Smart Technology Group Limited

By: Mr Jonathan Martin (Smart Technology Group Limited)

Jonathan Martin
Smart Technology Group Limited
Crown Works, Grantham Road
Halifax, HX3 6PN
England

Telephone: +44 (01422) 343434
Telefax: +44 (01422) 355157
E-mail: jonathan@smarttecgroup.com
Website: www.crawfordswift.co.uk

Brief history

Smart Technology Group Limited was formed in 2001 with the aim of providing resources and support to achieve a dynamic forward thinking group based around a core traditional machine tool business whilst introducing new high tech solutions. The group's philosophy is to build a world-class solutions provider.

The Group's activities are split into the following three areas:

Non-conventional machining and welding technologies

EDT - The Smart Electro-Discharge Texturing Machine is one of the safest, most accurate, reliable and flexible machines of this type in the world today. Built with the benefits of many years successful experience in the market, and utilising a unique texturing assembly, the Smart EDT system represents the state of the art in fully automated roll texturing machinery.

STEM - Smart ECM machine tools and control systems. These systems reliably allow holes to be drilled with very large depth to diameter ratios using Electrochemical Machining technology. Many such applications lie in the aerospace industry e.g. drilling cooling holes in turbine blades, allowing depth to diameter ratios up to 300:1.

Smart Powerstir 360 machine at Airbus UK in Filton

Fig.1. Smart Powerstir 360 machine at Airbus UK in Filton
Copyright © 2002, Smart Technology Group Ltd

Friction Stir Welding - Smart friction stir welding systems are marketed under the name of Powerstir. This series of machines is built around the success of the FSW sold by Crawford Swift (Member Company) to BAE. This machine won several International awards.

The machine configuration is as shown in Fig.1. It is 11.5m long by 5.7m wide and 4.7m high, taking the basic form of a gantry type moving table machine.

The machine was christened 'Powerstir 360' this refers to its 3 axis CNC capability and the 60kW spindle. There is a fourth, manual axis. This allows the spindle unit- that drives the rotating shouldered welding tool - to tilt by up to 5 degrees.

The component to be welded is mounted in a fixture securely fastened to a table, which moves under the gantry. All axes incorporate the latest servomotor and ballscrew technology, speeds up to 8 meters per minute can be achieved.

Smart materials and their novel applications

ER Fluids - Smart Electro-Rheological fluid is regarded as the best ER fluid in the world. ER fluids can accurately change flow properties from liquid to solid in a matter of milliseconds and are therefore suitable to applications where conventional hydraulics and pneumatics are unusable. Smart already has many patents based on different ER applications but is always eager to exploit new business opportunities.

Smart Piezo-Electric Actuators - Smart is working with the worlds leading figures in developing and advancing this patented technology, taking it from the laboratory to the market place. Smart actuators are very robust and effective industrial components.

By employing piezo-electric effects, motion is achieved by placing the object to be driven in direct contact with the piezo-electric element. A single actuator can produce multiple degrees of freedom allowing motion in two or more different directions. No other single actuator system offers this capability.

Conventional machining technologies

This division comprises three companies whose product range is complementary and whose production development and sales activities have been concentrated and rationalised on one site in Halifax. Smart has taken particular care in the rationalisation to preserve the benefits of each company's long and distinctive experience with its own products and their markets. The three companies are Crawford Swift, Binns & Berry International and Fairbank Brearley.

	Crawford Swift: Crawford Swift has over 130 years experience in meeting customers exacting needs for specific purpose machining situations in a wide variety of industries.
	Binns & Berry: An internationally acclaimed supplier for over 100 years of lathes and horizontal machines with capacities up to 3000 mm diameter and unsupported component weight between centres of up to 15 tons.
	Fairbank Brearley: This Company has provided for over 180 years the complete range of coil and leaf spring machines. With its award winning rapid heating gas fired furnaces. Fairbank Brearley provides a complete manufacturing system for the world's spring makers.

Smart's contributions to the EuroStir^® project

To provide confidential advice and consultancy on machine tool, control system and fixture design.
To conduct industrialisation programs with potential customers.
To design and manufacture equipment for potential customers.
Dissemination of benefits of the FSW process.

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