Industries: Industrial

Validated simulation and the digitalisation of the industrial sector in this era of Industry 4.0 is rapidly changing the way we work. Xi has decades of experience working with clients to improve the understanding of their products, systems, or processes.

We provide exacting measurement capability for one-off, periodic or ongoing condition monitoring. Combining this data with our simulation skills and analytical capabilities, we can help you to better understand, test and improve your work environment and equipment. We often provide Digital Twins of complex systems to ensure that they can operate for the specified design life whilst not being over-engineered, ensuring best value on the capital expenditure necessary to purchase and install them.

We can deliver real economic benefit by accurately predicting how and when to maintain equipment, guarding against costly, unexpected machine failure.

We gather data for our simulation software by safely installing specialist measuring equipment at your site. We then analyse this information to give you insight into any non-standard issues impacting on efficiencies. We can also analyse historic data )if available) to provide insight into the operation of your assets. From this new data we develop solutions to ensure the required operating lifetime of your machines, factories and bespoke facilities.

Our engineers are qualified to work in a diverse range of high-risk environments. With additional site-specific training from you, our team can quickly respond to your project’s needs and timescales.

Talk to us about your project.

Industrial Specialisms

When designing a cleanroom or workshop it is important to consider the equipment which will be housed within the room itself. For example, some equipment such as nanofabrication and high precision lasers will require extremely strict vibration levels to prevent background vibration from affecting the accuracy of the component. Xi have been working with clients across the globe to improve cleanroom and workshop dynamics and isolate sensitive equipment to ensure risk free operation from background vibrations.

When designing a cleanroom or workshop it is important to consider the equipment which will be housed within the room itself. For example, some equipment such as nanofabrication and high precision lasers will require extremely strict vibration levels to prevent background vibration from affecting the accuracy of the component. Xi Engineering have been working with clients across the globe to improve cleanroom and workshop dynamics and isolate sensitive equipment to ensure risk free operation from background vibrations.

When looking at housing the cleanroom, Xi can also complete computational models of the buildings to determine resonant frequencies in the structure and areas of high background vibration. If a retrofit is required, the Xi can use their high precision measurement equipment to evaluate structural dynamics in the workshops and cleanrooms. This information can allow Xi to design isolation for specific machines based off of their vibration requirements.

Pipework vibration can be complex arising from external vibrating equipment, or internal flow induced vibrations.

Vibrating pipework and pipelines quickly increase the risk of fracture or failure. The conditions at which vibrations occur can also vary with dependence on the flow mixture and speed often making solutions difficult to address.

Xi has the ability to combine physical measurement with computer simulation.  Measurements often use the latest in contactless optical and laser-based systems allowing measurement in otherwise inaccessible or dangerous locations.  Computer simulation allows us to simulate a whole system of pipework and how it interacts with the structure to which it is connected.  Combining computation fluid dynamics (CFD) with the simulation allows Xi to predict the varying forces from differing flow states.

In addition to specifying typical solution options such as pipe stiffening and spring supports, Xi is also developing a specialist solution with support from OGIC.  The Advanced Particle Damping (APD) solution is designed to target variable and broadband vibration that would otherwise be challenging to resolve.

Robots are fast becoming key components of manufacturing and day to day life. These multifaceted machines are helping to revolutionise production, picking systems and transportation to name a few.

Xi’s modelling and measurement abilities help clients get the most out of their existing robots, with the addition of using the knowledge gained to inform the more effective design of the next generation of machines.  Xi is also able analyse the behaviour of robots that work sequentially and the cumulative effect that this can have on both the robots and the supporting infrastructure.

Just as with any other mechanical moving part, robots and their infrastructures are subject to fatigue, inefficiencies and operational failures.  Xi can help to observe, identify, analyse, simulate and solve the many electromechanical variables which are important to consider when working with robots.

As technology progresses and materials get lighter, Xi can help ensure robots and their environments work quietly and optimally.

Conceptualisation

Xi can help to explore concepts such as miniaturisation of existing systems and the impact of iterative changes on established designs.