To raise the bar on the status quo in unlimited hydroplanes, Ellstrom Racing started Five-Axis Industries, which in the beginning was essentially a hobby shop specializing in five-axis machining to make difficult-to-manufacture parts from hard metals, including titanium and stainless alloys.
As more original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and job shops “warm up” to the idea of laser welding, many have turned their attention to four specific technologies.
Manufacturers are featuring some of the latest equipment and software for metrology, quality assurance, and collecting information for process control.
Sharpe Products recently installed a BLM Group LT7 4-kW laser cutting system. This equipment cuts round, square, rectangle and open profile pipe or tube up to 6" OD.
Dedicated in-house labs create and optimize laser welding processes for electric motors and batteries.
Marposs, announced on March 24 the availability of its Aeroel MecLab.X laser micrometer systems. These provide diameter measurements for components such as electric motor shafts, gage or piston pins, hydraulic components or any number of ground or turned parts.
The best way to solve the skills gap is to ignite the already existing and yet dormant fuel of curiosity inside of young minds.
Smart mechatronics offers greater intelligence, more efficient operation and a modular approach to delivering complete systems.
This year’s RAPID + TCT show signaled a new wave of users, with 35 percent of the audience being new to adopting additive manufacturing technologies.
Whether transmitted through wires or the air, data collected from older factory devices can help a shop owner make smarter business decisions.
