Schaeffler joins Low Carbon Vehicle Cluster

Precision bearings and automotive engine components manufacturer Schaeffler (UK) Ltd has joined the Welsh Automotive Forum's Low Carbon Vehicle Cluster (LCVC). (Picture shows the lightweight balancer).
 
Set up in January 2010, the LCVC currently has 22 member companies, who will share their skills, experiences and resources in order to help each other address specific technical, manufacturing and marketing issues. Member companies will observe and adopt best practices from other members that will lead to improved processes and systems.
 
Other member companies include Connaught Engineering Ltd, a developer of hybrid drive technologies, aluminium castings supplier Melloy Ltd, and the University of Glamorgan's Faculty of Advanced Technology.

Tim Williams, CEO of the Welsh Automotive Forum and member of the LCVC's management group, commented: "The Cluster is open to any company in Wales who can demonstrate that they have developed or are manufacturing low carbon vehicle or infrastructure technologies, or that they have adopted low carbon technologies in order to reduce manufacturing carbon emissions."
 
Roger Evans, Plant Director at Schaeffler (UK) Ltd: "The Cluster is also about member companies sharing their business contacts, which could lead to brand new business opportunities. As a company, we will be actively seeking and submitting collaborative R&D and commercial projects, which can generate sustainable wealth for contributing members. This will include the development of innovative products and technologies that will help to secure new business," he added.
 
Schaeffler is no stranger to low carbon technology developments. The Group has already developed a range of innovative bearing solutions that are helping automotive manufacturers produce more compact, lighter vehicles, with improved fuel consumption and reduced CO₂ emissions.
 
These products include the FAG wheel bearing, which is more compact and 10% lighter than its predecessor. The new bearing also offers simplified mounting via a unique self-centring, axial spur gear teeth design.
 
Schaeffler also collaborated with Fiat Powertrain on the development of a groundbreaking new engine system, the world's first fully variable hydraulic valve control system, which reduces vehicle fuel consumption and cuts CO₂ emissions by up to 25%. Schaeffler's UniAir system is a unique fully variable hydraulic valve control system that is making its debut on Fiat's new Alfa MiTo 1.4 MultiAir. This is the first vehicle within the Fiat Group to be equipped with this technology.
 
Other low carbon developments at Schaeffler include the INA lightweight balancer shaft and rolling bearing assembly, as well as the 'twin tandem' wheel bearing unit.
 
 The Schaeffler Group is among the innovation leaders in Germany with around 1,250 patent applications annually. With its brands INA, LuK and FAG, it is a renowned supplier to the automotive industry as well as a leading manufacturer of rolling bearings worldwide. Around 61,000 employees generated sales of approximately 7.3 billion euros in 2009. The automotive industry represents around 60 per cent of Schaeffler sales.
 
The Schaeffler Group is a renowned development partner to the industry with system expertise for the entire drive train. Precision products for engines, transmissions and chassis applications ensure reduced energy consumption and lower emissions as well as increased driving comfort and safety. In addition to classic manual transmissions and automatic transmissions, the Transmission Systems Business Division offers automated manual transmissions, dual-clutch transmissions and CVTs. The range of transmissions for the future is rounded off by applications for alternative drive concepts such as hybrid drives. Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket supplies distributors and independent workshops with replacement parts and services.

For further information, view website: www.schaeffler.co.uk    Refer to page 13

Series 75 latches are ideal for medium duty
applications in aggressive operating environments

Ease-of-use, versatility and security are the key features of 75 series over-centre latches from Protex Fasteners Ltd, the latest additions to the company's medium duty latch range.

Incorporating a raised tail profile that ensures simple and effective operation - even at low temperatures by users wearing thick protective gloves - 75 series latches offer up to 10 mm of grip range adjustment to suit guarding, enclosure, machine building and process equipment applications across the widest spectrum of operating temperatures and environments.

The new units feature a compact base design for easy location and mounting on assembly components, as well as a novel, spring-loaded rocker safety catch that engages automatically on closing and can be padlocked to provide additional security.

