Product News

Tribrid Modelling produces “Waffle” phone first at LG

Korean manufacturing giant LG Electronics has recently introduced its first mobile phone designed with Delcam’s Tribrid Modelling software. The Waffle phone features a surface texture created in the ArtCAM artistic CADCAM program, wrapped around the body of a phone design produced with the PowerSHAPE CAD software. It is expected to be the first of a number of new models that will use the Delcam software to create the distinctive designs needed to build market share in the highly competitive and fashion-conscious mobile phone market. Tribrid Modelling is Delcam’s unique, patented approach to design that adds triangle modelling to the solid and surface modelling options that are available in hybrid modelling systems. It gives the ability to add triangle files of logos, branding, textures or other 3D decorations onto the surfaces of CAD models. This effect is rather like sliding a transfer over the surface of an object, with the added advantages that the decoration can be scaled or stretched to fit any given area, and that the result is fully three-dimensional. Tribrid Modelling also allows Boolean operations to be carried out between triangle models and either surfaces or solids. For many years, PowerSHAPE was one of very few CAD systems able to perform Boolean operations between solids and surfaces. The ability to perform similar addition, subtraction and merge operations with triangles as well makes the software even more flexible. LG Electronics has become a global leader through more that 50 years of technical innovation in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances. The company, which is based in the Korean capital Seoul, employs more than 80,000 people, working in over 115 operations around the world. Last year, its global sales topped US$ 43 billion. Staff from Delcam’s Korean joint venture, Hankook Delcam, had their first contact with LG in August […]

Ultra Helicopters

Ultra Helicopters vision is to have a minimum of 75 % of the parts manufactured here in NZ for a 2 seat helicopter. Due to its composite construction it will fall into the microlight category which is a first for NZ. The company is currently working with CAA to get Type approval and once that is completed we wtll be actively demonstrating it to various flying clubs/ schools and other events. This will be our main market focus initially followed by private individuals. Overseas the market is huge, ranging from Tuna boats, to highway patrol, surveillance work, private boats, training schools etc. Once the CAA approves the machine here the Australians will probably follow suit. and then the FAA in the US. The advantages of having it in the microlight class are the operating costs, turbine time as standard on the license which can be partially transferred to a PPL later, only a microlight medical required . It also has one of the best power to weight ratios of any 2 seat helicopter. The high inertia blades also make auto rotations safe and easy to perform. Key changes with regards to composite pieces are, for example, with the tailboom where a huge reduction in parts will be possible with an increase in strength and a reduction in weight, The backbone will also have seatbelt hardpoints rated at 16 G’s and landing bow and engine mounts rated at 10g’s, this is the same as a commercial helicopter and previously unheard of in the microlight class. After some brainstorming some clever thinking has resulted in the reduction of other parts, this has resulted in considerable time saved for assembly. Having a helicopter manufactured here in NZ has a certain appeal to it nextSTEP Visit: www.ultrasporthelicopters.com

Acton Tools & Engineering boss calls for industry “Action”

Peter Rocque is one of those increasingly-rare active, Kiwi craftsmen – “a toolmakers’ toolmaker” – deeply concerned that with the decline in local manufacturing has come the devaluing of the tool-making trade. “And this represents a dire threat to any prospect of New Zealand re-establishing itself as a manufacturer of anything other than milk and agricultural products. Because there will not be anyone left to build the prototypes, to give practical input at the conceptual stage, since even that aspect of the process will have gone with the last of the craftspeople,” Rocque says. “I believe it is up to us in the manufacturing industry to take matters in hand and avoid this imminent crisis. No one is going to do anything to fix this killing-off of an essential skill, if we are even to retain basic niche manufacturing to complement the celebrated ‘innovation’ which seems to be the focus of all funding and support. “With that, innovation will also disappear offshore; prototypes will be made there; and with that, even the IP will dissipate. A sorry state, but one which has been coming at us, with a vengeance, ever since that disastrous day Helen Clark decided to shake hands with the Chinese,” he says. Peter Rocque came to this country 30-odd years ago, a graduate of the then global centre of tool-making, Stockport, part of greater Manchester. Recruited to New Zealand by the legendary Rex Manufacturing company, he worked his way up and once he had sussed the scene, decided to go on contract and work for himself. “I’d got the confidence to do that having been given the kind of break I’m suggesting our industry gives to qualified fitters-and-turners, who’ve done a bit of this and that, after graduating from our local training institutes. While none of us […]

