Source | Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters’ (Marignane, France) RACER demonstrator, developed under a European Research Clean Sky 2 project (read “Optimizing AFP for complex-cored CFRP fuselage”), has performed its first flight in Marignane. The aircraft flew for about 30 minutes, enabling the flight test team to check the overall behavior of the aircraft. This important milestone launches the 2-year flight campaign that will aim to progressively open the aircraft’s flight envelope and demonstrate its high-speed capabilities. 

“With its 90 patents, RACER is the perfect example of the level of innovation that can be achieved when European partners come together. This first flight is a proud moment for Airbus Helicopters and for our 40 partners in 13 countries,” says Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “I look forward to watching this demonstrator pioneer high-speed capabilities and develop the ecomode system that will contribute to reducing fuel consumption.”

Optimized for a cruise speed of more than 400 kilometers per hour, the RACER demonstrator aims to achieve the best tradeoff between speed, cost-efficiency and mission performance. It also targets a fuel consumption reduction of around 20%, compared to current generation helicopters of the same class, thanks to aerodynamic optimization and an ecomode propulsion system. Developed with Safran Helicopter Engines, the hybrid-electrical ecomode system enables one of the two Aneto-1X engines to be paused while in cruise flight, thus contributing to cutting CO₂ emissions. The RACER also aims to demonstrate how its particular composites-intensive architecture can contribute to lowering its operational acoustic footprint.

The RACER builds upon the aerodynamic configuration validated by the Airbus Helicopters X3 technology demonstrator which, back in 2013, broke the speed record and pushed the limits for a helicopter by reaching 472 kilometers per hour. While the aim of the X3 was to validate the compound architecture, combining fixed wings for energy-efficient lift, lateral rotors for energy-efficient propulsion and a main rotor that provides energy-efficient vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight capacity, RACER aims to take the compound formula closer to an operational configuration and to offer increased capabilities for certain missions for which high-speed can be a real advantage.

For related content, read “LATTE project optimizes aerodynamic flow of RACER rotor head.”

Source | CloudNC

CloudNC has announced that its CAM Assist solution can now create programming strategies and tool paths with AI for 3+2-axis CNC machines.

The new upgrade means CAM Assist can now provide strategies and tool paths for 3+2-axis components, enabling many more manufacturers to benefit from CAM Assist’s efficiency gains.

CAM Assist uses advanced computer science techniques and AI to generate intuitive machining strategies in minutes or seconds, depending on complexity, which could take CNC machine programmers hours or even days to manually create.

As a result, the amount of time it takes to program a CNC machine to make a component is greatly reduced, compared to the previous manual programming process, as is the time spent to estimate how much a new component will cost to program. This enables manufacturers using CAM Assist to raise productivity and shorten lead times, while also estimating for more work, more quickly. According to the company, CAM Assist can save an average workshop more than 300 hours of programming and estimating time per year.

CAM Assist is available for Autodesk Fusion today. CloudNC is currently undergoing beta testing in other packages, and expects to launch solutions for those later in 2024.

Com&Sens co-winding system illustrates an optical fiber being embedded during filament winding. Source | Com&Sens

Com&Sens (Eke, Belgium), in partnership with filament winder Sharp Composites (Herk-de-Stad, Belgium), is organizing its first hands-on training workshop on fiber optic sensing for digital manufacturing of composite pressure vessels from June 11-13, 2024 in Leuven, Belgium.

The workshop will enable participants to become proficient in sensor architecture definition, sensor embedding and data analysis throughout various composite-overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) manufacturing processes and test phases. Com&Sens welcomes engineers and technicians involved in COPV design and manufacturing; quality assurance professionals overseeing pressure vessel production; and researchers and developers exploring advanced monitoring solutions.

Fiber optic sensing technology has emerged as a game-changer in the composites manufacturing industry, offering additional insight into the production and development of COPVs. As demand for lightweight, durable and high-performance tanks continue to rise, manufacturers are seeking innovative solutions to enhance quality control and increase speed to market.

According to Com&Sens, fiber optic sensing technology has the potential to revolutionize the way these technologies are produced, something that will be emphasized throughout the workshop. Ultimately, the interactive learning approach aims to enables participants to develop proficiency in embedding sensor fibers during winding processes, ensuring they can apply these techniques effectively in their own operations.

