Delta XD has expanded its metrology capabilities with a Makino U6 H.E.A.T. wire EDM supplied by NCMT, enabling the business to section complex aerospace components with minimal material loss and greater accuracy. 

The specialist inspection company needed a way to examine internal geometries and material integrity without compromising the features undergoing measurement. Previously, multiple cuts or outsourced processes could add time and complexity to inspections. 

“We had a very specific requirement to support a customer in sectioning some finely detailed turbine components for quality control purposes,” says Lee Griffiths, head of sales & business development at Delta XD. “The need to split parts very precisely, without losing material, was a key focus for us.” 

The Makino U6 H.E.A.T. combines cutting accuracy of 4 microns with the ability to use wire down to 0.1 mm in diameter, minimising kerf width and preserving material for analysis. Its larger working envelope accommodates both intricate components and larger castings, while high-energy pulse technology improves cutting efficiency, surface quality and wire life. 

The machine also enables Delta XD to combine 3D scanning with adaptive machining, creating complex 3D cutting paths to expose internal features for inspection.  

Installation was equally straightforward. With a machine already available at NCMT’s Coventry showroom, the period from purchase order to installation, including training, was around 10-15 days. 

The investment is already delivering results. High machine utilisation and growing enquiries reflect demand for the new service, while reducing multiple cuts to a single operation cuts reconstruction work and inspection times. 

“The overall time to complete inspections is much reduced, and the amount of data we can present is greater because we’re seeing more of the part in its original state,” reports Daniel Lainchbury, COO at Delta XD. 

More information www.ncmt.co.uk