Product category:
Control systems, DROs, etc, for machine tools
News Release from: ACI (UK) | Subject: Wizard digital readout system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 28 November 2001
DRO helps check washing machine housing
drums
An Anilam Wizard digital readout system is playing a key role in maintaining the necessary quality levels required in the manufacture of the Dyson Contrarotator washing machine.
An Anilam Wizard digital readout system is playing a key role in maintaining the necessary quality levels required in the manufacture of the Dyson Contrarotator washing machine, the first such machine that features two drums that rotate in opposite directions The drums are contained by an outer 'housing' drum, and the Anilam system is at the heart of the custom-made measuring table being used by Dyson's second-tier supplier, RM Perforating, to quality check this component
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 30 Sep 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The length of each outer drum is critical to ensure successful joining and the Anilam DRO kit, including RBS glass scale linear encoders, ensures each batch meets the stringent QC requirements laid down by Dyson.
As part of the RM Industrial Group (RMIG), which is the world's largest perforating group, RM Perforating established its UK manufacturing operation in 1984 on a greenfield site in Warrington.
With 52 employees, the Warrington team can provide an impressive array of slots, holes and patterns in various sizes from 0.35mm diameter and in material 0.3 mm to 25 mm thick.
Further reading
Tool/workpiece probing cycles added to controls
ACI is including tool and workpiece probing cycles as standard features on its Anilam 6000 Series multi-axis CNC system.
Milling in two/three axis cost-effectively
Demonstrations of a two-/three-axis CNC for intuitive knee-type milling operations will highlight the system's cost-effectiveness and user-friendliness.
Measuring distance and position accurately
As well as demonstrating four-axis DROs, a range of linear scales will also serve to reinforce both the accuracy and performance benefits of its glass linear encoder technology.
Standard stock sheets measure 2,000 mm by 1000mm, 2500mm by 1250mm and 3000mm by 1500mm, and a wide variety of finishes is available including hot dip and electro-galvanising.
RMIG has more than 1,000 employees throughout Europe, turns over approx ?95 million and carries around 500 standard stock sheet specifications in nine different materials.
As well as a standard catalogue of solutions, RM specialises in providing a customised service as well as offering a range of ancillary operations such as forming and bending through a network of sub-contractors.
The company enjoys an enviable lead in the UK perforated materials market, serving a wide range of industry sectors including construction and building, electronics, agriculture, automotive, processing and white goods.
This position is based on a number of attributes, not least its considerable expertise in the design and use of tooling.
This enables RM to provide the best and most cost-effective manufacturing route for every contract.
With manufacturing operations in 10 Western European countries, the sister company RM Rich Muller AS in Denmark, is a focus site for tooling manufacture, supplying many of the tools that are used by the 'satellite' companies and which can be utilised by all sister companies.
Warrington - like all other production sites - maintains an in-house toolroom for mainly maintenance purposes.
RM's high level of perforating expertise was particularly evident when the Dyson contract first came to light in 1999, with the Warrington team led by sales manager Kevin Johnson working closely with Dyson and the first-tier supplier to accommodate a number of enhancements to the drum design.
After several test pieces/batches - and development of the production process to maintain workpiece material integrity - RM had to overcome the complications that a design directive imposed.
This requirement enforces strict accuracy demands on RM.
RM's quality manager, John Leslie, reflects: "The best way for us to ensure we met the stringent specifications required for this project was to use a combination of our own measuring equipment and instrumentation that would provide very accurate measurements." So, he says, the answer was for RM Perforating to work together with Anilam's regional distributor (John Mackriel of Rochdale) to design and develop its own inspection solution, which was constructed with the help of a local precision sub-contract machinist.
The resulting measuring table features location guide rails and stops to accommodate the sheets, and a weight/holding pad that holds each sheet securely during the inspection process.
Initially utilising the Anilam 211 two-axis DRO in conjunction with RBS linear encoder glass scales positioned either side of the table for full length (X and Y axis measurement) and featuring the EverTrack (trade mark) absolute reference system, the measuring table is to be uprated with the Anilam Wizard 450 DRO.
This more powerful DRO will enable RM to easily transfer all inspection data for computerised QC reporting and for the creation of process control charts, for example.
More usually seen on turning, boring, milling, drilling and grinding machines as well as EDM, sawing, metalforming and woodworking equipment, Wizard DROs are equally at home in co-ordinate measuring, as this application demonstrates.
John Leslie concludes: "The Anilam system represents a very reliable and cost-effective solution to our measurement problem.
In fact, our initial success with the Anilam DRO set-up is now prompting thoughts of how other components can be inspected via the Anilam equipment." With compliments:.
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