Key highlights of the workshop will include:

• In-depth sessions on fiber optic sensing principles and applications in COPV manufacturing.
• Hands-on training in sensor embedding techniques and data analysis.
• Case studies and real-world examples demonstrating successful implementation of fiber optic sensing solutions.

The workshop, is split across three days: Theory, practice and analysis. Day 1 (June 11) will run from 11:30 – 7 p.m. at the PetaHotel in Leuven. Day 2 (June 12) will be based at Sharp Composites, from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Day 3 (June 13) is from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the PentaHotel. Additional evening plans are offered.

There are only 15 spots available. For more information or to register, visit this link.

Borstar technology delivers unique advantages to greenhouse film applications due to its unique molecular architecture. Borstar technology relies on a broad bimodal molecular weight distribution of polyethylene copolymers to enhance performance and processability of material, making a film that is readily processed on film equipment and mechanically strong and tough to provide enhanced crop protection. These variables grant engineers and product development technicians significant design freedom to create products over a wide density and molecular weight range, allowing for precise performance of the material for a particular application. Borstar resin provides better durability with increased toughness, environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) and weatherability.  Because of the improved processability and mechanical properties of Borstar resins, demanding agricultural applications can gain from a longer service life of the film, reducing the total carbon footprint of the entire agricultural operation. 

Additionally, the unique optical properties of Borstar, which are also derived from its molecular design, bring a natural ability to diffuse light while maintaining high transmission rates. The matte appearance of the film naturally diffuses sunlight across the interior of the greenhouse and does not tend to reflect light the way a clear film would.

This performance is achieved without the use of additional fillers or other additives to diffuse or absorb the light. This design allows the maximum use of sunlight for the plants in the greenhouse without overexposing them and keeping the climate within control limits to improve crop yield and quality.  Good light distribution in the greenhouse allows the crops better conditions for photosynthesis and microclimate development.  Additionally, the PE film and greenhouse structure protect from too much direct sunlight, high winds, extreme temperatures and variable rainfall. These types of greenhouse films are suitable for crops such as vegetables (including non-native varieties- tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers), lettuce, melons, flowers and other crops that thrive under consistent conditions. 

This design allows the maximum use of sunlight for the plants in the greenhouse without overexposing them and keeping the climate within control limits to improve crop yield and quality.

Borstar FB2230 was evaluated for the agricultural film greenhouse application owing to its physical and optical properties. Because of the unique molecular structure, a naturally matte surface finish occurs when making blown film (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Unique molecular structure creates naturally matte surface finish.

This matte surface finish is what allows even distribution of the light which was shown to improve crop yields in a study of tomato growth in the Netherlands¹. Compared to a clear control film, a moderately hazy film (45% haze) showed an 8% increase in crop yield. When the haze value was increased from 45% to 71%, a further 3% increase in crop yield was seen (Figure 2). 

Figure 2: Increase in crop yield based on haziness of film.

While the production advantage of crops is clear from the use of Borstar film, it is also essential that the film be able to hold up mechanically to use in the field. While durability can be improved by using thicker films, 3-4 mil film is typical for single-season growing while 6-10 mil film is more common for multiseason use, the addition of UV stabilizers can also bring increased longevity and durability to the film as well. By including a UV stabilizer in the Borstar FB2230 film, the retained elongation over 30 months was improved from just 10% in the MD reference, to over 70% in the modified film examples (Figure 3)². 

Figure 3

In other studies, growth acceleration and production increases were also measured. By using a film that diffuses light, the time to harvest for different plants was reduced by about 25% while increasing the total weight of finished product by about 6% (Figure 4). These kinds of improvements in agricultural operation allow for increasing the value per square foot of farmland and bringing better, more reliable production methods to the market.

 

It is clear that these kinds of improvements in agricultural operation allow for increasing the value per square foot of farmland and bringing better, more reliable production methods to the market.

Figure 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion:

Several case studies have shown how the advanced optical and mechanical properties of Borstar films can significantly benefit agricultural and greenhouse applications. Increases in yields, decreases in production time and ease of use and durability are all inherent advantages of this technology.

