As the economy throughout the world, and in Great Britain began to sink at the latter part of the last decade, copper thefts were on the rise. There is a direct and measurable correlation between a poor economy and copper thefts, which is tied together through a complex equation of supply and demand. While homeowners and businesses have faced the prospect of having pipes and electrical wiring stolen from their vacant properties, it has moved into more occupied space, as well as other industries.
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During a time when there seems to be a war waged against engineers through the United Kingdom, there are signs of good tidings coming in the future. While the requirements and opportunities for engineering certifications and programs are changing and being severely limited, the National Apprenticeship Service has announced that it will be working with the Baker Dearing Educational Trust to help bring apprenticeships in University Technical Colleges.
With more potential opportunities for young people to explore and learn about engineering, this will open a wealth of possibilities for not only these young, ambitious students, but also for the industries that rely on their experience, education, and creative energies. Aston University Engineering Academy will become the test pilot for this program and their focus on 14 to 19 year old students.
What This May Mean for the Future During Uncertain Times
The engineering profession that has been under assault lately due to a gross undervaluation of not only its service provided to many industries but also due to a misconception of the qualities that apprentices have as well as the education efficiency of these programs. The recent moves to limit the educational classification of these programs turned a bright light on an industry that has flown considerably beneath the radar of society.
With so many innovative engineers filing through the ranks over the years in programs that helped them capitalize on their strengths rather than attempting to highlight their weaknesses, these recent changes have left numerous students in a world of limbo, feeling abandoned by the officials who are entrusted with securing them the rights and opportunities to pursue their dreams.
With this announcement, more light is being filtered back into the industry’s future. A program such as this will be not simply an educational process for students but also a form of employment and training. This is where engineers-in-the-making gain the greatest value from their education and the experience that separates the world of engineering from many other industries.
As the world embraces the future of technology and the ever-growing demands to become innovative with technology, not only to meet the needs of society and the environmental causes, it is critical that we not turn a naïve mind to those who will become the engineering leaders of tomorrow. It is crucial that we place the proper value on the field of engineering so that we can produce the innovation designs and revolutions that help shape a brighter and stronger future for the world.
Last week, Education Secretary Michael Grove confirmed that the engineering diploma rating would be downgraded from 5 GCSEs to one. This will have far reaching ramifications for not only the students who have sought a career in engineering, but also the firms, like PRV, that seek out the most qualified engineers from the graduating classes. The reported move was precipitated by the belief that since not all vocational qualifications are equal, it is unfair to offer them the same inherent value.
In previous posts we’ve talked a fair bit about CNC machining and it’s uses. But what exactly is CNC machining?
In this post we will go back to basics explaining exactly what CNC machining is, what it’s role is in manufacturing and explore a number of benefits to using it over some of the more traditional technologies.
“Three-dimensional printing makes it as cheap to create single items as it is to produce thousands and thus undermines economies of scale. It may have as profound an impact on the world as the coming of the factory did.” – The Economist, February 10, 2011
With advancements in printing technology, specifically 3D printing, creating three dimensional objects has become easier than ever before. 3D printing works by creating successive layers of material from a digital file and printing and compiling them with a materials printer. The technology has also made it possible to print different parts and assemblies of an element and add them together in a single build process.
In this post we look at the current state and potential uses of 3D printing.
Manufacturing is not the only strength PRV engineering has. In this post we want to talk about our capabilities in the areas of installation and maintenance and how we truly provide a one stop shop for our customers.
At PRV Engineering our Installation and Maintenance Services are performed to a very high standard. We not only install our own equipment but equipment supplied by third parties.
So why use PRV Engineering for these types of services?
Plasma cutting has been in use since the 1960s. Today it is a widely used metal cutting process. Unlike conventional “metal against metal” cutting, plasma cutting doesn’t produce metal chips so it can create accurate cuts.
Although initially plasma cutting was quite time consuming and expensive, it emerged as a more user-friendly, economical and productive method by the 1980s, due to the application of modern engineering techniques.
Here we discuss the different methods of plasma cutting as well as how it works, applications and pros and cons of utilising it in an engineering application.