Scott Technology

From humble beginnings almost 100 years ago, Scott Technology has evolved into a publicly listed automation business, and a world leader in several niche markets. Located in Dunedin, this specialist engineering firm is investing heavily in R&D to support new product development and its expansion into new export markets, says Managing Director Chris Hopkins. Today the company operates in several sectors, however its main success has traditionally been in the appliance industry, where it designs and builds automated production lines for the world’s leading whitegoods manufacturers. “Over the past several years we have also invested heavily in research and development in the meat industry and in other areas of our business. This has seen our international revenue grow dramatically and our opportunities and potential increase significantly,” says Mr Hopkins “Our extensive R&D programme in the meat processing side of the business means we now have 11 patents either pending or granted, plus international trademarks and design copyrights. “This R&D has produced technology that is aimed at large volume lamb and beef processors within New Zealand and Australia. Our innovations potentially can offer significant value to customers in automating what to date has largely been a manual process. We have few competitors in this new field of automation and robotics within the boning room of our major customers.” In the mining market, Scott Technology has developed a small range of standalone equipment used by on-site mine labs and commercial labs as part of the sample preparation process. More recently it has leveraged off its automation expertise to expand further into providing automated systems that process samples ready for analysis. In the industrial automation side of the business Scott partners with companies to take on the role of their in-house engineering department to design and build automation or production solutions. nextSTEP Visit:www.scott.co.nz

‘There’s Brass in Muck’

This expression has never been more apt as more companies are realising that there really is hidden value in wastes. Recovering solids or liquids from your waste stream is no longer the domain of the “environmental greenies’ – it actually makes a great deal of financial sense! By assessing the opportunities within your processes to recover valuable solids and liquids, not only can it lead to major cost reductions in chemical and water usage, it can significantly reduce your overall waste disposal costs. Quarries, mines, concrete products, metal processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, beverage production and a host of other industries have the potential to better manage their wastewater to protect the environment and reduce operating costs. However, selecting the right dewatering equipment for your process can be a complex decision, and depends on several factors, including waste volume, solids content and particle size, chemical composition, ultimate disposal or reuse, and liquid quality. Jonassen Industrial Projects Ltd (JIPL) are experienced Wastewater Treatment engineers and can evaluate the technical issues and costs to determine the optimum sludge dewatering process for your specific needs. Tradewaste Consent limitations and charges offer up a whole raft of challenges to many industrial operations, but the modern versions of one of the oldest dewatering technologies, the filter press, now offers a truly cost effective and highly efficient option for most operations. JIPL has successfully completed a number of wastewater treatment systems utilising quality filter presses, not only solve particular wastewater discharge problems, but also allow for substantial recycling, removal of solids and reductions in chemical treatment to meet Discharge Consent limits. The filter press provides the highest solids contents and the cleanest filtrate of any wastewater treatment system available. A filter press will reduce operating costs by: – Removing solids into solid cakes for re-use, or landfill – Recovering valuable […]

