 and the probable number of undiscovered oil fields is in the range of 6 to 15. In addition to the opportunities found upstream, downstream activities can also be attractive
to potential investors according to him. He said there are joint ventures for the renovation of existing and new crude oil refineries and LPG plants. There a re a lso simila r ventures for new urea fertiliser plants as well as LPG and LNG receiving terminals. Synergies can be potentially forged in the transportation of petroleum products (tankers, barges, FSO, FPSO, FLNG, and FRSU). Even though the country is a place with big potential, he cautioned that it also has its fair share of challenges. For instance, he cited that there are insufficient trained personnel, giving rise to a need to provide training programs for the labour force. Ken Tun, chairman and CEO of Pa ra mi Energ y Group of Companies, a company heavily involved in the oil & gas, power and construction sectors, also agreed that the country has a limited local talent pool. He then gave his thoughts on the oil & gas industry in Myanmar. www.equipment-news.com
Kasey Houston, Placentia, US
FEATURES
Asian Frontiers For Oil & Gas Exploration Myanmar There are plenty of opportunities for foreign companies to get themselves involved. - U Lynn Myint
Timor Leste More efforts would be made to ensure the oil & gas business grows and attracts more local participation. - Mateus Da Costa
Indonesia To uncover more opportunities, explorers have to go east (of Indonesia). - Soekoesen Soemarinda
Deep water areas are good places to look for oil in East Indonesia
He said the country is one of the last remaining emerging economies. In terms of energy demands, both local and regional demands are high. The country is also under explored, leaving the upstream oil sector reasonably accessible. Finally, with all the ‘big boys’ carrying out their aggressive exploration and drilling campaigns, the country needs a strong supporting industry to help sustain the activities. Timor Leste Myanmar is known by many as a frontier economy and it is safe to say that Timor Leste is also in that same bracket. A former Portuguese colony, the country finally gained its independence in 2002. With the countr y keen to att ract foreig n inve st ment, Mateus Da Costa, director of Exploration & Acreage release, Autoridade Nacional do Petroleo (National Petroleum Authority), said his country is currently e n j o y i n g s te a d y e co n o m i c www.equipment-news.com
growth with a good revenue in petroleum. He added that there are more hydrocarbon resources that are yet to be explored and discovered. Interestingly enough, Timor Leste has the same challenges that Myanmar is currently facing, ie: lack of skilled labour. Mr Da Costa added that there are an increasing number of young graduates with limited experience. Finally, he told potential investors that more efforts would be made to ensure the oil & gas business grows and attracts more local participation. Indonesia With its oil & gas industry so wellestablished, it is perhaps a little surprising that the eastern part of the country is also considered a frontier in terms of oil exploration. Soekoesen Soemarinda, GM of Singapore Petroleum Corporation, said the western part of the country is currently considered the conventiona l producing area, despite having some areas with proven discovery that are
not producing yet. However, his main focus is not on those areas in the west. To uncover more opportunities, explorers have to go east, especially in regions with deep water. According to him, there are good reasons to do so. He reasoned that the situation in Indonesia would be “critical” if nothing is done. He was referring to the rate of usage versus the rate of production. He said that in 2012, proven oil reserves were 3.74 billion barrels and oil production was 900,000 bopd. Making an assumption that oil declines 4.4 percent per annum and oil lifting stands at 80 percent of proven reserves while oil consumption increases 4.2 percent per annum, the country would run out of oil in 2035. He concluded that deep water areas, which are mostly located in the eastern part of Indonesia, would contribute significantly to future oil & gas production. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2604
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65
FEATURES
3D Printing:
The Present & Future
We take a look at what 3D printing or Additive Manufacturing is doing to the manufacturing space and also some future developments in this exciting segment. By Joson Ng
T
he impact that 3D printing brings to the world is multi-fold. Be it an increase in design innovation, a shorter time to ma rket, lower development costs and the ability to reverse engineer outdated parts, 3D printing is fast becoming an enabler in all this respect. It is therefore no surprise that 3D printing is on its way up. Speaking at the Inside 3D Printing
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www.equipment-news.com
FEATURES
The impact of 3D printing is expected to be felt more in the machine tools and plastic machinery segments.
