Manufacturing on Film - Constant Manufacturing
3887
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-3887,single-format-standard,qode-quick-links-1.0,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-title-hidden,footer_responsive_adv,qode-child-theme-ver-1.0.0,qode-theme-ver-16.4,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-6.10.0,vc_responsive

Manufacturing on Film

Over the last two years we’ve taken a few thousand photos and videos. Many of the photographs were taken for our sheet metal case studies, many for blogs, social media and manufacturing articles. These are some of our highlights:

CNC Punching in Action

CNC Punching in Action

Today a CNC punch machine is common place in a precision sheet metal engineering / fabrication workshop. The TruPunch 3000 punches through this sheet of stainless steel at break neck speed. The punched pieces are then dropped through a chute in the middle of the machine bed ready for further operations. At Constant our TruPunch 3000 is mated to a sheet load / unload machine making the whole process of punching automated, and creating an ever more lean manufacturing process.

Carbon Explosion

Carbon Explosion

British manufacturing relies on advanced machines including our CNC laser cutter. When cutting a sheet of mild steel with a laser, there is a thermal reaction between the carbon in the sheet metal and the beam of the laser. When this reaction happens it produces a firework effect of sparks, and when timed correctly can be caught on film.

Metal Fabrication

Metal Fabrication

One of the bases of a well formed piece of metal work is to align the pieces at the start correctly. Once aligned the welder tack welds the pieces together to form the unit. Tack welding is much like pinning a hem before sewing it with a sewing machine. In this case the welder is mid tack, MIG welding (pinning), before he MIG welds the unit completely (seaming). It’s not uncommon for metal workers to be good seamstresses!

Maintaining the Golden Girl

Maintaining the Golden Girl

Our TruPunch 5000 is affectionately known as the ‘Golden Girl’ with a punch rate of 1200 hits / min, automatic piece removal system and an automated 63tonne sheet metal storage unit gives her and our metal workshop, a 24/7 production capability. Working through day and night means she does require regular maintenance to keep her performing at optimal productivity; a process captured in this photograph.

Sparks come to those who wait… and wait

Sparks come to those who wait... and wait

The thermal reaction of our laser cutter with the mild steel produces a spark which is an after affect of the laser heating up the carbon deposits within the metal. However, it doesn’t spark continually so we still had to wait several rounds of cutting for the reaction to happen and capture this photograph.

“Eyes”

“Eyes”

Named after the warning call the welders give before they start up the welding torch, producing an eye-watering and often blinding arc in the initial weld captured in this photograph. Protecting your eyes is vital, and you’ll often here the warning calls 10 times a minute when there is heavy foot traffic near the welding bays. Practice safety first.

Punching motion

Punching motion

The CNC punch machine operates all day, constantly cutting projects with unrivalled accuracy. The punching machine’s head concentrates on moving up and down only punching the metal whilst the sheet beneath the head moves in the X and Y direction accurately placing the metal in the correct position which gives an eerie ghost like effect for this photograph.

Photo Credits

  • CNC Punching in Action, Metal Fabrication and “Eyes” taken at Constant Manufacturing by the Marketing Team.
  • Punching motion, Sparks come to those who wait… and wait, Maintaining the Golden Girl, and Carbon Explosion taken at Constant Manufacturing by Mark Gilligan, Wast Water Photography.
  • All photographs copyrighted.