Hexagon Metrology invites users to the “Hexagon 2012” International Conference

Hexagon AB, leading global provider of design, measurement and visualisation technologies, will host its second annual international conference, Hexagon 2012, 4-7 June at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Bringing together users from Hexagon Metrology, Intergraph®, ERDAS, Leica Geosystems and NovAtel the Hexagon 2012 agenda promises attendees hands-on training courses, interactive technology demonstrations and exhibits and unlimited networking opportunities. As the conference will bring together users from all Hexagon group companies the event will be split into several tracks in order for users to follow sessions aligned within their industry.

Industry experts
The Metrology Track at Hexagon 2012 will include insightful presentations by industry experts, visionary keynote presentations on industry trends and compelling customer testimonials from industries such as Automotive, Aerospace, Energy and so much more. Other events will include hands-on software workshops, developers feed-back sessions and round table discussions.
“Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, our focus for Hexagon 2012 is to enrich our attendees’ experience with content concentrated on our synergistic and comprehensive technology portfolio,” said Ola Rollén, President and CEO of Hexagon AB. “We look forward to welcoming customers from more than 65 countries and to yet again delivering a conference of exceptional quality and value.”

More than 3000 attendees
The Hexagon 2012 theme, “Think Forward,” highlights Hexagon’s continued determination to take on the challenges of the design, measurement and visualisation world by mobilising the full capabilities of its brands to innovate across boundaries and chart future directions. More than 3 000 attendees are expected to attend Hexagon 2012.

Call for speakers
Hexagon Metrology is seeking users from across the international community that wish to present case histories on how their company has employed Hexagon Metrology products to improve processes, raise quality and efficiency, and do business smarter than before. All selected speakers receive complimentary access to the conference. Please contact william.fetter@hexagonmetrology.com for a speaker information pack.

The special Hexagon 2012 “Think Forward” rate of US$699 is available through 9 January and room rates at MGM Grand are from just $129 per room per night plus taxes.
To register and for more information, please visit www.hexagonconference.com.

Hexagon Metrology
For further information, please contact:
Melanie Stutz, Deputy Marketing & Communications Manager
Phone: +41 62 737 67 75, e-mail: press@hexagonmetrology.com

Sistep – Midest Morocco: discover new subcontractors

Over 300 industrial subcontractors are expected at Sistep Midest Morocco. With 40% of them being drawn from Morocco and 60% from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the rest of Africa, this new event will offer great opportunities to discover a new country for subcontracting.

• Dates:  17-20 May, 2011
• Location:  Casablanca, Morocco
• Register:  www.sistep-midest.com

Some companies are already well installed in Morocco and will take the opportunity to show their skills to visitors. Valtronic has organised a nice programme for interested visitors.

Valtronic is a full service global provider of engineering, design & development and manufacturing services for industrial and medical device markets. With facilities in Switzerland, the U.S., Morocco, Romania and a sales office in France the company’s solutions range from micro-electronics and micro-mechanics to the integration of complex systems. Valtronic will open its door in Morroco.

Valtronic Morocco Factory Tour and Lunch  Thursday, May 19, 2011
Experience firsthand what manufacturing at Valtronic’s Morocco facility can offer you.  The executives will provide a brief overview of the Moroccan manufacturing world and Valtronic’s Morocco’s capabilities followed by a tour of the facility and lunch.  You will have the opportunity to tour the new state of the art clean room, observe the skill of Valtronic’s workforce as well as meet manufacturing and quality managers.

Schedule

• 09:00   Shuttle Pick-up in Casablanca
• 10:00   Arrive at Valtronic
• 10:15   Presentation
• 10:45   Plant Tour
• 11:15   Lunch Served
• 12:00   Shuttle leaves for Casablanca
• 13:00   Arrive in Casablanca

At Midest Morocco, you can find Valtronic at booth J38

For more information about Sistep – Midest
For more information about Valtronic

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Happy Easter

The Eurotec team wish a happy few days off to the lucky ones than can enjoy such a period.  We also wish you a happy Easter’s time. The newsfeed will also be stopped for a few days.