Plasma Cutting Processes
First, there are three major processes used for plasma cutting:
Air plasma – In general, a hand-torch is used for metal cutting in this system. It is considered to be the most portable plasma cutting option. In most cases, it uses inverter power supply technology. The important features of this process include:
- The system can run within a power output range of 12 amps to 120 amps
- Cutting thicknesses can be achieved as low as 1/8 inch
Mechanized plasma – This conventional plasma cutting system is extensively used in shipyards, steel service centers and heavy-equipment manufacturing companies in order to obtain high productivity. The notable features of this technique are:
- Uses machine-mountable torches
- Available in amperages ranging from 130 amps to 1,000 amps
- Cutting thicknesses of up to 61⁄4 inches can be achieved
- It requires constant manual monitoring on different factors, such as gas flow, pressure, arc voltage
High definition plasma – This system has emerged as the most viable metal cutting solution in the industry over the last two decades. After its introduction in the 1990s, it went through several research and development processes. High quality cuts, economical operating cost and high cutting speeds are some of the major benefits of using this system. Initially, it had a thickness capacity of 3⁄8 inches. However, with advancements in engineering technology, now cutting thicknesses of up to 3 inches are easily achieved.
Some of the important features of this process are:
- In order to achieve quality in cutting, plasma cutting equires monitoring by expert operators
- Cutting thicknesses can be as low as 26 gauge to as big as 3 inches. When used on carbon steel, thickness capacity of up to 61⁄4 inch is also achievable
- It requires power levels ranging from 130 amps to 800 amps
- Technology updates on plasma cutting methods are continuing to evolve in order to obtain better results in cut quality and productivity
How do you see this kind of technology helping your manufacturing processes in the future? Let us know in the comments below.
You can’t enter an electronics store these days without facing an onslaught of iProducts including iPods, iPhones and iPads. Just about every industry is taking advantage of this revolution and moving into this iDomain with new applications, programs and hardware to be utilised with these products. So it stands to reason that the manufacturing industry wouldn’t be too far behind.iMachining, the revolutionary new CAM and CNC machining technology, was officially launched at the EMO 2011. Developed by SolidCAM, this technology has already proved its efficiency in the metal cutting industry.iMachining combines some of the most revolutionary innovations available taking CNC machining to the next level. In fact, SolidCAM even claims that the iMachining software is streets ahead of other existing computer aided machining software.Designed to reduce costs, cutting times and tool wear significantly, iMachining can help maximize manufacturing productivity. So we felt we needed to examine what iMachining is all about and how it can work to our advantage.
iMachining Takes CNC Machining to the Next Level
SolidCAM designed iMachining to usher 21st century technology into every machining centre and by all accounts it has given the popularity of iMachining in its pre-release stage. iMachining helps to optimize tool engagement as well as cutting feeds throughout the tool path. This has lowered cutting times by as much as 70 percent.
But how does it work?
iMachining is guided by the knowledge-based Technology Wizard, which takes into account the type of material being cut and the type of machine being used, as well as the material and geometry of the cutting tool. This helps to ensure that the tool load remains constant, thereby ensuring longer tool life.
Most conventional computer aided machining software use small steps when cutting deep features in order to ensure that the tool isn’t overloaded. This is also done to minimise the effects of over engagement. With iMachining, however, programmers can easily cut to the tool’s full depth in just one pass, as the Technology Wizard controls tool engagement and generates a smooth morphing tool path. It also eliminates issues like air cutting, where the tool runs at full speed but doesn’t cut any metal.
iMachining: What Sets it Apart
Here are some of the most important developments brought about by iMachining:
Allows for automatic definition of optimised cutting parameters.
Reduces cutting times by as much as 70 percent.
Perfect for cutting hard metals, such as Titanium.
Intelligent morphing spiral paths ensure constant contact as well as controlled chip thickness.
With all those benefits it isn’t surprising that the industry is moving forwards in this direction.
For our latest post we thought it would be good for you to hear what customers think about the services we offer at PRV Engineering.
What better way to do this than to watch a short video where one of our own customers explains why they keep coming back to PRV Engineering time after time. Visit our dedicated YouTube Channel to view more videos about us and what we do for our customers.
Next week we will be beginning a series of articles about the future of engineering and some of the new technologies we are investing in.
What do you look for in an Engineering Services supplier? Let us know in the comments below.
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