Half-year results show demand

Mills CNC’s half-year results show no let-up in demand for Doosan machine tools among UK and Irish component manufacturers.

The headline news is that for the period January to 18 June, orders for 240 new Doosan machines were taken by Mills. This strong showing comes off the back of a successful MACH 2018, where Mills sold 20 machines during the week-long event. Over 3000 people visited Mills’ stand at the show.
Over the past 18 months there has also been a noticeable upturn in demand for Mills’ turnkey and process improvement solutions. Says managing director Kevin Gilbert: “Delivering often complex, right-first-time turnkey solutions is a hallmark of Mills. More and more customers operating in the aerospace, defence and energy sectors, for example, are approaching us to help design and implement solutions that will help improve their productivity, operational efficiency and machining performance.”
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

Power chuck offers pendulum compensation

Schunk has expanded its product range with a sealed six-jaw pendulum compensation chuck for clamping deformation-sensitive workpieces.

The special seals located on the serrated jaw interface and pistons of the Schunk Rota NCR-A stop grease from being flushed out and prevent the clamping force from being gradually lost.
According to the company, precise chuck function is assured, even at low clamping forces. In addition, the seal prevents chips or dirt from ingress into the chuck body. This increases process reliability and lengthens maintenance intervals, translating into less frequent lubrication and cleaning of the lathe chuck, says Schunk.
The Rota NCR-A consists of a central chuck piston carrying three inner pendulums aligned at 120°. Each pendulum is connected to two base jaws. This configuration ensures workpiece centering between six contact points, which can be adjusted in pairs. As the clamping forces are directed towards the chuck centre, optimal centering is achieved without distortion of the workpiece.
The chuck adjusts to the workpiece with its oscillating jaws. In the case of ring-shaped workpieces, deformation is reduced by a factor of 10 compared with clamping using three-jaw chucks. Users can also clamp the pendulum of the Rota NCR-A in the centre position during the final processing stage or when clamping pre-turned surfaces so that all six jaws move concentrically. The clamping force between the first and second clamping can be adjusted by means of a pressure reduction at the hydraulic cylinder.
For further information www.gb.schunk.com

Vice holds cylindrical or prismatic parts

The PC80Z self-centring vice from Roemheld is available in a new, two-in-one version that accepts the manufacturer’s optional round inserts, enabling cylindrical components or billets from 44 to 95 mm in diameter to be clamped securely. There is now no need for a machinist to buy a bespoke workholding solution or machine sets of soft jaws to hold parts of different diameters.

The vice can be converted back within a couple of minutes to its conventional role of holding prismatic components; it simply requires the Allen bolts holding four round inserts to be unscrewed and the pair of straight, 80 mm wide jaws to be reinstated. Parts from 17 to 139 mm long can then be secured for metal cutting using the 62 mm clamping stroke.
Of 60 mm overall height, the low-profile unit ensures that not much Z-axis travel is lost on a vertical machining centre. Additionally, despite its all-steel construction, the light weight of only 6 kg avoids taking up undue allowance from a machine’s maximum pallet load, enabling heavier parts to be produced.
Well suited to use on five-axis machining centres and in automated production cells employing pallet magazines, the vice is fitted as standard with the Lang interface for added versatility. Clamping force is 20 kN at 60 Nm closing torque. The device is said to be easy to disassemble and clean, minimising loss of productivity during routine maintenance.
For further information www.roemheld.co.uk

New centre jaw for five-axis vice

The Hoffmann Group has introduced a new module for its Garant Xpent five-axis vice.

This centre jaw, which can be optionally fitted to the base rail, has made it possible to clamp two workpieces with just one vice, and process them in a single operation. Such a configuration means clamping strategies that are more efficient can be implemented, leading to a measurable increase in productivity, says the company.
Garant Xpent vices are based on a modular design concept. Clamping modules, base rails and spindles can be individually combined and the convex clamping modules can be turned through 180°. Hoffman’s newly developed centre jaw offers another bonus, in terms of flexibility, and is immediately available as an accessory for sizes 0 to 1S (and will soon be available in sizes 1 and 2). The existing range of attachment rails, each with two clamping stages, is fully compatible with the new centre jaw.
Each vice has a clamping force of up to 40 kN at a torque of 90 Nm, and is available in three different heights and two widths. Base rails are available in lengths of 360 to 1050 mm. The new 1S size was specially developed for three- and five-axis machines with small
spindle gearboxes.
For further information www.hoffman-group.com

Nikken and Boeing in technical partnership

At its innovation Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Sheffield, Nikken Kosakusho Europe recently hosted a visit from Boeing senior executives and engineers to sign a long-term technical partnership between the two companies.

Boeing senior executives Dave Hyem, Don Hendrickson and James Needham are pictured with Nikken Kosakusho Europe director Gary Williamson and European CEO Tony Bowkett, following the signing of an integrator agreement to provide precision tool holders, cutting tools and tool pre-setting solutions to the aerospace giant’s new Sheffield manufacturing facility, the first in Europe, based within the High-Value Manufacturing (HVM) cluster in Sheffield.
As Integrator and technical partner, Nikken will work closely with Boeing’s engineering team to help optimise manufacturing processes and achieve production goals and Industry 4.0 ambitions.
Boeing Sheffield will employ approximately 30 people, including 18 apprentices, when it opens later this year as part of Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ (BCA) fabrication operations, and will work closely with Boeing Portland, a company Centre of Excellence for complex machining, gear systems and flight controls. The manufacture of high-tech components for Boeing’s Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aircraft is due to commence at the new facility in September 2018.
“This is a very proud moment for the Nikken European team, resident here on the AMRC park,” says Bowkett. “We have worked tirelessly to put together a total support solution that will allow the Boeing engineers to produce upwards of 10,000 parts per month, supporting its Portland facility in the USA. It’s a great opportunity for our engineering and logistics teams to integrate world-class machine tools and equipment, and to use their knowledge and experience to optimise their performance, resulting in productivity and efficiency gains.”
For further information www.nikken-world.com