College invests in XYZ machines

Students studying courses at South and City College Birmingham – from BTEC through to City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 (including apprentices) – are benefiting from investment in machines from XYZ Machine Tools.

In fact, the college’s Bordesley Green campus now has 12 XYZ machines, a combination of manual trainer lathes, turret mills with DROs, a surface grinder, ProtoTrak-equipped SMX 2500 bed mills, and an SLX 1630 ProTurn lathe. A similar range of machines has been installed at the Bournville campus.
“The mix of manual, DRO and ProtoTrak-controlled machines is ideal for our needs,” says Ian Partington (pictured), Advanced Technician – Engineering. “The ProtoTrak system was a big influence in our final decision to go with XYZ Machine Tools as it provides the perfect middle ground between manual and CNC, and is not too big a step up for students as they progress.” The ease of use of the ProtoTrak control system is combined with its ability to handle complex parts for either one-off or small-to-medium production volumes.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Sunnen relocates BTA Heller

Last year’s acquisition of BTA Heller by Sunnen now sees the BTA Heller division relocated to Sunnen’s long-time headquarters in St Louis.

Sunnen says that the move will allow further development of deep-hole tooling, systems and processes for precision bore applications. The relocation from Troy, Michigan will be completed by 31 March, with key personnel making the switch.
“The transfer of knowledge between the two companies has already created unique value propositions, and Sunnen’s strong sales and service network will deliver this expertise to our customers,” says Chris Miltenberger, Sunnen president and COO.
For further information www.sunnen.com

Guhring UK business is “Brexit ready”

Guhring UK has confirmed that it is ready for the looming ‘deadline day’ of Brexit and, regardless of the outcome, the company is in position to ensure there is no impact on the UK customer base.

Nadia Rose Performs at the Birmingham Pride Weekender 2017 in Birmingham UK, 27/05/2017

Guhring UK’s managing director Chris Weston says: “If we get a deal or remain in Europe, there will be no change to business and we can all continue as before. If there is no deal, Guhring is still in a fantastic position. We have large stock levels on the shelves in the UK, which are full of standard product lines. Also, as we manufacture and service here in the UK, this strengthens our position even more.”
For further information www.guhring.co.uk

Chester Machine Tools meets WWETB needs

As specialists in the supply of machines to the education market, Chester Machine Tools (via Irish partner Central Technology Supplies) recently provided CNC and conventional machines to the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) in Ireland.

The machines supplied were a Chester EDU360 CNC lathe and a Chester V6L Delta three-axis CNC machining centre, both of which were installed in the education workshop facilities to help young engineers complete their prototyping and design projects utilising the latest technology.
Chester’s engineers undertook the final commissioning and training on site at the WWETB facilities as part of the company’s ongoing support package to education customers. The installation of these machines follows recent Chester machine installations in Ireland of a CNC mini machining centre at the Institute of Technology in Tallaght, Dublin, and 16 conventional lathes and turret
milling machines at the Regional Skills and
Training Centre in Dundalk.
For further information www.chestermachinetools.com

Another machining cell at Alcon

When Tamworth-based Alcon Components was awarded a contract to supply the lightweight monobloc brake calipers for a new hybrid electric hypercar, the subcontractor turned to Kingsbury to supply an automated, turnkey machining cell that would produce the aluminium components.

Comprising a Hermle C32U five-axis machining centre fed with pallets from an Erowa Robot Easy 250 automated storage and handling system, the cell has already started producing calipers, as the job had previously been proved out on a near-identical cell installed in 2016. Essentially, the only difference is that the latest machine has extended tool capacity.
The hypercar has one brake caliper per wheel, the set of four requiring in excess of 24 hours to be machined from solid aluminium billets. Four operations are needed: pre-milling on another vertical machining centre, op 1 on the Hermle C32U, transfer back to the other machining centre for simple boring cycles, and finish machining on the C32U. Fully Interpolative five-axis machining of freeform surfaces accounts for less than 10% of cycles on the Hermle machine, with 4+1 and 3+2 strategies used
wherever possible.
A limited number of road-going hypercars will be produced, while a few track-only versions are also planned. Alcon is responsible for the full foundation brake system, pedal box and actuation, as well as a number of precision chassis components. When the contract has been completed, Alcon will split its ongoing production of calipers for high-performance road cars, race cars and defence vehicles between the two automated Hermle-Erowa C32U cells. A smaller C20U on the shop floor, purchased in 2007 with an Erowa automated pallet storage offset to the side rather than positioned directly in front of the machine, will then be reserved for producing prototypes.
For further information www.kingsburyuk.com