Kit media
Precision and high-integrity sand moulded parts for automotive engines and aerospace components
If you talk about engines and transmissions to anyone in the world of motorsport, there is a name that is immediately associated with molded parts design and rapid prototyping: Grainger - Worrall. Their unrivalled experience in engine and transmission programs for the F1 and WRC championships can be demonstrated on the LMP2 starting grid of the Le Mans 24 Hours in June 2018, by the fact that 20 cars used Gibson GK428 engines, moulded by Grainger and Worrall.
However, motorsport is not their only area of expertise, as they offer their clients in-depth knowledge of engineering and moulded parts design, tool design, machining and prototyping. The Grainger-Worrall aluminum smelter specializing in prototypes is taking a new approach to product development, adding value and providing precision sand moulded parts with superior integrity for automotive engine, aerospace and industrial component markets. The world demands ever lighter and more efficient means of propulsion, which increases the demand for prototypes as well as the requirements for quality control. To meet the annual demand for 300 new products for niche and motorsport sectors, Grainger-Worrall recently purchased Creaform's HandySCAN 700 from Measurement Solutions, Creaform's official UK distributor.
Although they are already equipped with traditional MMT (three-dimensional measuring machines), advanced CT (Computed Tomography, computed) scanners and white light scanning systems, the increasing complexity and willingness to push the boundaries has led them to improve their capabilities and resources. Their decision to purchase The HandySCAN 700 from Creaform was fueled by the need to spend time preparing cast surfaces with sprayed powder, a task that has always been complicated with projected light scanners. David Lang, a stakeholder in the decision-making process, commented: "HandySCAN 3D meets many of our expectations. Not having to use sprayed powder is a great advantage in terms of time savings, before and after scanning. Every year, we spend several thousand pounds of sterling on vaporizers, an unnecessary and inefficient cost, if you add to that the associated costs during the blasting process to clean the moulds after scanning."
The HandySCAN 700 uses seven red laser crosses that offer a wide field of view and the ability to capture data extremely quickly. Lang continues, "After testing the HandySCAN 3D, it was obviously that the seven laser crosses were able to capture data very quickly, plus a simple laser line to capture hard-to-reach areas. We also appreciated the precision of the HandySCAN 3D which was very high and comparable to our existing equipment."
In-house quality management ensures that processes are effectively designed to verify the customer's needs. This has enabled Grainger-Worrall to achieve its worldwide reputation as a prototyping service provider for structural powertrain components, and as an outstanding supplier for the moulding and machining of low-volume specialized moulded components. It is these same evolutionary processes that have given Grainger-Worral the opportunities to assess and evolve their equipment needs.
As is often the case with new technologies, once integrated into processes, users must consider all the benefits they offer. Lang adds, "We have looked carefully at the product and have benefited from it. The ability to scan with a hand-held portable solution was considerable. The fact that the HandySCAN 3D and all its accessories fit in a small briefcase allows us to take it simply and quickly into the workshop and start the inspection. Whether it's a large piece of tooling or a sand mold that's assembled, we can now take the scanner to the site, prepare the inspection and complete it within the hour. Before the purchase of the HandySCAN 3D, this task would have been much more complicated and would have resulted in the movement of elements in the metrology room, which was often impassable."
As with any company that continuously invests in new technologies, the ability to undergo training, system implementation and after-sales service are essential elements for any purchase decision. Having recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, Measurement Solutions' after-sales service has always been a big part of their DNA and the key to their success. Andy Warriner, Sector Sales Manager for Measurement Solutions, comments, "The team at Measurement Solutions provides comprehensive training, between two and four days depending on the application, for inspection or retro-engineering. In addition, we have application engineers dedicated to Creaform's products, who are always available to provide additional assistance, if necessary after the initial training."
creaform3d.com measurement-solutions.co.uk
By Simon Côté, Product Manager Creaform
