PRODUCT REVIEWS
Rapid , continuous riveting
Zygology has launched a new Z-AR Auto Feed riveting system to speed up the riveting assembly process .
“ One of the most frequent questions we are asked is how to speed up riveting assembly processes , but not at the cost of efficiency or quality control . Our new Z-AR Auto Feed riveting system is designed to reduce manufacturing lead times , minimise downtime and speed up assembly ,” the manufacturer explained .
“ The most significant and common factor that slows down the assembly process is human . The repeated requirement is for the operator to reach into a box , pick up a rivet , insert it into the nose of the tool and then install it . The new Z-AR system removes that continuous requirement ,” it added .
The Z-AR ’ s bowl feeder holds up to 1,000 rivets at a time . By utilising specially adapted Stanley XT1 or XT2 tools attached to the Z-AR bowl feeder and control unit , rivets are fed to the tool nose tip at the rate of 60 or more per minute . Rivet handling by the tool operator can be almost eliminated , and downtime is significantly reduced .
“ After each rivet is installed , the PLC controlled mechanism feeds a new rivet from the bowl feeder to the nose tip almost instantly . The speed of assembly is limited only by the dexterity of the tool operator ,” continued Zygology .
“ Spent stems are automatically ejected from the tool and collected in a storage container in the control unit for quick and easy disposal or recycling . The system features Stanley XT1 and XT2 tools , the transfer mechanism is easy to remove from the tool and , as the tools use readily available parts , routine maintenance is quick , cost-effective and straightforward ,” it said .
The Z-AR system can accommodate most standard rivet types of between 3 and 5mm in diameter , and rivet materials can be accommodated including aluminium , copper , steel and A2 and A4 stainless steel . The flexible umbilical enables 360 ° riveting in any direction .
Above : Z-AR Auto Feed riveting system . Left : Hand-held riveter .
“ One of the common questions we get is how to speed up the riveting process . The most significant factor that slows things down is the need for the operator to reach into a box , pick up a rivet , carefully insert it into the tool ’ s nose and then install it again and again . This tool takes all the fiddling around out of the equation . It ’ s loaded with up to 1,000 rivets and keeps feeding them on demand until they run out . You just then need to refill the feed bowl and repeat ,” explained Zygology sales director , Richard Avery . n
The VE CAM .
The 4K Makrolite video inspection model .
Close up and in focus
Vision Engineering showcased its new digital microscopes recently at the Southern Manufacturing exhibition in the UK . Its new Makrolite 4K ultra high-definition model for 4K video inspection and VE CAM ( compact digital inspection system ) were highlighted on its booth at the show .
Amongst other innovations on show were new digital inspection systems ; eyepiece-less microscopes ( including its flagship Mantis ) and the Lynx EVO ( winner of the Queen ’ s Award for Innovation ); the DRV-71 3D digital microscope and a selection of contact and non-contact metrology systems .
The Makrolite 4K digital microscope is designed to simplify optical inspection , image capture and measurement tasks with ultrahigh-definition image resolution and a 20:1
optical zoom . It provides live , sharp , highdefinition video images in Ultra HD and up to 330x magnification for real-time viewing or data sharing . Users can stream or record live 4K video via computer to share information or as a teaching / training tool .
Manual or autofocus and four userprogrammable pre-sets are designed for quick and efficient operation and enable consistency between operators and across multiple systems . It can either be a standalone system operated using a console or used as a PC system with software camera control and annotation / measurement capability . For precision engineering , it finds application in a wide range of industries including automotive ; aviation and micromachining and is used for quality control , surface finishing , contamination control and deburring .
“ Makrolite 4K ’ s wide dynamic range is ideally suited for inspection of subjects that are highly reflective , such as electro-polished finishes and solder joints , and subjects where details are often lost in areas of shadow , highlights or poor contrast ,” said the manufacturer .
Vision Engineering ’ s VE CAM is a compact full HD digital microscope system , with custom-made optics and digital features , for visual inspection or manufacturing quality control . It has wireless connections to smart devices and displays with screen mirroring . User pre-sets can be changed to allow different operators to work efficiently . Ten user programmable pre-sets enable faster switch-over times between inspections of different samples and product lines . Six hotkeys give instant access to the most commonly used pre-sets .
“ There is no need for a PC , keyboard or mouse and , if you are exceptionally tight on space , you can simply mount a screen onto the unit . With a compact mini monitor , set-up has a footprint of just 25cm x 34cm ,” said Vision Engineering .
VE CAM is suitable for applications from goods-in quality inspection to shop floor inspection of parts . n
. visioneng . com
60 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR April 2022