3D printing has the power to change the manufacturing world.
conference, Alex Chausovsky, senior principal analyst (Industrial Automation) at IHS Technology said that 3D printing is expected to maintain its current upward trend in his revenue forecast for the industry from 2014 to 2020. He said that in 2014, revenues were slightly above US$5 billion. This is expected to go up to approximately US$7.5 billion this year. The bullish projection is expected to reach in excess of US$35 billion in 2020. It is interesting to note that tooling and industrial systems are currently taking up, and w i l l a l s o co nt i nu e to t a ke up, a significant part of the revenue. To put the numbers into perspective, he said that more than 70,000 personal 3D printers were sold in 2013 and nearly 10,000 industrial grade 3D printers were sold in that same year. 3D Printing In The Manufacturing Space Additive manufacturing is big, and it is going to get bigger. But how is it going to affect the manufacturing space? According www.equipment-news.com
to Mr Chausovsky, 3D printing is going to influence manufacturing in a number of ways. These factors are expected to be felt more in the machine tools and plastic machinery segments. He said: “I feel plastic and the metal sides of the 3D printing market are going to interact with those machinery segments the most. The plastic injection moulding machines are going to get disrupted along with the machine tools.” The previous example shows that industrial products are likely to be affected in a big way. Another way of looking at the issue is that this sector represents the largest opportunities moving forward. “It is not just the creation of jigs, fixtures, tools and moulds but down the road, the production of final end user parts. Developments in the industry over the last three to five years — in speed and cost (machine and materials) are pointing in the direction (such) that we are going to see this technology permeate and displace traditional players in the industrial manufacturing space over time,” he said.
Another way that 3D printing has influenced the manufacturing industry is its ability to ‘rescue’ old products. “It has the ability to reverse engineer all old outdated files,” he said. Eng ineers ca n now ma ke changes to the 3D scans, which is a big benefit for him. In addition, eng ineers ca n tr y different varieties and experiment with different techniques of adjustment. There is no doubt that 3D printing has brought a new way of creating things. However, perhaps in a less obvious way, it has brought a new way to do business in the manufacturing world. This has enabled companies like Polychemy.com to carve a niche for themselves in the jewelry manufacturing space. Aaron Issac, CEO of the company, is currently generating jewelry designs based on search demand and social trends. In his presentation, he said 3D printing allows him to produce merchandise that is borne out of software systems which in turn enable mass customisation March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
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FEATURES
Inside 3D Printing From January 27-28, 2015, Inside 3D Printing came to Singapore to give local audience a taste of what additive manufacturing can do for their respective businesses. Notable companies that exhibited at the show included Stratasys, Materialise, 3D Hut and 3DP Technology. Visitors were also exposed to the latest happenings in the 3D printing world through two days of intensive knowledge exchange at the conference.
and automated manufacturing. ‘Cu stom i s at io n’ cou ld we l l be the buzzword in the not so distant future, much like how Jack Ma, the founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, sees the future. In an interview, he said there will be no marketing plan, only ways to satisfy individual needs through data and logistical prowess. Enter The Big Boys Even a s 3D pr inters a re in demand, the manufacturers, to their credit, are not standing still. According to Mr Chausovsky, HP is coming out with a Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology in 2016. According to the company, the technolog y resolves 3D printing barriers with higher productivity and quality at a lower price. The compa ny’s synchronous architecture can image an entire area versus one point at a time for faster build speeds and breakthrough economics. They are by no means the only one looking around for opportunities. In fact, some are already taking a bite into this 68
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pie. According to Mr Chausovsky, some of the big names in the traditional 2D printing sphere entering the 3D printing market in the near future are Epson, Canon and Xerox. “I don’t believe all of them will develop machines themselves. A lot of them will be partnering with other printing companies to become resellers or service providers.” He added that the big impact however, will come from the technology companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon. Challenges & Future Additive manufacturing is an exciting field. However, it is not without its fair share of cha llenge s. M r Chausovsk y said size and speed limitations are areas of concern and the issue of intellectual property can also be quite a stumbling b l o c k f o r t h e te c h n o l o g y. These issues can have some adverse effects on traditional manufacturing jobs. One intere sting point brought out by the spea ker involves expiring patents.
