PIACENZAMECCANICA Srl

Author: pmc_user_admin

Metalworking production at the service of the railway industry: a century-long history

Posted on by pmc_user_admin

In April 1869, when he was only twenty-three years old, George Westinghouse succeeded in convincing local railroad infrastructure officials and experts to test the prototype of his new train braking system. Mounted on a convoy consisting of a locomotive and 4 cars that departed from the Pittsburgh station, thecompressed-air braking system revealed its effectiveness when the vehicle, launched at a speed of 30 mph (50 km/h), managed to stop just before impact with a farm wagon that had accidentally stopped on the tracks. 

Despite his performance, the young man was not satisfied with his invention and, over the next three years, he continued to work on its refinement; until he succeeded in reducing braking times and distances and solving the main vulnerability of the system - namely, the absence of a mechanism that could guarantee that the train would stop even in the event of partial failure of the braking system. It was thanks to the introduction of an additional metalmechanical component - the triple valve or distributor - that the air brake achieved maximum reliability and, to this day, the type of system that regulates the braking or unbraking of most of the rolling stock in circulation,remains the one devised by the young New Yorker over a century ago.

The Westinghouse automatic continuous brake: a masterpiece of engineering and mechanics

From east to west, the Westinghouse orFCA automatic continuous brake is the standard of referenceformost of the world's railway braking systems. In this type of system, all ivagons are pneumatically connected to each other via thegeneral conduit or brake line. The pressure drop, regulated by the brake control or control tap located in the driver's cab and operated by the engineer, propagating throughout the train, reaches the various braking equipment in the trainset, and operates brake pistons and cylinders. 

The process is simple and sophisticated at the same time. The air needed to feed the system is taken from outside and pushed, through a suction filter that captures coarse impurities, to one or more compressors. The mass of air pressurized to 8 to 10 bar is then filtered again and dried by absorption (i.e., by the action of chemicals capable of retaining water vapor); finally, it is stored in the main tank whichaccommodates and stores the volumes of air needed to supply the braking system and the train's service equipment (e.g., the door opening and closing mechanism). When the engineer operates the brake control, he enables the passage of compressed air at a pressure of 5 bar from the main reservoir along the general pipeline. The change in pressure values prompts the distributor, which intercepts the air passage, compares the pressure values of the general pipeline and the control reservoir connected to the brake, and converts the information in bar into a pulse to be transmitted to the cylinder.

The distributor or triple valve, is therefore in effect akey component of the braking system in that it connects the elements of the system that accomplish braking and cause unbraking, when air leaves the brake cylinder and is released back into the atmosphere. The operation of this closed system-and consequently the safety of freight and passengers on the road-is ensured by the reliability and performance of all the parts that make up the assembly. 

Piacenzameccanica on the rails of history

Historically, the European railway system has been managed on a national basis by the individual member states through special monopoly companies, often under the relevant ministries, in charge of: the provision of infrastructure and rolling stock; service regulation; and safety. EEC Directive 440/1991 imposed the first separation between the management of infrastructure and that of transport services; and other regulations issued in the years that followed contributed to the final liberalization of the railway system for which today a hybrid system is in force, with multiple stakeholders involved in the same mission.

In Italy, RFI Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane manages the national infrastructure according to the methods and criteria established by EU Directive 798/2016. As a result of this regulation, the industries involved in the production and supply of rollingstock are the same entities in charge of and responsible for periodic maintenance operations on the same. Of the glorious industrial past that saw our country on the podium of nations that excelled in the production of railway rolling stock, there is not much left and the actors left on the scene, to date, are few: the Japanese Hitachi Rail, which, after the acquisition of Ansaldo Breda in 2015, supplies means to the main Italian operators; the German Knorr-Bremse or the American Wabtec Corporation, both leaders in the production of braking systems.

These are mostly multinationals and large industrial groups that have followed a path of evolution and growth parallel to the railway sector, then distinguished themselves in terms of skills, know-how and product quality and established themselves as an oligopoly. For three generations and still today, Piacenzameccanica has interacted with the giants that produce the world's best braking systems,supplying them with the highest precisionmetalmechanical components . From the triple valve that is the heart of the system, to the relief valve that prevents overloading of the system; from theshutoff taps that pneumatically unite the various conveyances allowing the continuity of braking, to the isolation tap to exclude braking equipment from the brake in case of failure. 

