CNC MACHINE TOOLS HELP HEPCOMOTIONKEEP MOVING

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of DN Solutions (formerly Doosan) and Zayer machine tools in the UK and Ireland has supplied HepcoMotion, a manufacturer of linear motion systems and automation components, with six new high-performance CNC machine tools since 2019.The machines acquired comprise five DNM vertical machining centres, four DNM 6700 models (include two extra-long bed variants) and a DNM 5700, as well as a VT 1100M vertical turning lathe with driven tooling.

All six are in situ at the company’s headquarters in Tiverton, which has an extensive 4800sq m production facility and a well-resourced machine shop with approximately 40 CNC machinesorganised into discrete machining and production areas and cells. The Tiverton site also boasts a sizeable assembly operation and other specialisms that include a heat treatment facility, a dedicated ring cell and a linear slide processing line where cutting, straightening, chemical blacking and grinding operations take place.

“We’re a vertically-integrated, self-sufficient company,” states Ryan Berry, HepcoMotion’s engineering manager.“Controlling the methods and means of production in-house helps make us more agile, cost-competitive, productive and better able to meet the needs of our domestic and overseas customers directly, or through our extensive, global distributor network.”

HepcoMotion is a specialist in linear motion technology, with its linear and rotary guide systems, featuring the company’s V-Guide technology, used by specialist process machine builders, systems integrators and end users across a range of sectors. HepcoMotion is committed to continuous improvement with a focus on improving quality, achieving quick turnarounds and reducing costs.As such, the company regularly invests in its people, plant,equipment and processes as a route to increasing productivity levels, improving process efficiencies and maintaining its competitive edge.HepcoMotionadopts a progressive and proactive approach when it comes to investing in new technologies, which includes the acquisition of new machine tools.

“We’re always looking to improve and, as such, regularly monitor and benchmark our performance against KPIs to identify areas within our manufacturing processes that need to be strengthened,” explains Berry. “When and where issues are identified we act quickly and decisively to address them, making investments in new technology as required.”

In 2019, to help meet the growing worldwide demand for its linear motion technology solutions,HepcoMotion made its first investment in Doosan machine tools from Mills CNC.

“We needed to increase our in-house milling capacity and capabilities, primarily to machine high-accuracy aluminium components used within and across our linear motion system and solution ranges,” says Berry. “We also needed to upgrade our ring cell, where we machine large diameter circular rings made from steel and stainless steel plate and forgings, for our PR2 curved rail and track systems.”

He continues: “Although we had not previously invested in Doosan machine tools from Mills CNC, we knew that both the machines and the supplier had a good reputation in the market.As part of our decision-making process we approached Mills with our requirements and were introduced to key staff within their organisation. We then had technical presentations on the machine tool solutions they recommended; in this instance, a DNM 6700XL for our milling department and a VT 1100M vertical turning lathe for the ring cell.”

Following the meeting, both parties agreed upon an attractive proposal comprising a two-machine-tool investment package.

The DNM 6700XL is a rigidly-designed and built, large-capacity three-axis vertical machining centre equipped with a directly-driven BT40 spindle (18.5kW/12,000rpm), a large worktable (2200x 670 mm with 1300kg maximum load), 30m/min rapids, roller LM guideways, integrated thermal compensation and a generous-sized tool changer.To meet HepcoMotion’s specific production requirements, the machine was supplied with through-spindle-coolant capability, a 4th-axis interface, Renishaw tool and workpiece probing systems and a swarf conveyor.

Says Berry:“The DNM 6700XL is a reliable machining centre that delivers the high accuracy, repeatability and fast processing speeds we require.The machine has a good-sized worktable with an extended X-axis stroke that enables us to machine large and/or multiple smaller parts in one set-up. The integration of a 4th-axis rotary table, managed by Mills’ service engineers, has increased the machine’s flexibility and, as a consequence, improved our efficiencies and productivity.”

Such has been the reliability and high performance of its first DNM machine, acquired back in 2019, that the company has subsequently invested in another four, high-specification DNM machines over the last three years.These include models with 4th/5th-axis units and a model equipped with linear scales.Primarily application-specific in nature, the DNM machines, individually and collectively, have significantly boosted HepcoMotion’s in-house milling capacity and capabilities.

The VT 1100M is a large-capacity 32” chuck vertical turning lathe equipped with a high-torque 55kW/850rpm spindle, a 12-station indexable turret and 11kW/3000rpm driven tooling capability. This machine also boasts 20m/min rapids (X and Z axes) and was supplied to HepcoMotion with a 32” Samchully chuck, a HPRA removable tool setter for improved flexibility and process reliability, and an auto-door facility for potential automation in the future.

“The VT 1100M is a powerful and productive machine that has helped improve part accuracies and increase our process reliability,” says Berry. “Its driven-tool capability means we can mill ID and OD features and details quickly, in one set up, without having to transfer parts between machines.”

The six Doosan/DN Solutions machines installed at HepcoMotion’s are operating 24/7, machining high-precision components in a range of batch sizes up to 500-off, as well as machining prototypes and pre-production parts.To ensure the machines deliver the high performance expected of them day-in, day-out, they are all covered by Mills CNC’sannual Service Agreements which, running in tandem with the machines’ warranties, ensure up-time, rapid-response servicing intervention and peace of mind.

As a point of note, Mills has also suppliedHepcoMotion’s sister company, Braintree Precision Components (BPC) in Essex, with three turning centres over the past nine years, further cementing its preferred partner status with the group.

