Developments

A high-tech UK security system has been chosen to protect a vital part of India’s energy infrastructure, the 670-kilometre-long Mangala oil pipeline. The Mangala is the world’s longest continuously heated and insulated pipeline. Operated by Cairn India it will have access to 75 per cent of IndiaÕs refining capacity after it reaches Bhogat in Gujarat. The state-of-the-art security OptaSense system – developed by Qineti, the UK’s largest international defence and security technology group – is designed to detect, classify and locate potential threats to buried pipelines. OptaSense is a buried cable fibre-optic sensor system that can detect multiple, simultaneous disturbances every 10 metres over a 40-kilometre length of existing or installed optical fibre. In border and perimeter security applications, anyone climbing or cutting wire fences or digging near the perimeter alerts the sensor and sets off an alarm. The system then classifies the disturbance, provides the position and cues other aids/sensors, such as cameras, to ensure the operator instigates the appropriate response. In cable and pipeline protection applications, any activity – such as the approach of a digger or the lifting of a manhole cover – also generates an alarm. The system’s acoustic sensitivity can also be used to listen to the flow through a pipe, to allow the location of blockages and leaks. OptaSense has huge implications for pipeline operators, where a real-time alert of a leak and its location could save millions of dollars. Vandalism, terrorist attacks or problems with these assets can impact on the environment, the economy and on the lives of staff and consumers. The contract was awarded by Cairn India and ONGC Joint Venture through Qineti”s distribution partner, Optilan, following tests in 2010. Under the contract, Qineti”s OptaSense system will be installed along the whole length of the pipeline to provide highest-level security. “Pipeline […]

Delcam has added 3D modelling tools to ArtCAM Insignia A range of 3D modelling tools have been added to Delcam’s ArtCAM Insignia software for volume production of artistic items by signmakers, furniture manufacturers, engravers and sculptors of materials from wood or metal to ice. Like all the members of the ArtCAM family of software, Insignia allows artistic users to produce high-quality decorative items, with all the productivity and consistency benefits of computer-based manufacturing but without the need for any detailed engineering knowledge. A demonstration version is now available for download, with a series of online webinars showing the new functionality planned for 20th January. Full details are available on the ArtCAM Insignia website  www.artcaminsignia.com. Within the new 3D modelling tools, the most powerful option is the Shape Editor. By simply double clicking on a specific colour of a bitmap image or a selected vector, the user can quickly transform it into a 3D design. The Shape Editor can not only determine the shape’s profile, angle and height but also how it is combined with any 3D relief that has already been created. A second method for creating 3D designs from vector art is the Two-Rail Sweep. By selecting multiple vectors for the edges of the shape and any number of cross sections for chosen positions, users can quickly create a 3D sweep shape or a swept surface. Once the initial design has been created it can be edited in a number of ways. The surface of the model can be given a smooth, unblemished appearance with the Smooth Relief tool. Options are available to smooth over the entire 3D design, an area within a specific vector or a selected colour, in a number of passes. This is a particularly useful way of smoothing evenly across a scanned 3D model for […]

A Russian spacecraft carrying the state-of-the-art space tool made by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) embarked on a one-year space journey to the Red Planet at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in November. This historical mission, also known as the “Phobos-Grunt” (which means soil of Phobos, the largest moon of Mars), marks the first strategic interplanetary collaboration between China and Russia. This is also the first interplanetary mission of Russia after the dissolution of the former Soviet Union. PolyU has been entrusted with the responsibility of designing a mission-critical space tool known as the “Soil Preparation System” (SOPSYS) for the Sino-Russian Mars Mission. Of interest to the scientific community will be the mission’s first bold attempt in the history of mankind to land on the Martian moon Phobos and collect soil sample for in-situ analysis. If the mission goes as planned, the spacecraft carrying both PolyU-made space tool and Chinese satellite Yinghuo-1 will go near the Red Planet in November 2012. The explorer will then release Yinghuo-1 into orbit around Mars; and seek to release the Lander carrying PolyU-made SOPSYS onto the surface of the potato-shaped Martian moon Phobos. SOPSYS weighs merely 400 grams and measures slightly larger than a cigarette pack. It is capable of grinding and sifting Phobos rock to the size of less than 1mm in diameter and then from it into a plug of measured size for in situ analysis. This procedure is considered a crucial step in understanding the evolution of the universe and the formation of the planet Mars. PolyU researchers have been working closely with IKI (Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Science) and the Russian aerospace company NPO Lavochkin in testing the functionality of SOPSYS under extreme environment. Dr Alexander V Zakharov, Chief Scientist of the Space Research Institute […]

By Sharon Toh, General Manager, South Asia of SolidWorks.  Across most industries today, profit margins are narrow and will continue to become even thinner. Even in segments where margins are relatively healthy, competition and global outsourcing make cost reduction mandatory. Historically, the high cost of engineering has contributed so significantly to the attack on profit margins that numerous attempts have been made to cut the process time or the cost of engineering activities. Most of these approaches have been point solutions, which can be highly important in their own right, but are not applicable across the board. Design automation, on the other hand, stands out as an effective means of dramatically cutting costs for a well-defined, well-proven range of engineering activities. This is especially so where business needs demand rapid, accurate quoting; consistent engineering; and, most important, minimum time to finished product delivery. Driving design automation The majority of companies share a common goal of reducing design costs. Traditionally, they have had two options: (1) to design less and standardize the product range, or (2) to design faster. If you want to limit your customers’ choices, the first option is fine. However, the pressure to customize products has risen tremendously over the past few years. In a recent Cincom study, 73 percent of total respondents viewed product customisation as critical for products over $100,000, while another 25 percent considered it crucial even for products under $1,000. This trend will only grow. The Cincom study revealed that 63 percent of engineers have seen requests for customised products increase over the last five years, and 26 percent anticipate that the growth rate will be between 25 and 50 percent in the next two years. Another survey of CAD users asked key questions about the users’ design processes. All survey respondents were aware […]