“All of these patents that are expiring have a huge impact that is driving down the cost, increasing competition, increasing awa re ne ss, a nd i nc re a si n g exposure to a much bigger audience. As more people enter the market space, the production costs go down. For instance, FDMbased machines were going at over $5,000 five years ago. Now, you can buy it at $199,” he said. F ina l ly, lo ok ing into t he future, Asia was listed by Mr Chausovsky as the region that is well-suited for 3D printing technology. Ironically, it may also be a region that will be adversely affected by the proliferation of 3D printing technology in the manufacturing industry. He said in Asia, some countries build their models on lowcost production. This model can be disrupted if localised manufacturing brought about by additive manufacturing takes off in a big way in the US and Europe because of savings in transportation. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2605
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ENQUIRY NO 051
EVENTS& EXHIBITIONS Event Preview:
BuildTech
Yangon 2015
B
uildTech Yangon, the t r a d e sh ow fo r t h e building and construction development se ctor, returns this year with a larger exhibition from April 2 – 4, 2015 at the Myanmar Convention Centre in Yangon. The three-day trade show aims to serve the construction development of Myanmar with a focus on infrastructure, residential a nd com mercia l bu ildings, transportation, manufacturing and trading. The trade show will feature an exhibition area of 12,000 sq m, focused on the latest construction machinery, new materials, as well as electrical a nd me cha nica l e qu ipment from more than 150 companies around the Asia Pacific region. The organiser says the trade show will see strong participation from the Southeast Asia region including Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. With such support, the show is projected to host some 4,000 participants, including architects, engineers, surveyors, contractors, developers and investors.
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In addition to the exhibition, there will be a series of business semina rs a nd network ing sessions to foster knowledge sharing and drive the adoption of the building and construction technologies in Myanmar. For example, the trade show will feature a three-day business semina r serie s where more than 20 industry professionals a nd le aders from Mya nma r and around the world come together to drive key industry discussions. These discussions cove r su st a i nable bu i ld i n g and construction, investment, vertical construction and town planning solutions, building automation as well as green architecture and design. As part of an outreach program for industry professionals, the organiser will also collaborate with Mya nma r Industries Association to organise a series of industrial park site visits to key locations. This is part of its marketing efforts at bringing the trade show closer to the industry. U T h a H t h ay, C h a i r m a n of Mya nma r Construction
Entrepreneurs Association, said: “BuildTech Yangon is an important trade show for the building and construction industry to equip our local professionals with the necessary knowledge and training to excel in the field, especially in areas such as highrise construction. With this trade show, we aim to drive the adoption of new technologies and building materials that will elevate construction industry standards and skills of our workforce, and hasten the further development of key infrastructure, new homes, factories and satellite towns over the next few years.” Stronger Participation From CLMV Region The staging of the show also coincides with Myanmar’s current growth spurt in construction which is described as ‘exponential’ due to the country’s rising population and strong economic growth. The construction industry registered a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.52 percent from 2009 to 2013. In the second quarter of 2014 alone, the Yangon City Development Com mitte e approve d t he construction of more than 1,000 high and low-rise buildings in the city, two times more than the number of approved construction projects in 2013. The Myanmar Ministry of Construction targets to build more than one million houses in the period of 20 years to meet the demand for residential real estate. In addition, the development of Special Economic Zones in Mya nma r will fur ther drive urbanisation and the construction of new production facilities. Myanmar Convention Centre Yangon, Myanmar April 2 – 4, 2015 Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2701
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ENQUIRY NO 039
EVENTS&EXHIBITIONS
Event Preview:
MTA2015 Takes A Look At Industry 4.0
A
t the upcoming conference at MTA 2015, Deepak Achuthashankar, industry a na lyst ( Industria l Automation & Process Control â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Europe) of Frost & Sullivan will be sharing his views on the convergence of digital worlds with industrial manufacturing.
