Advanced materials initiative from Shearline
Rachel Peachey, Knowledge Transfer Programme associate, will be driving forward Shearline's new magnesium injection moulding initiative, seen here holding the type of ultra lightweight, very strong, complex moulded components that will be possible with a new approach, flanked by David Littlechild, chairman, (left) and Charles Maltby, technical & commercial director of Shearline (right).
At Farnborough, Shearline will launch a new magnesium injection moulding project that promises to deliver ultra-light, strong and complex components.
From precision laser cutting of fragile ceramics through to 900mm cubed CNC machined transmission housings, UK-based Shearline will use Farnborough to demonstrate its technological capabilities across a broad spectrum of manufacturing.
The new advanced materials initiative, developed with the support of the University of Sheffield and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, aims to evaluate an innovative magnesium injection moulding process for its clients.
Thixomoulding is a relatively new process which enables the precise moulding of magnesium alloy components with thin walls and complex shapes within a single process.
Metal injection moulding via Thixomoulding and new additive layer methods for producing tooling can reduce the overall cost of tooling and construction. Components that may previously have required several manufacturing processes, or to have been constructed in parts and then assembled, can now be integrated within a single mould.
The key focus at Shearline will be on new alloys for the aerospace, automotive and defence sectors. An example of the type of ultra lightweight, very strong,complex moulded components that are achievable will be on show.
The company, that has its origins in the University of Cambridge Engineering Department, has continuously innovated to keep one step ahead of its client’s
needs.
But as sales director Andy Hayward explains, Shearline’s skilled engineers are still able to ‘go to manual’ when required to provide a fast response to intractable challenges.
“Engineering is all about finding elegant solutions and in some cases we need to fall back on traditional skills to find a quick fix. For example our rapid manufacturing team is able to make one-off metal components usually as part of new product development and this has proven invaluable when clients have found the shortage of a single component is holding back a production line.
“For many of our clients we work closely with their R&D departments. There is particular interest within the aerospace and defence industry for lightweight alloys and also for work in exotic materials and ceramics. Our Hybrid-Laser Technology division is experienced in working with these materials and can advise on the best approaches for clients.”
Also on the stand will be demonstrated a Shearvision Screen which incorporates patented ITrans technology, this uses tiled arrays of optical fibres to create high-brightness, high-resolution displays. The screens are constructed in modules or as a monolithic form, offering a unique capability to create unusual-sized screens.
Andy Hayward has seen a significant increase in demand for Shearline’s services over the last 12 months.
“Outsourcing becomes even more valuable during a downturn as it helps ensure progress against targets while maintaining visibility of costs. Shearline’s
ability to provide a total manufacturing solution means that we have the capability to do a large proportion of a project in-house and this simplifies the supply-chain. We are also able to do short-run high value manufacture cost-effectively and this is providing a competitive advantage in the international arena.”
Shearline will be at the Farnborough Airshow, 19-23 July 2010. You can find them in Hall 1 on the WEAF stand.
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