Products like Borstar FB2230 are well positioned to serve this growing market segment and to continue to bring performance to a demanding application that is critical to our modern supply chain infrastructure. PE resins with unique and tailorable molecular designs for demanding applications continue to push the boundaries of what is possible and help deliver efficient and effective solutions to the market.

 

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[1] Diffuus licht bij tomaat, Wageningen University and Research Glastuinbouw, 2012 (Rapporten GTB 1158)

[2] "Effect of a Diffuse Glass Greenhouse Cover on Rose Production and Quality" N. García Victoria, F.L.K. Kempkes, P. Van Weel, C. Stanghellini, T.A. Dueck and M. Bruins, Wageningen UR Proceedings of the International Symposium on Advanced Technology

Susan Zhang is Senior Technical Service and Development Advisor. Peter Malmros is the Business Development Manager. Kyle Anderson, Ph.D, is Application Development Supervisor. 

Source | KUKA, Engel

Continuing a global relationship that spans more than 20 years, Engel, a company specializing in plastic injection molding machines, technologies and turnkey solutions, has become a KUKA robotics system partner. Adding to its 8 years as a strategic partner with KUKA, this new relationship will not only continue to incorporate KUKA robots as standard components in Engel’s injection molding solutions, but also integrate and retrofit KUKA robotic products into existing plastic injection molding machines and systems.

Engel reports that it has used hundreds of KUKA robots for upstream and downstream automation of its injection molding machines and cells since establishing its North American presence. The company relies primarily on KUKA’s all-purpose, high-payload Quantec, high-powered, low-payload Cybertec and versatile medium-payload Iontec robots, all of which provide six-axis operation and flexibility to customers for virtually any market segment.

“We want to emphasize that being a preferred partner is more than just a label for us,” says Vanessa Malena, president Americas at Engel. “KUKA and Engel stand for premium quality products, and our customers will benefit from this longstanding partnership of integrating hundreds of KUKA robots in injection molding cells. Companies that want to increase the automation of their injection molding production, even if they may have little or no experience with robots, will be able to rely on a team of experts from two market leaders who will set them up for success.”

Engel’s integration solutions provide manufacturers who are looking to expand their operations or who have not yet automated their processes a feature-rich system that is easy to use and operate. By using the same controller for the machine and added automation, shops can increase efficiency and productivity with no robotic programming experience.

“The ability to fully integrate KUKA robots into the Engel machine controller has more advantages than optimal communication between injection molding machine and automation,” contends Engel vice president of automation Stefan Aberl. “It is easier and more convenient for operators to work with one controller, and the integration also allows remote access for troubleshooting of complete production cells via just one access device."

To commemorate its new relationship with KUKA, Engel is offering an automation integration promotion for new and existing customers from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025, that includes an additional 12-month warranty that brings the total warranty period to 24 months, free simulations to determine reach, cycle time and feasibility and a 20% discount on maintenance training.

Source | Hexagon Regasco

Hexagon Ragasco (Raufoss, Norway), a business of Hexagon Composites (Oslo, Norway), and Linde (Dublin, Ireland), a global industrial gas company and LPG marketer, has launched composite Linktra Smart cylinder nationwide in Norway. The launch follows a regional pilot program that took place during summer 2023 in the city of Oslo and its surrounding area.

Linktra Smart cylinders, deployed under the name AGA Smart Cylinders, are developed in a three-step, fully automated manufacturing process: An inner liner of polyethylene (HDPE) is blow molded; glass fiber-reinforced composite material is wound around the line; and an outer layer, an HDPE casing, is added, both to provide protection and ergonomic grip and to enable customers to brand their pressure vessels. Hexagon Regasco notes that is has exclusively manufactured Type 4 cylinders for over two decades.

Notably, the company’s Linktra Smart cylinders comes with an Internet of Things (IoT) offer that enables the connection of the cylinder to consumers’ mobile phones, allowing them to quickly see gas level and receive push notifications when it is time to refill. Linktra also connects to the IT systems of LPG distributors, providing insight into consumer-usage patterns, enabling optimized logistics — which means the cylinder is always in stock when a customer is ready to refill.

