In-Situ Machining Solutions have recently completed an unusual on-site machining project in the Shetland Island to create an 8” NP Tapered external thread to four of the process plant’s huge storage tank fixed inlet pipes.
Our customer for weeks without success had been scouring the country to find a company that could supply services to cover this specialist on-site machining work. Most other companies in the on-site machining business could not accommodate the request for this particular work to be undertaken.
Fortunately, In-Situ Machining (UK) Ltd were contacted as a result of a web search by customer with the urgent problem they faced. We, in return, suggested that we could help but an on site assessment would be necessary to survey the proposed project, which duly took place.
On the return from site the engineering team at base offered a formal proposal which included a method statement, risk assessment and formal quotation.
After customer acceptance of the proposal, the In-Situ team set about producing the specialist threading equipment to undertake this challenging and interesting project.
The preparatory work consisted firstly, of designing the orbital or planetary machining equipment, then to produce the parts to cut the 8” NPT, assembled onto one of our standard orbital turning rings. Finally to carry out trials in our work shop to ensure that the compressed air driven device would perform as designed, this was carried out as expected and planned. From receipt of the official order to having a machining system to cover this work took 5 days to complete.
Our machining team then travelled to site to carry out the thread machining work on the four storage tank inlet pipes which took 7 days to complete including travelling time.
The total project was undertaken very successfully to a high standard and to the extreme delight of our client.
Photographs give an indication of the machining technique devised by In-Situ Machining Solutions (UK) Ltd to cover this interesting on-site machining project.
