Join us May 26 at 12PM ET to hear insights from Open Mind Technologies USA and Heidenhain.
When you register for our May Manufacturing Lunch + Learn event you will gain new insight about today’s manufacturing technology.
The first session is presented by Open Mind Technologies USA featuring Account Manager Kevin Lewis and Application Engineer Uday Honnalagere. The two will be discussing intelligent “best fit” CAM process for alignment and machining of 3D printed stock. Additive/3D printed material used in manufacturing applications are witnessing high growth worldwide in a broad range of industries. Historically, for components that need finish machining after AM, the alignment on the machine tool requires high expertise, expense in setup time, and can have inconsistent results. This is due to the challenge in alignment of the NC program to the real-world conditions presented by the clamping position of the irregular material on the machine tool. Intelligent part alignment integrated in the CAM system offers a solution to this problem by efficiently adapting the virtual (NC program) to the real world (location of the stock on the machine). A “best fit” CAM process offers a quick, predictable, and reliable path to overcome this challenge in a way that eliminates the requirement for specialist knowledge, reduces setup time and eliminates waste.
The second presentation is from John Parker, MT business development and product manager at Heidenhain. Parker will be discussing new CNCS manufactured in the U.S. – MILLPWR an TURNPWR.
MILLPWR a powerful yet easy to operate CNC retrofit systems for knee mills and bed mills. Faster set-ups, shorter run times and a major boost in productivity are just one "powerful easy" retrofit away. Our new MILLPWRG2 control and retrofit kits can turn just about any knee mill into a powerhouse money-maker.
TURNPWR is a workshop-oriented turning control that enables the user to program conventional machining operations right at the machine. It is designed for turning machine tools with up to two axes. TURNPWR was developed to satisfy the wants and needs of lathe machinists where manual and automated operation are both useful and needed. TURNPWR promises to enable the user to maximize throughput by significantly reducing setup time, scrap, and other non-productive operations.
Register today so you aren’t left behind the competition.
Global Shop Solutions offers its Fast Track ERP approach for manufacturers so they can go live in 120 days or less.
Global Shop Solutions has launched a new Fast Track ERP Implementation to reduce the time it takes manufacturers to Go Live with ERP software and achieve a quicker return on investment. Developed after analysis of why some companies lose momentum during implementation, the Fast Track ERP Implementation process provides a blueprint based on best practices for helping manufacturers stay on course and go live faster.
“The time it takes to go live with an ERP system can vary depending on the customer’s goals, time frame, available resources, and other factors,” says Chris Pinaire, director of consulting & implementation for Global Shop Solutions. “Our data shows implementations completed within three to four months generally produce the best results for customers that meet certain criteria. Based on that data, we developed the Fast Track ERP Implementation process to help new customers roll out the implementation process, stay on track, and go live with Global Shop Solutions in 120 days or less.”
This simplified process focuses on the fundamentals every new ERP user needs to know to get started. No customization, no advanced functionality – just the basic, core processes that facilitate a smooth transition from the company’s previous business management system to Global Shop Solutions. New customers that don’t meet the requirements and prefer to launch their ERP system with more capabilities can opt for Global Shop Solutions’ standard implementation process. These implementations require more preparation and often include advanced functionality and customizations, which can take additional time and resources for a successful go live.
Fast Track ERP Implementation overcomes obstacles by focusing on the core functionality of the system and using a detailed training schedule to keep the implementation moving forward. Taking the manufacturer’s business requirements into account, the Global Shop Solutions implementation team strategically aligns the training schedule to coincide with specific goals and milestones that need to be met during implementation.
This approach offers several advantages. Achieving the interim goals and deadlines sustains focus while laying a solid foundation for using the software to full advantage. The implementation doesn’t drag on for months or even years. Manufacturers can go live with the software within a few months and see their return on investment shortly thereafter.
“We understand that manufacturers still have to run a business while learning to use ERP,” Pinaire says. “Fast Track ERP Implementation customers will go live in 90 to 120 days, resulting in an implementation completed on time and on budget. From there, the customer can work with our continuous improvement team to build on their progress and achieve all they want to do with the software.”
Owen Mumford, Stevanato Group sign exclusive collaboration agreement for the innovative Aidaptus auto-injector.
Owen Mumford Ltd, a global leader specialized in the design, development, and manufacture of injectable drug delivery systems for the pharmaceutical, biotech and generics industries, has signed an exclusive agreement with Stevanato Group, a global provider of drug containment, drug delivery and diagnostic solutions for the Aidaptus auto-injector.
The agreement makes Stevanato Group an exclusive manufacturing partner for the Owen Mumford designed auto-injector, offering a full set of capabilities to its pharmaceutical customers. Stevanato Group will mold the components for Aidaptus and provide final and sub-assembly equipment, while also offering market-leading pre-filled syringes to enable pharmaceutical customers to create the final product for patient use. Assembly of the components will be undertaken by both Stevanato Group at its global manufacturing sites and by Owen Mumford at its automated assembly center of excellence in the U.K.
The collaboration is intended to bring added value to customers, matching world-class device expertise with premium manufacturing capabilities. It is expected to streamline device production and deliver the full value of the innovative Aidaptus platform to the market.
Aidaptus is a 2-step, single use auto-injector with a versatile design that accommodates both 1mL and 2.25mL prefilled glass syringes in the same base device. It also features plunger sensing technology with a self-adjusting plunger rod that automatically adapts to the individual plunger positions and different fill volumes in each syringe, with no change parts required. The auto-injector is also able to accommodate a unique variety of drug viscosities.
