All Article articles – Page 177
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ArticlePerfect casting
Executive director Ed Grainger explains how Grainger & Worrall has transformed the ‘black art’ of casting into a high-tech operation to meet the demands of clients including F1, NASCAR and supercar makersAMS: Could you provide an overview of how the company has developed?Ed Grainger (EG): The company was established in ...
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Article
Um nível acima
AMS considera os desafios de responder a elevado volume de saída e de qualidade de demandas em operações de fresamento Fornecimento de peças fabricadas para os setores automotivo traz um conjunto único de desafios, em grande parte devido à combinação de volumes de produção elevados e exigências de qualidade meticulosas. ...
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Article
Uma questão de qualidade
BMW Brilliance estabeleceu uma base industrial forte em Shenyang, no nordeste da ChinaNick Holt se reuniu com o vice-presidente sênior de Tecnologia & Fabricação, Anton Heiss para discutir o sucesso fabricação da BMW na China.AMS: Afirmou que Tiexi é o local de fabricação de veículos mais sustentável na China. A ...
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ArticleStrothmann wins VW Puebla contract
Mexico – Volkswagen de México has commissioned the automated equipment supplier to modernise a press line at its plant in Puebla. The carmaker has opted for electronic parts transfer via the CompactTransfer system, which is suitable for small installation spaces and can be adapted to the specific requirements of the ...
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ArticleNew industrial cameras
The new XCG Cubic GigE Series cameras include PoE capability to provide users with the convenience of single-cable operation for power and control claims Sony. The company says this new range contains a number of advanced new features including enhanced frame rate performance and low trigger latency capabilities.These new models ...
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ArticleFibre laser system
Prima Power has introduced its new Laserdyne 430 Versa 3D fibre laser system featuring its third generation BeamDirector. It is equipped with an air-cooled 3,000W peak power fibre laser and the proprietary BeamDirector. This provides two axes of laser beam motion without part movement.The company says it also features the ...
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ArticleWelding simulation software
Altair has announced that GeonX S.A. has joined the Altair Partner Alliance (APA), bringing access to Virfac, a welding simulation software, to HyperWorks users. Virfac provides quality predictions for manufactured parts with the ability to improve product lifespan and design before any prototype is required, claims the company.The software is ...
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ArticleMazda starts producing refreshed BT-50 at ATT
Thailand – Featuring a newly designed front face, rear combination lamps, aluminium wheels and an upgraded interior, the pick-up truck will be introduced to the Thai and Australian markets from the second half of 2015. The powertrain and body type remain unchanged from the model introduced in 2011.Mazda established the ...
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Article
Un corte superior
AMS analiza los retos del fresado para cumplir con el aumento de la producción y de las exigencias de calidad El suministro de piezas mecanizadas en el sector del automóvil representa un conjunto de retos únicos, debido principalmente a una combinación de elevados volúmenes de producción y las exigentes demandas ...
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ArticleGM's $1.4bn for Arlington enhancement
US – The investment will see the plant reconfigured with a new paintshop, bodyshop and general assembly area upgrades. Construction is expected to begin this summer and take around three years to complete; GM says the production of Chevrolet Tahoes and Suburbans, GMC Yukons and Yukon XLs and Cadillac Escalades ...
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Article
Una cuestión de calidad
BMW Brilliance ha establecido una fuerte base de producción en Shenyang, al nordeste de China Nick Holt ha entrevistado al vicepresidente de Tecnología y Producción, Anton Heiss, para informar sobre el éxito de producción de BMW en China.AMS: Dicen que la planta de Tiexi es la planta de automóviles ...
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ArticleHonda begins African car production
Nigeria – The company has started production of its Accord model with an annual capacity of 1,000 units, having established automobile production facilities at the site of its existing motorcycle plant in the West African country. This is Honda’s first car plant in the continent and follows its commitment to ...
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ArticleTravel blog: Shooting for the stars (and stripes) in Puebla
If NASA, in this era of budget cuts, should need to find alternative premises, I know a little place down in Mexico that might suit. Not that its current occupant would be eager to vacate, having only started operations there last year. I’m talking about VW and its new bodyshop ...