The picture explains why it is easier to hunt eggs at night. (Courtesy of Pierre Kohler – Bruxelles).

Next opportunity to meet the Eurotec’s team is mediSIAMS. If you visit the show, do not miss to pass on our booth.

Cheers

Pierre-Yves

Newemag’s open house in Rotkreuz

European premieres as highlights of the exhibition.
From May 11 to 13, 2011, Newemag’s open house in Rotkreuz focuses on particularly interesting products. Visitors will have the opportunity to see a beautiful range of high-quality machines. For example an evolution of the BNA machine by Miyano, the BNA-42 DHY series and the new SKT -180 TTSY by Hyundai-Kia will be presented.

In Rotkreuz, from May 11 to 13, Newemag opens its doors to its customers, its suppliers and specialists. The company particularly distinguished by its experience, its sales and service and its full spare parts availability, markets since 1975 machine tools of different manufacturers for various industries. The traditional open house of Newemag, which attracts a large audience year after year offers several strengths. Visitors will enjoy three days of presentations, conferences and exciting technical interviews and discover many machines. In addition, Schneider mc SA, Newemag’s sister company, located in Chavornay, will present the Modulbox system recently introduced on the market.

Miyano BNA-42 DHY – improvement of the BNA-42 S
The 7 axes Miyano BNA-42 DHY turning centre is an improvement of the BNA-42 S model. The machine is now equipped with a Y axis as well as an additional turret which allows machining of complex parts. “Thanks to software optimizations and high downtime reduction, machining time per part is shortened. Our customers directly gain higher productivity” specifies Pirmin Zehnder, Director and owner of Newemag. We must also mention the latest generation Fanuc control: Fanuc 0i-TD with 10.4″ color screen. The machine convince with its balanced price/performance ratio and brings profitable machining with short downtime. The Miyano machines are known throughout the industrial sector for their exceptional accuracy. Interested persons will have a good opportunity to see the range of Miyano machines presented at the Open House.

Hyundai-Kia SKT-180 TTSY – the new two spindles with double Turret machine
Main and counter spindles are identical with powerful motorspindles, two very stable BMT-55 turrets, a Y axis on the upper turret and a digital part holder. These are the main features of the new double turret SKT -180 TTSY Hyundai-Kia machine to be discovered for the first time on the Swiss market.
The TT series by Hyundai-Kia has a modular structure, but it is always available with 2 turrets and offers bar capacities up to Ø 51 mm or Ø 76 mm.

Visitors are invited to the Newemag’s open house to find out more about these products from May 11 to 13, 2011.

Opening time

• Wednesday, May 11 from 9:00 to 17:00
• Thursday, May 12 from 9: 00 to 17:00
• Friday, May 13, from 9:00 to 20: 00

A lunch will be offered daily to visitors.

Newemag machine tools
Erlenstrasse 2
6343 Rotkreuz
Tel. + 41 41 798 31 00
Fax + 41 41 790 10 54
Info@newemag.ch
www.newemag.ch

NEW DATES ANNOUNCED

Due to the tragic events in Japan, Newemag postpones its open-house to May 18 to 20!

Delcam adds data repair module for FeatureCAM CAM software

Delcam has introduced a new data repair module for its FeatureCAM feature-based CAM system.  The module, which is based on functionality from Delcam’s PowerSHAPE CAD software, will allow FeatureCAM users to repair poor-quality CAD models from a wide range of design software.  Once repaired, the models will be able to take full advantage of the highly-automated programming provided by FeatureCAM.

Delcam’s Solid Doctor can fix data translation problems such as gaps or overlaps between surfaces.

At the heart of the new module is Delcam’s Solid Doctor.  This allows users to read in and repair automatically models from a variety of sources, including standard formats like IGES and STEP, plus native files, such as CATIA, Pro/Engineer and Inventor, and output a file that can be read directly into FeatureCAM.

To fill the gap
The Solid Doctor is able to tackle all the common problems that can be found when translating low precision and incomplete data, including gaps and overlaps between surfaces, or duplicated and missing surfaces, and generate a valid, high-precision model ready for programming.  A combination of automated and advanced tools means that simple repairs can be carried out quickly and easily, while more complex problems can be overcome by deleting and replacing the existing surfaces within the model.

