Tool Refurbishment

This cavity moulds a battery tray and has to run most days of the week to keep up with production. The tool has a side action, where a number of core pins come forward to shut against the core. Over the years, the pins had dragged on the core and the bores in which they run, had worn. Hence plastic was getting into the bores around the pins and flashing. On ejection, the plastic was scoring the sides of the cavity.

Carr’s repaired the scoring, re-built the bores, re-machined them, and fitted new pins, all in their works at Kettering. They handled the whole tool and took on the project within a 4 day production window.

Profile on Terry Jacobs.

Terry joined Carr’s Welding Technologies in the autumn of 1998 to help in the administration department. He has worked in the offices of several local engineering workshops at Cheney Spiro Engineering and Mitchell Engineering. He has brought a wealth of experience to Carr’s and allows the workshop to run more efficiently. He now deals with answering the telephone, ordering supplies, invoicing and credit control as well as liasing with the sales agents. We value him highly at Carr’s and look forward to many more years of service.

Laser welding pre-production.

Carr’s have started to laser weld small batches of components. This is ideal for prototyping leading to pre-production projects.  Qualitetch Ltd commissioned Carr’s to weld 250 copper lead frame arrays. ( seen below)

Once a weld procedure was approved, jigs were manufactured to allow the small batches to be welded economically.

Laser welding means:-

• Neat and localised welds.
• Minimum heat input.
• Minimal heat sink and distortion.
• High integrity for water or vacuum seals.
• No earth clamp required.

Most metals can be welded:- steels, aluminium, copper alloys, titanium, platinum etc.

Carr’s have recently become a member of the Association of Industrial Laser Users. Since buying the new laser machine last year, we now use the association to develop links with other job-shop members and attend relevant technical workshops. The association deals with all kinds of laser applications, but at present there are few laser workshops like ourselves.

Carr’s joined the Gauge and Toolmakers Association in 2000 to add stature to the company as the GTMA are an internationally recognised body. Carr’s will be able to actively take part in tooling technology meetings and advise toolmakers on the benefits and advantages of laser welding.

NEW AGENT FOR BIRMINGHAM

In December 2000 Brian Johnson joined us as new sales agent for Carr’s in Birmingham. He lives in Redditch and has a background in engineering. His working career started as an apprentice with the GKN Group, where he gained a qualification in metallurgy. Following this, he has worked in manufacturing gaining a knowledge of different tooling applications. He is now a self-employed agent providing support to tooling users. He is already familiar with the Glide Easy process in his other agency work and so his involvement with Carr’s has allowed him to offer additional cost saving benefits to many of his existing customers.

Please look out for Brian in your toolroom soon.