CADCAM gives racing supplier power and precision

‘Power Through Precision’ is the company motto at MBE Cylinder Heads and Manifolds. MBE achieves both precision and power by using Delcam’s PowerSHAPE design software and its PowerMILL machining program. To see how, watch the Delcam TV video on https://www.delcam.tv/delcam-video.asp?VideoId=79. Founded in 1997 by Matt Bieneman, MBE is located in the heart of America’s racing country in Mooresville, North Carolina. Mr. Bienenman created a team of specialists hand-picked from the best in the industry and was equally particular about his selection of equipment and software. The resulting levels of quality and technical innovation have made MBE a trusted choice for leading race teams and engine builders throughout the United States, Australia and Canada. Customers include teams from dirt racing and drag racing, as well as competitors in tractor- and truck-pulling events. Just like the race cars, trucks and other custom vehicles he helps build, MBE’s head programmer Mark Olson says what makes the company’s Delcam products winners is their power. “It amazes me what the Delcam programs can do,” he admitted. “I’ve used a lot of programs in my career (which began in 1970) and this is the smartest software that I’ve ever used.” “We do a lot of manual work to develop the shape of the manifold,” explained Mr. Olson. “Once we are happy with the design, we digitize the ports, chambers and whatever else needs to be machined, and we import the data into PowerSHAPE.” “PowerSHAPE has a great, powerful surfacing engine,” said Mr. Olson. “I haven’t yet found anything as good as PowerSHAPE to manipulate surface data into exactly the shapes that I need.” After perfecting the model in PowerSHAPE, Mr. Olson moves his design easily and flawlessly into PowerMILL. The transparent interface between PowerMILL and PowerSHAPE is a big benefit. “You can cut and paste geometry […]

PlanetSolar Superyacht Designed by Kiwi Firm

When a German businessman set his sights on building a solar-powered boat to circumnavigate the globe, he called on Kiwi design company LOMOcean to make it happen. PlanetSolar Auckland-based LOMOcean naval architects and yacht designers drew up plans for the radical $NZ36 million PlanetSolar superyacht, which is due to set off on a world-first, solar-powered, global circumnavigation attempt in April 2011. LOMOcean director Craig Loomes didn’t know much about solar-power when his Auckland design company was approached to build a catamaran capable of circling the globe on no more than the sun’s rays. Now he’s well aware of the cutting-edge solar technology that will propel his company LOMOcean’s design around the equator from April next year. LOMOcean started work two years ago on the design of the PlanetSolar superyacht, unveiled in Germany in February. The catamaran’s German owner and French and Swiss skippers say, at 31m long, 15m wide and weighing 75 tonnes, PlanetSolar is the largest solar-powered boat in the world. Construction began in January 2009 at Knierim Yachtbau boatbuilders in Kiel, northern Germany, necessitating more than 100,000 man hours. The catamaran features more than 500sqm of solar panels, but the design was not only about creating the first vessel to circle the globe on solar power. After the circumnavigation challenge, PlanetSolar will be kitted out as a luxury vessel for use as an air-conditioned superyacht capable of hosting 50 guests and sleeping 12. The boat has a price tag of around $NZ36 million. A variety of challenges PlanetSolar presented a variety of challenges for LOMOcean, not least of them creating a boat that was both technologically-advanced and luxurious enough for a second life as a luxury pleasurecraft. LOMOcean is owned by former boat builder-turned-designer Craig Loomes, his wife Kirsty, who is the company’s financial controller, and composite structural […]

