Engineering

The four factors essential to building a quality production line

-Andrew Stackpole, Assembly Shop Manager at Facteon Developing an efficient and polished machine building process can take a manufacturing company decades. What’s most important is that throughout this process, the focus is on building a quality production line that allows for the manufacturing of best-in-class product. Since beginning my career as a Machine Builder in 1994 and working through to my current role as Assembly Shop Manager at Facteon, I’ve come to learn that there are four key factors involved in developing a quality production line. 1. Quality components produce quality product By keeping the production of machinery components in-house where practical and possible, you will play a more active role in quality control. It was for this very reason that Facteon established its own in-house Build Shop and Machine Shop to cater to internal and external customers. The team retains full control over every component produced and as it’s not heavily relying on delivery by third parties, it can be certain that the component will be available on site when required. To achieve the necessary levels of precision in component manufacturing, collaboration is key – both in the initial phase of producing your components and in the build phase of the production line. Looking at opportunities to integrate the latest technologies with more traditional machining methods, will allow you to fully harness the potential of the machinery while using the latest technology to improve precision and efficiencies. Partnering with reliable external suppliers For any components that can’t be produced in-house, consider looking beyond your own capabilities and using the services of thoroughly vetted external providers. For example, Facteon uses suppliers based in New Zealand, China and the United States and vets these suppliers through a tiered rating system to ensure that our standards are met. If you’ve outsourced the […]

Boeing 787 Unified Livery In-flight over Clouds

HandySCAN 3D scanner meets Boeing’s requirements

Creaform, the worldwide leader in portable 3D measurement solutions and non-destructive testing (NDT) solutions, has announced that its HandySCAN 3D metrology-grade 3D laser scanner can now be used for recording physical attributes of aircraft dents and blends on all models of Boeing commercial airplanes. Boeing has released a service letter with guidance on the use of 3D scanners for measuring dents and blends on airplanes. The SmartDENT 3D solution and the flagship HandySCAN 3D scanner were used in the process of guiding Boeing’s quality requirements for the service letter. “Creaform is proud to see leaders such as Boeing, turn to 3D scanning solutions for surface defect inspection. With SmartDENT 3D, our goal is to provide the most accurate damage assessment to our customers, so they can make informed and safe decisions, while getting their aircraft back flying with minimal down time,” said Jérôme Beaumont, Global NDT Business Manager at Creaform. Overview of SmartDENT 3D benefits: Speed: 80 times faster than the pit gauge technique. It is the fastest and most reliable aircraft surface damage inspection tool available on the market. Metrology-grade measurements for aircraft maintenance: The scanner is accurate to 0.025 mm (0.0009 in.) and has a resolution of up to 0.100 mm (0.0039 in.) with high repeatability and traceable certificate. Intuitive pass/fail assessments: With its intuitive design and real-time software visualization, Creaform’s NDT solutions ensure short learning curves and minimal operator experience influence on the accuracy of results. Live visualisation and portability: Weighting less than a kilo, the handheld scanner is the perfect tool for work in hangars or directly outdoors. Users can easily perform 3D surface inspection of any part of an aircraft on which they would use manual techniques—including on and under wings. In addition to complying with Boeing’s service letter, Creaform HandySCAN 3D scanners are listed […]

Guangzhou and Beijing rank as two loudest cities in the world

China is home to two of the loudest cities in the world – Guangzhou and Beijing. According to a recent article in The Guardian, “Guangzhou, China, ranked as having the worst levels of noise pollution in the world, followed by Cairo, Paris, Beijing and Delhi.” New study Global Acoustic Insulation shows demand for acoustic insulation in China totaling $1.5 billion in 2018, making it the second largest national market in the world in value terms behind the US. Through 2023, demand for acoustic insulation in the Asia/Pacific region is expected to grow 6.3% per annum to $4.3 billion, representing 46% of value growth worldwide. Going forward, gains will be boosted by: rising standards of living, supporting increased access to air conditioning, associated HVAC equipment output, and higher quality building stocks rapid expansion of nonresidential building construction in China growth in industrial equipment and appliance production government efforts in some countries to improve noise pollution and worker safety regulation When we include all regions, Freedonia forecasts demand growth at 4.9% per year to reach $11.4 billion in 2023. Despite the popularity of fiberglass in North America and of mineral wool in Eastern Europe, foamed plastic is projected to account for the majority of value gains globally through 2023. Foamed plastic is the most used insulation material in the Asia/Pacific region which will strengthen the material’s leading position.

