No doubt you will have seen that the High Speed Two (HS2) rail system project has recently been given the go-ahead by the British government.
This new rail line is intended to revolutionise high-speed transport in Britain, reducing travel times between our major cities of London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. View a map of the rail system here. Millions of journeys normally taken by road and air could be taken instead by high-speed rail, benefiting the environment as well as the British traveller.
New general secretary Steve Murphy said: “The development of high speed rail will provide a vital shot in the arm to the whole country especially regions which have suffered from under investment for decades.
“The project will create thousands of construction jobs initially while the line is being built and in the long term as these vital improvements in infrastructure will encourage future investment opportunities.”
In this post we’d like to begin exploring the implications of HS2 on the UK Engineering industry. No doubt this will be a topic we continue to explore as the project develops.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Metal fabrication services play a major role in the manufacturing industries sector especially when it comes to producing material handling equipment. Material handling forms one of the most important aspects of manufacturing industries and is used in a number of sectors from steel and mining industries to cement and construction industries. To manufacture this kind of equipment metal fabrication services are used resulting in the production of various types of material handling equipment such as positioning equipment, and loading equipment. Among the various material handling equipment used today in industries, conveyor systems are perhaps the most important. In this article we will take a look at some of the most important types of sorting conveyor systems being produced by metal fabrication services.
Manufacturing for an expanse of industries from Food and Chemical Processing, Railway, Aircraft and Automotive to Pharmaceutical, Petrochemical, Defence and Construction PRV Engineering is truly a one stop shop for your engineering requirements.
So what makes PRV Engineering different from other engineering companies?
PRV Engineering Ltd was established in 1986, and since its inception, has expanded and developed our well-equipped 29,000 sq. ft. facility in Pontypool, South Wales.
With skillsets such as CNC machining, Deep Hole Drilling, Welding and Fabrication, CAD/CAM links and Mechanical Installation Teams, we are able to provide a complex and diverse range of services and products for our clients.
Quality is foremost on our agenda and all products and services offered are completed in accordance with our Quality Standard BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certification, which covers the following activities related to the services we offer our clients –
General and Precision Engineering producing Machined Components and Turned Parts
Wet Spray
Painting and Powder Coating
Steelwork Fabrication
Installation and Maintenance
We manufacture from own design, customer drawings or OEM samples depending on our customers’ requirements, and if requested, provide complete drawings and stress analysis calculations.
Products in all materials from mild steels to the more exotics like, Monnel, Inconnel Hastalloy and Titanium are produced. We cater for one off’s, large batch production and rapid prototyping and supply a small stocking service to some of our customers enabling them to reduce their stock, and call off items as and when required.
At PRV Engineering we believe in providing our customers with a comprehensive service to enable us to solve any problems you may have. Developing our working relationship so that you receive a higher quality service and product that will satisfy your requirements.
Watch what Simon Jones our MD has to say about managing client relationships and how important a customer working relationship is to PRV Engineering –
PRV’s working relationship with our customers is a little different to our competitors. We add value through knowledge, recommending different materials or enhancing the product, so that our customers have a better and more cost effective result.
In short, if you want to make it better, we are here to help!
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