Concludes Berry:“We like Mills CNC, their business approach and the machine tools they sell, service and support.With demand for our systems and solutions growing year-on-year, we rely on high-performance machine tools to produce high-quality components in time, on time, every time.This is what we get from our Doosan and DN Solutions machines.”
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

Nikken CEO becomes MTA acting president

Nikken CEO and president Tony Bowkett is the latest acting president of the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA). With more than 30 years of experience as managing director and founder of Nikken Kosakusho Europe, Bowkett is responsible for the success of the company’s activities, including multiple subsidiaries within the Nikken Europe Group thattogether operate in excess of 23 countries. He says: “During my presidency, I would like to make it my mission to engage with MTA members and represent their best interests on local, national and international platforms.”
For further information www.mta.org.uk

Innovative solutions for dental part machining

In Barcelona earlier this month, leading decision-makers in the medical technology industry discovered what the future may look like at special event ‘The Mini Factory: Medtech’, Tornos’ exclusive and immersive experience presented a wide range of manufacturing solutions from foremost medical technology market partners.

This exclusive three-day, invitation-only event brought together decision-makers from the medical technology sector and market leaders in the fast-growing medical manufacturing segment. In a unique venue – the Tuset Manhattan, a renovated industrial building located on Carrer Aragó in the heart of Barcelona – guests discovered the complete manufacturing process around a specific dental part.

Thanks to Tornos and 13 reference partners representing the entire medical technology manufacturing process, guests enjoyed full immersion in part creation, from the initial scan of the patient’s tooth and conversion into a 3D model, through to the complete machining process – including peripherals, tools, materials and consumables -quality control and surface treatment.

A Tornos Swiss GT 26 with B axis and Swiss DT 26/6 HP took centre stage at this first event. The company says that its latest-generation Swiss DT and Swiss GT are new allies of manufacturers seeking to exceed their own expectations, be extremely competitive and have a solution that evolves in line with their own business strategies.

Guided tours provided an up-close look at the various stages of the manufacturing process, with participating partners providing detailed presentations of their respective solutions for medical technology manufacturing. The Mini Factory: Medtech was possible, in part, through Tornos’ close relationships with leading suppliers of peripheral solutions. Tornos plans to extend this unique concept to other industries and markets in the coming months.
For further information www.tornos.com

Automation supports contract machinist’s growth

Contract machining specialist Unicut Precision Engineering of Welwyn Garden City reportsan increase in annual turnover from £3m in 2016 to £8m currently, underpinned by investment of £1.7m in new production and inspection equipment over the past two years.
Around half of this investment went on two more Cincom sliding-head lathes and two additional Miyano fixed-head lathes from Citizen Machinery UK, bringing the totals of the bar-fed lathes on site to 24 and 11 respectively. The remaining funds supported the purchase of three new items of inspection equipment and an extension to the automatic pallet storage and retrieval system, linking three five-axis machining centres on site.

Regarding turning, which currently accounts for 85% of Unicut’s turnover, Jason Nicholson, owner and managing director, says that standardisation on Citizen lathes with their user-friendly, intuitive Mitsubishi controls greatly helps to mitigate the current shortage of skilled setter-operators. Use of this CNC system throughout the factory also speeds the training of staff and allows operators to swap easily between machines.

Programs are normally prepared offline with Esprit CADCAM and via Citizen Machinery’s own Alkart CNC Wizard programming aid. The latter guides operators through creation of part programs with the help of a built-in code library for machining processes, reducing the amount of time spent typing in G and M codes and consulting manuals or other programs.

Unicut’s latest turning centre additions are two 65 mm bar capacity Miyano BNE-65MYY models, each featuring a pair of Y-axis turrets and the latest Mitsubishi 15-inch touchscreen control. These machines joined five smaller fixed-head lathes in the same series to form a seven-machine cell for producing hydraulic and pneumatic components in volumes up to 10,000-off.
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

New models launched by Hyundai Wia

Hyundai Wia is revealing a number of new products for next-generation machining, including several turning centres, multi-tasking machines and multi-axis turning centres. Hyundai Wia machine tools are available in the UK from TW Ward CNC Machinery.

For instance, regarding turning centres, Hyundai Wia is launching the SE2600 that offers both high-speed and complex machining capabilities. The SE2600 series comprises the SE2600, SE2600M, SE2600Y and SE2600SY models, all of which feature a 10-inch spindle for machining short-length materials, along with SE2600L, SE2600LM, SE2600LY and SE2600LSY for machining materials longer in length.

The series is available at a price range that is more competitive than other products that offer the same capacity, and offer a higher travel speed for improved productivity through high-speed machining. Furthermore, all models feature roller bearing-type LM guides, which deliver superior rigidity over previous models. There is even a model equipped with sub-spindle and Yaxis, which previously did not exist in the company’s range of high-speed 10-inch spindle machine tools, offering a solution that can achieve both high added value and complex machining.

Hyundai Wiais also significantly expanding its multi-tasking machine line-up for high added value product machining. The company’s new XM seriesmulti-tasking machines combine the structure of both turning centres and machining centres. The XM series features XM2600, XM2600S and XM2600ST models, which feature a 10-inch spindle, and the XM3100, XM3100Sand XM3100ST, which have a 12-inch spindle.

In addition, Hyundai Wia is planning to launch its LM2200TTSYY and LM2200TTSYYCmulti-axis turning centresbefore the end of 2023. The LM2200TTSYY and LM2200TTSYYC are multi-axis turning centres that feature 8-inch and 10-inch spindles respectively, and come equipped with two spindles, turrets and a Yaxis.
For further information www.wardcnc.com