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Recipient Sector:
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Hot
Coiled Spring Manufacturing Sector, Cold Coiling of Annealed Material
Springs Sector |
Donor
Sector: |
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Gear Industry |
Technology:
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Computer System
Integration |
Project
Start Date:
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01/08/01 |
Project
End Date:
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31/07/03 |
Duration:
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24 month |
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Lead
Organisation:
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Institute of Spring Technology (IST) |
Contact
Name: |
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Mr Chris Rushton |
Mail
To:
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c.rushton@ist.org.uk |
Tel
No:
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0114 2760 771 |
Address:
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Henry Street,
Sheffield, Yorkshire, S3 7EQ |
Project Summary:
Hot coiling machines are computer controlled and the design of hot coiled
springs utilises a CAD program. Spring Manufacturers foresee significant
commercial advantages if these two computer systems could be integrated.
This project will achieve this by carrying gear industry ICT technology,
implemented by Nottingham Trent University, to spring manufacture.
Project Partners:
Binns & Berry (Halifax) Ltd
Fairbank Brearley
Hanson Springs Ltd
Nottingham Trent University
Turton Tonks Springs Ltd
UK Spring Manufacturing Assoc
Need:
Springs are designed using CAD software and manufactured using computer
controlled coiling
machines. These two computer systems are not compatible. Additionally,
the spring undergoes several changes in form during the manufacturing
process and this has to be allowed for at the initial coiling stage to
ensure that the spring received by the end user is the one that was designed.
Making allowance for these changes can require several prototype iterations
until the correct spring is achieved.
Solution:
The solution is to develop a piece of linking software to enable the output
of the spring CAD software to be read directly by the machine control
software. Additionally there is a need to investigate the dimensional
changes that occur during spring manufacture and develop a predictive
model such that the coiling machine can make the correct dimensional change
allowances for the input spring design.
Benefits:
Improved timescales and reduced development costs for new products
due to direct linking of design and manufacturing processes and production
of more accurate first off samples
- Increased productivity due to an increase in the available production
time for the coiling machine
- Reduced scrap rates
- Commercial advantage leading to improved market share
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