Page 45 - Metalorming Magazine January/February 2023

improved configuration options to adapt to any part geometry or level of cut quality. The new version also eases interpretation of bending-line tech- nology from the import stage, as well as the automatic import of nests cre- ated by external systems including the automatic detection of repeated parts. Additionally, new options have been added for the semiautomatic genera- tion and modification of scrap.
Quoting, via improved integration of Lantek Flex3D with Lantek MES and Lantek Integra, now allows new options for importing, nesting, and time and cost calculation in the tube/profile parts quoting module. Support for assembly quoting also has been improved, thanks to a new, intuitive ability to browse the entire assembly structure of components and the oper- ations involved in the calculation of costs and prices for quotes.
And, Lantek MES and Lantek Inte- gra, which oversee workshop manage- ment and help track resource loading, orders, delivery dates, etc., have been upgraded to improve traceability, the ability to record information on down- time and reasons for parts scrapped during production.
Lantek: www.lantek.com
Long-Lasting Nonwoven Flap Discs Deliver Quick Cutting, Fine Finishes
Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives introduced Norton Vortex Rapid Prep nonwoven flap discs that last longer and produce significantly increased cutting rates and smear-free finishes,
according to company officials. Vortex agglomerated aluminum-oxide-grain technology reportedly enables the cut- ting power of a coarser grit while pro- ducing a finer finish in one abrasives- disc product. The company reports that based on tests performed, the non- woven discs can increase material removal rates by more than 50 percent as compared to nonwoven medium- grit flap discs.
Ideal for light blending, stripping, edge breaking and surface-prep applications in metal fabrication and welding, the flap discs feature special 3D nonwoven abrasive layers. This design ensures uniform finishing with a consistently low surface-finish value. In addition, multiple layers of surface-conditioning material pro- vide added life, fewer disc changes for better efficiency and reduced vibration. The discs also feature Nor- ton’s Clean Bond resin technology for smear-free finishes, even on high- nickel-content alloys, and reduced loading when cutting aluminum and other softer metals. They also provide forgiveness and reduced vibration on uneven surfaces. The discs are offered in fine, very fine, medium and coarse grits.
Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives: www.nortonabrasives.com
Extended Range for Cobot Welding and Other Tasks
Welding and cobot-base extenders took center stage at the Universal Robots (UR) booth, as company offi- cials note that welding has become the
fastest-growing application segment for UR, growing more than 80 percent the first nine months of 2022 as com- pared to 2021. With this backdrop, Vec- tis Automation debuted at the UR booth the Park’N’Arc (pictured), a rota- tional range extender that allows for the base of cobot to be manually moved to various locations in welding and other applications.
“Compared to a short linear track, the Park’N’Arc is an improved design for increasing range as the cobot base can be translated nearly 8 ft. in a linear direction while maintaining simplicity, robust cable management and porta- bility,” says Josh Pawley, cofounder of Vectis Automation.
With another new take on welding larger parts, typically out of the cobot’s reach, again at the UR booth, Hire- botics and partner Kinetic Technologies LLC launched the RT1, a new cobot- controlled rotary table designed to maximize welding capacity.
“The need for this system is twofold,” says Rob Goldiez, cofounder of Hirebotics. “It gives users the ability to rotate the part to the front and back for welding. And, it gives users with high-volume production the ability to have separate load and weld stations; loading a part on one side while the cobot is welding on the other, increasing arc-on time and throughput.”
Universal Robots: www.universal-robots.com
Vectis Automation: www.vectisautomation.com Hirebotics: www.hirebotics.com
42 MetalForming/January/February 2023
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