Even in a dynamic, state-of-the-art-oriented scenario such as that of the railway sector, which has to handle ever-increasing volumes of users and speeds, it is paradoxical as much as it is strangely reassuring to see how even the most innovative and complex systems, in order to function, needeternal technologies and skills , now readapted according to BAT guidelines and translated into 4.0 processes - as in the case of precision metalworking for the railway sector signed Piacenzameccanica.

CNC machining for the confectionery industry

Posted on by pmc_user_admin

Some keep their recipes in a vault, others have barred access to outsiders to safeguard know-how and hold firm in the marketplace. The confectionery industry is serious business-a business born from the ashes after World War II, destined to change forever the customs and eating habits of everyone in the world.  

The machines, accessories, and molds required for the production of cakes, candies, sweets, chocolates, and chocolates of various shapes, sizes, and types (bars, pralines, cables, fillings) must live up to the aesthetic and quality standards of increasingly imaginative and surprising productions. At the same time, as is the practice in OEM, such tools must be able to adapt to the needs of the production space, timing, and mode of production.

The creation of a working environment suited to the skills, ambitions and goals of pastry chefs and maître chocolatiers is a must for the industry that wishes to maintain an artisanal character even in seriality. In a massified and global industry such as food production, where imitation is the rule and the risk of being undermined by competitors is very high, the market and public success of a product, depends to a very large extent on details-whether it is a secret ingredient or an exclusive feature in terms of aesthetics or taste.  

Developing projects that conform to expectations therefore turns out to be that plus that guides the choices of the client - who tends to favor metalworking shops capable of operating with a collaborative logic, without losing sight of the feasibility of the project and the solvency of the investment. In fact, every phase must be studied and taken care of down to the smallest detail-from preliminary analyses on materials and finishes, to the setting up of CNC machining; from the sizing of components and molds, to their validation and quality control. This ensures maximum control and success of the project, and is a solid guarantee for the Client in case additional and/or spare parts are needed.

THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY AND THE METAL WORKSHOP: ONCE UPON A TIME

In the context of metal productions related to the food and confectionery industries, the active involvement of manufacturing in the development of the production line, compatible tools and necessary accessories can turn into a strategic advantage for brands that aspire to market iconic sweets, capable of withstanding time, taste evolutions and consumer expectations. In fact, these are industries that base a large part of their popularity on the uniqueness of their offerings, which are often protected by copyright or confidentiality agreements that concern not so much the composition but rather the doses and processing methods of products with an unmistakable flavor.

Operating in Piedmont, PiacenzaMeccanica has had the opportunity to participate in and partly contribute to the entrepreneurial epic of a few enlightened individuals who, starting from an artisanal workshop, have scaled the most ambitious heights - to the point of purchasing and processing about 25 percent of the global hazelnut production to embellish the creams and chocolates that bear their name.

Over many years of activity and continuous interaction with the industry, PiacenzaMeccanica has developed a know-how of reference for some iconic productions, distributed in supermarkets and shops all over the world. From high-precision metalmechanical components that become part of production lines, to the design and manufacture of molds that are specific to a given process and highly characteristic of the product to be marketed. With its productions in stainless steel and light alloys of the highest quality, the metal workshop enters the "chocolate factory." The working machines that, process after process, transform cocoa beans, sugar paste, wafers and hazelnuts into sweet temptations, include very high-precision components made by PiacenzaMeccanica: tools and supports for kneading, transporting and cutting; joints, valves, augers for filling and decorating pralines; and finally, the molds-about whose processing confidentiality agreements apply-that define the silhouette of the product to the point of making it a symbol.

Lubrication-cooling and metalworking: an integrated system

Posted on by pmc_user_admin

In metalworking, the chip removal that occurs during turning, milling, grinding, and grinding operations requires the use of cooling lubricant fluids (FLRs) also called cutting oils or metalworking fluids. Such fluids essentially serve two purposes: to cool the machining area, which is subject to overheating due to continuous and severe mechanical stresses; and to optimally lubricate the tool-workpiece contact, to reduce friction and dissipate the heat produced-which can even exceed 1000°.

