Technical Experts

Additive manufacturing uses data computer-aided-design (CAD) software or 3D object scanners to direct hardware to deposit material, layer upon layer, in precise geometric shapes. As its name implies, additive manufacturing adds material to create an object.

Casting is the process where metal is heated until molten. While in the molten or liquid state it is poured into a mold or vessel to create a desired shape. Forging is the application of thermal and mechanical energy to steel billets or ingots to cause the material to change shape while in a solid state.

CNC Machining is used in the manufacturing of both plastic and metal parts. CNC Machining has many benefits; precision is one of these as for manufacturers the precision achieved is much greater than via manual machining. Another benefit is that once the code has been generated it can be repeated infinity in the same manner which provides great opportunities to manufacturers.

A Composite material is a material that has been made from two or more materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties that have been combined to produce a superior material with properties of both materials.

Both jigs and fixtures are used in manufacturing. If you want to produce interchangeable parts, you will need to use a jig, fixture, or both depending on the operation. Human error is vastly limited, so components can be machined quickly with high levels of accuracy, which reduces costs. Jigs are a type of fixture that guides and supports a tool, whereas a fixture is used to secure a workpiece to be worked on.

Software is simply defined as the programs and other operating components used by a computer. In the modern age, software is vastly used within Engineering to enable the great work produced by the industry daily. Software provides the engineering industry with the ability to allow computers to complete complex work which would otherwise be incredibly difficult or impossible to conduct by humans.

Metrology is the science of measurement and products/devices designed to measure can have significant costs to business. Metrology Services involve the measurement. Measurement tools can be of great expense to business and out-sourcing for these services can be a viable cost-effective method to achieve Metrology.

Rapid Prototyping is used to describe a collection of techniques to create a scale model of a physical part from a Computer Aided Design (CAD) program. Rapid Prototyping is used to produce complicated 3D shapes which are used to aid evaluation of a design. Rapid Prototyping tends to be employed as a one-off to create a scale model rather than used in large-scale production.

Mould Tool. The terms mould and tool generally refer to parts produced via injection or blow molding. Moulds are generally made of tool steel, aluminum, copper and alloys. Mould components consists of components such as mold bases, pins, ejectors, lifters, bushings, guides and alignment devices. Press tools are commonly used in hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical presses to produce the sheet metal components in large volumes. Generally press tools are categorized by the types of operation performed using the tool, such as blanking, piercing, bending, forming, forging, trimming etc.

Workholding refers to any device used to secure a workpiece and hold it in place against the forces of machining. The simplest is a clamp; screwed into place on a machining centre’s table. However, workholding can also involve complex fixtures that are custom-built for particular parts. Cutting equipment can come in a variety of forms, but usually all involve a blade of some description. However, laser cutting is available. Cutting tools started off a tools made solely from high carbon steel, but now they come in a variety of materials including cobalt, abridge and even diamond or ceramic.