Automation Parts

McGill University Uses Simio 3D Modelling Software The Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University has joined Simio's academic programme, which offers the company's 3D modelling software to schools at no charge. Simio awarded a USD29,700 (GBP19,310) grant to the Desautels Faculty of Management. The NSERC Create Program, which will benefit from the grant, is set improve the collective capacity of the six partner universities in Canada for training doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows who could become significant contributors to healthcare research, practice and policy making. McGill University is now one of more than 120 universities worldwide to join Simio's academic programme. The Simio Academic Edition software has no model size limits and includes discrete and continuous modelling, object library development and 3D animation. Trainees at the university will be able to model systems using intelligent objects and the software's direct connection to Goog

Datron MV-1500 Machines Awkward-Shaped Workpieces The new MV-1500 CNC machining centre from Datron Technology is suitable for machining non-standard-shaped workpieces. With a vertical clamping surface, it enables the machining of components measuring up to 1m in height. This 'drop-down' area is at right angles to the horizontal table, which measures 1,500 x 500mm. This latest addition to the range of Datron large-format CNC machining centres is suitable for the milling of both standard- and awkward-shaped components - especially the latter - where robust clamping is available on both tables. Exceptionally tall parts or housings can be clamped onto the vertical T-slotted clamping face, with other parts for machining at the back of the machine on the horizontal table. Alternatively, parts with an overhang can be positively clamped so that, for example, end faces can be machined. Built with the trademark granite table - offering high precision, accuracy and stability, particularly

Cedrat To Provide Training Sessions On Actuators Cedrat Technologies has announced that places are still available for its training sessions, which are due to take place on 17 June, following Actuator 2010. Two parallel sessions - one about piezoelectric actuators and the other about linear magnetic actuators - will be held in the Congress Center Bremen. The courses are open to engineers and PhD students who want to know more about these actuator technologies.

Ondrives Adds Precision Bevel Gears To Portfolio Ondrives has added straight-cut precision bevel gears to its precision gear range. Ondrives' straight-cut bevel gears are made to Quality Grade 7f24 DIN 3985, with other Quality Grades available on request. Standard materials are 817M40T steel and 303 stainless steel, with 805M20 case-hardened steel also available. Ratios are 1:1 as standard, with 2:1 available. Tapped holes, pin holes and keyways can be added as standard modifications for a nominal charge. Complete specials to suit customer drawings are also available. The technical department welcomes the chance to quote for these as one-off prototypes or volume orders. Scheduled deliveries can also be easily accommodated where required.

WEG has developed a control panel that monitors the ventilation circuits, temperature, humidity, lighting and feeder lines at Plasson's factory. Plasson manufactures equipment and sells services for aviculture. The system ensures better use of feed ration, optimises environmental requirements and delivers higher quality and productivity. WEG has an exclusive team for sales, engineering and assembly of control panels for the OEM machine-building segment, partnering with customers to provide complete solutions that improve quality and reliability and increase speed and throughput. In these partnerships, WEG's team works closely with customers' engineering and development teams to analyse applications and suggest and specify improvements that make individual projects feasible, in both technical and commercial terms. After this first phase, a prototype is assembled and tested by the customer. When everything has been finally approved, WEG begins series supply. Plasson asked

Namtec And NAMRC Plan Two-Day Nuclear Conference Namtec (National Metals Technology Centre) and NAMRC (Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre) are planning a two-day conference at the Oulton Hall Hotel in Leeds on 29-30 June. The Nuclear: Metals and Manufacturing Conference features a full itinerary of high-profile speakers from the nuclear industry and will focus on the current drive towards Generation III+ nuclear power stations in the UK. The aim is to provide delegates with an insight into the huge opportunities for the UK's materials and manufacturing supply base, while giving companies the chance to network and engage with nuclear vendors and Tier 1 suppliers. Keynote speakers are from EDF Energy, the National Nuclear Laboratory, Areva, the University of Manchester, the University of Oxford and the University of Bristol; and Corus, Westinghouse, Sheffield Forgemasters, AMEC, Fusion Energy and NAMRC. The cost for the two-day conference is GBP595 plus VAT, which include