It therefore seems evident how much and how lubrication-coolant has a direct influence not only on the quality of machining, but also on the life and performance of the machine tool, so much so that it is now considered an integral part of it. In fact, an efficient lubricant makes it possible to work in optimal conditions: it has been estimated that, annually, production downtime related to inadequate systems negatively affects overall company productivity (minus 10 percent).

In order to avoid problems and limit maintenance work on machinery as much as possible, it is absolutely necessary that the cutting fluid-relative to its composition in terms of additives-be appropriate to the type of machining and the nature of the metals used in production. Commercially, there are essentially two types: whole FLRs (which contain no water) and soluble FLRs (to which water is added in varying proportions). The main characteristics to evaluate when choosing the right fluid for your needs are: stability, detergency, shear potential, decay range, and versatility. On the other hand, there are two variables to watch out for.

The first concerns cleanliness, which must be ensured by means of an appropriate filtration system to prevent chips and metal dust from machining or thermal degradation from getting into the fluid. Adequate filtration also serves to avert the danger of biological contamination, by microorganisms (bacteria and fungal species) that, by spreading into the environment in the form of bioaerosols, can cause respiratory and dermatological diseases.

The second variable, however, relates to sustainability. In the last decade-thanks mainly to the efforts of major manufacturers and distributors-there has been a trend toward the increasing use of renewable-based coolants (with vegetable esters instead of hydrocarbons), which pollute less and can be more easily disposed of. Like all process chemicals, lubrorefrigerants are also monitored by the relevant legislation: the REACH (European Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), which requires the ECHA European Chemical Agency to periodically update the Candidate List, the list of carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic substances(SVHC substances). Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), which by law must accompany metalworking oils and industrial lubricants, contain all the information essential for proper and judicious use of the product.

The law also establishes procedures to be followed in disposal operations-as FLRs are considered, like most technical fluids, as special waste. In Italy, CONOU Consorzio Nazionale degli Oli Minerali Usati, introduced in 1982 by Presidential Decree, is the first environmental agency dedicated to the collection, management and transformation of used oils from waste to resources. As confirmed by the latest sustainability report released by the organization, The Consortium can be considered a model at the forefront in the international field: while in Europe a share of 60 percent of the used lubricating oil collected is sent to regeneration, in Italy this ratio reaches about 99 percent, and the process is capable of guaranteeing several benefits such as, among all, the reduction of fossil fuel consumption for the production sector and, as a consequence, the reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

Compliance with industry regulations, in addition to being the only possible guarantee for safeguarding the health of workers, is therefore a valuable control tool for companies and metalworking shops that intend to operate in compliance, guarantee the highest quality of their manufactured goods and translate the impact of a virtuous system into marginality. Like Piacenza Meccanica, which, through a structured program of investments in technologies, processes and safety, translates its values into competitive advantage.

Precision mechanics: ideal tools for every machining operation

Posted on by pmc_user_admin

In precision machining, there is a foundational and fundamental rule-a mantra that inspires shop floor work, conditions investment policies and business positioning strategies: minimize errors.

The variables on which it is possible to intervene to achieve the best result and reduce the incidence of defective components in the total volume, affect both the design and production phases and concern, essentially, the expression of particularly tight tolerances and the use of technologies designed for the purpose of increasing productivity and reducing production waste.

Going into detail about the most effective systems in terms of business profitability, at the first point we find CNC machining centers that should be able to offer performance and competitiveness in all their performance. Solutions that autonomously manage machine tooling and tool change, allowing smooth and fast transitions from one machining operation to another, are those that arouse the most interest among those in the industry.

Multi-pallet machines for example-which we have already devoted an in-depth article to on our blog-allow almost simultaneous operation on different processes, allowing finished and semi-finished parts to be alternated without having to stop the machine.

Pallet changing systems, whether manual or automated, achieve maximum efficiency with zero-point clamping, which allows the workpiece to be quickly clamped and clamped, eliminating the need for complex measurements and adjustments each time machining changes.

The choice of the most suitable system for one's company depends on the type of customer requirements and, consequently, on production needs; however, there are a number of features that would be worth considering beforehand in order to evaluate the return on any investment. We are not just talking about the precision and tightness of anchoring by means of clamps, jaws, mechanical or pneumatic grips. For a clamping system to be truly valuable, it must be: versatile, meaning compatible and adaptable on different machine tools; expandable, to be able to handle parts of varying sizes and geometries; and modular, to be able to work at different heights.

