Metals Supply Chain Joins Together

UK Metals Expo, a leading UK exhibition that brings the entire metals supply chain together with the worlds of engineering, manufacturing and construction, will open its doors next week (10-11 September) at the NEC in Birmingham. Over 7500 visitors are expected at the show, seeking everything from primary metal manufacturing and metal processing to metalworking, fabrication, CNC machinery, surface finishing and recycling.

More than 320 exhibitors will showcase products and solutions across the entire supply chain, while 100+ speakers will share their knowledge, innovations, insights and best practices across 30+ seminar sessions. Show visitors can: learn about new technology, machinery, tools, training and services; source a wide range of materials from leading metal stockholders and distributors; and connect with market experts – all under one roof.

More information www.ukmetalsexpo.com

Starrag introduces Heckert X70 f-axis machine

Starrag has launched the Heckert X70, a versatile five-axis machining centre designed to deliver precision and productivity within a compact footprint. Building on the features of the Heckert HEC X5 series, the Heckert X70 incorporates a swivel unit on the workpiece side, facilitating dynamic five-axis machining from a single clamping position.

Due to receive its world premiere at the EMO 2025 exhibition in Hanover on 22-26 September (stand C35, hall 12), the Heckert X70 offers X, Y and Z-axis travel of 1200 x 1100 x 1200 mm. The compact machine requires 18% less installation space than its predecessor: the Heckert HEC 630 X5. It accommodates workpieces with a core contour diameter of 960 mm and a maximum height of 800 mm, supporting a mass of up to 1000 kg.

Turning is an integral part of the machine concept and can be configured as an option. Using specially developed assemblies and software modules, both classic and complex turning operations are possible with the productivity of a machining centre, reports Starrag. Unlike a turning centre, the machine benefits from various set-up options. Not only can users clamp workpieces vertically for extra convenience, they can also clamp them during the machining operation thanks to the pallet changer.

The Heckert X70’s rapid traverse rate of 65 m/min and fast component changeover times enhance productivity. Pallet changes are completed in 17.5 seconds, while the tool changer provides a chip-to-chip time of 7.4 seconds.

Customers can choose from a range of tool magazine options, including a timing belt magazine with 45 or 60 positions for HSK-100 tools, a chain magazine with a capacity of up to 120 HSK-100 tools, and a tower magazine capable of supporting up to 440 HSK-100 tools.

More information www.starrag.com

Motorsport specialist brings production in-house

Located near Dumfries, Dunbar Race Engineering was established in 2018 by Duncan Dunbar to design and supply prototype motorcycle parts and small batches of components for the motorsport market. The company also reverse engineers and remanufactures parts that are no longer available, especially for historic and emerging classic racing motorbikes. Today, the firm provides engineering and manufacturing services to other sectors as well, including parts for internal combustion engines targeting the hydrogen market.

At the outset, the company outsourced production. However, Duncan realised that to increase flexibility, reduce lead-times and ensure consistent quality, it would be necessary to progress from a home workshop and move to manufacturing in-house. So in spring 2022, he moved the company into an industrial unit and purchased a Hurco VM10i three-axis vertical machining centre with a 4th-axis rotary table.

Describing his experience of dealing with Hurco, Dunbar says: “They’re nice people to work with and the VM10i is a cracking machine. It has a large working area for its footprint and fitted neatly into the space we had available.”

To make high-quality parts to fine tolerances, sometimes as tight as ±10 µm, the manufacturer takes full advantage of both the Hurco machine’s build quality and the conversational programming of the WinMax control, which Dunbar says is easy and intuitive to use. Most work, including complex jobs requiring 3+1-axis machining, is programmed directly at the control. Tool-path simulation and verification graphics help to avoid any potential input mistakes.

“What you see on the screen is what you get on the part,” confirms Dunbar.

More information www.hurco.com

Five-axis HMC has novel chip-breaking function

NCMT has introduced to the British and Irish markets the Makino a500iR, a five-axis, twin-pallet horizontal machining centre that is available with a choice of three spindles. One has a BT40 interface and a maximum speed of 14,000 rpm, while the other two feature an HSK-A63 interface with a maximum speed of 20,000 rpm or 24,000 rpm.

The centre of gravity of the 500 mm square pallet and fixtured workpiece is close to the vertical centreline of the -110° to +180° rotary B axis, enabling high-speed workpiece positioning at up to 267° per second. Notably, the rotating C axis facing the horizontal spindle has an even faster rapid motion of 600° per second. Maximum workpiece size is 900 mm diameter by 600 mm high and the table will accept a load of 400 kg. Linear travels in X, Y, and Z are 900, 750 and 800 mm.

As with all high-performance machining centres, the a500iR generates copious amounts of swarf that is efficiently evacuated by means of slanted panels in the working area and with the assistance of coolant delivered from the spindle head, nozzles and the ceiling of the chamber.

A new feature is the GI (Geometric Intelligence) chip-breaker function, which introduces micro-movements into a drilling operation to break stringy swarf into small chips, avoiding accumulation within the hole and possible damage to the cutter and component. Manufacturers can therefore leave the Makino to run unattended with confidence. Notably, the GI breaker works without impacting the cycle time. This is in contrast to options offered by other machine tool manufacturers, reports NCMT, which tend to lengthen a cycle.

More information www.ncmt.co.uk

30-taper machine makes parts from tough materials

Leeds-based subcontract machining firm Kirkstall Precision has enhanced its capability to serve the demanding medical sector with the installation of a Brother Speedio M200Xd1-5AX, a Japanese-built five-axis CNC machining centre supplied by sole UK and Ireland sales and service agent Whitehouse Machine Tools.

For the past seven years, the company has focused almost exclusively on producing components for the medical industry, while also manufacturing surgical instruments and implants for the veterinarian sector. The company is seeing a 15-20% year-on-year growth rate due to high demand.

The Brother was chosen for its accuracy, repeatability, versatility and compact footprint. Kirkstall’s managing director Adam Thornton says: “Accuracy in the medical sector is a given. Everything has to be completely correct, so we inspect and report all dimensional tolerances. Opting for a top quality machine tool like the Brother was a fairly obvious decision.” 

Approved to ISO 13485, a globally recognised quality management system standard for medical devices, Kirkstall produces mainly low-volume orthopaedic components from challenging materials, including stainless steel, hardened stainless, titanium and other tough alloys. Brother says the 30-taper Speedio is suitable for machining these materials continually. In addition, it is able to combine on a single platform five-axis prismatic machining using the 16,000 rpm spindle and turning with the rotary torque table, which was a further key attraction. 

“We’ve used 40-taper five-axis technology for some time, but the Brother is faster and takes up less space,” reports Thornton. “It’s ideal for the smaller, high-accuracy parts we produce and has typically delivered a 20% cycle time reduction compared with our larger production centres.”

More information www.wmtcnc.com