“The AGA Smart Cylinder allows users to have full control of the LPG cylinder gas level for their domestic or leisure activities,” says Morten Roness, head of consumer sales Norway, Linde. “At the same time, we at Linde, obtain real-time data to optimize our logistic operations and product availability for customers.”

The cylinders are available in most of Linde’s distribution points and vending machines nationwide.

Imperial announced the appointment of Cheryl Gomez-Smith as senior vice president, Upstream, effective May 1, 2024. Ms. Gomez-Smith, currently director of safety and risk, ExxonMobil Global Operations and Sustainability, succeeds Simon Younger, who was appointed lead country manager and general manager Australia Conventional, ExxonMobil Upstream.

“On behalf of Imperial, I would like to thank Simon Younger for his strong leadership and management over the past five years during his time as senior vice president, Upstream and previously as vice president, production,” said Brad Corson, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “During this period, Simon oversaw continued growth in Imperial’s upstream portfolio, with increased production and reliability at Kearl, the company’s oil sands mining operation, and implementation of lower emission technology at Cold Lake.”

Younger, a native of Australia, holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tasmania, Australia. He began his career with Esso Australia, an ExxonMobil affiliate, in 1997 as a rotating equipment engineer supporting both offshore and onshore assets. Younger has held several roles in Australia, the United States, Nigeria and Canada. In 2019, he moved to Calgary, Alberta to become vice president, production for Imperial and was appointed Imperial’s senior vice president, Upstream on June 1, 2020.

Gomez-Smith earned a bachelor of engineering in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in the United States, and an MBA from Tulane University of Louisiana. She began her career in 1990 as a facilities engineer in Midland, Texas, and has held various technical and leadership roles of increasing responsibility in the United States, Qatar, Russia and Kazakhstan, where she served as lead country manager.  Gomez-Smith is currently the Director of Safety and Risk in ExxonMobil’s Global Operations and Sustainability organization in Houston, Texas, where she provides strategic leadership and oversight for ExxonMobil personnel and process safety.

“With her global experience, Cheryl brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role as Senior Vice President for our upstream organization as we continue our focus on strong operational performance, increasing production and reducing costs across our assets,” said Corson.

C/C composite nozzle atached to PS4 engine. Source (All Images) | ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO, Bengaluru, India) has recently developed a lightweight carbon-carbon (C-C) nozzle for rocket engines. This accomplishment by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) promises to enhance the vital parameters of rocket engines, including thrust levels, specific impulse and thrust-to-weight ratios, thereby boosting the payload capacity of launch vehicles.

VSSC, known for its space research, has leveraged advanced materials like C-C composites (see sidebar) to create a nozzle divergent that offers optimal properties. By using processes such as the carbonization of green composites, chemical vapor infiltration and high-temperature treatment, the resulting nozzle features low density, high specific strength and high stiffness, capable of retaining mechanical properties even at elevated temperatures.

A key feature of the C-C nozzle is its silicon carbide anti-oxidation coating, which extends its operational limits in oxidizing environments. This not only reduces thermally induced stresses but also enhances corrosion resistance, enabling extended operational temperature limits in hostile environments.

The nozzle’s development is significant, particularly for the ISRO’s workhorse launcher, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The PS4, the fourth stage of the PSLV, currently employs twin engines with nozzles made from Columbium alloy. However, by replacing these metallic divergent nozzles with C-C counterparts, a mass reduction of approximately 67% can be achieved. This substitution is projected to increase the payload capability of the PSLV by 15 kilograms.

PS4 engine nozzle divergent development hot test was successfully conducted for a duration of 200 seconds at LUS-TF IPRC in February 2024.

The C-C nozzle divergent have been tested, a collaborative effort involving Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) which designed and configured the test, and IPRC which conducted the test’s instrumentation and execution. In March 2024, a 60-second hot test was conducted at the High-Altitude Test (HAT) facility in ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, confirming the system's performance and hardware integrity. Subsequent tests, including a 200-second hot test in April, further validated the nozzle's capabilities, with temperatures reaching 1216 Kelvin, matching predictions.

