Process control solutions ranging from pre-process machine calibration to on-line and off-line post-process measurement will be the focus of the stand of Renishaw plc (Hall 6 Stand B38 –
www.renishaw.com). New introductions include a high-speed analogue contact scanning system for CNC machine tools, a family of products for the measurement of aerospace blades, a new range of modular fixtures for metrology applications, and a long-range laser encoder. The latest gauging software, additive manufacturing technologies and position encoder systems will also be on show.
Renishaw’s game-changing Sprint contact scanning system opens up completely new process control opportunities for high-value CNC machine tools. It incorporates a new generation of on-machine analogue scanning technology that enables fast and accurate form and profile data capture from both prismatic and complex 3-D components.
For blade manufacture, the Sprint system provides the ability to undertake blade tip refurbishment and root-blending applications; for multi-task machining applications, it offers users new process control capabilities, including repeatable diameter-measuring cycles.
Additional functionality provides a rapid health-check of a CNC machine tool’s linear and rotary axes in seconds, making it possible to implement a daily machine-monitoring regime with little or no operator involvement.
Renishaw is also highlighting a (developing) family of high-performance hardware and software products for co-ordinate measuring machines that are specifically designed to aid the measurement and manufacturing of aerospace blades. Complementing the multi-award winning REVO five-axis measurement system, they include: ApexBlade planning software for REVO sweep scanning and DMIS programming; MODUS aerofoil analysis, for the calculation and reporting of blade section profile and aerofoil characteristics; and SurfitBlade to aid reverse engineering of the complete airfoil.
Following the acquisition of R&R Sales LLC in 2012, Renishaw has come up with an extensive range of modular fixturing designed specifically for co-ordinate measuring machines, vision systems and its own Equator gauging system. There is a wide choice of base plates and components available in M4, M6 and M8 thread sizes that can be used for measurement applications in industry sectors such as aerospace, automotive and medical.
EMO 2013 will also see the launch of an updated successor to Renishaw's HS10 long-range laser encoder, which — with a range of up to 60m — has found multiple applications on large machine tools for the aerospace industry. This is a ‘drop-in’ replacement for the existing HS10 product, which minimises installation issues for existing users.
For users of five-axis machine tools, the good news is that Renishaw has further extended its solutions for checking the alignment and positioning performance of rotary axes with the launch of off-axis rotary software for its XR20-W rotary axis calibrator.
The new software allows the XR20-W to measure the rotary positioning accuracy of an axis on many configurations of five-axis machine tools, where it often can not be mounted on the centre of rotation.
Incidentally, Renishaw has acquired LBC Laser Bearbeitungs Center GmbH — a pioneer in the field of additive manufacturing for tool and mould making. Renishaw is already a leader in the supply of laser melting systems, and the deal will allow the company to offer additional additive manufacturing services, including design and simulation, as well as the sub-contract manufacture of metal prototypes and production parts.