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ArticleTravel blog: What’s GM chancing in Lansing?
“It’s the soccer moms – first they had to have minivans, now it’s SUVs.” So said the driver taking me to and from GM Lansing Delta Township, about an hour-and-a-half west of Detroit. Interestingly, his knowledge of market demand extended to which car models get stolen most often in Michigan, ...
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ArticleFCA's $166m for stamping at Sterling Heights
US – The company says its investment in three new press lines will upgrade the 50-year-old facility to meet increased demand. The new lines are currently being installed and are expected to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2015, supplying seven plants in the US, Canada and Mexico. They ...
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Article道高一尺
AMS探究碾磨工艺在满足产量需求和质量需求上所面临的挑战。为汽车业供应技工部件存在一个特殊的挑战，极大依赖产量提高和精致的质量。这个问题由于机械加工的棱镜性质而使加工操作难上加难。只有认真研究加工、卡具和模具才能找到成功生产汽车零部件的方法。这个问题在英国Welshpool的铝压铸厂CastAlum体现得淋漓尽致。该厂已经开始通过制造铸件来提高产品的价值。在获得了两个汽车公司合约之后，公司发展加速，主要提供加工转向装置和变速箱。这两个合同带动了生产力，今年CastAlum公司将制造700,000个铸件，可以考虑增加一个输送线。但是公司说，如果汽车组件将来发生变化的话，就很难调整。这个输送线的增加也会在产量没有提高之前就增加投资成本。逐步安装HMC之后购买的双棘爪、四轴卧式电机中心（HMC）就是解决问题的方法，因为这个设备可以根据产量的提高逐步安装，而且很容易为任何组件进行重新配置。CastAlum选择Heller H2000模型结合Mapal机床，每个星期检查CastAlum工具箱两次，确保持续可用性。 10 Heller H2000 HMCs populate the production hall at CastAlum今天，共有10个H2000 HMC入驻Welshpool的主楼生产大厅。每个中心都可以加工任何型号的专线装置或变速装置，为制造提供了灵活性。每个机器之间都有起重机，可以迅速改变夹具。铸件从铸造厂出发，装在很长的U型链条式输送机上，途径所有H2000机器，这在一个紧凑的空间里创造了精益的制造环境。每个运输车上都装有芯片，能够识别铸件的型号和目的地，自动将铸件转移到生产线旁边的缓冲区，便于操作员操作。粗铸件经过人工装载到第二个机械托盘上的夹具上，准备进行第一个操作。在完成了前期的加工件卸载工作，以及部分加工组件重新定位到另一个夹具上之后，第二个操作才会进行。两个操作分别对不同的组件进行。因此在完成一个托盘指数之后，加工完成的逐渐就会拉出来，通过输送机送到检测部门，然后再进行发送。CastAlum公司执行董事Keith Brown说，“Heller加工中心的平均运行时间为95%，这对人工装载双侧托盘机械来说已经很高了。这主要依赖于材料到达第二个托盘的效率和到达主轴的速度，这就会减少更换次数。机器工作时间是每周6天，每天24小时，误差为10µm，加工能力为1.67Cpk。”减少产出时间另一个英国转包制造商BCW Engineering也赞成使用卧式电机加工中心。公司日前投资购进Okuma MB5000H HMC，里面有10个托盘共用系统，增加了汽车组件产品的精确度。集团工程总监Tony Kilfoyle解释说，“减少生产次数的一部分原因是托盘从公用系统出来到达主轴的诉苦更快，因此装配无法延误下一个循环的启动。转换因此限制了自动化托盘改变时间，不超过35秒。一旦零部件制造完成，循环也会加速，因为线性轴的速度达到60m/min从而减少了闲置时间。此外，循环中切口内因素也就缩短，而金属切削的速度达到15,000rpm轴。”“这个行业的质量水平和创新程度都非常高，因此我们必须紧跟趋势，保持竞争力” – Thomas Kaiser, Kaiser Werkzeugbau加工时间的大幅降低对很多BCA汽车零部件的生产都非常有意义，比如捷豹路虎，福特，阿斯顿马顿。该转包商是很多公司的以及供应商，开发和供应原型，并在紧急时输送组件。Kefoyle指出，大部分BCW的70个机床都是工作紧张的生产中心，每天24小时工作。结果，公司正在寻求稳健发展，不仅在结构上，而且还在主轴、工具变换器、旋转轴和冷却剂传送系统。这些特别会造成HMC的问题，但是BCW称，MB5000H因其功能可靠性而晋升最高机械行列，而且Okuma标准化有助于将来HMC起重装置。 