From one thoroughbred to another

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has recently supplied precision subcontract specialist Colt Precision with a new large-capacity vertical machining centre. The machine, a Doosan DNM 6700 with the latest Fanuc 0iMP control, was delivered and installed at the company’s 7000 sq ft facility in Tewkesbury in May 2021, and was supplied with a Nikken 5AX 201FA (4th/5th-axis) rotary tilting table.

Since being installed, the DNM 6700 has been busy machining a range of high-precision, complex parts for the medical, defence, aerospace and general engineering sectors, from materials such as stainless steel, steel, aluminium, titanium and plastic.

The Doosan DNM 6700 is a large-capacity vertical machine with 1300 x 670 x 625 mm travels and a 1500 x 670 mm work table. As well as a Nikken 4th/5th-axis unit, the machine was supplied with a Renishaw OMP60 and OTS tool and workpiece probe package for quick and trouble-free in-process inspection and measurements. An MH500 swarf conveyor for high-efficiency chip evacuation also features.

Explains owner and co-director, Simon Tarrant: “The DNM 6700 is a large, powerful machine. It is also extremely rigid, accurate and reliable. All of these attributes make it ideal for machining a range of parts from an equally diverse portfolio of materials.”
In addition to its high specification, other issues impacting Colt Precision’s decision-making process included the machine’s availability, and the aftersales service and support provided by the machine tool supplier.

“Mills CNC has a good reputation in the market for its aftersales service and support,” says Tarrant. “When we placed the machine order it was delivered in double-quick time and, since its installation, hasn’t missed a beat.”

For further information
www.millscnc.co.uk

Tooling specialist opts for Ibarmia

Located near the major automotive OEMs in Warwickshire, 2G Tooling Ltd has rapidly built a prestigious reputation for manufacturing everything from fly press tooling through to large drawn tools. To expand the scope of its tool-making capabilities, the Southam-based subcontractor has recently purchased a large-bed five-axis Ibarmia machining centre from Dugard. The Ibarmia ZVH45 L3000 Star has a 3 m bed, a travelling column, a ±105° B axis, a rotary table and capacity for up to 6-tonne workpieces on the bed.

Managing director Chris Peters says: “The main reason we bought this machine was to give us extra flexibility, extra capacity and more size. It is a much bigger machine than we had previously, which we part-exchanged for the Ibarmia. What sold this machine to us was a Zoom meeting with the Ibarmia factory in Spain. The difference between Ibarmia and what I have seen before from most mass-produced machine manufacturers is a bespoke set-up and a family-run ethos. You could actually see production with more time and care being spent on each machine.”

When asked why the company specified the Ibarmia ZVH45 L3000 Star model, Peters says: “This machine will not only give us extra capacity but much greater flexibility. Having the rotary table and the B axis will allow us to machine components that were very difficult previously.

“The flexibility and reach of the machine will enable us to reduce the overhang of tools from 100-150 mm to 30 to 50 mm,” he continues. “This will improve the stability of our tooling, the surface finishes and, subsequently, improve tool life.”

For further information
www.dugard.com

Advanced Engineering set for return

The 12th edition of Advanced Engineering will open this week (3-4 November), providing a platform for the reunion of the supply chain and a launch pad for the future of manufacturing and engineering. Advanced Engineering offers a great opportunity for the whole UK manufacturing supply chain to source innovation and technology spanning multiple sectors, including but not limited to, aerospace, automotive, rail, marine, space, medical and renewables. At the last show in 2019, over 10,000 professionals from the manufacturing sector attended.

Advanced Engineering is the go-to show for anyone wanting to meet the world’s leading engineering and manufacturing companies, plus the UK’s most innovative start-ups, thanks to the return of the show’s ‘Enabling Innovation’ zone, supported by Innovate UK. Here, 10 chosen start-ups will have the opportunity to showcase their ground-breaking product or technology, before presenting it to a panel of esteemed judges to be crowned the Advanced Engineering innovator of 2021.

For further information
www.advancedengineeringuk.com

Funding for laser research

Dr Sundar Marimuthu, a principal research engineer at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has been awarded a prestigious UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship. Part of the laser processing team at the MTC, Dr Marimuthu has been awarded a grant of £1.5m over four years to develop next-generation laser-based manufacturing processes for processing advanced composites. He will achieve the goal by developing two laser-based technologies into fully-fledged manufacturing solutions, underpinning the large-scale industrialisation of advanced composite solutions.

For further information www.the-mtc.org

CBE+ expands integrated service offer

Chesterfield-based manufacturer CBE+ has recently acquired new machinery and team members from aerospace industry leader Aerodyn. The investment comprises three EDM machines – a Mitsubishi MV2400S and two Mitsubishi FX20 – along with a team of two operators. These machines will add new wire EDM capabilities that complement CBE+’s existing range of CNC milling and turning services. CBE+ will use the machines to create tapers, small radii, complex contours and surface finishes within tolerances of just a few microns, either as a stand-alone subcontract offering or as part of supply-complete projects.

The machines, owned previously by Aerodyn, have been programmed and operated by two technical engineers. Ensuring a comfortable transition for these experienced and knowledgeable employees has been a key priority, as they move from Aerodyn to CBE+.

Operations director Lindsay Atkins says: “These machines increase our core capabilities and add to our existing offering, which revolves around precision engineering, electroless nickel plating, gear manufacture and metal testing. We can provide any of our services independently or combine multiple capabilities to create tailored, integrated supply chain solutions. The new employees are vital to the success of this new investment and I’m pleased to see them settle in so quickly.”

Fabio Cosenza, business development manager, adds: “This acquisition comes with a long-standing portfolio of customers, many in the aerospace sector, a target market for CBE+. Enhancing the existing relationships being transferred from Aerodyn is key and will be pivotal in supporting and raising the profile of our business, and allowing us to showcase our multiple capabilities.”

For further information
www.cbeplus.com