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14 Nov 2011

iMachining All Set to Revolutionise CAD and CNC Machining

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.

31 Oct 2011

What Do Customers Say About PRV Engineering?

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.

24 Oct 2011

Advantages of Shot Blasting for Surface Preparation

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 –

  • Shot blasting eliminates the usage of non-eco friendly and harsh chemicals
  • Shot blasting provides higher production rates, wider abrasive selection and better blast pattern accuracy
  • The finished surface obtained is absolutely free from chemical deposits, scales and dust content. Shot blasting does not remove any virgin metal when removing scales
  • Shot blasting facilitates the formation of a permanent bond between the protective coat (zinc, paint or epoxy) and the shot blasted surface. It also helps to detect surface faults or defects
  • Shot blasting increases longevity and durability of protective surface coats as it adheres better to the shot blast cleaned and scale free surface

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 –

  1. Steel Shots – Here, small steel balls of diameter 1 to 6 mm are fired at high speed against the surface being prepared. The size of the balls determines the finishing achieved. Smaller steel shots are used for more polished surface, while larger ones lead to a rougher finish.
  2. Chilled Iron Grit – These are angular, abrasive material used for general blast cleaning, i.e., for removing oxides and paints from ferrous castings and carbon steel. However, blasting with chilled iron grit is quite aggressive and therefore not suitable for softer metals like aluminium.
  3. Steel Grit – Blasting with steel grit is used for jobs where aggressive cleaning is required, such as for removing contaminants from steel or any other metal.

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.

19 Oct 2011
11 Oct 2011
30 Sep 2011

CNC Machining: Industrial Applications

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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28 Sep 2011

Why Busbars are the Electricity Conductivity Means of Choice

Whether someone is an independent engineering contractor or they are responsible for an entire fleet of military helicopters an effective and reliable means of working with low, high or even extremely high voltage is required. This requirement has resulted in the development of busbars.
What is a Busbar?

The versatile and flexible busbar is a thick strip of aluminum or copper that controls the flow of electricity between two points.  The very first busbar was created in the 1930’s by the British Grid System and of course, busbars have come a long way since then.

While not being the most glamorous piece of equipment, busbars work with precision to ensure that electricity is conducted safely, whether within a switchboard, distribution board or even between substations.

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26 Sep 2011

The Art of Industrial Spray Painting

Industrial spray painting may not require Rembrant’s talent but one still needs a high level of skill to do the job well.

But first we want to answer this question: Why are companies like PRV Engineering needed to paint heavy machinery in the first place?  Why not just leave it the way that it is? Well there are two answers to this question: to ensure that our customers’ machines do not rust, and, of course, to keep the machines generally looking good.

Industrial spray painting differs from other types of painting, for example the type of painting you would do in your home, because there are many different variables to consider.  For instance, industrial painters have to look at aspects like flammability and the temperature.  They need to determine whether the paint is flammable and how well it will preform and last under temperatures that are likely to get very high while the machine is operating.

Aspects of Industrial Spray Painting

Painters use various techniques in conjunction with a variety of sprayers and other technology to apply paint to machinery but here are the main variables that industrial spray painters consider when undertaking a job:

  • Substrate Preparation – Substrate is the preparation of the surface that requires painting. Painters have to ensure that the substrate is cleaned properly for even and proper painting. It is a proven fact that as high as 80% of all paint jobs fail because of improper preparation of the surface before painting.
  • Paint Thinning – There are times in the painting process when the paint needs to be thinned out for proper application and coverage. Thinners are different from each other on the basis of what they can dissolve and heir odor and their flammability. For most paints, mineral spirits, along with an alkyd or oil base, can be used for thinning but there might be other paints that require other types of thinners.
  • Spraying – The actual spraying also requires great care and precision on the part of the painter. Variables in the spraying process include the type of paint finish that is required, the type of paint being used and the substrate type.  There’s a large variety of spraying devices and guns that can be used so industrial painters must consider all the variables and chose the right spraying device to achieve an evenly distributed and smooth finish.  Painters also have the flexibility to choose the amount of pressure that the paint is applied with and this is measured in pounds per square inch.

If you are interested in talking to us about your spray painting requirements, contact us at PRV Engineering as we would be happy to advise you on what would be best for your machinery.

22 Sep 2011

CAD/CAM Post Processing Explained

CAD and CAM software are used to design and operate machinery but the machines then require a final post processor to ensure that the code that reaches them is readable to optimise the machine’s operation.Most engineers are familiar with this process, however, in this post we will explain how the system works so that anyone can understand it.
19 Sep 2011

Powder Coating: Types and Benefits

Powder coating has emerged as one of the most advanced techniques for applying a protective as well as decorative finish to almost any type of metal. The process basically involves spraying an electrostatically charged powder on the surface that needs to be coated. The powder used here is a combination of finely ground pigment and resin particles. The charged powder particles adhere to the surface, forming a smooth, durable and uniform coating, with a high quality finish. Powder coating provides businesses, industries and consumers with probably one of the most long-lasting, colour durable and economical yet high quality finishes. No matter which colour or texture you are looking for, powder coating can provide the right solution. In this article, we will take a look at some of the common types of powder coating available today.

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