TPT May 2013

Technology News

Automatic edge milling PSPC coating regulations are putting pressure on shipyards. Plates that are used in ballast tanks need to have a 2mm radius. Shipyards are looking for ways to efficiently meet these new regulations, but currently have no other option than to manually grind all plate edges. that is able to move in three orientations. The machine mills a constant 2mm radius to any plate contour. Difficulties in automating the edge milling process include the inaccuracy of plates. Plates differ from their drawing due to plasma bevels, temperature differences and material stress in the plates.

Example of a plate used in the ballast tanks

Dutch company Kranendonk has launched a machine to automate this milling process. The Edge Preparation System uses a force-guided milling head

orientation. In order to do so, the steel plates are lifted in a manner that creates space for the tooling to mill the bottom side. The programming of the Edge Preparation System is based on the same files that are used by the plate cutters, so it can be implemented in any modern shipyard. Kranendonk Production Systems BV – The Netherlands Fax: +31 344 62 33 88 incoming and outgoing inspection, research and development, and design, wherever fast digital documentation is needed, in one step, using one tool. Vision Engineering designs and manufactures eyepiece-less and expanded pupil microscopes for laboratory and industrial applications. Established in 1958, more than 300,000 systems have been installed worldwide for inspection and measurement tasks. The company has headquarters in Woking, UK, and manufacturing facilities in the US and UK. Vision Engineering Ltd – UK Email: generalinfo@visioneng.com Website: www.visioneng.com Email: info@kranendonk.com Website: www.kranendonk.com

Coping with these deviations demands intelligence of the system itself. Kranendonk has developed a

force-controlled milling head that provides this flexibility. Hardware and software components work closely together to create a perfect radius, even on inaccurate plate edges. Kranendonk says that its customers were looking for a system where top and bottom side of the plates can be milled in the same

The system can handle plates up to a width of 4.5m

Digital magnifier for portable inspection

Optimised for macro imaging, CamZ benefits from dual LED illumination, and the sensor video captures 30 frames per second for a crisp, high contrast image. Designed for one-handed operation, the CamZ is lightweight and is supplied in a durable carrying case, with a USB transfer cable and charger included. The device can be used in electronics, engineering, plastics engineering, medical, pharmacy, biology, laboratory,

VISION Engineering’s CamZ for portable magnification inspection and documentation provides up to 14x magnification, stores up to 100 images, and has grids and cursors for X and Y dimensioning. With a high-resolution colour display, simple button operation and image capture/download capability, CamZ is suited to roving inspection tasks, documenting faults, or for inspecting immobile subjects.

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M ay 2013