Mechanical Technology April 2016

⎪ Nota bene ⎪

Mine developer adopts 3D printing technology

K nown for its use of best-in-class technology, Murray & Roberts Cementation has added 3D print- ing technology to its capability portfolio and believes that this will add greater functionality during project design stages. Allan Widlake, business develop- ment executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation, says the use of 3D print- ing technology allows engineers to take

designs from CAD or other modelling software and convert it into physical 3D models. “The primary advantage is that the physical model and the virtual model are almost identical and the ergonomics of the structure can be visually checked to ensure functionality.” It is significant that the first model pro- duced by Murray & Roberts Cementation is of the Ivanplats’ Platreef Shaft 2 head- frame. The 1:260 scale model is an ac- curate physical rendering of the headgear. It was printed using ceramic as opposed to plastics for aesthetic purposes and this took just 17 hours. “3D printing of structures allows for the assessing of the constructability of the design and we believe that this could become a vital tool as it gives a far more realistic perspective. In the case of the headgear we were also able to confirm that there is sufficient space to access all components of the headgear from a servicing perspective,” Widlake says. 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, is the process of creating three-dimensional objects from a digital model. Advances in 3D printing technol- ogy have seen it become more affordable, allowing reasonably priced models to be produced and, from a planning perspec- tive, this means that engineers can use these 3D printed models to discuss with crews exactly how the construction will be done. This provides a much more tangible idea of the construction required. Murray & Roberts Cementation was responsible for the design of Ivanplats’ mechanised, high tonnage Platreef Shaft 2 headframe. It will be the main produc- Engineering Indaba”. Some of the issues to be discussed during the Indaba include: Moving forward or going back: Is manufacturing in southern Africa do- ing better than It did a year ago? Government policy Interventions for a sustainable, glob- ally competitive steel sector; Transformation as a strategic weapon/business enabler in Southern Africa; Partners, not adversaries: how to forge a stronger partnership between business and labour to improve southern Africa’s international Competitiveness; and several more. For more information contact SIEFSA communications manager, Ollie Madlala. ollie@seifsa.co.za

Index to advertisers Axiom Hydraulics..............................14 Bearings International........................36 BMG.......................................OFC,OBC Bonfiglioli...........................................2 Bruton Spiralflite...............................13 Crown Publications...........................IBC Hytec Holdings .................................11 Ingersoll Rand...................................26 SASSDA...........................................30 SEW Eurodrive..................................16 SMC Pneumatics...............................24 Tega Industries..................................33 Voith Mining & Metals........................15 Weir Minerals....................................10 World Power Products........................ 19 Copperbelt Mining Trade Expo & Conference 2016 12-13 May Kitwe Showgrounds, Zambia leatitiavs@specialised.com www.cbm-tec.com African Utility Week 2016 17-19 May Cape Town, South Africa +27 21 700 3500 auw-info@spintelligent.com evan.schiff@spintelligent.com tion shaft, capable of hoisting 6.0 Mtpa of ore and transporting large mechanised equipment between the surface and underground. By comparison with most steel frame PGM headgear in South Africa, it will be a considerable concrete structure – 100.5 m in height with a lined shaft 10 m in diameter. The headframe will house all the equipment necessary for operating the shaft, thereby reducing the surface footprint. During sinking, maximum use of permanent infrastruc- ture was achieved in order to minimise the changeover delay from sinking to permanent conditions. Shaft 2 will be 1 080 m deep and will feature two high mass, high speed 40 t skips running at 18 m/s. It will also be capable of conveying 40 t of material or 225 people in a single deck using a cage and counter weight arrangement. q Industry diary May 2016 Pump Guy: Larry Bachus 9-12 May, Johannesburg 16-19 May, Secunda 2KG Training Phindi Mbedzi phindi@2kg.co.za

Printed using a ceramic material, the first 3D printed model produced by Murray & Roberts Cementation is of Ivanplats’ Platreef Shaft 2 headframe.

Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba To be held at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in Sandton from 26 to 27 May 2016, the 2 nd annual Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba will be of- ficially opened by former deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe.

The IDC’s Divisional Executive of Corporate Affairs, Zama Luthuli, says: “The Indaba provides an occasion for industry players and Government to engage and come up with solutions to address issues impacting the sector.” SEIFSA chief executive officer, Kaizer Nyatsumba, says the Federation was de- lighted to welcome the IDC on board “as a strategic partner for the 2016 Metals and

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Mechanical Technology — April 2016