A Vertically Oriented Engineering Group

The Primary Mission of The Island Group is to provide vertically integrated Engineering, Machining, Fabrication, and Documentation in support of Advanced Marine Vehicles.

he Island Group, comprised of Island Engineering, Island Graphics, and Island Tec, is a group of Mechanical & Electrical Engineers, Designers, Machinists, and Technicians. Capabilities include 3D Computerized Design Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Hydrostatics, Hydrodynamics, Mechanical and Electronic Fabrication, and Testing. These capabilities are primarily in support of Advanced Marine Vehicle development, but also include a diverse range of mechanical, electro-mechanical and electro-hydraulic systems for other applications. The Engineering staff has extensive experience in a diverse range of subjects, from basic machine shop and electronic skills to high-level engineering and computer skills. ‘Vertical Orientation’, or maintaining as individuals and as a business group a diverse range of capability- from hands-on technology through engineering skills- is an integral part of the Island Group philosophy.

People:

J.W. McFann, President

Tim Pannone, Vice President, Controls and System Integration

R.W. Loheed, II, Director of Engineering, Island Engineering-

Managing Director, Island Graphics

R.H. Morazes, Senior Engineer

Joseph Gardner, CEO Island Tec, Machinist and Technical Specialist

Tamara Fox, Office Manager

Rodger A. Nelson, Facilities Manager

Terry Kuchta, Mechanical Technician and Propulsion Specialist

Specialized Areas:

Hydrodynamic Testing

Our location in Piney Point MD is close to the Harry Lundeburgh School of Seamanship, where they have a 35 ton crane facility on the waterfront. This, combined with access to the Lower tidal Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, give us an excellent model test area with access to various coastal sea conditions. In addition, the David Taylor Research Center is located within a 2-hour drive in Carderock MD.

Hydrodynamic Design

Island Engineering personnel have been heavily involved in the hydrodynamic design and testing of advanced marine vehicles, with a combined experience base in this field of 35 years. We can work with tables of offsets or CAD data to analyze a variety of vessel types, and have the ability to analyze foil sections and various wing or foil layouts for specific applications.

Advanced Marine Vehicles

Island Engineering personnel have been involved in SES, High Speed Catamarans, Monohulls, SWATH’s, and Wave Piercing Catamaran projects worldwide. A particular specialty is Surface Effect Ships.

Hydraulics/ Integrated Servo Systems

Island Engineering personnel have extensive experience in hydraulics, particularly in computer controlled electro-hydraulic closed loop servo systems in support of motion control. Pictured on the right is the waterjet steering system for our manned model project, and on the left a motor control system.

Motion Control, Servo Systems

Our current generation motion control system is designed to provide flight control for an advanced hybrid hydrofoil project. It is capable of supporting the processing and functionality requirements for fin, trim tab, interceptor or air cushion dynamic control. Utilizing a graphic touch screen operator interface, it processes joystick inputs and motion information from an on-board motion sensor package, and provides command signals to 8 effectors including 5 main foil flaps, one set of horizontal stabilizer flaps, and 2 waterjets. The system has 16 channels of A/D input, 8 Channels of D/A output 40 Digital I/O lines for control of relays or monitoring of switches, as well as RS232 or RS485 communications to or from a host computer, or NMEA compliant bridge electronics, such as GPS.

Motion Control, Machine Tools

The Island Group staff is equipped to retrofit new CNC controls to still functional older CNC equipment, whose only deficiencies are often outdated controls. Combined with efficient G-code programming methods for both 2&1/2 and full 3D projects including NURBS geometry, this gives us a distinct competitive edge great flexibility for prototype and short run production jobs.

Resources

Engineering:

Microsoft Windows Network:

2 1.3 Ghz, 512 Meg RAM, ~40 Gigabyte HD, CD-Read/Write, high speed CD ROM, 3.5” Floppy

1 450 Mhz, 128 Meg RAM, 12 Gigabyte HD, CD-Read/Write, ZIP disk, high speed CD ROM, 3.5” Floppy, Cable Modem

1 450 Mhz, 128 Meg RAM, 1 x 30 Gigabyte HD, 1 x 2 Gigabyte HD, 1 40X CD ROM, 1 x 36X CD ROM, 3.5” Floppy

1 750 Mhz, 128 Meg RAM, 12 Gigabyte HD, CD-Read/Write, ZIP disk, high speed CD ROM, 3.5” Floppy

1 233 Mhz, 48 Meg RAM, 2 Gigabyte HD, CD-Read/Write, ZIP disk, high speed CD ROM, 3.5” Floppy

3 Pentium II class computers for distributed machine tool control

Networked HP DraftMaster II E-Size Pen Plotter

HP Deskjet 880 Color Printer

HP Officejet Scanner/Copier/Fax Machine

HP 4300 Color Scanner

Engineering Software:

2 seats, Rhinoceros NURBS Solids modeler

1 seat, Flamingo Ray trace Rendering

1 Seat of FastCAD with MDE 32 Mechanical Design Software

1 Seat of TurboCAD v6 (All 3 capable of reading and writing AutoCAD DWG Format)

Hydrostatics Software

Various Aerofoil Analysis Software packages

Wing Analysis Software

Vortex Lattice 3D Aero/Hydrodynamic Analysis Software

FEA Analysis Software

2D and 3D G-Code Machine Tool Path Programming Software, linked to 2D and 3D CAD data

Custom Programming Capabilities:

C and Visual C++, Visual Basic, G-Code, others as required

Graphics Capabilities, Island Graphics:

Full Photo-Silk Screen Capabilities including:

Agfa-Gavaert ReproMaster 1300 18” x 24” Camera

3 Station Silk Screen Printing Indexer

11” x 17” NuArc Diffusion Transfer Processor

Harco Model 2330 Screen Exposure Unit

Computer Graphics Programs:

Adobe Illustrator V8

Paint Shop Pro V7

Flamingo Raytrace Rendering for Rhinoceros

Electronic/Electrical Engineering Capabilities:

Embedded Controller Development System

Analog/Digital Circuit Analysis Software

Servo-hydraulic Test Fixture

Electronic Test/Repair/Prototype Facility

Test Equipment

2-Channel Oscilloscope
20MHz Function Generator
Dual Output DC Power Supply
True RMS AC/DC Multimeter

Repair/Prototype Equipment

Temperature Controlled Soldering Station
Desoldering Equipment
Wire-wrapping Equipment

Measurement and Testing:

All Engineering Staff at Island Engineering have extensive experience in high performance marine vehicle sea trials and testing from model testing to full scale trials, including extensive data acquisition and reduction experience. A portable 16 Channel single ended/8 channel differential DAS system is available, complete with custom software written specifically for the tasks of vessel trials by Island Engineering. This system is capable of spectral analysis and gain/phase calculations in support of advanced computer controlled electro-hydraulic servo systems.

Facilities

Machine Shop Space of 6500 Square Feet, with 40 Ft. deep Bay

General Shop Facilities of 2200 Square Feet, Including 2 x 11 Ft high x 40 Ft deep bays with 2 Ton Chain hoists on overhead I beams

Office, Graphics workshop and electronic shop 2400 Square Feet.

Milling Machines (Travel in inches)

Cincinnatti CNC Bridge Profiler:

Table travel: X=126, Y=56, Z=24

Monarch CNC Machining Center: (Pictured)

Table travel: X=74, Y=30, Z=34

(2) Bridgeport Series 2 CNC mills-

Table travel: X=31 Y=16 Z=22

Gorton Model 2-30 Auto trace Master CNC

Table travel: X=34, Y=16, Z= 6 (Quill Motion)

Lagun FTV-2 Mill

Table Travel: X=34, Y=12, Z=6 (Quill Motion)

(5) Brideport Series 1 CNC:

Table Travel: X=24, Y=12, Z=6

Adcock and Shipley Universal Horizontal

Table Travel: X=24, Y=12, Z=18

American Universal Horizontal/Vertical/Angle with DRO

Table Travel: X=34, Y=12, Z=6 (Quill Motion)

Lathes

Swedeturn CNC lathe

~12” Swing, 36” Between Centers

Pratt& Whitney

10” Swing over Saddle, 36” Between Centers

Monarch

7” Swing Over Saddle, 20” between Centers

Large LeBlond

26” swing over saddle, 120” Between Centers

Cincinnati

~10” Swing over Saddle, 30” Between Centers

Caballero Turret Lathe

~6” Swing over Saddle, 6 station rotating Turret tailstock

Cutting Equipment

CNC Plasma Cutter:

Esab 75 Amp Plasma Torch

~0.5” to 0.625” (depending on Material) thickness capability

Travel: X=60 X 120 (2D and 3^rd Axis Rotary Capability)

This Plasma system is completely rebuilt and features new torches and an advanced control system installed by the Island Group staff.

(2) sets, Oxy-Acetylene Cutting Torches

(2) 40 Amp Hand held Plasma Torches

Welding Equipment:

Miller 460 Amp Arc Welder W/ TIG

Power Mate 250 Amp Arc Welder W/ TIG

Miller 250 Amp Arc Welder W/ TIG

(2) Esab 250 Amp ‘MIG Master’ Welders

Portable Welding/Fabrication Truck with

Hobart Champion 16 225 Amp with MIG, TIG and stick capability. The truck also has an air compressor and a generator for power tools.

Miller 250 Ideal Arc Stick and TIG Welder

Hobart Wire Handler, MIG only

Sheet Metal Equipment:

48” Bend Brake

72” ‘Island Tec’ custom Differential Press Brake

(Can create controlled tapered angle bends)

48” Western Electric Shear

Surface Grinders:

(2) Brown and Sharpe, X=12”, Y=8” Automatic Surface Grinders

Reid, X=12”, Y=8” Automatic Surface Grinder

Sheffield, X=12”, Y=8” Automatic Surface Grinder

Saws:

24” Horizontal Band Saw

12” Horizontal Band Saw

DoAll 18” Throat Vertical Band Saw

Delta 12” Throat Vertical Band Saw

Misc:

(2) Drill Presses

(2) Rivet Machines

Case Front End Loader and Backhoe

Ford Front End Loader and Backhoe

Presses:

48” Capacity Hydraulic Press

12” Throat 30 Ton Hydraulic Press with Precision Gauge

Porta-Power portable hydraulic kit with all accessories

Woodworking Machinery:

(2) 10” Radial Arm Saw

(2) 10” Table Saw

6” Jointer

4” Belt Sander

Finishing/Composites Capabilities

15 CFM Compressor, with Central Filtered/Water Separated Distribution System

(2) ~8 CFM Oil-Less Direct Drive Compressors

(2) ~8 CFM Oiled Piston Compressors

Spray Paint/ Composites Fabrication Area with Ventilation

Vacuum Bag Capability

GRP/VinylEster/Epoxy Laminates

Urethane & Epoxy Casting and RTM Molding