A walk through the two plants would reveal some fundamental differences in the way these two classes of materials are processed. Molding of thermoplastic materials is comparatively straightforward in that there is no difference between the chemistry of the raw material and that of the resulting molded part. The raw material delivered to the molding plant is chemically complete; a fully formed polymer of a desired molecular weight with the appropriate additives. If desired, certain fillers and colorants may be incorporated into the pelletized product.

The process then involves heating the material to an appropriate temperature so that a viscosity can be achieved that enables the mold cavity or cavities to be filled and packed, after which the material is allowed to cool before the mold is opened and the parts are ejected.

Sometimes this process is preceded by drying the raw material. If all goes well, the composition and molecular weight of the polymer in the raw material and the molded part will be comparable. In our facility, the process of choice was injection molding. But melt processing can also involve extrusion, blow molding and a variety of other approaches.

Shear rate is a function of flow rate and the size of the flow path, and higher shear rates produce a substantial reduction in melt viscosity, as depicted here. 

The thermoset plant looks very different. First, most of the presses, especially in the early days, were not injection molding machines. Instead, they were vertical platen systems without an injection unit — compression molding machines, where raw material is placed into the stationery bottom half of the mold and the closing of the mold then distributed the material into the cavity or cavities. Alternatively, the machines were hybrids that employed a “pot” that holds raw material that is then injected into a closed mold using a plunger, a process known as transfer molding. In addition, these raw materials were not pelletized. Instead, they were powders consolidated into pucks or they were soft, pliable materials, supplied in bulk or in sheet form.

A closer look reveals additional differences. For thermoplastic molding, the barrel that is used to deliver the material to the mold is heated and the mold is plumbed with water lines that remove the heat from the injected material and enable the solidification of the polymer in the mold. In the thermoset plant, the raw material is kept at a relatively low temperature until it reaches the mold and the mold is heated to a very high temperature, usually with steam, hot oil or electric cartridges.

This difference in material handling is fundamental to the processing requirements for thermoset materials. The raw materials, as provided to the molder, consist of a low molecular weight prepolymer, the appropriate fillers and additives, and a catalyst that is designed to initiate a chemical reaction which crosslinks the material into the three-dimensional network that, once formed, cannot be remelted. These catalysts are activated by heat, therefore the exposure to elevated temperatures should not happen until the material reaches the heated mold. Therefore, the thermoset molding process includes a chemical reaction that changes the structure of the material while the part is being molded.

How Thermosets and Thermoplastics Differ

This difference in the behavior of thermosets and thermoplastics during processing is fundamental to the approach of managing process control for the two classes of materials, particularly as it relates to viscosity.

Thermoplastics follow the familiar rules of non-Newtonian fluids. Viscosity declines with increasing temperature once the material is in the molten state, and it is also influenced by the effects of the shear rate applied to the material. Shear rate is a function of flow rate and the size of the flow path, and higher shear rates produce a substantial reduction in melt viscosity, as shown in Figure 1. The viscosity remains relatively low for most of the mold filling process and then, as solidification begins in the cavity, the viscosity will begin to increase. But ideally, most of the solidification process occurs after the mold cavity is full and, once the cycle is complete, the polymer has simply returned to the state represented by the raw material.

This difference in material handling is fundamental to the processing requirements for thermoset materials. 

The process of viscosity development is more complex in thermosets as shown in Figure 2. In this graph, the viscosity is measured in a torque rheometer in terms of the load on the instrument. The material enters the process as a low-viscosity thermoplastic and, in the early stages of processing, there is a small decline associated with mild heating of the material. However, as the elevated temperature of the mold initiates the crosslinking process, the viscosity increases rapidly. At some point, the viscosity rises to a point where the material will no longer flow. This is often referred to as the gel point, and is approximately indicated in Figure 2 by the point denoted as Tc10.

Here, the viscosity is measured in a torque rheometer in terms of the load on the instrument. The material enters the process as a low-viscosity thermoplastic and in the early stages of processing there is a small decline associated with mild heating of the material. However, as the elevated temperature of the mold initiates the crosslinking process, the viscosity increases rapidly. At some point, the viscosity rises to the gel point where the material will no longer flow (denoted as Tc10).

