Renishaw, an engineering company based in Gloucestershire, will be highlighting a range of their process control technologies at the event this year. These machines are designed to help tackle the increasing need to streamline manufacturing processes.

Some of the new technologies that will be shown at the event include a new style of scanning system for CNC machine tools, a long range laser encoder, a range of modular fixtures designed for metrology and a product range that measures aerospace blades.

One of the most impressive technologies that will be on display is the Sprint Analogue Contact Scanning High Speed System. This machine is able to offer incredibly fast and accurate data capture when working with very complex 3D components.

The new machines offered by Renishaw and the many other companies showcasing at the exhibition will be seen by more than 100,000 visitors from more than 100 countries.

The art installation is called the “Mobile Orchard” and the intertwining trees stand five meters tall. The roots are large enough to sit on and the branches are sturdy enough to climb. The tree sculpture will contain 500 real apples that will be freshly replenished each week. The public will be encouraged to “pick” and eat the apples from the fake tree.

The structure of the tree is made with several layers of CNC-cut birch plywood which is supported by aluminium panels. The branches themselves will be decorated with LED lighting within the grain of the wood. The main piece will be surrounded by a forest of one hundred small apple and pear trees. The small tree will be planted after the installation to create a real orchard.

The “Mobile Orchard” will be launched on June 24, and will be open to the public in Paternoster Square, just opposite St. Paul’s Cathedral. Afterward, it will travel to five different major squares within the city of London over the course of five weeks, before visiting other locations throughout the UK. It is a commission for the City of London Festival.

Kaman Composites supplies parts to important aircraft programs, both military and commercial. This includes assembling and building a number of complex structures as well as assembling flight critical structures, offering support design and production tooling. The production team at Kaman made it a goal in 2011 to explore their options for equipment, as they hoped to increase their capability and capacity in the most cost effective manner.

The DMS 5 Axis Router that Kaman has recently installed is innovative and cutting edge, as it features a special type of overhead enclosure that works to completely contain the dust created by the manufacturing process. Also, it is designed to eliminate production delays and improve efficiency in the workplace. They choose the DMS as it was the best option for a high quality CNC machine that would operate at high standards for a reasonable price. This means that the company now boasts the very latest CNC manufacturing technology.

This will allow the company to increase their customer based and to take on much more lucrative contracts in the future. Their commitment to improvement is what helps them to excel in the rapidly growing aerospace technology market.

However, there is a good reason why there is so much support behind this project. This small cube-shaped machine has the potential to bring CNC cutting, one of the most sophisticated manufacturing processes, down to a price point affordable for the average DIY enthusiast.

The machine is small enough to fit in a home workshop, as the bed of the device is only four inches by five inches. It is designed primarily to cut out custom circuitry, but it could also be used to cut out small moulds and to engrave a wide range of designs. It has the ability to cut almost any type of material, from wood to plastic to metal and even chocolate. The Othermill has the ability to move in three directions, which is what enables it to perform its cutting on 3D objects and create designs much more complex than would be possible with hand tools.

This powerful machine has the potential to bring CNC cutting sophistication to the DIY market. This means that many independent craftspeople, woodworkers, jewellery designers and many others will be able to create products with a higher level of precision, accuracy and speed.

For example, so many engineers were interested in learning about the latest Edgecam software release, the 2013 R2, that it was necessary for Edgecam to more than double the company’s UK upgrade training days in order to meet the demand.

Garner explains that it is very important for workers to be trained in the new Workflow, which is a development introduced in the 2013 R2. This new Workflow has been specifically designed in order to make work processes easier for manufacturers so that they can reduce costs and improve quality further. The demand for learning this new system is so high that training has needed to be increased in order for more people to be able to operate 2013 R2 to its full potential.

In order to train workers on this new system, Edgecam started by offering eight training days for the software release. However, the demand for the training was so great that the company needed to extend the course to 20 days instead. The demand came when so many people heard about the new interface and wanted training on it. The training will be held at Edgecam’s offices, which are located in Wakefield, Bath and Reading.

One of the most fascinating recent developments is a robotic arm that is designed to work in tandem with their CNC lathe.