Mega solar power plant in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam

Large 49 MW-dc output enough to power 38,762 households(1) Completed Solar Power Plant TOKYO: Sharp Energy Solutions Corporation (SESJ)(2) announces the completion of a mega solar power plant in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. The project was a collaboration with multiple partners, including Sermsang Power Corporation (SSP)(3) of Thailand, and SSP affiliate Truong Than Quang Ngai Power and High Technology Joint Stock Company(4). Operations at the new mega plant will start in early June. The new plant has an output of approximately 49 MW-dc, with annual power generation capacity estimated at 73,143 MWh/year. This is equivalent to the amount consumed in a year by 38,762 average Vietnamese households. Sharp has so far constructed three solar power plants in Vietnam, for a combined capacity of approximately 146 MW-dc. This new plant will raise the total capacity to approximately 195 MW-dc. The Vietnamese government has formulated a plan(5) to raise solar power generation capacity in the country to 12,000 MW by the year 2030. Sharp remains committed to spreading renewable energy in Vietnam. (1) Calculated at 1,887 kWh per household. (2) SESJ is a subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, specializing in energy solutions such as the sales of PV systems and the installation of electrical equipment. (3) SSP’s main business is constructing solar power plants in ASEAN countries. (4) This company will be in charge of operating the new plant. (5) Source: the Vietnamese government?s 7th Power Development Plan (PDP7).

Exploring the virtual plant

How AR and VR can benefit manufacturing facilities When you think of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) you might think of being immersed in a simulated world filled with mystical creatures like on PokemonGo. However, AR and VR are not just for our personal entertainment — these technologies are being used to benefit manufacturing facilities. John Young, APAC sales director of automation parts supplier, EU Automation, discusses the uses of AR and VR in manufacturing plants. A recent study across eight Asia-Pacific regions revealed that 95 per cent of people surveyed had used AR or VR technology. While this exposure is predominantly as a result of entertainment and social use, the study demonstrates people’s experience to the technology is widening, opening up opportunities into other sectors. One industry that could capitalise on the use of AR and VR is manufacturing, particularly for maintenance and training. Predicting maintenance with AR Augmented Reality displays virtual elements into an existing real-world environment, usually on a handheld device such as a tablet or mobile phone. Being able to view images, information or data overlaid onto the real-world scenario brings many possibilities for monitoring and maintenance in a manufacturing plant. If there is an issue, error or failure with a piece of machinery, AR could be used to view live information and data to help diagnose the problem. This early detection of faults means that issues can be fixed before a more serious breakdown occurs, helping to save costs by removing the need to replace entire pieces of the machinery. Early detection of a problem with equipment also allows maintenance managers to address the problem quickly. Having access to automation industrial parts suppliers means that maintenance managers can save time both sourcing the part and reducing downtime due to delivery delays. Virtual training […]

Australian Defence looks to quantum mechanics for new technologies

Researchers from the University of Adelaide in South Australia will develop three technologies after being named among 11 projects to share in A$6.6 million of funding from Australia’s Department of Defence. The projects include the development of underwater devices to detect submarines, research into whether quantum radars can be used to detect stealth aircraft and the development of an ultra accurate portable clock to improve GPS satellite technology. The funding consolidates the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) as one of Australia’s leading centres for the development of quantum sensing and photonic technologies. IPAS director Professor Andre Luiten said the funding also reaffirmed Defence’s interest in developing quantum mechanic capabilities in South Australia. “Everyone believes that there’s going to be a revolution over the next 20 years where quantum technologies end up in everything,” he said. “The initial objective is to provide those technologies to defence but it’s also about training up Australian students so they have an understanding of quantum technologies. “Australia needs to build up its sovereign capability in this area and train students.” The Next Generation Technologies Fund aims to develop Australia’s quantum mechanic opportunities, which focus on the study of the motion and interaction between subatomic particles. One of the IPAS projects will utilise magnetometers in underwater geophysical discovery contexts to track submarine activity. Professor Andre Luiten said the technology, primarily employed to detect variations caused by the presence of ferrous (unoxidized) iron in the total magnetic field, will be applied for Defence to discover underwater vessels. “These magnetometers can detect very small magnetic fields,” he said. “The goal of this project is to build sensors that go on the seabed which detect the presence of submarines through their properties. “You’d essentially set up a trip wire around assets that are of importance to Australia.” The […]

NUM helps Taiwanese machine tool company automate production for robotics

* unique multi profile capability helps increase manufacturing productivity NUM is helping the Taiwanese machine tool company Chien Wei Precise Technology to develop innovative CNC grinding machines for manufacturing specialist gears used in robotics applications. Based entirely on NUM’s latest-generation Flexium+ 68 CNC platform, Chien Wei’s new machines are designed to speed the production of both involute and cycloidal profile precision gears. They are believed to be the first gear grinding machines on the market that are capable of handling both types of gear profile. There are two versions of the grinding machine, one for internal gears, the other for external gears. Founded in 1981, Chien Wei Precise Technology Co., Ltd is based in Fengshan District in southern Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The company initially specialised in precision machine tools such as vertical grinders, jig grinders and machining centres, together with co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs). Over time, it also diversified into robotic automation systems. Robotic systems typically use either planetary gearboxes equipped with involute gears, or cycloid drives based on a combination of a reduced epitrochoid rotor and a cycloid stator. While planetary gearboxes have been around for a long time and enjoy extensive use, cycloid drives have far fewer moving parts and offer a more efficient means of achieving extremely high reduction rates. A speed reducer with a ratio of 200:1 would typically need a chain of three planetary gear boxes with twelve moving involute gears. The same reduction ratio could be achieved with a cycloid drive using one stator and one rotor. However, cycloid gears are notoriously difficult and expensive to manufacture. In 2015, Chien Wei decided to bring gear manufacturing in-house, by developing its own gear grinding machine. By producing its own gearboxes the company could control quality, shorten lead times and reduce costs. It would also enable it […]

