Aside

COMING SOON: DMU 50 3rd Generation PH150

5-AXIS MACHINE TAKING CNC MILLING TO A NEW LEVEL

Automated laser sheetmetal production sets new bar in NZ

Metco has set a new benchmark for automated laser cutting of sheet metal – with it’s new 24/7 unmanned production system that can process about 100 tonnes of material over a weekend.

Paul Jessup, CEO, says “we can offer bottom line benefits of faster production, higher volumes, and reduced cost to clients. It’s a whole new scale of operation we’ve broken into, opening up much broader opportunities”

A cost cut of 60% can be achieved by the reduced setup time of 22 seconds per sheet – compared to 1.5 minutes without automation. This effectively means 85-90% time-utilisation of lasers, instead of 60-65% previously with just a pallet changer.

Metco have established a completely integrated production line with Trumpf equipment end-to-end, ensuring compatibility and reliability.

The key component to this new level of productivity is their material storage towers. The new Trumpf True Store 3030 facility can hold 51 pallets of 3 tonnes each. A built-in crane transfers pallets between shelves, and a Lift Master Compact efficiently transfers sheets automatically between the storage tower and twin lasers.

Staff are only required on site if any problems arise, with automatic callout by comprehensive machine alarms.

Metco are now positioned to accommodate much higher demands for large-scale projects in New Zealand and overseas.

University of Canterbury – Motorsport Manufacturing Newsletter

UC Motorsport Overview

UC Motorsport is a student lead and run group whose aim is to design and build a formula style race car. UC Motorsport has competed in the Australasian competition since 2013, is one of the University’s premier engineering projects and is undoubtedly asignificant motivator for young students considering an engineering degree at the University of Canterbury. The project produces experienced and talented graduates that have a great understanding and appreciation for vehicle technology, engineering design, and manufacturing processes that they take with them as they go into industry. This year UC Motorsport has set themselves the goal of producing two competition ready vehicles to race in the Formula Student Competition in Australia at the end of 2018. There is one combustion class entry, UCM18C and one electric class entry, UCM18E.

UC Motorsport Suspension

This year the suspension team has focused on designing a reliable, easy to work on, high performance suspension system for UCM18C.

Over the last few months the team have been investigating a new manufacturing method for the suspension arms. Thanks to Rodin Car’s Metal Laser Sintered Titanium printer, bearing housings (pictured) were printed and bonded to carbon fibre tubes. Initial test data vastly exceeded our expectations in terms of strength and weight and as a result we proceeded with the implementation of the design.

A shift to an off the shelf OZ racing rim has opened the door to a central locking wheel retaining system, this also brings the added benefit of minimizing the cars un-sprung mass. This is paired to a CNC milled aluminium upright courtesy of Metco Engineering, which takes advantage of topological optimisation performed in ANSYS. This optimization method uses the results of a Finite Element Analysis to determine the volumes of a part which transmit the least amount of load, and hence where mass can be removed.

We will continue to use Ohlins dampers for UCM18 as the team has significant experience with them and they have proven reliable for all of our cars. They are also one of very few models tuned specifically for use in the Formula Student competition. The rockers, which activate the dampers, use a three piece design made from 7075-T6 Al. This high strength material allows us to use a lightweight design which has been CNC milled.

Completely redesigning and manufacturing the suspension system in such a short time period would not have been possible without the generous support of Metco Engineering, Rodin Cars, Ansys, John Brooks and many others

Read the full newsletter here >

Metco Engineering wins at Wellington Business Excellence Awards

Manufacturing in New Zealand is “not dead and buried” as many would have it and Metco Engineering Ltd is living proof of that, says the Seaview-based firm’s General Manager, Mark O’Donnell.

Metco Engineering Limited was named Supreme Business Award Winner at the 2017 Wellington Region Business Excellence Awards held at Upper Hutt’s Expressions Art & Entertainment Centre on November 3. They were also the category winners in the Manufacturing and Distribution section.

Their new 5,000 square square metre, state of the art premises at the Quadrant in Bell Road are a hub of manufacturing excellence. Read the full story >