To navigate the choice in short, one must first evaluate all possible applications and clamping situations that the system might face. Positioned inside CNC milling machines and lathes, the zero point is the pivot around which the machine's tools move and work. The more you aspire to special machining with holes, pockets, slots, and irregular contours, the greater the need forwell-rounded tooling.

Depending on the machining to be done, different types of cutters are needed - helical, staggered-tooth, double-angled, flat, candle, chamfering, face - and turning tools - roughers, finishers, cutters or threaders. For drilling, depending on the diameter and finish of the hole, drills with special geometries are required - integral, insert, keeper, cannon - possibly equipped in turn with internal holes for the adduction of coolants. With the aim of satisfying even the most particular requests, PiacenzaMeccanica has for years pursued a structured policy of investment to cut production times and improve the quality of its products; not only through state-of-the-art machinery, but also by implementing its own collection of tools.

Machine park: the importance of equipping yourself with the right hardware

Posted on by pmc_user_admin

How to choose the production technology best suited to one's performance needs? How much and how does the adoption of machinery with certain characteristics impact business profitability? Precision machining operators should be well aware that the equipment that makes up machining centers are not equal and interchangeable, as they are optimized for specific uses. Some machines are great for prototyping, others more suitable for finishing through heat and surface treatments: in general, the elements of the machine fleet determine the quality of the finished product and impact production times; therefore, it is important to equip oneself with state-of-the-art systems that reduce time and costs, limit the risk of accidents and human error as much as possible, and allow for meeting the agreed deadlines for the fulfillment of each job.

Because of this, PiacenzaMeccanica's company policy is aimed at constant and lively updating, an evolutionary growth path oriented towards innovation and aimed at the production of functional mechanical components, with complex design and increasingly sophisticated finishes. For several years now, the company has been structured to be able to offer maximum flexibility and guarantee the management of variable production volumes, ranging from small batches to large quantities, while always ensuring the non-negotiable quality of its manufactured products. Enabling it to offer solutions in step with the most up-to-date requirements of its target sectors are state-of-the-art equipment and machinery.

Despite the artisanal appearance and the family atmosphere in the company, Piacenza Meccanica in fact carries out a structured investment program that disregards the facilities and incentives that are periodically allocated to the industry. On the strength of the knowledge and experience gained in more than half a century of activity in the field of precision mechanics, over the past decade, the company has fully renewed its fleet of machines with the aim of ensuring unparalleled performance and maintaining a strong position in the market.

CNC MACHINING CENTERS

Process automation is the main challenge to be faced and overcome for the future. Today it is required to produce large volumes as well as small batches, all quickly and at generally low cost. Without a machine fleet that is up to the task, it would be very difficult to keep up: it is therefore necessary to equip oneself with machinery aimed at optimizing the product value chain and reducing costs, paying attention to increasing integration of the various elements from a functional, energy and diagnostic point of view.

The devices that convinced management in terms of investment solvency and technological reliability bear the name of brands recognized globally as leaders in offering particularly interesting and competitive OEM solutions. These are mainly multi-pallet machines that enable the simultaneous management of different production stages, granting the operator the possibility of alternating finished parts with workpieces without causing downtime. The main advantages of using these machines, can be ascribed to the technologies integrated in them; not only programming languages universally recognized for reliability and performance, and computer management software with tablets on board the machine that manage individual processes and coordinate production as a whole. When we talk about technologies, we mainly refer to the implementation of solutions that manage machine tooling and tool change, and equipment such as modular plates and vices set up to position and anchor the part according to the zero-point system that guarantees micro-millimeter accuracy.

Certain strategies greatly impact both the quality of production and working conditions, greatly facilitating the lives of operators and describing a context in which the resource is not sacrificed to production but is an integral part of it. Training and development, technology and innovation, effectiveness and optimization, transparency and professionalism are in fact the values that inspire and guide PiacenzaMeccanica's mission: to produce mechanical components of the highest precision and unparalleled quality, for progress that is truly at the service of mankind.

CAD and CAM, precision machine software

Posted on by pmc_user_admin

Precision machining would not be possible without the appropriate technologies, i.e., state-of-the-art machinery assisted by software that enables its full potential to be exploited. The introduction of numerical control in the design and manufacture of mechanical components-whether isolated elements or assemblies to be integrated into other products and production lines-has been, in this sense, an innovation that has completely revolutionized the metalworking industry.

