PRODUCT REVIEWS
Interactive VR experiences
Group Rhodes , a leading UK designer and manufacturer of metalforming , composite and bespoke machinery , will be showcasing several new innovations at the MACH 2022 exhibition ( alongside group companies Rhodes Interform and Atkin Automation ). Its stand 616 will feature as part of the MMMA Metalworking Village in Hall 6 at the NEC , Birmingham ( UK ), from 4-8 April 2022 .
Rhodes Interform will be demonstrating its latest machine designs through Virtual Reality ( VR ), enabling visitors to experience the company ’ s new game engine architecture and take an interactive journey into its latest metalforming and composite innovations . Group Rhodes recently introduced VR throughout its group companies to visualise project technology and assess practical aspects of an installation such as machine access , serviceability and equipment positioning .
Sister company Atkin Automation will be promoting its large portfolio of coil processing machinery , which includes a comprehensive range of servo roll feeds .
All Atkin feed units feature torque shaft upper roll pivots with a Regen grip system and backlash free servo gearbox transmission .
At MACH22 , Atkin will be demonstrating its RF70-300 servo rollfeed ( 70mm dia . rolls x 300mm wide ). It offers a manual heightadjustable press mounting bracket , pneumatic pilot / strip release system and electronic cambox . Entry rolls and material side guides come as standard , with options of motorised height adjustment and bespoke press or floor standing brackets . Soft / surface-sensitive materials can also be accommodated with either chrome or Febrofen coated rolls . n
MIG / MAG welding power
CLOOS is presenting a new version of its MIG / MAG welding power source , QINEO StarT , with integrated wire drive for manual welding . The operating module , a powerful wire drive unit and the support for a 15kg wire coil are integrated in a compact housing together with the power unit .
“ The QINEO StarT offers easy entry into the world of modern welding technology . Users can weld any workpiece economically . The heart of the QINEO StarT is an inverter power unit . Outstanding arc control guarantees excellent welding results . The maximum quality standard makes the QINEO StarT a long-lasting and robust welding machine ,” CLOOS told ISMR .
The configuration possibilities of the QINEO StarT are flexible and versatile , as are the welding applications . The consistently modular product concept means that , from the capacity class to the wire tip , each QINEO StarT is customised . Users can adapt the Eco , Master and Premium versions users to make the QINEO StarT their individual welding system .
“ The compact version of the QINEO StarT offers easy , quick and intuitive operation . Manual welders benefit from the comfortable operating concept that they can adapt to their individual requirements ,” added CLOOS .
In addition to the standard processes , the QINEO StarT offers further CLOOS welding processes with pre-set parameters , depending upon the variant . Manual welders can therefore get started right away without a timeconsuming search for parameters . With the QINEO StarT 406 , operators can also use the
The QINEO StarT .
‘ Fine Weld ’ energy-reduced , current-controlled MIG / MAG short arc process . Due to minimised spatter formation , Fine Weld is particularly suitable for thin , coated plates and fine visible weld seams .
Since 1919 , Carl Cloos Schweisstechnik GmbH has been one of the leading companies in welding technology with more than 800 employees all over the world . From welding technology , robot mechanics and controller to positioners , software and sensors – CLOOS supplies everything from a single source . n
3D laser cutting speed boost
High-tech company TRUMPF has developed a new technology that increases the speed and efficiency of sheet metal cutting . Known as BrightLine Speed , this innovative solution offers particularly striking benefits for the 3D cutting of hotformed parts – for example , those used to produce B-pillars and door frames in automotive manufacturing .
“ BrightLine Speed allows us to increase cutting speed by up to 60 per cent for sheets of up to four millimetres thick ,” said TRUMPF product manager , Ralf Kohllöffel .
BrightLine Speed also consumes around 50 per cent less cutting gas per part than conventional laser cutting , added TRUMPF . It is designed to make the cutting process up to 15 per cent more productive with the same laser power , so that each part requires correspondingly less energy to fabricate .
“ Our new cutting technology is faster and uses less gas – and that translates into tangible cost savings and a real boost in productivity for our customers ,” explained Kohllöffel .
At the heart of BrightLine Speed is a new , TRUMPF-patented laser light cable ( LLK ), a special “ 2-in-1 ” innovation with an inner and an outer fibre core . A TruDisk disk laser couples the laser light into the LLK and distributes the laser power to the inner and outer cores using a device known as a wedge switch . This allows users to adapt the laser power and beam profile more precisely and flexibly to the thickness of the sheet currently being processed . n
. trumpf . com
64 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR February 2022