Quick and easy
The Solid Doctor first analyses the model and highlights any problems found with a warning label.  The automated repair sequence can then be run.  Each corrected issue has its label changed from red to green as it is repaired.
For the more serious problems that remain, it will usually be necessary to generate replacement surfaces in the affected area.  This can be done easily using Smart Surfacing technology from PowerSHAPE.  The user simply deletes the existing surfaces and sketches around the area to be repaired.  The software will then analyse the boundary and suggest the most appropriate type of surface to fill the space.

User friendliness
Once the user is happy with the quality of the repaired surfaces, they are automatically incorporated back into the model.  This process continues until all the inconsistencies have been resolved and a model created that is suitable for machining.
“The main benefit of FeatureCAM is its speed and ease of use,” claimed Delcam Marketing Manager, Peter Dickin.  “The Solid Doctor provides an equally fast and simple method for repairing imported CAD files, and so will help to further shorten the lead time needed to move from computer model to machined part.”

For further information on Delcam’s FeatureCAM software, please contact
Peter Dickin, Marketing Manager
Direct phone: 0121 683 1081
marketing@delcam.com

Delcam plc
Small Heath Business Park,
Birmingham, B10 0HJ, UK
www.delcam.com

Significant progress for CSEM Brasil

Brazilian development bank BNDES approves funding of US$8M (12.9 million reais) for the Innovation Center CSEM Brasil, Belo Horizonte (MG), to develop technological systems for crop monitoring and to set-up an applied-research facility in nanotechnology, microsystems and sensors aiming to serve – among others – the automotive, oil & gas, aero-space and semiconductor markets. The transaction, made in the framework of the bank’s technology fund (Funtec), also involves investments in technology transfer and the training of professionals.

CSEM Brasil is an applied-research institute founded by CSEM of Switzerland in collaboration with Brazilian venture capital firm FIR Capital and the government of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The country’s second largest state, Minas Gerais is rapidly evolving from a commodity-driven economy to one based on innovation and high-tech. CSEM Brasil´s mission for agriculture is to equip the Brazilian and world farming sectors with a set of tools which provide relevant plant and soil information to assist farmers in achieving lower costs and higher yields with reduced environmental impact, whilst providing CSEM Brasil with a platform for further developments in other markets.

The precision agriculture systems being developed by CSEM Brasil will enable the monitoring of integrated sensors, connected to a wireless network for data transmission, distributed throughout the area. Accurate and automated readings of many physical aspects of the environment are possible and will provide consolidated data to the user. The project will have a concrete impact on next generation equipment for precision agriculture and thereby contribute to a smarter planet, creating, for example, devices able to contribute to water savings.

Technologies used in the project and new to Brazil will also enable applied research and development work to be conducted in the country, targeting differentiated chip-packaging solutions, and the development of hybrid microsystems, all of which have applications in various strategic industries, particularly those working in harsh environments such oil & gas, automotive and aeronautical.

For more information:
CSEM
Dr. Erika Györvary
Technology Coordinator
CSEM Brasil
Tel +41 32 720 5015
e-mail: erika.gyoervary@csem.ch

Very strong pick-up in business in 2010

All the regions and market segments in which the Tornos Group operates emerged from recession during 2010. The medical segment returned to a normal level at the beginning of the year, rapidly followed by automotive, then electronics and finally watchmaking. In geographical terms, the upturn has also been observed in all markets, albeit with a certain time lag in some cases. By the end of the year, all regions and market segments were on a positive trend.

New orders received during the year just ended were 2.5 times greater than in the previous year, totalling CHF 214.7 million. This represents an increase of 151.2% on 2009 (CHF 85.5 million).

The Tornos Group’s consolidated gross sales totalled CHF 160.1 million in 2010 – a 40.0% increase on the previous year (CHF 114.4 million).

The detailed Group results will be published at the press conference scheduled for 14 March 2011 in Zurich.