The manufacture of components with CNC lathes and milling machines does indeed bring enormous advantages, measurable on theoptimization of operators'performance, the quality and accuracy of machining, and the reduction of production time and costs. All these factors have a significant impact on business profitability and it seems superfluous to emphasize how important it is to plan and implement investments in this regard.

The reliability of an industry that works for other industries depends a great deal on thereliability of its technologies; but it is also true that having advanced tools without knowing their functionalities in detail and without having an understanding of how to make the most of them and exploit them to the fullest, resets any strategic advantage to zero. In fact, machining precision mechanical components with CNC machinery involves several steps: being able to govern the process in its entirety, from order acquisition to order fulfillment, is the goal of any efficient production.

The steps to be considered involve both the planning and the execution of the work. The starting point is the technical drawing, usually provided by the customer in relation to specific supply requirements. Even in the case of non-standardized and extremely small-volume productions, PiacenzaMeccanica makes replicable, high-precision components, mainly in aluminum alloy or from plastic polymers; the quality of the constituent materials-for example, fine aluminum, with technical characteristics that meet the requirements imposed by even critical industrial productions, such as those in the railway, aeronautical, and hydro-sanitary sectors-combined with experience and method, allow the company to act on technical drawings and improve inaccurate designs.

The drawings, made in CAD - Computer Aided Design language, are examined by the company's in-house design department, which is able to refine and adapt them to CNC machinery. The translation of CAD language into CAM - Computer Aided Manufacturing is what transforms each design into a tangible reality, offering the possibility of simulating the entire machining process in detail. A perfectly executed CAD design must therefore take into account both the tools used and the behavior of the part during its machining. The designer is given leeway to be able to intervene in certain variables that, if properly managed, guarantee an optimal result-such as tolerances, or the rethinking of complex or unnecessary aesthetic features. The experience gained in the field allows PiacenzaMeccanica to draw on a vast pool of expertise and be recognized as an authoritative point of reference and a trusted partner. The historical memory of the company, which has been in business for more than 70 years and is managed today by the second and third generations of the Piacenza family, is an important strength and is perhaps the quality that, more than any other, distinguishes the excellence of the products that bear its signature.

A new generation of talent for the engineering industry

Posted on by pmc_user_admin

The shortage of adequately trained and motivated technical personnel to embark on a path of professional growth is an issue with which many companies belonging to the industrial sector are forced, especially lately, to contend. Replacing older resources with young professionals has become objectively complicated. In the face of continuous searches, the selection process is on average long and fruitless. Between new professions that seem to exert greater appeal and old, die-hard stereotypes, the handover between one generation and the next may be jammed.

The reasons for this phenomenon are varied and can hardly be attributed to a single scapegoat. A consensus opinion is that schools are responsible. Technical colleges register, year after year, fewer and fewer enrollments; and students coming out of high schools, including science and technology, prefer to pursue college careers, convinced that a college degree is the only pass for a successful career. Teachers also seem to be less and less able to convey relevant information about the possibilities offered by the world of work as if, over time, the link between the acquisition and application of one's skills has taken on a totally random quality.

Onqualifying technical education is, in truth, the fate of our country at stake. The great success stories of Italian entrepreneurship in the years of the economic boom, should serve as a moral: without the inducement of industry and manufacturing, degrowth is just around the corner. If the primary socialization agencies-family and school-can do something to reverse this risky trend, it is still up to industry to get involved itself and work to ensure that prejudices against certain professions, which are not considered equal to others, are overcome.

Workers 4.0

The conception of factory work that characterized the last century is a black-and-white image, a faded memory in the memories of older generations. Industries today respond to stringent regulatory requirements and significantly more ambitious quality standards than in the past. Policy intervention has been determined, both in terms of regulating basic safety standards for the safety of workers and as an incentive for the adoption of ecosystemic development models, oriented towardinnovation of tools and methods, and more centered on the human resource.

Procedures once the preserve of humans are now delegated to automated systems that simply must be supervised. Computerized management of processes and production supports and facilitates operations; risks are controlled, human error minimized; and, while talk of the intellectual quality of factory work might turn some people's noses up, the transformation that has taken place in the last decade, since formally speaking of the fourth industrial revolution and Industry 4.0, must be taken into account.  

