Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2024 takes place on 6-8 February and is breaking new ground this year with the highest ever number of stand bookings by overseas companies. The venue as usual is the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Hampshire.

At the show, stands are split approximately equally between exhibitors operating in the mechanical engineering and electronics sectors. An interesting facet of the exhibition is that although the various technologies and industries covered are diverse, there are no barriers between the areas, allowing easy cross-over between the various engineering disciplines. It often leads to people discovering companies and technologies they would otherwise miss.

Additive manufacturing hardware, consumables and subcontract design and production services will be in evidence around the showground. Additive by Matsuura will promote 3D printing technologies including HP Multi-Jet Fusion equipment. It is said to achieve consistency, uniformity and repeatability when printing white parts, while offering post-processing freedom to achieve vibrant colours.

Additive-X will show how to implement 3D printing and maximise profitability, while CREAT3D will promote its latest additive manufacturing platforms and materials including metals, nylons, high-temperature materials, composites, fibre reinforcements and flexible materials. IPFL will exhibit high resolution stereolithography, precision micro 3D printing, fused deposition modelling materials and durable nylon multi-jet fusion.

Machine tool suppliers will be strongly represented. For instance, Mills CNC will showcase a DN Solutions DVF 4000 five-axis machining centre and a Lynx 2100LSYB multi-tasking turning centre. The compact DVF 4000 features an 18.5kW/12,000rpm (BT 40) directly-coupled spindle (as standard), and houses a 400mm diameter built-in rotary, tilting table with a zero-backlash roller gear cam design for improved process reliability. The 8” chuck/65mm bar capacity Lynx 2100LSYB is aproductive multi-tasking turning centre equipped with a 5” chuck, 6000rpm sub-spindle, a Yaxis (±52.5mm) and driven tooling capabilities (6000rpm).

XYZ Machine Tools will exhibit seven machines on two stands, including TMC machining centres and an RMX 2-OP for performing cost-effective second operations. XYZ is also bringing the XYZ 800 HD vertical machining centre to the show. This powerful machine is built for volume manufacture and comes with a Siemens 828D control with ShopMill.

For turning, XYZ considers the differing requirements for low and high-volume parts. The XYZ PROTURN RLX 355 is a solution for low to medium volumes, featuring the ProtoTRAK control, it is a fast way of getting parts cut in a machine that offers 1000mm between centres. For more parts, the XYZ CT 52 LR turning centre gives 52mm bar capacity and has linear rail technology and Siemens 828D.

MACH Machine Tools is set to showcase two DynaPath-controlled milling machines, including a new three-axis CNC model. The machines, comprising a popular MACH MDT-1 turret-type mill, one of the company’s best-selling models, will share centre stage with a new MDV 800 3-axis CNC vertical machining centre that only recently made its UK debut at the company’s open house in January 2024.Together, the two machines provide visitors with just a snapshot of the ever-growing and evolving milling machine tool range now available from MACH Machine Tools.

RK International will show a Cyclematic 618E toolroom lathe and a PFG-1545AH surface grinder from Perfect Machine, and Hurco will demonstrate a three-axis VM10i with proprietary Max5 control and a TM8Mi CNC lathe with driven tooling.

Yamazaki Mazak will focus on its Integrex i-200H S multi-tasking turning and milling centre. Having a compact, 12,000 rpm milling spindle with a versatile B-axis range of -30 to +120°, it is suited to single set-up production. Colchester will present new products led by Storm vertical machining centres, which offer variants having either linear guideways or box ways. Tornado CNC turning centres and a modern variant of the Student CNC lathe will also be there.

Chester Machine Tools will exhibit its own-brand platforms plus Brierley grinding, polishing and linishing machines, Kitchen & Walker drilling machines, and Astra lathes, mills and saws. Elsewhere at the show, Matsuura will promote its horizontal and vertical three- to five-axis machining centres. YMT Technologies will also be keen to discuss the advantages of its Hedelius and YCM machining centres, as well as Goodway CNC lathes.

Whether parts are manufactured additively or subtractively, they need to be measured. Firms offering metrology equipment or services will be present to explain how they can help. Aberlink, for example, will demonstrate the Fulcrum manual co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) with a particularly simple user interface. The company says it can start measuring parts within minutes of being switched on, even if the operator has no previous experience.

Keyence is known for its sensors, 3D imaging, machine vision, microscopes and metrology systems. The company will show the latest measurement and inspection line-up, including the VHX-7000N digital microscope with 4K resolution. Another metrology specialist, LK, will launch a new, high-accuracy CMM and also demonstrate its FREEDOM Index Table, said to speed component inspection by up to 40% when using a portable, multi-axis measuring arm.

Mitutoyo (UK) is set to promote its precision measuring equipment, including micrometers, callipers, dial gauges, hardness testers, vision measuring systems and CMMs.Vision Engineering will demonstrate its recently-launched Mantis 3rd Gen stereo microscope, delivering better image quality, improved subject lighting, market-leading ergonomics, and a long working distance. Visitors should also check out Optimax, which will feature 3D scanners, optical inspection instruments, three-axis CNC vision measurement systems, benchtop optical comparators, CMMs and autonomous AI-based automated machine vision. Zeiss, a manufacturer of metrology solutions including CMMs, will be on hand to explain the advantages of its latest equipment.

There is plenty of free car parking space at the Farnborough site, which is well served by road and public transport links. A regular, complimentary bus service runs between Farnborough railway stations and the showground. Admission is also free of charge.

For further information www.industrysouth.co.uk