Screw compressors with integrated i.HOC rotary dryer

The FSG series of dry running rotary screw compressors feature the integrated i.HOC rotary dryer. These new models provide an oil free compressed air solution for sensitive applications that require flow rates up to 50.20 m3/min as well as outstandingly efficient compressed air drying. The Kaeser i.HOC is the epitome of efficiency and reliability. The integrated rotary dryer for screw compressors provides a reliable, steady supply of oil-free compressed air, with pressure dew points of up to minus 30 °C, even under unfavourable conditions. It even saves energy for good measure. With its patented i.HOC (integrated heat of compression dryer), Kaeser has succeeded in launching a desiccant dryer that utilises 100% of the available hot compressed air from the second compression stage to directly regenerate its desiccant. The advantages of this full-flow regeneration make the i.HOC particularly efficient and streets ahead of the competition. This guarantees stable pressure dew points, even in harsh conditions, such as low final discharge pressure, high ambient temperatures or reduced utilisation. The integrated Sigma Control 2 controller also adjusts the i.HOC to any change in operating conditions, for example variations in compressed air flow, working pressure or ambient temperature. Dew point regulation ensures stable pressure dew points For particularly sensitive compressed air applications, Kaeser offers optional pressure dew point regulation for all FSG series, oil-free rotary screw compressors with an integrated i.HOC. Should the cooling conditions deteriorate, perhaps due to rising ambient temperatures, the dew point regulation registers the resulting pressure dew point increase and boosts the dryer’s regeneration potential accordingly. This ensures that the pressure dew point is optimised. Thus, the dew point regulation is ideal for air cooled compressors. It offsets the daily and seasonal fluctuations in the cooling air temperature, thereby achieving constant pressure dew points. Three in one – compressor, compressed […]

When choosing a technology security solution…

Although some industries may be targeted more often than others for cyberattacks, every organisation across every major industry, from utilities and manufacturing to the public sector, must take necessary security precautions and make cybersecurity a top priority and investment, according to Forescout. Steve Hunter, senior director for Asia Pacific and Japan, Forescout, said, “Making the best investment with a potentially limited security budget can be a daunting task for security and risk management (SRM) leaders. Some of the reasons for this include the fact that no two organisations are identical, which means that security mindset is also different. Cyberthreats are also evolving at a remarkable pace, making it difficult to ensure protection against the latest threats.” In addition to evolving threats, the cyber landscape is also changing rapidly. Traditional IT networks and infrastructure are becoming increasingly intertwined and connected to operational technology (OT) networks and infrastructure. Consequently, devices typically limited to the IT environment, if unsecure, can put entire OT networks at risk. Each device expands the attack surface, giving bad actors more opportunities to access the network. To help businesses and organisations simplify the decision-making process and also minimise the time to deployment, and ultimately a more secured network environment, Forescout has assembled a list of seven key questions, based on key research, that every SRM leader should ask before deciding which security product is the best one for their organisation. 1. Is the solution vendor-agnostic? Too often, organisations identify what they think will be a security silver bullet, only to discover after purchase and implementation that the product is not compatible with other products or applications on their network. More than a poor investment, those organisations also suffer the headache of frustrated end users and wasted resources, and, their organisation is ultimately no more secure than before the […]

Mini-Computer fully protects your anonymity

Mini computer, Aegis One, contains a modern ARM Cortex 1.4Ghz processor, a full-featured 2.8-inch colour display with a resolution of 320 * 240 pixels, an all-metal aluminium case and an internal memory in the range from 16 to 256Gb. For more than two years, Aegis Security has been developing software to reliably protect the confidentiality of its clients, which were later integrated into Aegis One. The result of the work was software systems: Aegis VPN – a private virtual network with its own server architecture with communication channels up to 1 gbit, fully secured connection and no logs; Aegis Crypt is a modern data encryption system according to the AES-XTS-PLAIN64 standard, a password is required to enter the system during the boot process; Aegis Firewall is a professionally configured firewall that blocks and filters all incoming and outgoing data. The system is built on the Debian distribution (a kind of Linux systems), it is distinguished by a high level of reliability, a friendly interface and extensive personalisation options. The system allows you to install the necessary programs for work and entertainment applications, the repository today consists of more than 1000 different programs. An important feature is the ability to use Aegis One as a hardware wallet for storing cryptocurrency. The installed software allows you to create an account in more than 85 popular coins in minutes, while the security and encryption system will reliably protect your funds.

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