City Technology's Ecosure electrochemical sensor detects the silent escape of invisible carbon-monoxide gas from faulty or badly adjusted heating devices. Ecosure is the sensor of choice for the majority of carbon-monoxide detector manufacturers because of its performance, stability, reliability and extended operational life. It is also used in multi-sensor fire detectors to improve their detection reliability and reduce their false alarm rates. Ecosure is a two-wire electrochemical sensor with inbuilt filtering that protects it from poisons, interfering gases and dust, minimising the possibility of false alarms. Its stability means that instrument manufacturers do not have to provide complex compensation circuitry. The sensors are manufactured in an automated manufacturing facility and comprehensively tested at each intermediate stage during the production process. As a result, the standard deviation in the output of individual sensors is extremely small, again enabling instrume

SGS Seminars Describe Different NDT Certification SGS recently organised two seminars on personnel certification in the field of non-destructive testing (NDT). Held in the City of Manila, Philippines on 16 March 2010; and in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 18 March 2010, the seminars were designed to introduce different certification systems. NDT is essential to many industries, including control of welding quality, industrial parts and safety assurance of pressure vessels and pipelines. However, the competence of those carrying out NDT is a vital pre-requisite. Only qualified personnel can perform a satisfactory inspection, interpret the test results and make critical judgments. Correct certification presents objective evidence of the knowledge and skill level of the person conducting an inspection and therefore confirms whether or not he is qualified. Many certificates are misinterpreted, which leads to people inspecting welds and other products without being suitably qualified. Seminar

Parker Shows Nitrogen-Gas Generators At Total The Domnick Hunter Industrial Division of Parker Hannifin will be showcasing its latest technology at Total Process and Packaging 2010, held on 25-27 May at NEC Birmingham. On show at the event will be a selection of the company's cost-effective industrial nitrogen-gas generators, which have been proven to increase productivity and profitability in the process and packaging sectors. The company will be exhibiting its latest Midigas and Maxigas onsite nitrogen-gas generators, designed to provide alternatives to traditional nitrogen sources. These technologies are suitable for use in a range of applications in the process and packaging industry, including modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP), purging, blanketing and pressure transfer. Producing on-demand nitrogen gas from compressed air onsite, the high-performance Midigas and Maxigas ranges are suitable for small-to-medium and medium-to-large nitrogen requirements, respectively. As a resu

Contract-packing specialist Flexpac has called upon Atlet to help optimise performance and efficiency in its new warehouse. The warehouse features a mixture of single- and double-deep racking served by an Atlet ATF ride-on extending fork-reach truck. It offers a combination of storage capacity, load selectivity and throughput to support Flexpac's business. Flexpac has a number of customers in the consumer goods and toiletries sectors, for which it packs promotional, gift and retail transit items needed to support marketing and advertising campaigns. Flexpac was based in north London for many years but in 2007 relocated to Iver, close to the motorway network, when it had outgrown its previous site. The new warehouse was an empty shell and this allowed the business to devise a materials-handling operation matched to its specific requirement. For many of its larger customers, Flexpac works in batches using items supplied in multiple palletised loads. The aim is to hold stock for as

Deburring Centre Runs Parts De-Rusting Service Deburring Centre is offering to de-rust parts as a sub-contracting service. Thermal deburring is Deburring Centre's main operation and works by oxidising burrs. The by-product, in the case of steel parts, is an iron-oxide powder - rust - which lightly dusts the parts. If this is left on the parts (for some steels as little as two hours) then, in any moist atmosphere, it can start to etch into the surface and cause major quality issues. To combat this, Deburring Centre has a 'pickling' plant that is used after thermally deburring steels. The pickling consists of sending the parts through a phosphoric-acid bath to remove the oxide/rust; they then pass through two water washes; and finally a light dewatering oil that gives an indoor shelf life of four months. Phosphoric acid is an industry standard in the de-rusting of parts.