High quality plastic welding systems from Techspan

Techspan Group’s is range of high quality plastic welding systems for New Zealand and Australia includes hand-held welders, automatic welders, wedge welders, and extruder welders. Made in Switzerland, the heavy duty welders are designed for optimal performance and reliability under extreme working conditions. A number of technically advanced innovative features are incorporated into the welders, including ultra-reliable plug-in ceramic heating elements and very high performance materials, in a fully self-contained ergonomic design. Geomembrane welders For welding geomembranes in the field, the Techspan Comon wedge welder uses two knurled pressure rollers and a patented ceramic heating ‘wedge’ to produce two continuous welds, each 15mm wide, with a central 15mm un-welded test channel. PVC materials can also be welded, without the necessity to change the wedge. The Techspan Mion is a compact and lightweight wedge welder. It is believed to be the most compact wedge welder in the world, and is designed for vertical and overhead welding of tunnel liners. The Techspan Mion also features two knurled pressure rollers to produce two continuous 15mm welds with a central test channel. The Mion also incorporates a patented ceramic wedge to enable different geomembranes to be welded without changing the wedge. Hand-held plastic welders Techspan “hand-held” plastic welding tools are designed for fabrication and repair of rigid plastics up to 8mm thick and thermoplastic fabrics and liners. The integrated precision electronic temperature control allows virtually all types of thermoplastics to be welded. Extruder welders Extruder welders, with welding capacities up to 6kg/hr are used for welding geomembranes for landfills and reservoirs and also for welding rigid plastics over 8mm thick. Extruder welding shoes are interchangeable for fillet, V, X, and overlap welds. They are designed for welding PE and PP, and several models will also weld PVDF and PVC materials, without changing the plasticising […]

Super clear cordless work light enhances maintenance safety

Clear and reliable portable light is essential to safety and precision in confined spaces. Inside pipes, tanks, pressure vessels and silos, the last thing any maintenance worker needs is bulb or battery failure. GO Distribution has introduced rugged portable LED worklights designed to provide 10 years or more of optimum clarity and reliability, or 50,000 hours of outstanding illumination. The cordless Hemipro high power worklights incorporate the first use of high power LEDs in work lights originally designed for the professional automotive repair market, making them ideal also for use in a broad range of resources, industrial, construction, energy, engineering, water, waste water and safety tasks. Using either two or three High Power LEDS, the Hemipro 2 LED and 3 LED work lights provide exceptionally powerful beams which, respectively, equal or exceed the light area intensity of a 60W or 75W beam. What really sets the Hemipro lights apart, however, is the uniquely engineered hemispherical lens design, which refracts the LEDs into an exceptionally clean, bright and wide beam. The highly modified lens design captures and transfers the powerful LED light into a super-wide 70 deg beam, while also eliminating hot spots, dull areas or irritating halo rings. Designed to provide high performance for 10 years or more of normal use, Hemipro incorporates a super strong NiMH 2500 milliAmp hour battery with a life expectancy of three years under normal use. It can be used up to five hours between charges. The 3 LED is good for three hours between charges. Both feature non-slip grip and shockproof housing. Further enhancing service life, the battery, lens shield and 360¡ swivel hook can be replaced. Designed by the international Cliplight Manufacturing Company, which is now in its fourth decade of producing top quality worklights, HEMIPRO complements an innovative range of HVAC products […]

Developing sustainable products more efficiently

Product development can – and should – benefit from the same efficiency and productivity gains that we see in manufacturing and production. The product development process is often very wasteful and expensive, complex and multi-faceted, and information does not flow in one direction, but goes back and forward many times. How then, can you apply the Lean approach to business, which has traditionally been used for manufacturing, to product development? The key is to recognise that product development is not really that unique – it is still a business process with inputs and outputs and adding value is a key objective. Not only does Lean thinking help to identify and minimise waste, the resulting efficiency and quality improvements should be more than noticeable. Eliminate waste There is usually a lot of ‘waste’ in the product development, it is just not always as visible as in manufacturing processes or we’ve conditioned ourselves to accept it. By applying Lean, companies can reduce the waste of unnecessary errors, redoing work, doing too much work and endless waiting. The trick is to take a pre-emptive approach rather than a reactionary one. Preventing product failures at the beginning and then at every step of the design process means you do not have to fix them later. Maintaining a comprehensive database of product failures ‘in the field’ and analysing them to find the root causes will prevent future mistakes. It is a mistake to assume that product failure is always the fault of the manufacturing process: what if the design is faulty? But eliminating waste in design, the beginning of the process, makes the manufacturing process much easier and cheaper. If you build in ‘error proofing’ and quality into every step of the design process, you avoid passing on defects. More speed, less time and effort […]

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