Virtual M&E Week ’21 Aims to Reach More Metals and Eng’g Enthusiasts
by Faith P. Macatangay
Taguig City, Metro Manila– The DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center’s 13th Metals and Engineering Week (M&E Week) adapted with the new way of conducting social events as it was held through an online platform, June 14-18.
With the year’s timely theme, ‘The Metals and Engineering Industries: Rising Above Challenges of the Times,’ the DOST-MIRDC, along with partner industry associations, offered free webinars covering a wide array of topics about the metals industry and related sectors.
Some of the webinars conducted during the week-long event:
June 14
Contactless Tool Management and Digital Manufacturing. Mr. Henry Palmero of Haimer Asia Pacific LTD. showcased high precision products for metal cutting that include shrinking, balancing, and tool presenting machines, and their known tool holders. The digital tool room management concept with Industry 4.0 system was also tackled. This webinar was conducted in partnership with the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines (AIAP).
Advanced Blended Welding Training. Mr. Jorge Carrasco Ortega, Soldamatic Sales Regional Manager for France and French Speaking Countries of Seabery Soldamatic, demonstrated the welding parameters and process in welding through Augmented Reality and the Welding E-Learning where all students can be managed individually. Likewise, gamification was introduced, an application of game principles in educating welding. This aims to encourage the younger generation to learn the mentioned fabrication process. The webinar is in partnership with the Philippine Welding Society (PWS).
The Taxonomy of Implementing Internet of Things: Scalability and Interoperability of M2M Network. The Mechatronics and Robotics Society of the Philippines (MRSP) brought Engr. Lorna C. Ilagan, MS-ECE, PECE, and CEO of LORA-IOT Network and Data Solution, as the resource speaker. She ran through the network topology and communications infrastructure in implementing Internet of Things (IoT), designing and optimization of Machine to Machine (M2M) effectivity, and application of IoT in M2M Network. Engr. Ilagan accommodated the participants with her openness to help them with their network-related concerns.
June 16
Machining Economics and Process Improvement via Modern Tools. Mr. Francis Allen Empinado, Technical Manager of Guhring Philippines, Inc. presented the data-driven analysis of machining cost economics, and process optimization by using modern cutting tools and technologies. The webinar is co-presented with AIAP.
Confined Space Visual Inspection with Robotics and Real3DTM Measurement. Advanced confined inspection solutions are highlighted that aim to achieve zero man-entry and zero incidences in confined space inspection. Case studies and future technological feasibilities are also tackled by Mr, Stanley Leong, Regional Visual Business Unit Manager of Baker Hughes through the PWS.
Brittle Fracture of Welded Structure. The factors of brittle fracture occurrences, basic modes of deformation, types of fracture toughness tests surface, prevention, and more facts about brittle fractures, are elaborated in layman’s term by Engr. Reynaldo L. Dela Cruz, Jr., Senior Welding Engineer and Chief, Industrial Training Section of DOST-MIRDC. Most asked questions from the participants are about the kinds of metals that are best to use in different kinds of applications. PWS is the partner association.
June 17
Basic Calibration of Engineering Dimensional Metrology Instrument (Advocacy Seminar). Engr. Rommel N. Coroña, Chief, Instrumentation and Metrology Section of DOST-MIRDC, discussed the general terms in metrology, enumerated sources of error in measurement and methods of minimizing them, and demonstrated proper handling and maintenance of basic length measurement.
Industrial Robotics. The advantages, components, and applications of industrial robots are discussed by Mr. Charles Angelo O. Duran, Technical Specialist Manager-Mechatronics of Hytec Power, Inc. He also did offline programming demonstrations as well as inline programming using the Advanced Mechatronics, Robotics, and Industrial Automation Laboratory’s (AMERIAL) Smart Factory. Industrial Robotics webinar is made possible with MRSP.
One of the objectives of the Center and its partner industry associations is to convey the importance of continuous improvement of the metals industry and its significant role as the backbone of the industrialized value chain through the webinars held during the M&E Week.
The M&E Week celebration indeed was a success as all the webinars were actively participated by attendees from academe, government, private individuals, and institutions.
To know more about the projects, partnerships, and other initiatives of the DOST-MIRDC, visit www.mirdc.dost.gov.ph and the DOST MIRDC Facebook page.
