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:
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:
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:
How do you see this kind of technology helping your manufacturing processes in the future? Let us know in the comments below.
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.
Shot blasting has emerged as one of the most effective, as well as possibly the cheapest technique for surface preparation prior to operations such as galvanising, electroplating, welding, enamelling, glass coating and rubberising.
Shot blasting is useful for many industries, including the aerospace, ship building, forging and steel industries because it provides a consistent and uniformly fine, rough or matt surface depending on the techniques and tools used and the type of surface required.
Previously we published the post Shot Blasting Techniques: Things You Should Know but we felt that we’d now like to take this opportunity to talk a bit more about the actual benefits of shot blasting over and above other techniques often used for surface preparation.
Plus we’d like to lay out the types of shot commonly used and describe the situations they work best in.
So here are some of the major benefits associated with shot blasting as a surface preparation technique –
These are some of the many reasons why industries in the manufacturing sector opt for various shot blasting techniques for their surface preparation requirements.
Shot Blasting: Types of Shot Used
While shot blasting primarily refers to blasting the surface with small steel pellets or shots, many other types of shot blast materials are also used. Here we will take a look at some of the commonly used shots –
As one of the leading engineering services, PRV Engineering Ltd, can provide you with state of the art shot blasting services for all your surface preparation requirements.
Industries in the manufacturing and heavy machinery sector rely on various specialised techniques for painting surfaces. One of the preferred techniques used today is, of course, spray painting.
We wrote an earlier post on spray painting but today we’d like to talk in a bit more detail about the different types of spray painting techniques available.
We discussed powder coating in a previous post– the types, benefits and options available for those interested in utilising it. However we’ve discovered a shift in companies more and more seeking out our powder coating services so we decided to delve a bit further into why powder coating can be preferable to other types of finishing techniques.
I’m sure you’ll agree that the development of Computer Numeric Control or CNC Machining has revolutionised the manufacturing industry.Whether it is a small manufacturing unit or a large global company, CNC machines find applications in almost all types of industries (even at home with DIY Machinists). That’s because when it comes to producing complex parts in metal, or any other material, these computer controlled machine tools are ideal because of their high levels of accuracy, precision and speed.However the main advantage of CNC machining are the reduced production costs across the entire manufacturing process.
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