Precision path to clean water
Based on the original part, but no drawings, DPC created designs to replicate it
Dawson Precision Components helped Weststone Projects overcome a last minute change in specification and deliver its water dispensing technology on time.
The system will help with the distribution of clean drinking water in Kuwait.
Weststone Projects designs, develops and supplies ‘Aquaflow’ water dispensing systems. One particular system is supplied to Kuwait, where it dispenses large volumes of water into tankers and deducts payment from pre-loaded cards. This system is specifically designed to meet criteria set by the Oman Ministry of Electricity & Water.
The tankers are filled with fresh water from a desalination plant, which are then distributed to houses. Weststone’s system allows for accurate measurement of water and therefore accurate payment.
Weststone was required to implement the system at a site where the water flowed at a higher pressure. Under the higher pressure, the diaphragm valve became displaced. Working with its valve supplier, and the suppliers’ supplier in Italy, a small metal tripod was developed which could sit in the bore of the valve to hold it in place under greater water pressure.
The piece was fairly complex and designed to a very precise specification to work with the valve. When Weststone discovered that a new shipment of 14 systems which would work under the higher pressure was required at short notice,it requested additional parts. The company in Italy which had manufactured the part, said it was unable to deliver it in time.
So on a Friday afternoon, Simon Yearn, project manager at Weststone Projects, started driving around to local components manufacturers in Oldham to try and get the part reproduced. After a few calls, he walked into Dawson Precision Components (DPC) at 3pm on a Friday afternoon.
“We didn’t expect to find anyone open at that time” says Yearn, “but when we turned up at DPC they were happy to take a look.”
DPC accepted the challenge. Managing director Simon Dawson says: “Although we’re particularly busy right now, we pride ourselves on being able to take on jobs at short notice. This is largely down to our staff’s commitment and flexibility.”
Based on the original part, but no drawings, DPC created designs to replicate it. Dawson says: “Some coordinates were plotted on our CMM and shadowgraph but, because of the short turnaround time required, the quickest way to do it was simply to take a picture, print it out and dimension it by hand. This was used to develop a programme for our machines.”
DPC ordered high quality brass from trusted suppliers on the Monday, which they collected Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, the parts were put on DPC’s Goodway CNC lathes and inspected by CMM. Weststone collected the parts on Wednesday for their shipment to Kuwait.
Simon Yearn adds: “The speed with which DPC was able to turn around a job whilst meeting high precision requirements was extremely impressive.”
He concludes: “They’re also right on our doorstep which is convenient and suits our preference to use local suppliers where possible.”
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