Industry 4.0 & Southeast Asia According to him, manufacturers must be able to accept and embrace Industrie 4.0 (The 4th Industrial Revolution) to stay competitive and succeed in the future. In Singapore, he sees a n emphasis on promoting high valueadd manufacturing, innovations and new technologies. These technologies include pervasive microfluidics, printed electronics a nd na no - ma nu factur ing of multi-functional products. These are some of the sub ver tica ls that a re expected to witness a high degree of further automation. Sustainable ma nufacturing, including pharmaceutical and chemical production and development of methodologies and tools for the assessment of sustainability in manufacturing, are some of the 72
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Source: Frost & Sullivan Analysis
areas that will employ superior ICT-based tools for resource optimisation. He adds that Singapore and Malaysia are technologically advanced and lead the world in many niche segments. A major strength of these countries is the integration of micro technologies into products, with photonics being a prime exa mple. H e believes their progress is partly driven by large government subsidie s a nd substa ntia l investments, particularly in their university systems. Finally, he feels that while Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand are low cost labour-abundant countries, it is high time the countries cut their umbilical cord with the old model of development, ie: cheap labour and low innovation. He is quite optimistic about their transition as the respective governments have the necessary policies in place for high value manufacturing. Furthermore, the concern on growing competition from other ASEAN countries motivates these economies to move into new-age manufacturing. Business-friendly climate, diverse sources of investments, coupled
with a large supply chain, backed up by a geographical advantage and supported by a network of incentives, are some of the factors that will enable these countries to emerge as valuable players on the global manufacturing stage. Challenges Presented In terms of cha llenges a nd opportunities, he feels that from a vendor standpoint, the challenges could be opportunities to niche companies. He believes Industrie 4.0 is not just a mere new industrial paradigm with regard to technology. It will alter the competitive landscape dramatically. The manufacturing sector will soon witness a flock of unheard names offering comprehensive end-toend ICT solutions. Joint ventures, collaborations, partnerships and ecosystem would be the market goto strategies for companies in order to remain competitive. From the standpoint of an end user (not to be confused with final human consumers) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one of the biggest roadblocks that he sees is the passive mindset of the industrial community. Most enterprises show reluctance to change or experiment. This may prove to be detrimental in the long run. Apart from this, challenges surrounding awa reness a nd skill gaps are areas that need immediate attention. Looking ahead, he says the potential financial returns from Industrie 4.0 are arguably the biggest incentive for businesses to move ahead. Industrie 4.0 will have a midas touch in every aspect of technology, or business. Manufacturers must be able to accept and embrace this strategy to succeed in the future. Singapore Expo Singapore April 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17, 2015 Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
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PRODUCT FINDER Aerotech: Galvo Scanner For Laser Processing
Brother: Machining Of Large Workpieces
Aerotech has developed an accurate, open frame, thermally stable galvo scanner for a range of laser machining and etching applications. The Nmark AGVHPO scanner attains single-digit, and micron-level accuracy over the field of view. According to the manufacturer, it offers a resolution of >24 bits when used with the company’s Nmark CLS controller. In addition, the scanner’s position transducers have low thermal gain drift performance. This ensures consistent micron-level feature placement accuracy in complex, high-density laser machining applications that take long periods of time to complete.
Brother Industries has developed the S1000X1 machining centre, an improvement from the Speedio #30. They say the X-axis travel of the machine has been increased to 1,000 mm and this is not usually seen on the conventional #30 machines. Y-axis travel has also been increased to 500 mm, from 400 mm present in the smaller models of the Speedio SX series (S300X1/ S500X1/S700X1). These improvements translate to greater versatility and efficiency. The machine is said to be suitable for automotive component producers and manufacturers that need to machine larger workpieces.
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ENQUIRY No.
2801
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Aicon: Enclosed System For Automated Scanning Processes According to Aicon, the PartInspect M is a 3D scanner that is capable of fast digitisation, due to its own measuring chamber. As such, the scanner can be used at any userdefined location, in the production, in the laboratory or directly at the designer’s workplace. The integrated turn-tilt unit provides fully automated dig itisation w ithout a ny user’s intervention. In addition, the white light scanner digitises complex surfaces completely. Finally, irrespective of material or surface property, the system delivers high-precision 3D data. The contact-free scanning process even captures fragile or deformable objects (eg: made of modelling clay or ceramic) quickly and at the required level of accuracy. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2802
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ENQUIRY No.
