PRODUCT REVIEWS
Metalforming in focus
Group Rhodes , a leading manufacturer of metal and composite forming machinery , will be demonstrating one of its metalforming presses in the MMMA Metal Working Village at MACH 2024 ( 15-19 April 2024 at the NEC in Birmingham , UK ). Visitors will be able to find its stand 599 in Hall 6 .
“ The Rhodes Interform product on display was designed and manufactured in-house at our Wakefield ( UK ) factory as part of a full turnkey solution to produce a bespoke twin press facility for forging forklift truck components . The entire project , which consists of two Rhodes Interform multi-axis presses , a complete robotic handling line and an integrated conveying system , can process the largest forks at a rate of one part per 70 seconds ,” said the press specialist .
Group Rhodes will also be discussing the global patents that it has registered for its Superplastic Forming & Diffusion Bonding Technology ( SPF / DB ), including the territories of China , India , The United States and
Europe . This solution is applied extensively to the lightweighting of components in the aerospace and automotive industries .
Operations Director , James Gascoigne , commented : “ We are looking forward to attending MACH 2024 , which will give us the opportunity to demonstrate our latest innovations in metalforming technology . This will be our first exhibition since we secured international patents for Superplastic Forming & Diffusion Bonding and will be a great chance for our team to discuss how this technology works and its potential applications globally .
“ Given that our 19th-century patents were for improvements to the steam hammer , it is amazing to think that our most recent innovations are helping to form components for spacecraft ! We are very proud to showcase these innovations , especially in our 200th anniversary year ,” he continued .
Alongside its SPF / DB technology , Group Rhodes ’ personnel will also discuss the
company ’ s portfolio of machinery for the hot and cold forming of metals and composites .
The four companies that make up Group Rhodes offer extensive capabilities including the design , development and manufacture of bespoke equipment to serve the metalforming , composite forming , heavy ceramics and material handling sectors . The parent company of Rhodes Interform , Group Rhodes , boasts a 200-year metalforming history . The company has won Queen ’ s Awards for both Innovation and International Trade in recent years . n
www . grouprhodes . co . uk
Component inspection and measurement
“ Manufacturers wishing to inspect components machined to tight tolerances but unwilling to invest in an expensive coordinate measuring machine ( CMM ), now have the option of selecting an ALTERA C HA from LK Metrology . Available in five sizes , the largest 15.9.7 model will be exhibited on our stand at MACH 2024 ( Hall 19 , stand 540 ),” LK Metrology told ISMR .
The ceramic-bridge machines are constructed from the same component parts as the standard ALTERA C range but are optimised during build at the company ’ s Derbyshire ( UK ) production facility to deliver accuracy and 13 per cent better repeatability . Volumetric accuracy is from 1.3 + L / 350 , repeatability from 0.0013mm and scanning accuracy is from 0.002mm , said the company .
When implementing design improvements to the ALTERA C HA , particular attention was paid to upgrading the moving bridge . The spread of the air bearings supporting the main drive leg has been widened to increase the stiffness of the bridge assembly by 17 per cent overall , which is particularly beneficial during high-speed movements .
“ The benefits to the user are considerable , as measuring uncertainty when chasing tolerances down to microns is significantly better . For the same reason , the bearing mountings have been further stiffened and their alignment improved . Due to the increased dynamic forces in play when measuring on the fly , the new design is especially helpful when using a scanning probe ,” commented LK Metrology .
“ The pre-loaded , wrap-around air bearing configuration runs with a reduced air film thickness for low energy consumption and gives repeatable measurement results , even
A new ALTERA C HA coordinate measuring machine , the largest 15.9.7 model , will be exhibited by LK Metrology at MACH 2024 . at fast axis speeds . Friction drives provide smooth motion together with exact positioning at continuously varying speeds , as well as zero backlash and overload protection ,” it added . Multi-sensor capability is provided with the Renishaw PH10M motorised probe head able to deploy a touch-trigger probe , scanning probe or laser scanner . LK ’ s proprietary , DMISbased , multi-sensor CAMIO software enables programming and measurement based on 3D CAD data as well as comprehensive reporting .
The five sizes of ALTERA C HA have a measuring envelope above the granite table ranging from nominally 700 x 650 x 500mm for the smallest CMM up to 1,500 x 850 x 650mm for the largest . The machines can accelerate at up to 1,390mm / s / s for high inspection efficiency .
New on show at MACH 2024 will also be LK ’ s own CMM laser scanning probe , SLK25 VIVID , and the TSR-5 tool-change and storage rack as well as automation with a collaborative robot and a second-generation LK FREEDOM arm with L100 VIVID laser scanner . Additionally , there will be a standard ALTERA C CMM , the latest version of LK ’ s CAMIO programming , analysis and reporting software ( including the popular module for automated inspection of gears ) and the LK FREEDOM rotary index table that speeds inspection of parts using an articulated arm , raising metrology productivity . n
www
. LKmetrology . com
58 | ismr . net | ISMR March 2024