There are different methods for identifying this point quantitatively, but the practical significance of this event is that the mold cavity should be filled before this point is reached, because continued mold filling will be difficult if not impossible beyond this point regardless of how much pressure is applied to the material. The final viscosity of the properly crosslinked material can be 10 to 100 times higher than the viscosity of the material that entered the process.

Often, a crosslink density that constitutes 90% of what is theoretically achievable is considered to be a desirable condition that ensures good performance of the molded part and is indicated by the point identified as Tc90. The profile of this cure development is dependent upon both time and temperature. Higher temperatures will produce a lower minimum viscosity and a faster cure time.

If the cure time is shorter than the time required to fill the mold, this can result in impeded flow, poor weld line strength and cosmetic defects. While elevated viscosity is the cause for these defects in both thermoplastics and thermosets, the remedies can be very different. For thermoplastics, the premature development of an unmanageably high viscosity typically requires an increase in melt or mold temperature. In thermosets, the same strategy can simply make the problem worse by producing a more rapid increase in viscosity.

In our next installment we will look more closely at the cure process and how it can be measured with tools that provide greater insight into the crosslinking process.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael Sepe is an independent materials and processing consultant based in Sedona, Arizona, with clients throughout North America, Europe and Asia. He has more than 45 years of experience in the plastics industry and assists clients with material selection, designing for manufacturability, process optimization, troubleshooting and failure analysis. Contact: 928-203-0408 • mike@thematerialanalyst.com

Source (clockwise) | Swiss Steel Group, Emuge-Franken, GF Machining and Platinum Tooling Technologies

No matter the season or year, innovation never goes out of style. Manufacturing is always evolving to be faster and more streamlined, and it’s important to stay on top of what’s on the market to ensure your own business remains on top, while also meeting customer needs.

MMT has compiled several newly released or improved product offerings geared toward improving the performance, efficiency, flexibility, reliability and ease of use for your shop’s operations. Thread milling extensions, digital troubleshooting platforms, tools for accurately scanning large, complex molds, and even solutions for meeting needs as simple as identifying products or protecting workers in the shop — these innovations and more are detailed below.

Read more about each technology:

Large Mold Mounts Eliminate Shop Floor Hazards

Source | Progressive Components

Progressive Components announces the recent expansion of its RhinoFeet product line by introducing a new 5" tall version for larger tools and mold plates. Initially released in 2020, Progressive’s RhinoFeet have been established as a simple, safe and efficient solution for elevating and storing heavy items within the shop.

Stainless Steel Grades Eliminate Complex Machining Challenges

Source | Swiss Steel Group

Stainless steel supplier Swiss Steel presents Ugima-X martensitic and duplex steels, which extend the quality of the company’s Ugima-X austenitic grades. New material options include Ugima-X 4021 and Ugima-X 4028 in the martensitic steel family, offering increased hardness and high wear resistance. 

Open Source Data Exchange Enabled With Hot Runner Control Unit

Source | Hasco

Hasco has made additional advances to its range of Primezone H1281 hot runner control units, which provide optimal control accuracy, an intuitive user interface thanks to latest software technologies and comprehensive diagnostic functions. 

CAM Software Enhances 3+2-Axis Toolpath Programming

CloudNC has announced that its CAM Assist solution can now create programming strategies and tool paths with AI for 3+2-axis CNC machines. The new upgrade means CAM Assist can now provide strategies and tool paths for 3+2-axis components, enabling many more manufacturers to benefit from CAM Assist’s efficiency gains.

Source | CloudNC

Thread Mill Line Expansion Intended for Challenging Threading Applications, Materials

Source | Emuge-Franken

Emuge-Franken USA introduces an expanded line of thread mills, including solutions for challenging threading applications and materials such as nickel alloys, titanium, high tensile strength steels, hardened high alloy steels, cast iron, cast aluminum and more.

Internal Coolant Live Tools Address More Productive Deep-Hole Drilling

Source | Platinum Tooling Technologies Inc.