2803
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De-Sta-Co: Versatile Enclosed Power Clamps
The 82M-3E series of enclosed pneumatic power cla mps from DeSta - Co prov ide s automotive and sheet metal processing c u s to m e r s w it h holding power in a versatile, user-friendly and low-maintenance package. This full line of lightweight aluminium power clamps includes four sizes: 40, 50, 63 and 80 mm. The clamps are suited for a number of applications, including manual and automated fixture welding, positioning and locating. Finally, the manufacturer claims that the power clamps require less space, allow fixtures in which they are installed to be lighter and more ergonomic than those equipped with other clamps. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2804
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ENQUIRY NO 012
PRODUCTFINDER Delcam: Rib-Machining Module For PowerMill CAM System
Delcam has launched a rib-machining module for its PowerMill CAM system for high-speed and fiveaxis machining. The rib-machining module makes it easier and safer to program the machining of cavities for narrow ribs, even when the cutterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s length is much greater than its diameter. Using the rib-machining strategy gives a better surface finish than using a standard finish-machining option and also improves efficiency by limiting the number of air moves. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2805
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Hexagon Metrology has launched the HP-S-X5 HD scanning sensor, a heavy-duty analogue probe that offers customers better part accessibility and opens up a wider range of scanning applications. This addition is designed to give high and repeatable accuracy even with heavier and longer probe extensions, accepting styli of lengths up to 800 mm and weights to 650 g. The sensor enables Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) users to accurately measure small parts as well as features deep inside a workpiece with the same probe head. The sensor is available for Leitz PMM-Xi and Leitz Reference Xi machines with Quindos software. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2807
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Faro: Portable Metrology Software
Honeywell: Bar Code Label Printers
Faro has released t he Fa ro CA M 2 Sma r tInspect 1.2, t he i ndu st r y â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first full - fe atured portable software for basic geometric measurements without CAD, for its la ser tracker a nd measuring arm. The compa ny says the product can now interface with its laser tracker to provide a simple and efficient solution for those who require the accuracy and large measurement volume provided by the capabilities of the laser trackers, but not the complexity of CAD-based software. The product has been optimised to run on all Microsoft Windows based Touch PCs or Touchpads, providing users a way to interact with inspection data and measurement devices.
Honeywell has developed two bar code label printers, offering an entry-level solution for reliable industrial printing at a competitive price. Combining the reliability of an industrial-class product with the simplicity of a desktop printer, the PD43 and the compact PD43c printers are designed for use in the distribution centre, transportation (including airline passenger service), retail and healthcare industries. Suited for deployment in various demanding environments, the PD43 series is focused on performance, with fast print speeds of up to eight inches per second. Its rugged, all-metal enclosure and cast-aluminium print mechanism ensure reliability and durability.
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ENQUIRY No.
2806
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Hexagon Metrology: Extended Reach
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ENQUIRY No.
2808
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PRODUCTFINDER Rofin: 3rd Generation Fibre Lasers
Seco: Better Speeds & Feeds With Highfeed Cutters
The Rofin Macro Group has developed the third generation of its Rofin FL Series. By integrating more powerful pumping modules and an optical unit, the manufacturer is now capable of generating 2 kW of laser power from one fibre laser unit and in doing so sets new technological standards. The FL Series lasers are available with power levels ranging from 500 to 6000 W, and their modular and robust construction makes them capable of meeting the needs of tough industry environments. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2809
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CoroMill Plura Heav y Duty (HD) is a solid end milling concept, developed for remov ing la rge a mounts of metal in a short amount of time and to provide the reliability needed for heavy roughing. The manufacturer says that the solid roughing end m ill is suitable for shoulder milling, full slot milling, ramping and helical interpolation in steel and stainless steel. It can also be used with cast iron and heat-resistant materials. The tools offer secure and reliable machining in a wide range of cutting parameters. Two grades have been developed; one for allround conditions, preferably in dry machining, and one to deal with tough conditions and large engagements in wet machining. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
2810
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ENQUIRY No.
2811
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Sunnen: Honing Machine With Easy Setup
Sandvik Coromant: Heavy Duty End Milling Concept
ENQUIRY No.