Available in stainless steel and zinc plated mild steel, with ultimate tensile strength figures of 750 kgf and 650 kgf respectively, Protex 75 series latches are currently offered with a hook claw (pt no: 75-2753) or solid strap (pt no: 75-2573) for use with a range of catchplates.

Full details of the new Protex fasteners - including AutoCAD-compatible 2D drawings or 3D product models in native SolidWorks, STEP, IGES and E-drawing formats - can be downloaded for immediate use in customers' own designs from the company's recently updated website www.protex.com. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS)-compliant site not only provides instant access to the complete range of more than 550 Protex products, but also incorporates a comprehensive set of measures, including SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and encryption technology, to provide users with fast, efficient and secure on-line order processing. For further information view website: www.protex.com   Refer to page 26

Edgecam 2010 R1 - unrivalled efficiency

The latest release of Edgecam, Planit's market leading CAM software for the production engineering industry, delivers significant productivity and efficiency gains.

Edgecam offers class-leading Automatic Feature Recognition enabling efficient toolpath generation from imported models. The latest release extends this powerful functionality with the ability to recognise an increased number of features, including any area that has multiple open sides. Full properties of the features, including depth, radius/chamfer and min/max XY radius enables users to select appropriate tooling and cycle parameters with ease.

2010 R1 provides increased efficiency through enhancements to its comprehensive machining cycles. Improved stock awareness of machining cycles removes the need to set boundaries manually; this enhancement not only increases the efficiency of generating a toolpath, but also increases the efficiency of the toolpath itself.

Utilising Edgecam's proven helical technology, a number of customer-driven enhancements have been delivered to Edgecam's powerful Thread Milling Cycle. One such enhancement includes cutter radius compensation enabling the user to align the tool selected offline with the tool to be used on the shop floor - for example the user can make adjustments in the CAM environment to allow for wear of a tool, providing unrivalled precision.

Finish Turning Cycles have also seen development. Recognising stock material enables the user to develop tool paths more efficiently.

A new 'peck across' option has been added to the Rough Grooving Cycle. The new feature is designed to improve material removal rate and prolong tool life, ultimately helping reduce on-going costs of manufacture.

A new graphical interface for all turning Operations ensures the significant technical enhancements are intuitive and easy to use.

Edgecam's Strategy Manager Module enables users to create toolpaths with maximised efficiency utilising their own manufacturing best practise. In 2010 R1 tool selection has been enhanced within Strategy Manager, increasing the speed at which users can generate the relevant toolpaths.

The latest version of Edgecam's Part Modeler also provides users with significant functionality enhancements. Delivering cost effective and powerful 3D modelling capabilities, Part Modeler enables users to create or modify 3D models with ease. 

Detail View provides a scaled up balloon view of a model, giving users the ability to easily examine any part of a model and highlight specific details that will be key in the manufacturing or assembly process.

A new 'feature annotation' function expands Part Modeler's comprehensive design capabilities, enabling users to extract design data such as tolerances and apply them automatically to the drawing with ease.

Edgecam 2010 R1 supports Windows 7, the much anticipated operating system from Microsoft.

Edgecam 2010 R1 delivers a new Code Wizard for the Siemens 840D ShopMill, a CNC system enjoying increasing global popularity. Complete with configured post processor template, reducing time required to compile the machine and Siemens specific cycle, 2010 R1 enables users to get the most from their machine tool investment.

Edgecam in profile
Edgecam, a market leading computer aided manufacturing (CAM) system for NC part programming, offers a complete solution for milling, turning and mill-turn programming with unparalleled ease of use and sophisticated toolpath generation. Edgecam is a brand within the  Planit group - recently ranked by CIMdata as the world's fastest growing CAM vendor, with most industrial users.

For further information view website: www.edgecam.com

Planit in profile
Planit is a global supplier of design and manufacturing software for the engineering, woodworking and stone industries. The company provides its customers with products and services that enable them to improve the productivity of their machine tools, shorten design and manufacturing time, optimize material usage and deliver high quality goods and services to their customers. Planit's solutions are best-in-class within their respective markets and are integral to the success of thousands of companies of every size around the globe.

For further information, e-mail: trevorglue@planit.com