Platinum Tooling Technologies Inc., the exclusive importer of Heimatec live tools and angle heads, announces its expansion of internal coolant tools for popular machine tools models. Heimatec now offers high-pressure coolant-thru designs up to 1,000 psi on straight tools and 2,000 psi on 90-degree tools. 

Digital Platform Enables Remote Machine Troubleshooting

Source | GF Machining Solutions

GF Machining Solutions (GFMS) has launched its new My rConnect platform engineered for the company’s EDM, milling and laser texturing machines. The platform enables shops to connect any model of GFMS machine for fast, responsive and easily accessible service and support while also providing expanded digital capabilities.

Gundrill Production Cells Boost Precision, Output

Unisig’s R-4-2-2 fully automated barrel cell provides continuous and synchronous production. The cell can reportedly gundrill four barrels at once, while two gundrilled barrels are precision reamed and two others receive the final step of button rifling at the same time.

Source | Unisig Deep Hole Drilling Systems

Hot Runner Processes Commodity Resins for Cost-Sensitive Applications

Source | Mold-Masters

Mold-Masters launches the EcoONE series hot runner system for processing commodity resins for cost-sensitive applications such as consumer goods, small home appliances, basic automotive components, electronic peripherals/accessories and more.

Zoom-Enabled Optical 3D Scanner Made Flexible for Inspecting Complex Molds

Source | Hexagon

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence Division has announced the launch of a new type of high-productivity structured light scanner, the SmartScan VR800. Built on a completely reengineered platform, the optical 3D scanner is equipped with a motorized zoom lens that enables users to adjust data resolution and measurement volume entirely through software settings. This greatly improves the productivity of quality inspection, and further improves workflows with more efficient post-scanning alignment processes, including the ability to combine scans of different resolutions within a single project.

Thousandth Increment Ejector Pins Designed for Small Cavity, Core Inserts

Source | Progressive Components

Progressive Components announces the recent expansion of its line of TI Pins, which now include 267 new standard sizes offered in new, longer lengths.

Unlike stamping punches, which are sometimes used as core pins in molds, Progressive’s exclusive TI Pins feature heads that are precision ground to mold tolerances. 

Three-in-One Cutter Boosts Thread Milling Capabilities

Walter USA’s Thrill∙tec TC645 Supreme thread milling cutter combines the machining steps of core hole drilling, chamfering and threading in a single tool and operation to boost productivity. The cutting tool creates the core hole and threads using helical interpolation.

Source | Walter USA

Standard Hot Runner Cable Range Extension

Source | Hasco

Hasco hot runner is now offering additional cable options in the industry standard. While the premium cable H1225 continues to be popular, Hasco customers can, with immediate effect, also obtain standard cables with a wider selection of wiring standards and cable lengths. 

Validation Software Enables Efficient Translation of CAD/CAM Data

Source | Verisurf Software Inc.

Verisurf Software Inc. has announced that its integrated CAD/CAM translation and validation software, Validate, now includes direct access to an enhanced standalone version of Kubotek Kosmos Validate software. The two companies have reportedly worked together since 2011 and created the Verisurf Validate module that works within Verisurf and supports CAD/CAM translation validation for customers needing to meet Boeing Standard D6-51991. Kubotek Kosmos maintains an expanded version of the software with added features and bidirectional compatibility between all popular CAD/CAM software programs and file transfer protocols, which is now accessible directly to Verisurf Validate customers.

UKCA Identification Stamp Expands Clear Compliance

Source | Hasco

The requirements for the marking of plastic parts are increasing all the time. In addition to date and batch identification, information on food safety, recyclability and European conformity (CE) marking is becoming increasingly important. Hasco’s newly introduced identification stamps offer solutions for the clear and direct international identification of plastic parts

Freeform Injection Molding Now Integrated With Desktop Injection Molding Machine

In a recent collaboration, injection molding machine supplier APSX-PIM and Nexa3D have integrated the APSX-PIM desktop injection molding machine with Nexa3D’s freeform injection molding (FIM) 3D printers, culminating in new possibilities for product design, prototyping and production. The APSX-PIM offers a compact footprint, user-friendly interface and versatility, while FIM enables precise, high-speed, 3D printed soluble tooling.

Source | APSX LLC