Blade Edge Tester

The Edge Tester is one of the most important testing equipment that CATRA produces.
It's goal: to measure the wear and efficiency of a variety of blade edges.

I was the Project Lead for the Semi Automatic, the best selling variation adhering to ISO standards.

Being the lead I was involved at all stages - 

• Lead on the modernization of the machine from it's design, programming, wiring and assembly.... keeping track of the overall project plan for the 8 years I was leading it.

• Assemble, wire and program the machine up ensure it is calibrated to the high standards required by the ISO.

• I talk and provide help to clients, commission and repair machines on site and provide training. 

• Liaise with suppliers, working on costing and shipment dates to ensure lead times are upheld.

Throughout its time I brought the machine through a modernization program due to end-of-life equipment, with its internals and externals extensively changed making it easier to maintain and significantly reduce the amount of labour hours to build and assemble.

One of the biggest achievements was a machine overhaul from a small keypad screen with data serial connections to a modern touch screen allowing export of data via Ethernet and a large new feature set.
This involved a programming rewrite due to out of date PLCs no longer being available whilst maintaining the tight deadlines required in the assembly to shipping process.

Images posted with permission of CATRA.