Continued from pg 15
important. The shellroom application requires specific design characteristics prohibiting external oil lubrication and a level of motion smoothness necessary to protect delicate shells. Additionally, positional accuracy performance to enable inter-process interfacing with robotic machines has been solved. Robotic engineering technology and system unique signature configuration have been developed by the company and design embedded within the conveyor systems, to meet the special requirement of the shellroom. Hanger units are engineered for fixed, unpowered rotating, powered rotating, and specialised final dry stacked carrier application.
Since the advent of water based
binder materials, the requirement for efficient intercoat and final drying of the in-process ceramic shell has been a critical component in the success of the large scale ceramic shell production. Specialised air movement machines have
developed included : High
Velocity Vectored airflow units, High Volume Air Stream units, and Variar mixer units, all equipped for process optimisation and control integration. Drying systems design have
included; V type Vertical Producers, H&M type Horizontal Producers and the D type ‘Doughnut’ for specialist application. Horizontal
IC-conveyor based
drying systems of single, double, and multi levels of many configurations and capacities have been engineered and delivered all around the world of Investment Casting with the majority operating continuously 24 hrs a day!
Q A
Discussing on System integration can you tell us about the role
played by Software advance in supporting this?
In today’s systems engineering, Mechatronics is the key interdis-
ciplinary branch of engineering that brings together the combined skills of electronic, electrical and mechanical engineering systems. It also includes a combination of robotics, computer, telecommunications, control, and ex-
16 ❘ February 2021 ®
tends to the process specifics of the IC industry.
shell
Software engineering plays a key role in the context of Robot System Software, Control System Software, and in Shell Management System software. Of these, the Shell Management Sys- tem (IC-Crystal) software group forms the largest resource, and is tasked to implement the specific individu- al system design configuration within IC-Crystal, and to continuously devel- op the IC-Crystal product to stay at the forefront of Process control Innovation, KPV control, and MES integration.
Q
The process requirement for single crystal ceramic shells used in aerospace application is vastly different from that required in an open tolerance commercial casting, and while the tolerance limits may be different, the requirement for variability avoidance outside the limits remains the same. Different shape parts, shell mass, materials,
A shell shell size, shell
quantities, shell thermal characteristics and many more factors, define the
Although the Investment Casting process participate of a similar basic stages, clearly the end product application and characteristics, define the specific technology required. How this has been affecting to the solutions provided by VA Technology? Can be inferred that each application required of a specific engineered solution?
drying requirements, to the and success a
range of technical solutions have been engineered and developed by the team to meet these needs: Fundamental
of
the Shell drying systems, has been the development and engineering of the Environment
Air Conditioning
systems (E –system). The shell drying process demands industry unique tight
tolerances for temperature and
Humidity. Conventional AC systems cannot deliver the environmental tolerances required and VA Tech has over many years developed, engineered, and produced unique 4-Element
P-technology E-Systems
solutions to achieve the goal. Equally important is that the
technology has been mastered and performance calculations validated, and the E-system can be engineered to a high degree of performance assurance at the Shell Manufacturing System engineering design stage.
Q
The application of sensors has indeed changed significantly, and the pace of change as new and affordable sensors come on line
A
Sensors have evolved enormously during the last years providing the possibility to capture real time data in a more affordable and accurate way. How has this affected to the evolution of the solutions provided by systems?
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