With over 70 years of experience, Owen Mumford designs and manufactures innovative medical products that are designed to meet both the needs of pharmaceutical companies and their patients, by facilitating ease of use and improving safety and patient compliance. The company designs devices with the aim of reducing complexity and risk for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry in the development of combination products.
“Aidaptus will help patients to self-administer their individual therapies using a simple and easy to use device,” says Adam Mumford, director of Owen Mumford. “At the same time, this auto-injector can help to reduce complexity, minimize supply chain risk, and simplify final assembly for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies thanks to its ability to adapt to different viscosity, syringe sizes and fill volumes. Often during development or life-cycle management of injectable drug products, changes in these parameters can occur. Now for the first time, the device doesn’t have to be changed as well.”
Mauro Stocchi, chief business officer of Stevanato Group, comments: "We believe this agreement is an important step in enhancing and growing the opportunities in our drug delivery systems portfolio as we broaden our capabilities in this key market. As we are constantly working with our customers to satisfy their needs, we continue to experience an increase in demand for auto-injectors. With this agreement, we will exploit the full breadth of Stevanato Group integrated capabilities being able to offer device manufacturing, assembly equipment, together with pre-fillable syringes and inspection systems."
Beckwood Press Co. to build Triform 16-15-7 deep draw sheet hydroforming press for MuShield
Beckwood Press Company has been awarded a contract by MuShield to engineer and build a Triform 16-15-7DD. With this new piece of hydroforming equipment, they will draw form sheet metal magnetic shielding solutions for components used in the medical, aerospace & defense, utility, and electronics industries.
The new Triform deep draw sheet hydroforming press will have a 16" forming area, a 7" draw depth capacity, and the ability to hit pressures up to 15,000psi. The press will also be equipped with a lower punch force cylinder increase which allows for larger part formation at higher pressures.
To facilitate fast die changeover, a tool change station will be provided for the ease of loading and unloading tooling. A cartridge-style lower chamber, fixed on rollers, will be supplied with the press to allow movement in and out of the forming chamber. The shuttle will also be equipped with a punch tool lift cylinder for raising and lowering the punch when loading and unloading.
To integrate with MuShield’s existing systems, a barcode reader for recipe handling will be included. Triform’s intuitive programming allows for storage of over 10,000-part recipes with full control of optimal forming pressures and desired positions throughout the draw.
“The Triform 16-15-7DD from Beckwood Press has been on our radar since we saw it on the floor at FABTECH in Las Vegas a few years back,” says Luke Grilli VP of sales and marketing at MuShield. “The machine is going to take our current hydroforming capabilities to the next level as we stay ahead of the competition as an industry leader in custom magnetic shielding. More importantly, it will also allow for peace of mind that we have an excellent hydroform on the shop floor for the next 20+ years.”
“We are very excited to partner with MuShield on this project and provide their team with a reliable hydroforming solution for their existing work, while also supporting their effort to drive future growth with a larger machine and the latest in technology,” says Beckwood Sales Manager, Caleb Dixon. “Our goal is to collaborate with our customers on the types of parts they will be forming, to ensure we are delivering the right solution for the job.”
3D printing speeds design and production of Worlds Protect kiosks for convenient mass screening of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Essentium Inc.’s High Speed Extrusion (HSE) 3D printing platform and industrial materials were used to conceptualize, design, prototype, and manufacture 10 functional Worlds Protect COVID-19 breathalyzer kiosks in an accelerated time frame. The Worlds Protect team, a collaboration between The Texas A&M University System, Worlds Inc., and the U.S. Air Force, developed the kiosks to provide quick, convenient, and accurate breathalyzer tests suitable for on-site screening of large groups of people.
The kiosk requires a person to use a disposable straw to blow into a copper inlet. In less than a minute, test results with accuracy comparable to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test can be sent to the participant’s smartphone, according to on-going preliminary data testing.
Due to the tight timeline and an unpredictable supply chain caused by the pandemic, the Worlds Protect team required a solution to manufacture complex part designs and increase prototyping speed without sacrificing mechanical properties. With the military deployed in hot and dry regions, the Worlds Protect kiosk must be robust enough to function in harsh environments.
Essentium’s technology and materials enabled rapid iteration to conceptualize, design, and develop in days instead of weeks. Most kiosk parts were printed in less than a day, 66% faster than the three-day turnaround for traditional subtractive manufacturing methods. The Worlds Protect team was also able to reduce costs by up to 90% in some instances. For example, one of the mountings used in the final product was quoted at $110 for a machined version and cost only $12 to 3D print.
During part design, the team used low-cost Essentium PLA to iterate. The final parts needed to withstand temperatures up to 100 C and have sufficient tensile strength. The team chose Essentium PA-CF due to its exceptional strength, temperature resistance, and printability.
LCD Bracket, printed ten per build
Maulik Kotecha, a doctoral student at Texas A&M University says, “Essentium’s High Speed Extrusion 3D Printing Platform is a game-changer in fast tracking the design and development of these much-needed COVID-19 breathalyzer kiosks. We need the ability to rapidly screen large groups of people, with targeted expanse into austere environments. Together with Essentium, we have made this a reality in the fastest time possible.”
“Throughout the pandemic, the 3D printing industry has been instrumental in innovating and producing essential medical gear. Essentium stepped in early to deliver 3D printed protective masks for first responders,” says Blake Teipel, Ph.D., CEO, Essentium. “Now we are proud to support the Worlds Protect team to speed the development of kiosks that represent a significant leap forward in the COVID-19 fight and tackling other infectious diseases. 3D printing has delivered once again with reliable and repeatable quality at speed.”