Businesses today are looking for enabling skills and personal qualities that can be summarized under the heading of soft skills. Reliability, resourcefulness, curiosity, the ability to interact fruitfully with the team; but above all, a desire to learn and to learn methods and systems that straddle the certainties of science and the new horizons drawn by digital transformation. In return, highly specialized positions are offered, which are highly sought after in the market, respectable salaries, with salaries that can compete with those of those working in services or business, and solid career prospects. A concrete example? In PiacenzaMeccanica, at least 25 of the 30 resources employed have been with the company for more than 20 years; investing in its employees and accompanying them to retirement, is a strategic goal, and a structural growth factor for a company that comes from a family history.

PiacenzaMeccanica, a company on a human scale

Posted on by pmc_user_admin

Metalworking industries and workshops are a central strategic asset in the economies of several nations, and the way they have changed and evolved over time is highly representative of the vision of progress and entrepreneurial policies foraged by private individuals and governments. Complex mechanical processing of the highest precision serves a variety of industries, from the most traditional to the most technological. Railroad, aeronautics, robotic automation, fluid dynamics, hydrosanitary: being an integral part of industry understood in its broadest sense, the components produced in precision machining centers are essentially ubiquitous.

In order to meet the need for just-in-time, highly specialized and variable-volume production, a series of infrastructural interventions have become necessary over the years, reflecting a dutiful change in the mentality of the engineering sector. Putting up with unprecedented demands from markets in perpetual transformation, and remaining competitive by operating with a view to shared responsibility for the welfare of people and the planet, are the primary and complementary goals of every company looking to the future.

Machine shops today, are no longer those dirty, unhealthy and pitfall-filled places that characterized the past. The adoption of methods and the implementation of technologies that meet the standards expressed by the BAT - Best Available Techniques - approach have brought about a radical change of scenery. Gone are the days of blue-collar alienation, a metaphor for the consumer society of the 20th century, contemporary industry comes in a new guise. Fordist ideology oriented on massive, standardized production meets white-collar style, offering flexibility and customized services for specific needs and niche markets. The assembly-line paradigm gives way to production and organizational models increasingly linked to the presence of innovative technologies, and information systems that manage production, perform control functions, and offer the ability to collect and interpret strategically important data.

To cross the threshold of a company that operates according to these logics is to completely distort one's imaginary frame of reference, and to be catapulted into a dimension that has nothing to do with the factory that demeans the worker and looks solely at profit. As happens upon entering PiacenzaMeccanica.

Industry 4.0: innovation in the service of manufacturing

The term Industry 4.0 refers to a series of concepts related to the imagery of the smart factory-the "intelligent factory" equipped with hardware and software that can interact and collaborate to make productions more versatile and perfomant. Well before this definition was taken up as a normative model, anticipating nascent trends in the manufacturing and industrial sectors, PiacenzaMeccanica chose to invest in cutting-edge technology and machinery, and in training andtechnical upgrading of personnel.

In recent years, the company has completely overhauled its machine park to equip itself with tools suitable for the most labor-intensive and complex machining operations, and for more streamlined and versatile management of the various turning and milling machining centers.

Automated management systems with on-board software and tablets instruct the operator on the actions to be taken: they establish the steps-types and sequence of machining operations-define machine tooling, monitor the production of the site as a whole, and coordinate the operation of the various machining centers to limit production stoppages. Finished parts are then stored in an automated warehouse that simplifies inventory management and speeds up order fulfillment. The impact of such solutions on productivity and business profitability is significant: thanks to so-called enabling technologies, the possibility of human error is reduced to a minimum; at the same time, optimal conditions are created for operators to work in total autonomy and safety. 

Attention to the quality of life of its resources is the real strength of any solid and reputable company. This is why PiacenzaMeccanica has equipped itself with systems that go beyond the basic safety standards for the industrial sector-regulated by Law 81/08 or the Consolidated Safety Act. Such as, for example, filtration systems for air purification within the production site. Lubricant-cooling oils, used in mechanical processing, give rise to the formation of sticky fumes and oily mists that, dispersed in the air, can compromise both the health of workers, causing respiratory problems and skin irritation, and production, negatively affecting the performance and durability of machinery. Attention to certain issues, although it should be, is by no means taken for granted. Certain shrewdnesses are the result of experience, express the values andheritage of a long-lived company, and testify to a commitment to hold firm to the principles that inspire a healthy work culture

Quality control 

Posted on by pmc_user_admin

In the landscape of companies dealing with precision CNC machining, the management of quality control of manufactured components is treated in different ways, which depend on the internal company vision and the needs of customers. At Piacenzameccanica, we firmly believe that, even when not required, being able to provide certain attestations is essential in order to provide quality service.

