Design and contract manufacturing firm ActionPlas Group has upgraded its quality control department with the purchase of an Altera M 20.12.10 co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) from LK Metrology. The subcontractor specialises in machining and fabricating mainly plastic, but also metal, components and assemblies for sectors including automotive, food and drink, pharmaceutical, and power generation.

The new CMM supports pre-delivery inspection of high-value, complex machined and additively manufactured parts, including critical components for a Formula 1 team. The project formed part of a £1m investment programme focused on the F1 customer, where increasing component complexity and tight tolerances demanded enhanced inspection capability.

ActionPlas technical director Jonathan Wray says: “Previously we were struggling to measure these components, which feature complex geometry and demanding tolerances, using an ageing CMM from another manufacturer. Components used in F1 race cars must fit correctly first time, as failure at the racetrack is simply not an option.”

He continues: “We need to specify the exact form, orientation and location of features such as bores, aerofoils and wall thicknesses, with typical part-to-CAD tolerances of 10 microns.”

The Altera M 20.12.10 offers a working volume of 2.0 x 1.2 x 1 m and was supplied withRenishaw’s SP25M Scanning Probe Kit 2 for both high-speed scanning and touch probing. The package also included LK CAMIO 2025 R2 software, training and consultancy services.

LK supplied the machine from stock just two weeks after order placement. The CMM is now in daily use across ActionPlas’ R&D, quality control and production departments, helping the company secure increasingly complex and higher-value work.

More information www.lkmetrology.com