Dommet, Pirtek’s MSST. “It was also routing it correctly, keeping within the restrictions, keeping the powerpack
within the footprint etc. Factory floorspace is at a premium.”
The design of the machine meant there were only so many ways for Pirtek’s man to run the hoses. Mark explains, “We’ve got moving tooling, cameras and sensors all over the machine. The cameras can’t have pipework in their way, so Lee had to go around those, while also making the pipework integration aesthetic and functional. “I am a great believer that if someone has to stand next a machine all day, every day, if you can make that machine ergonomically pleasing in design, it makes their life easier and happier.” The Functional and Final Test Machine has two sets of change tooling, with the hydraulics split into two supply circuits. Mark elaborates, “We decided to route it from the back and round the sides to keep it out of the way of the operator and allow a more natural loading into the test bed. “The huge benefit of our new concept – in this case, replacing the single circuit press with nine individual rotational hydraulic clamps – is that it takes all the tooling away from the line of sight of the operator. The clamps are smaller, with more localised guarding, so it’s safer too. “I gave the brief to Lee – quick release couplings at the rear, with the piping to enter through the machine in two circuits, either side of each tooling set. Then I let him get on with it. You saw what he ended up with – it’s like a work of art really.” Pirtek’s MSST waxes lyrical about the job. “It certainly tested a few years of experience. I’ve never done the same machine design twice, so every day you get up and you’re answering new questions.
“If you tighten the radius of the curve it can affect the test results. The machine needs to run a set of incredibly sensitive tests.” The two sets of quick-change tooling are fitted onto removable beds, so that they can be easily uncoupled and removed from the machine.
“You get guys on the shop floor saying, ‘I’ve got a problem with this, how do I route this?’ As the technician, you’ve got to adapt to that.” The machine involves complex shapes with narrow paths and tight angles. Mark says, “We have to get pipework into various areas within a three- dimensional space. Because you’re doing high accuracy flow testing, you don’t want too many right angles in the pipes as it creates ‘K-values’ – denoting restrictions in the flow of the air (both from pressure and vacuum sources), through the pipes. “In an ideal world you’d want all the pipes to be straight, but in the real world we have to get all these complex pipes into an enclosed space. With regards to the flow test circuits, we decided to also route them in hydraulic hose, as it will not expand under the flow pressures being run and you also naturally get smooth bends and arcs because of its rigidity.
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