Why choose our company

When we begin to analyze the construction of a component, we create what is called a product sheet: contained within it are the characteristics related to the materials needed to build it (type of material, size, weight, etc.) and the processing cycle. 

Next, the component to be built is divided into processing stages. The first stage is what is called pick up, which refers to the picking up of the raw component from the warehouse and its transportation to the machine. The next stages, on the other hand, involve CNC machining(milling, turning, etc.).

For each type of machining, a control program is applied, which is managed in a computerized way through tablets on board the machine. The first component to leave the machine is analyzed according to a control diagram, within which the measurements to be taken(dimensional, roughness and other types) are established.

Our components are 100 percent verified: all parts that come out have passed a test, inspection, and assessment incorporated into the processing cycle. 

Quality control on production Piacenza Mechanical
Detail production anomalies in Piacenza Mechanical

Quality controls are integrated into our system and determined by the ISO certification, which includes a specific way of working and general criteria, as well as customer-specific criteria.

In the railroad industry, where special safety issues must be taken into account, a paper certification is required for each individual component or lot, which must be kept available to the customer for a period of at least 30 years. Everything about the order in question is attested in these documents, whether the information is internal or external to the company. For materials, for example, not only the suppliers are requested, but also certificates with their mechanical properties and chemical composition.

Regardless of requests, our company will process certifications of the materials used and treatments and keep them so that they remain available at all times should the need arise.

Our strength lies in havingcomplete traceability of allprocessing steps and all materials used in the construction of each component-all managed by the company's computer system.

Only in this way can we ensure consistently high quality standards for our customers , continuously improving in terms of efficiency and productivity.

The multipallet machine

Posted on by pmc_user_admin

A multipallet machine is a machining center that has two or more pallets on which to clamp components for CNC machining, allowing theoperator in charge to alternate between finished and semi-finished parts without having to stop the machine.

One or more pallets contain the parts being machined at that time. Once one of these is finished, it is deposited in the tooling zone. In this second zone of the machine, theoperator can access it in complete safety, as it is out of range. The operator opens the machine door, replaces the finished part with the part to be machined next, closes the door, and thus begins the cycle again.

During the entire course of these operations, the machine never stops working, and its autonomy is that of the individual component.

The software that handles both machine machining and pallet changing can recognize different components and load the correct one into the execution program to process a particular one. 

Beyond the productivity and functionality that software may have, there is a tendency to choose their homogeneity in different CNC machines so that operators can always work with the same type of interface and thus improve the quality of their work.

Once completed, the finished part is checked in the machine by a probe that takes salient measurements to get feedback on its compliance. If there are any irregularities, the machine can be enabled to change its parameters to make sure that the next part is error-free.

Having more pallets does not automatically mean reducing time, but being able to give the machine autonomy to machine more parts without operator intervention, which significantly reduces production costs and consequently those of finished components.

Why choose Piacenza Mechanics

Our company specializes in custom-made small and medium series production. Within our fleet of machines we have a 6-pallet, 5-axis multi-pallet machine and a 4-pallet, 3-axis machine. 

Since the inclusion of these two machines, we have noticed a marked improvement in product quality and especially delivery time. 

An example is the latest case in which one of our customers in the automation sector needed to order a large quantity of parts to be received with extreme urgency: thanks to our 6-pallet machine, it was possible to deliver the entire quantity in three weeks despite the fact that the forecast called for at least six weeks.

However, as with any type of processing, the machines used are crucial, but it is theexperience of the staff that makes the difference.

Those who use multipallet machines - in addition to knowing how to use them manually - must also be able to program them, so it is necessary to be able to rely on highly qualified personnel both for programming the CNC machine and for checking the finished components. Within the same day, workers have to perform different processes, and this technology is one of the best allies in optimizing their time and consequently the entire production chain, offering customers an increasingly fast, precise and punctual service.