All articles by ams_Steedwebzell – Page 8
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ArticleForging ahead to reduce waste
Alcoa helps reduce the weightLife cycle assessmentCorrect tool selection builds efficiencySolving large part size issuesBuilding value into raw castsBlast finishing for complex castsOver 90% of manufacturers across all industries rely on metal castings or forgings for production of their engineered goods. Automotive industry castings are worth around $28 billion annually, ...
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ArticleHard act to follow
Tools of the tradeTurning to hard turningInserts shape the futureWet or dry?Many automotive parts require hardening to provide the long service lives demanded by consumers. The challenge for manufacturing engineers is how to finish-machine such parts to final geometric form after hardening. Until recently, grinding has prevailed as the most ...
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ArticleRobots extend their reach
With production levels under close scrutiny in the current credit squeeze, OEMs that have already invested in automation are well placed to manage the challenges ahead.Flexible vehicle assembly‘Welds’ apartReasons to be cheerfulThe automotive industry is the world’s biggest user of industrial robot technology. The automation of such operations as welding, ...
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ArticleKeeping it together
The benefits of replacing traditional body welds with adhesives, fixings and fastenersCounting the costSticking pointsChoices, choices, choicesMaterial worldNot so long ago, the idea of using adhesive for body-in-white assembly operations would have been deemed unrealistic. However, slowly but surely, the numerous advantages of adhesives have ensured this innovative joining technique ...
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ArticleStanding the test of (development) time
Metrology, measurement and testing play a critical role in production development, where process accuracy and repeatability are paramount.Sparkling performanceSeal of approvalQuality control and testing have never been the most expedient of processes in the automotive manufacturing environment, but the advent of technologies such as digital inspection and 3D laser scanning ...
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ArticleClearly visible benefits
Solutions that cover and facilitate whole product lifecycle processes are growing in importance, and the main driver is visualisation technology.Factory planningVisualisation is entering a new dimension that goes beyond mere photorealistic product imagery. So far, designers have primarily concentrated on visualising product concepts, prototypes and finished products. Now, the trend ...
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ArticleFrom art to part
Time-to-market pressure has never been greater, which is why new technology to shorten this critical process is becoming more impressiveCost-saving prototype designLet’s get physical3D printingYears ago, the beginning of any new automotive project was called the ‘fuzzy front end’. No one really knew how much time would be required to ...
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ArticleGoing in the white direction
Splitting, thinning and wrinklingPressing mattersMoving things alongLaser-based welding controls the heatExtending the focusing lengthTechnology streaks aheadTests show positive resultsAdjustable system is requiredThe need for speedAdding a dimensionEnhanced inspection measurementsAs a vehicle’s largest structure, the body-in-white is deserving of the attention it receives from a process optimisation perspective. AMS looks at ...
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ArticleSee the light
Colour verificationTraceability focusPass the glassPicked and placedA wide range of applicationsPowerful and user-friendly vision systems are making this technology increasingly popular for assembly line tasks. AMS assesses the benefits of the latest technologyWhile vision equipment is not considered emerging technology, until recently the systems have necessitated a reasonably high level ...
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ArticleSafety comes first
Different safety needs for automationSelf-installation systemWithout the right level of protection, assembly can be a hazardous place. Thankfully there is a plethora of barrier-free innovations designed to make even the most automated lines safe for all workersFor all its benefits, it is easy to forget that with automation comes the ...
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ArticleQuality at any cost?
Measuring suitable for varied model mixesNotifying staff when tolerances are outComparing absolute data with CAD dataHigher accuracy levelsVerifying sub-assembly buildsThe latest measurement innovations for assembly line environments and an assessment of whether ‘quality at any cost’ still holds trueNot so long ago, the remit for production engineers was to remove ...
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ArticleUnder the drill
Tools for the jobReducing frictionFrom art to partSingle fixture allows for machining and inspectionExpert help is at handComposites represent a paradigm shift in materials technology for a new generation of automotive manufacturing engineers. AMS looks at the current and future challengesComposite materials provide a number of manufacturing challenges for production ...
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ArticleGrinding down the expenses
Competitiveness is keyThe rise of CGIVersatility in productionEliminating filtration problemsCutting down machining timeSaving pays for new investmentThe process of reducing weightIn the ultra-competitive machining sector, the investment levels required to meet cost and quality demands are not for the faint-heartedThe automotive supply chain is investing heavily to retain and attract ...