An Okuma MB5000H HMC with a 10-pallet pool has added capacity at BCW 机械是由英国NCMT供应，10托盘单位拥有很多特点，比如完整数控转台，218位工具库，70bar高压冷却剂。起重装置里还包括2个额外的托盘，能使12个不同的夹具同时启动。用于工件测量的Renishaw OMP60接触式测头，以及用于工具破损检测和自动晋级TS34桌式探头也已经调整。在机械后面安装了木屑管理系统和水雾手机系统。模块方法HMC的替代方法就是更加模块化方法，即同时使用多个曲轴。像Mikron Multistep XT-200这样的模块机械中心，已经开始在单一夹具上利用芯片到芯片短距离循环（不足一秒钟）生产棱镜零部件。除此之外，该系统能在几分钟内就可以更换工具，同时能使用4个加工主轴。这个结果的每个零部件成本都很低。每年使用德国制造商生产的500,000个不同变形的涡轮增压器壳体，成本就能达到35%。涡轮增压器壳体的批量大小区间在500和1000之间。因此，机器操作员不得不经常更换工具。以前的机器要花费80分钟，但是现在使用Multistep XT-200的话，20分钟就足够了。此外，过去由12个员工在300平方米的地方操作4台机器。过去这些机器是多轴加工中心和自动车床，而工件必须要夹紧两次。现在，德国公司生产涡轮增压器铸件，6个员工在只有一半的操作空间利用2台机械工作。所有的这些因素能使每个零部件的成本减少35%。Multistep XT-200机械在一个装置制造的涡轮增压器壳体有5个半面。不同的加工步骤（在30步到40步之间），比如选装、碾磨和钻孔都需要±25µm误差，以及1.67Cpk生产力。据Mikron称，成功应用该技术的有ABS系统、增压器叶轮、共轨喷射系统的喷嘴座、液压泵外壳和散热器。交易工具 Toolmaker RP Technologies now has 12 Hurco machines ...
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ArticleA cut above the rest
Milling operations face the challenge of high volume and quality requirements in the automotive industrySupplying machined parts to the automotive industry brings a unique set of challenges, due largely to the combination of high volumes and meticulous quality demands. The problem is exacerbated in milling operations by the prismatic nature ...
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ArticleNissan Kyushu to produce Rogue
Japan – Beginning in spring 2016, the crossover SUV (known as X-Trail in its homeland) will be made by the OEM's subsidiary for export to North America. The production of 100,000 units per year will add to that of the current model in Tennessee and Busan, Korea.The company says it ...
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ArticleOlive takes new role at Renault-Nissan
France – The OEM has appointed Jérôme Olive as executive vice-president, Alliance Manufacturing Engineering and Supply Chain Management, effective August 1.Olive, who is currently senior vice-president, Manufacturing and Logistics Europe at Renault, replaces Shohei Kimura, who moves to a new leadership position in manufacturing within the Nissan group. Kimura has ...
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ArticleBMW: Achieving Brilliance in China
Anton Heiss, senior vice-president for Technology and Manufacturing, discusses BMW’s manufacturing success in China, where its Tiexi complex can be considered a production benchmarkAMS: It has been stated that Tiexi is the most sustainable vehicle manufacturing plant in China. Is the plant used as a manufacturing benchmark in the region?Anton ...