The automated robotic arm is nothing like the big, clunky and expensive robots that have been previously developed around the world. Instead, it is a low-cost and highly manoeuvrable robotic arm that can be installed in under an hour. The robotic arm enhances the function of the CNC lathe dramatically, as it can be programmed to load the machine.

The UR10 Universal Robot was demonstrated loaded aluminium billets into the CNC lathe. Then, when the CNC machining cycle was complete the robot would unload all finished components and place them in pre-determined spots on a tray. The robot arm could even be programmed to shut the door of the machine after the chuck was loaded into the CNC machine and push the start button to begin the cycle.

This development opens up a lot of possibilities for the CNC machining world. With automated, programmable and highly manoeuvrable robotic arms such as these, it is possible that CNC machines could be operated without the need for human workers to load and unload them, making the manufacturing process even more automated in the future.

This new machine will allow its users to create real-time synchronisation with their virtual and physical machining cycles. This has a lot of advantageous applications to multi-axis machining centres and this type of “smart machining” has been in high demand.

The NCSIMUL Machine 9 is an incredibly advanced CNC machine simulator that is capable of simulating, reviewing and optimizing machining programs by using the real characteristics of your NC machine. It is capable of correcting coding errors, performing simulations to find any collisions or motion errors, as well as validating the NC program.

There are many benefits to this new CNC machine, such as the ability for tighter integration with the tool libraries and cutting conditions. The NCSIMUL Machine 9 also offers dynamic NC programming which makes it even more interactive. With this machine, the company is able to fully enjoy end-to-end control of the machining process. This means that the technical content can be accessed by the operator directly next to the machine and they will be able to see guaranteed real-time updates of all of the critical information for the business.

ACT has been innovating since 2004 in the field of CNC router technology and they have invested a significant amount of time into refining and developing their products. Over the past few years, their research has been focused on the advanced CNC controller, enabling them to develop a controller that offers quality and precision like never before.

As well as developing a desktop milling machine, they have also created a Benchtop CNC machine that is designed to cover the minimum amount of area and to be as lightweight as possible. These machines have been fine tuned to be as accurate as possible, in order to be used in the production of very finely measured and precise finished parts. These types of CNC machines are used in a number of fields including research labs, dental applications, engraving, jewellery manufacturing and even 3D mould making.

The new technological developments that are happening across the pond at ACT can provide the UK CNC technology industry with inspiration for even further innovation in this field.

The Moore 12000 COP 180i high rise CNC jig grinding machine will be incorporated into the Aldridge site and it is necessary to ensure that the company can meet its new requirements for its expanding capacity. While Kepston is rapidly expanding, they have a priority to continue to maintain the quality standards that their long-standing customers expect. The jig grinder will allow Kepston to offer its services, including heat treatment, brazing, annealing and machining in a larger capacity. This high quality CNC machinery will allow it to meet the growing demand as a result of its excellent recent performance.

Kepston was first registered in 1916 and is a privately owned company. The firm’s Aldridge site specialises in sub contract precision grinding in a temperature controlled environment, whereas its Wednesbury site offers furnace brazing on stainless steel assemblies and bright annealing of other materials.

In addition to the CNC machinery at the Aldridge site, the company has also added a large EDM wire eroding machine. There have also been a number of developments at the Wednesbury location, including new furnace equipment which will support the mesh belt brazing service for steel components.

The new developments and the addition of the CNC machinery and other technology will allow the company to move forward toward a prosperous future.

The clever approach to enclosure design is based on the ability of CNC machining technology to bend and form the flat sheets of plastic into a shape determined by a computer model. The CNC machines used by the company are incredibly exact and this technology allows the design team to produce a working prototype within one week of the approval of the CAD/CAM Designs.

Having the CNC technology to create this type of medical device will ensure that many patients requiring it are able to treat their liver problems. The OrganOX Metra helps to ensure that livers are preserved and viable for transportation for up to 24 hours. Using oxygenated blood, the liver can be kept in working order until it is transplanted into the patient. The metra uses a process of auto-regulation which keeps the blood flowing and this method has been developed over 15 years of research. This device will increase the number of viable livers available for transplant, potentially saving many lives. It is just another testament to the wide application possibilities of CNC technology.