  “Additional capacity will address increased global demand.”- Mark Beck     SHANGHAI: Corning Incorporated is incorporating a capital expenditure plan of approximately $170 million to further increase the capacity of its clean air products plant in Shanghai, China. The investment will be used to expand the Corning Shanghai Company Limited (CSCL) facility and to increase its capacity to manufacture emissions control substrates for light-duty (automotive) passenger vehicles. This expansion is expected to be complete and operational in the third quarter of 2013. Mark Beck, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Environmental Technologies, said, “Global sales of automobiles, particularly in China and across Asia, are forecasted to grow steadily over the next several years, increasing demand for Corning’s advanced substrates. Strict emissions regulations around the world are driving vehicles to use more substrates than before and to use advanced substrates. This significant investment will help us to meet the growing demand. It also demonstrates our commitment to improve service to our customers and to maintaining a leadership position in the emissions control industry.” “Corning has been investing in China for more than 25 years,” said Eric S. Musser, chief executive officer of Corning Greater China. “Today’s announcement, the third expansion of our automotive substrate facility, marks another important milestone in our commitment to China. As the first substrate manufacturer to enter China 10 years ago, we are proud that we continue to support China’s automotive industry through a combination of strategic investments, innovative technologies, and values-based market leadership.” Corning Shanghai Company Limited, which is wholly owned by Corning Incorporated, is a state-of-the-art, high-tech emissions control substrate facility that first began shipping product in early 2001. Corning first expanded the facility in 2007 and last year announced a $125 million second expansion of the facility. Production from this recent expansion […]

  A portable, cost-effective, 3D measurement solution for the machine shop. SINGAPORE: FARO Technologiest has enhanced its FARO Gage product line. These hardwareand software improvements will simplify usersÕ measurement workflow and enhance the productÕs portability. The new FARO Gage, with its fresh and elegant design, is now equipped with Bluetooth, solidifying its position as the truly portable, cost-effective, 3D measurement solution for the machine shop. Moreover, it features all new measurement software that makes daily measuring tasks even easier due to its new intuitive user interface. Thanks to the popular Bluetooth wireless technology, users can now inspect and transmit data up to 10m (30 feet) away Ð even through walls – without the need for cables. Bluetooth is the right technology for FARO Gage applications and produces faster set up, extended battery life, and lower power consumption.Ê “The fully portable FARO Gage was designed with the production floor in mind. It produces accurate results to speed through the toughest measurement challenges,” said Markus Grau, FARO Gage Product Manager at FARO. Furthermore, the FARO Gage measurement software has been completely enhanced. Renamed CAM2¨ Gage, it features a much simpler and more intuitive user interface that makes it the ideal entry-level inspection software. The CAM2¨ Gage software is FARO’s CAM2 solution for measuring basic geometry and building dimensions. It allows users to quickly measure geometric features on parts and easily report the dimensions they need to control. Once users have measured one complete part, they can then repeat the same measurements on the next part with no additional effort. Users can also add images to their inspection plan and hand it over to any operator. “We believe that these enhancements will simplify the workflow of the FARO Gage users and increase their productivity. This simplified user interface eliminates the learning curve that […]

  Innovative software will help the automotive manufacturer to meet its new, higher perceived quality targets across its range of vehicles.       CHINA: Icona Solutions, which develops, supplies and supports the innovative perceived quality simulation and visualisation software solution, aesthetica, together with its Beijing-based business partner, Sili-Tech Co. Ltd., has announced that, following a comprehensive competitive evaluation of all available software in the areas of tolerance analysis and designs, China’s Great Wall Motor Company has selected aesthetica for use in perceived quality studies on all of its future vehicle programmes. Earlier this year, Great Wall Motor Company implemented its new ‘Three Hs Strategy’, addressing ‘High-luxury, ‘High-performance and ‘High-tech’. As a part of this strategy, Great Wall formed its new Dimensional Management Group and aesthetica was selected as a core tool for helping the company achieve the goal of ‘High-luxury’ throughout its vehicles range. While Great Wall does expect the use of aesthetica to help save time and money during the vehicle development process, the company’s principal aim is to improve the perceived quality of its vehicles by reducing the average exterior gap dimension on all its high-end luxury vehicles by next year. Using aesthetica will enable it to design its vehicles so that they are less sensitive to manufacturing variation, enabling the company to achieve higher perceived quality, cost-effectively. First live project With the software now installed in the new Dimensional Management Group, located at Great Wall’s Engineering Development Centre in Baoding, some 100 km south west of Beijing, the first live project on which aesthetica will be used commenced last month (June). aesthetica will be used at all stages of the vehicle design and development process, from the concept phase, where it will be used in setting the dimensional technical specification, i.e. gap and flush targets, through […]