Based in Newtownards, Northern Ireland, Crossen Engineering produces precision mould tools mainly, but not exclusively, for the medical industry. Prismatic machining on-site is via numerous vertical machining centres (VMCs) from Hurco Europe, predominantly its own machines but also an RXP500 VMC supplied under Hurco’s sole agency agreement with German manufacturer, Roeders.
As a long-term user of Hurco machine tools, Crossen is aware of the capabilities of the supplier’s range and sometimes needs to produce parts to slightly higher accuracy and surface finish. That notion was behind its recent investment in a Hurco BX40i, which is of bridge-type design and has an HSK63A 18,000 rpm motor spindle. Direct drives and linear scales in all axes provide dynamic motion and accurate positional feedback.
Crossen toolmaker Colin Morrow says: “We require a super-fine finish for shut-off faces in moulds and the BX40i is able to produce them with little or no subsequent hand finishing.
We’re also looking for accuracy throughout the whole job, as well as high feeds and speeds. With it being a double-column VMC, it’s very rigid and gives us the required productivity and precision.”
The Roeders RXP500 high-speed machining centre on site has a 42,000 rpm spindle, linear motors in the X, Y and Z axes, and travels of 550 x 450 x 240 mm. According to Hurco, the machine is able to achieve levels of accuracy and surface finish superior to almost any other machine on the market. Although often used to machine electrodes, the VMC also mills detailed cavities directly into hard metal, reducing the number of operations needed to produce a mould and shortening turnaround times.
For further information www.hurco.co.uk
