Allied Digital Technologies needed to refinish the highly reflective
surface of a high-speed video transfer drum on a video duplicating machine.
They have 15 of the machines that are critical to their ability to do high-speed,
high-quality video duplication. Tolerances on the drums are very tight
the device must turn at high speeds under tolerances less than 1 micron.
Deterioration of the polished surface on the video machine was causing
quality problems with the duplication process. Allied Digital could not
find a private-sector company that could resurface the video drum and meet
their quality and machine tolerance requirements. Looking for a solution
to this problem, the company called the Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing
Technology through the toll-free number 1-800-356-4USA.
PROJECT:
The video drum was plated with electroless nickel and then diamond
turned. Diamond turning is a high-precision method of removing metal and
can work to tolerances within 50 millionths of an inch. The diamond turning
returned the video head to its highly reflective surface and corrected
the quality problems.
RESULTS:
The technical assistance provided through ORCMT helped the company
retain customers and reduced potential sales losses.
Lloyd Jones, chief engineer for Allied Digital, said the technical assistance
from ORCMT was a significant success. "They've already saved our company
$9,000 with this one drum and could save the company $45,000 per year depending
on the number of drums that are resurfaced," Jones said.
PARTNERS:
Technical assistances provided to the private sector by the Oak Ridge
Centers for Manufacturing Technology (ORCMT) and its manufacturing extension
partners throughout the United States.
For information
or assistance, call the Manufacturing Technology Information Service at
1-800-356-4USAor
visit the
