Page 57: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 1997)

SHIP & BOATBUILDING TECHNOLOGY

Koike Introduces Thermal Cutting

Center

Koike Aronson has introduced an "operator- less" CNC thermal cutting center. According to company President John Capozzi, the new

MYNUC AutoCut oxy-fuel cutting system is the culmination of the company's continuous efforts to automate all aspects of the cutting process, from parts programming to bridge and torch positioning and torch ignition. A series of auto- mated features is integrated into the new machine to free up the operator for other tasks.

These features include quick change torches, automatic torch spacing and selection, auto- mated balance gas pressure system, flame detection and shut-off, collision (with dropped parts) detection, height sensor and auto igni- tion. The machine is designed for large ship fabrication and_gteel service centers, iny small fteel plate, include flame and gas leak automatic shut-off and the newest version of the company's HYBRID D8

CNC ""rrjjrlli'r "^rlripp in mnjnnrfinn with

KAP paras programming softwal

For more information on Koike Arorn

Circle 21 on Reader Service Care specifical production r%ns

Other features detection with

Caterpillar's Engine

Division offers the new Cat 3196, a compact, 12-liter dis- placement, totally electronic marine diesel engine with rat- ings from 490 to 660 bhp at 230 rpm.

The Cat 3196 reportedly provides the highest power output, lowest weight-to- power ratio — at 3.92:1 — and best fuel consumption to power rating of any diesel engine in its class. Specific fuel consumption at 2,300 rpm is .351 lb/bhp-hr., and propeller demand fuel con- sumption at 1,900 rpm cruis- ing speed is 17.6 gph.

A twin screw installa has reportedly put a (16-m) custom charter at 90 percent of rated speed within 11

A single Cat 3196 powering a 42-ft. lobster boat/gillnetter has reportedly enabled the vessel to accelerate from idle to full power in eight seconds with no visible smoke, and has enabled maintenance of dla i cruising speeds of up to 19 knots at 1,900 rpm.

The 3196 elec- tronic control sys- tem adjusts fuel delivery to opti- mize power and torque while limit- ing smoke and emissions.

Both fuel injec- tion timing and duration are close- ly tied to a variety of factors including air inlet temperature, boost pressure, fuel temperature, engine load, engine speed and desired ensure

Pictured is the Caterpillar Cat 3196 marine diesel engine. were fine-tuned in the devel- opment laboratory, based on detailed load data provided from field test engines accel- erating to planing speed.

The mechanically-actuated unit injector fuel system develops high injection pres- sure from a camshaft design which supplies fuel earlier in the combustion cycle.

Combined with the optimized unit injector nozzle tip design, this is designed to improve combustion efficiency to increase power while reducing fuel consumption.

Emission levels meet cur- rent and anticipated

European and U.S. regula- tions.

For more information on

Caterpillar

Circle 89 on Reader Service Card

Alyn Manufactures Lightweight

Composite

Alyn Corp. has ' matrix composite for poration industries, boron carbide composite, is reportedly stiffer and lighter than aluminum and has a greater specific strength and stiffness than titanium, aluminum or steel. In terms of marine applica- tions, the material has thus far been fabricated into propellers, drive shafts and tubing materi- als for analysis. Other applications include and internal combustion engine compo- cyhndtit-eleeioigjgears, drive rocker MJJUI) pi'lnir, I IIIINTPIHIM i nil beprfng supports and turbine vanefc

For more information on Alyn Corp.

Circle 33 on Reader Service Card

Aluminum Alloy Offers

Operational Advantages

Hoogovens Aluminum Walzprodukte GmbH has developed an advanced materials system that reportedly yields even greater reductions in structural weight than existing aluminum construction materials, resulting in stronger, more durable vessels, supplied all of the 1500, a fast ferry

Gothenburg,

Rauma, Finland.

The company's new features improved corrosion resistance, less dis- tortion during welding, a smaller heat-affected zone and improved fatigue life of welds. The strength of the new alloy was reportedly achieved through a combination of alloy, chem- istry and process modifications. Carefully con- trolled precipitation of anodic intermetallics

Alustar, reportedly helps the new alloy achieve improved corrosion resis- tance. "The major break- through is that this mater- ial is not just 20 percent prop- mechanical also much „ _ _ in the weld zone | ... By working closely with companies like

International Catamaran and Finnyards, we identi- fied the need to produce a material with a much higher strength, and we have the technical and production resources at our plant in Koblenz to develop this material, as well as the global marketing and distribution valves

Pictured are sections of HSS1500, manufactured by Finnyards with sections of Hoogovens' alu- minum plate, consisting of a new high-strength, lightweight alloy. capability to make it available for a wide range of applications," said company Technology

Manager Alfred Haszler.

For more information on Hoogovens

Circle 31 on Reader Service Card

February, 1997 57