Seco has expanded its Highfeed milling cutter lineup with insert designs that combine with more teeth per diameter for higher productivity. Both Highfeed 2 and Highfeed 4 cutters are suitable for high-velocity, highspeed cutting of hard and tough materials, especially when performed on smaller machines equipped with high-speed/low-torque spindles. Highfeed 2 LP05 inserts feature two cutting edges in cutter diameters down to 12 mm. The inserts effectively machine sticky materials such as stainless steels, titanium and superalloys. Designed with four cutting edge, the Highfeed 4 LO06 insert provides up to four cutting edges for costeffective, efficient and high-performance machining of common workpiece materials when using cutter body diameters from 20 mm to 63 mm.
Sunnen has added d i g it a l cont rol o f spindle speed, powerstroke speed and extra strokes on its SH 2000 job-shop honing machine, designed as an affordable and flexible tool for bore sizing/finishing on a wide variety of parts. The machine is suitable for medium to high production of parts with bore diameters from 1.5 to 102 mm in power-stroke mode. It is capable of processing a variety of part sizes, configurations and weights with its standard universal honing fixture or optional application-specific fixtures. Options for the machine include Automatic Size Control (ASC), which uses a sensing probe slightly smaller than the bore to be honed. ASC compensation allows fine tuning of size by adding extra strokes after the probe enters the bore, providing more effective targeting of the nominal diameter in high-Cpk production environments. Got a Question? Make An Enquiry.
ENQUIRY No.
2812
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March 2015 asia pacific metalworking equipment news
77
PRODUCTFINDER TaeguTec: Effective Chips Breaking
Walter: Chamfering Efficiency
TaeguTec has expanded the RhinoRush line with two chip breakers. The FS and MK chip breakers are said to improve machinability by reducing cutting forces and the crater wear of cutting tools while operations are conducted on various alloys and cutting conditions. The chip breaker is primarily for medium applications while machining stainless steel and heat resistant materials. The manufacturer says the MK chip breaker is a more stable insert that offers long tool life because of its sharp edge design that minimises built-up-edges during machining operations. The FS chip breaker on the other hand, is primarily for finish turning. It is designed to enable good chip control on steel finish turning with good evacuation under low feed and low depth of cut applications.
With the Xtra·tec D4580, Walter has a variable alternative to core hole chamfer drills and solid carbide chamfer drills with a defined hole diameter and fixed hole depth. The chamfering tool can be fitted with solid carbide drills with a diameter between 4 and 16 mm. The chamfer is cut by two securely anchored, double-edged universal indexable inserts. Using an adjustment mechanism, the position of the cutting edges can be adapted to the diameter of whichever drill has been selected. Finally, chamfering is performed in only one operation. In this case, the central adjusting screw is positioned in order to save on machine time. The tool is capable of flexibility in everyday use and a high level of efficiency, especially for small and medium batch sizes.
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ENQUIRY No.
2813
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2815
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Tungaloy: Indexable Endmills For Precision Finishing
Widia: Expanding Turning Portfolio, Maximising Performance
Tu n ga loy Cor p orat ion ha s de ve lop e d t he TungFineBall, a series of indexable endmills for high-precision finishing. The clamping mechanism, combined with the coolant delivery system, makes it a suitable tool for machining die & mould and aerospace components. The series offers two types of inserts: ball nose and radius types; either of these two can be mounted on the same endmill. The shanks are available with steel and carbide in solid and modular type. These features make the tool suitable for machining various materials, such as steel, stainless steel, hardened steel, and cast iron.
The Widia Victory family of turning inserts has geometries and grades that delivers good chip flow that results in smooth machining, improved efficiencies, a nd extended tool life. The company says for difficult-to-machine materials like Inconel and Rene or cobalt-chromes and high-alloy stainless steels, the Widia Victory FS geometry is a ground, positive design used in finishing tasks where surface finish and minimising part deflection are critical. The –FS is available in WS10PT, a PVD grade. In stainless steel turning, the Universal Roughing (UR) geometry is specifically designed to increase roughing and medium turning performance in stainless steels and steel workpieces. Grades WP15CT, WP25CT, and WP35CT are also available in the UR geometry to improve performance on steel workpieces.
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ENQUIRY No.
2814
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ENQUIRY No.
