Renishaw exhibited its latest aerospace applications at Farnborough International Airshow 2014

Photo by Renishaw plc

Renishaw, the global precision metrology company, exhibited a range of its engineering technologies for aerospace applications at the Farnborough International Airshow 2014.  New  revolutionary machine tool probing systems, precision sensors for co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs), as well as examples of the Company’s additive manufacturing technologywere showcased in Farnborough.

Renishaw exhibited SPRINT™, a game-changing contact scanning system for on-machine process control applications. The system opens up completely new process control opportunities for high-value CNC machine tools. The SPRINT system incorporates a new generation of on-machine scanning technology that will deliver a step-change in the benefits of process control, enabling fast and accurate form and profile data capture from both prismatic and complex 3D components.

For blade manufacture, the SPRINT system provides unprecedented capability for blade tip refurbishment and root blending applications. For multi-task machining applications, the SPRINT machine tool scanning system offers users completely new process control capabilities, including exceptionally repeatable diameter measurement cycles.

Additional functionality offered by the SPRINT system allows a rapid health-check of a CNC machine tool’s linear and rotary axes in seconds, making it possible to implement a daily machine monitoring regime with little or no operator involvement.

Also on show was Renishaw’s revolutionary REVO® 5-axis scanning system, which gives a fast 5-axis measurement capability that maximises co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) throughput whilst maintaining high system accuracy. REVO uses synchronised motion and Renscan5™ measurement technology to minimise the dynamic effects of CMM motion at ultra high measurement speeds. This is achieved by letting the REVO head do the fast demanding motion while the CMM moves in a linear slow fashion. The system also allows the automated changing of different probe and sensor types, including a surface measurement option.

Renishaw highlighted a developing family of high performance hardware and software products for co-ordinate measuring machines that are specifically designed to aid the measurement and manufacturing of aerospace blades. All products complement the multi-award winning REVO® 5-axis measurement system and include APEXBlade™ planning software for REVO sweep scanning and DMIS programming, MODUS™ aerofoil analysis for the calculation and reporting of blade section profile and aerofoil characteristics, and SurfitBlade™ to aid reverse engineering of the complete airfoil.

Renishaw is the only UK manufacturer of metal-based additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing) machines, and the Company showed a range of fully dense, complex parts that have been built using its pioneering process. The system uses a range of metal powders, including tool steel, aluminium, titanium and inconel. The laser melting technology involves fusing the metal powder in layer thicknesses ranging from 20 to 100 microns using a high powered yterrbium fibre laser. The process is digitally driven, direct from 3D CAD data.

For more information, please visit http://www.renishaw.com

• CID: 15728