Tornos Group
For more info
Geri Staudenmann or Julia Moreno
Geri Staudenmann Kommunikation, Biel
Tel. +41 32 345 24 44
Fax +41 32 345 24 48
info@geristaudenmann.ch

High-precision, super-fast and extremely cost-effective

The new S41 CNC universal cylindrical grinding machine by Studer is characterized by outstanding technology and cost-effectiveness. The machine grinds with much higher precision, paired with a much greater metal removal rate.  In addition the longitudinal and cross slide, as well as the swivel axis for the wheelhead are equipped with electric direct drives, which move to the working position much more quickly and precisely.

To launch the new S41, Studer installed a machine in the middle of the city to offer people of the area the possibility to discover this new product.
From left to right, Mr Fred Gaegauf Managing Director of Studer, Mr  Michael Horn, Chairmann of the board of Studer and member of the board of Schleifring Group and Mr Stephan Nell, chairman of the board of Schleifring Group (new functions since February 1, 2011) with the new S41.

Extremely rigid machine bed and maintenance-free guide system
The outstanding features of the S41 include, for example, the more solid, more rigid and more thermally stable machine bed made of Granitan® S103.
Thanks to its favorable thermal behavior, the machine bed largely equalizes brief variations in temperature – so that the machine operates with consistently high precision even with changing ambient temperatures.
The guideways of both the longitudinal slide and the cross slide are moulded directly into the machine bed.  To ensure that the high forces that occur during grinding with high metal removal rates are optimally absorbed into the machine bed, the guideways have a larger spacing.

The new StuderGuide® guideway system ensures high precision of the longitudinal and cross slides when both stationary and during movement. The StuderGuide® guideway system uses the advantages of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic guide systems and avoids the slip-stick effect or floating of the slide. Also contributing to the machine’s high precision is the fact that the solid gray cast iron longitudinal and cross slides rest completely on the guideways over the entire travel.  With this maintenance-free guide system, Studer guarantees a straightness of  < 0.003 millimeters over a measured length of 950 millimeters. The first test results even gave values of < 0.002 millimeters.

Electric direct drives increase speed and precision
The longitudinal slide (Z-axis) has a ground work table which carries the workhead and tailstock as well as additional accessories and devices.  A ground T-slot over the entire length of the guideway enables optimal positioning of dressing tools. The cross slide (X-axis) supports the wheelhead. Longitudinal and cross slides are moved by linear direct drives and, with up to 20 meters per second, achieve four times higher travel speeds and axis system resolutions of ten nanometers.  This enables high-precision and highly efficient grinding, as well as making a huge contribution to reducing auxiliary times.

No longer a Hirth gear
The swivel movement of the turret wheelhead (B-axis) is also by a direct drive. It swivels the turret wheelhead around three times faster and positions the new grinding wheels in a much shorter time with a positioning range of < 1″. The positioning is therefore twice as precise as with the predecessor machine.  The elimination of the Hirth gear, which fixed the wheelhead in position on the predecessor machines, also contributes to faster positioning. When swiveling in a new grinding wheel it is therefore no longer necessary to lift the turret wheelhead out of the Hirth gear first of all, and then to engage it again by lowering it.  The time required for fine adjustment after engaging in the Hirth gear is also saved. The new concept therefore makes a considerable contribution to saving on auxiliary times – particularly when the workpiece grinding process requires frequent swiveling-in of different wheels.

Fritz Studer AG
Thunstr. 15
CH-3612 Steffisburg
Tel. +41 33 439 11 11
Fax +41 33 439 11 12
info@studer.com
www.studer.com

CAM Software Brings Efficient Machining to SolidWorks 2011 3D CAD

GibbsCAM 2011 is optimized for machining parts designed in SolidWorks® 2011, and is a SolidWorks Certified CAM Partner Product. It further helps SolidWorks 2011 users with its unique interface, which makes CAM software easy to learn and easy to use, with language and icons that manufacturing professionals understand.