2816
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EXHIBITION PROGRAMMES MARCH 18 - 21 INAPA
JIExpo Kemayoran Jakarta, Indonesia GEM inapa-exhibition.net info@gem-indonesia.com
Mar 30 – Apr 2 SIMM
Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center Shenzhen, China Shenzhen Xieguang Convention & Exhibition mkt42@simmexpo.com www.simmexpo.com/en/
APRIL
2–4 BuildTech Yangon 2015 Myanmar Convention Centre Yangon, Myanmar Sphere Exhibits sphere@sph.com.sg www.btyangon.com
8 – 10 Metal Japan
Tokyo Big Sight Tokyo, Japan Reed Exhibitions Japan visitor-eng.metal@reedexpo.co.jp www.metal-japan.jp/en/
13 – 17 Hannover Messe
Hannover, Germany Deutsche Messe www.hannovermesse.de/en/contact/ www.hannovermesse.de/home
14 - 17 MTA 2015
Singapore Expo Singapore SES mta@sesallworld.com www.mta-asia.com
4–7 MTT Expo
JIExpo Kemayoran Jakarta, Indonesia ECMI exh@mtt-indonesia.com mtt-indonesia.com
12 - 14 Inapa Surabaya
Grand City Convention & Exhibition Centre Surabaya, Indonesia info@gem-indonesia.net www.inapa-exhibition.net
MAY
13 - 16 Intermach
BITEC Bangkok, Thailand UBM Asia Sukanya.A@ubm.com www.intermachshow.com
13 - 16 Subcon Thailand BITEC Bangkok, Thailand UBM Asia Sukanya.A@ubm.com www.subconthailand.com
20 - 23 Metaltech
PWTC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tradelink info@tradelink.com.my www.tradelink.com.my/metaltech/
JUNE
10 – 13 Manufacturing Surabaya
Grand City Convention & Exhibition Centre Surabaya, Indonesia PT Pamerindo Indonesia maysia@pamerindo.com manufacturingsurabaya.com
JULY
7 – 10 MTA Vietnam
SECC Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam SES event@sesallworld.com mtavietnam.com www.equipment-news.com
AUGUST
2015
SEPTEMBER 7–9 Aluminium India Bombay Exhibition Centre Mumbai, India Reed SI Exhibitions aluminium@reedsi.com www.aluminium-india.com
18 - 23 EMO
Hannover Fairground Hannover, Germany www.emo-hannover.de
OCTOBER
8 – 10 Metalex Vietnam
SECC Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam contactcenter@reedtradex.co.th www.metalexvietnam.com
28 - 31 Korea Metal Week
KINTEX Seoul, South Korea Korea Trade Fairs master1@ktfairs.com www.korea-metal.com/en/asp/main.asp To be considered for inclusion in the calendar of events, send details of event to:
The Editor (APMEN) Eastern Trade Media
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79
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BENIGN ENTERPRISE CO LTD
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BYSTRONIC PTE LTD
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11
037
HEXAGON METROLOGY ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD
01
046
Advertiser
HOFFMANN QUALITY TOOLS ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD
13
038
FC/IFC
048
ITALIAN TRADE AGENCY
IBC
005
KENNAMETAL INC
BC
102
RENISHAW (HONG KONG) LTD
15
053
ISCAR LTD
ROHM ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD
37
054
02/03
045
SINGAPORE EXHIBITION SERVICES PTE LTD (MTA 2015)
69
051
SINGAPORE EXHIBITION SERVICES PTE LTD (MTA VIETNAM 2015)
75
012
TAEGUTEC CO
17
050
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80
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ASIA PACIFIC METALWORKING
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ENQUIRY NO 005
is Better Thinking. ™
INTRODUCING
The Stellram Platform
®
7792VX High feed milling cutter designed to yield the highest levels of productivity by increasing metal removal rates — as much as 90% — in titanium and other mission-critical metallics. ™
X-Grade Carbide inserts with up to 3 times the normal tool life for high-temperature heat resistant alloys. Designed for use on nickel-, cobalt-, and titanium-based alloys. ™
Different Thinking is the leadership to transcend what customers need — and deliver solutions they can’t live without. Kennametal’s unique perspective, forged from more than 75 years of experience, allows us to see beyond the expected and engineer perfect solutions. Different Thinking is Better Thinking — and this powers our continued commitment to delivering productivity in the most demanding environments.
www.kennametal.com ©2014 Kennametal Inc. l All rights reserved. l A-14-03805
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