Among the many new features of GibbsCAM are recognition and preservation of SolidWorks features and colors, and the direct transfer of SolidWorks-wizard-generated holes to the GibbsCAM Hole Manager. Upon opening a SolidWorks model, GibbsCAM 2011 reads model attributes, then recognizes and preserves them as attributes in the GibbsCAM part file. Colors assigned by SolidWorks are preserved as CAD colors in the part file. All holes generated by the SolidWorks hole wizard transfer directly into the GibbsCAM Hole Manager and are automatically recognized. GibbsCAM’s hole wizard has been enhanced and now establishes default values, letting users implement default-based hole-making operations with no more interaction than three mouse clicks.

User oriented improvements
“We expect that our current and prospective customers will be very pleased with the numerous improvements we have made in the past year, as well as the new enhancements made specifically for SolidWorks interoperability,” said Bill Gibbs, president and founder of Gibbs and Associates. “SolidWorks users will see why GibbsCAM continues to be the best NC programming system available to them, while our joint customers can continue to take advantage of GibbsCAM 2011’s interoperability with SolidWorks 2011 to accurately open SolidWorks part models, and efficiently use them to generate programs for the simplest and most complex CNC machine tools.”

Complete CAD/CAM solution
The combination of GibbsCAM 2011 and SolidWorks 2011 provides a complete CAD/CAM solution for most manufacturing environments. Whether parts have simple geometry needing only 2.5-axis milling or 2-axis turning, or complex geometry requiring use of 5-axis machining, MTM or Swiss-style turning centers, the SolidWorks-GibbsCAM combination accommodates and optimizes the machining process. GibbsCAM verifies the toolpaths with gouge detection and interference checking, then dynamically and visually simulates them on virtual machine tools, and accurately post-processes them to generate optimal NC programs. Multiple GibbsCAM features help users eliminate scrap, reduce cycle times, and maximize efficiency, safety and profits.

For more information about GibbsCAM, or to locate your local GibbsCAM reseller, go to www.GibbsCAM.com, call 1-800-654-9399, or email info@GibbsCAM.com.

In Switzerland and France:
Productec SA
Les Grands Champs 5
2842 Rossemaison
Phone + 41 32 421 44 33
Fax + 41 32 421 44 39
info@productec.ch
www.productec.ch
Productec France
Phone +33 9 74 76 26 61

Delcam supports GKN Aerospace ice protection project for Boeing Dreamliner

Delcam has played a major part in a GKN Aerospace project to supply new electro-thermal ice protection technology for the wings of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The project represents the first application of this technology to a major wing environment.

The Huron KX 200 at Delcam’s Birmingham headquarters was used to manufacture demonstration parts and the initial production samples.

The Delcam contribution involved both Delcam Professional Services, which developed a novel manufacturing process for the leading edge of the wing, and the company’s Advanced Manufacturing Facility, which manufactured demonstration parts and the initial production samples.  The process is based on Delcam’s adaptive machining technology that uses a combination of the company’s machining and inspection software to manufacture complex components to high levels of accuracy on a consistent basis.

Electro-thermal ice protection
The complete Wing Ice Protection System for the Boeing Dreamliner is a joint project between GKN Aerospace and Ultra Electronics, which provides the System controller.  The System will provide electro-thermal ice protection to the leading edge slats of the aircraft wing.  Electro-thermal systems remove the need to bleed hot air from the engine, which has been the traditional approach to wing ice protection.  An electro-thermal system is more fuel efficient and avoids the problems associated with channelling hot-gas tubing through complex wing and fuselage structures.  As a result, the performance efficiency of the aircraft engine is increased, whilst maintenance requirements are reduced.

Great success and technology transfer
Following the successful completion of the initial production samples at Delcam, the process was transferred to GKN’s Luton site for the move into full-scale manufacture.  Furthermore, the staff at GKN were so impressed with the results from the Delcam software that they subsequently purchased both the PowerMILL CAM system and the On-Machine Verification version of the PowerINSPECT inspection software.

For further information on Delcam’s aerospace software and services, please contact:
Peter Dickin, Marketing Manager
Direct phone: 44 (0)121 683 1081
e-mail: marketing@delcam.com

Delcam plc
Small Heath Business Park,
Birmingham, B10 0HJ, UK
www.delcam.com