Robotics consultation service launched

TM Robotics has launched a new robotics consultation service to advise metalworking manufacturers on how automation can aid recovery and growth.

The free consultations will be held virtually using a video conferencing service and hosted by one of the company’s robotic automation experts. Alternatively, consultations can be arranged by appointment.

Nigel Smith, president and CEO at TM Robotics, says “Our global distributor network spans six continents and, within it, we boast unrivalled expertise in industrial robot installations. The launch of the robotics consultation service will provide manufacturers in the metalworking sector with practical advice on which automation tools can prove most effective for them, based on an assessment of their specific situation.”

For further information www.tmrobotics.com

Embracing change at BSA Regal

There is a transformation taking place at Southampton-based precision subcontract specialist BSA Regal Engineering Ltd.

This root and branch shift is a radical repositioning of the company focused on improvement and growth, and concerned with strengthening and elevating BSA Regal Engineering’s position within its existing supply chains, and on winning new high-value business in different industries.

Part of this transformation embraces recent investment in two new MACH 1062-HD vertical machining centres from MACH Machine Tools, part of the Vigilance Group. The machines, both MACH 1062-HD models (1020 x 625 x 610 mm in the X, Y and Z axis respectively) are now installed at the company’s 12,000 sq ft facility, where they are being put through their paces machining a range of high-precision components from a diverse range of materials that includes aluminium, stainless steel, tool steel, plastic, titanium and nickel alloy.

MACH 1062-HD machining centres are high-performance machines and have replaced three of the company’s older machines, which were used in part exchange to help fund the new investment.

Explains Martin Clayton, workshop supervisor at BSA Regal Engineering: “To achieve our growth objectives and make us more productive and competitive, we need access to high-performance CNC machine tools that deliver the accuracy, speed and process reliability we expect – and that our customers demand. When MACH made us aware of the performance and competitive price of the 1062-HD machines, we sat up and took notice.
“We’re delighted with the performance of our MACH 1062-HD machines,” he adds. “They are making us more productive, efficient and competitive. Features like their 24-position ATCs, their good ergonomic design and easy workpiece accessibility have already made them firm favourites with machine shop staff.”
For further information www.machmt.co.uk

Record production month at Corbetts

One of the UK’s oldest hot-dip galvanisers has recorded its highest-ever volume from a single facility in July, with over £1m of new customer orders secured since returning from lockdown.

Corbetts the Galvanizers, which celebrates 160 years of trading in 2020, has seen a 48% rise in volume from the fencing sector, with ‘wins’ also achieved in utilities, infrastructure and transport. The company is processing all of this demand in just one plant after taking the decision to temporarily close its other facility until early 2021.

In June, the Telford-based company announced 17% more output than its average performance and this rose a further 7% in July, driven mainly by investment in operational efficiencies and a bespoke loading system. “We are bouncing back from what has been a very difficult period of volatile sales due to the impact of COVID-19,” explains Sophie Williams, finance director and general manager. “Now, however, we have average output at an all-time high and some excellent new customer wins that will generate about £1m of additional revenue.”

For further information www.wcorbett.co.uk

Special VMC performs deep-hole drilling

For over 30 years, Taunton-based Pattern Forme Ltd has been at the forefront of thermoforming mould tool design and manufacture, mainly in the food industry. The company can take projects from initial concept to finished mould tool in lead times as short as 2-3 weeks.

Recent demand has been for larger mould tools to increase productivity, which has led to a need to drill deeper holes. Typically, these holes would range in size between 6 and 10 mm diameter, with depths up to 1000 mm. The traditional solution would be to purchase a dedicated deep-hole drilling machine or subcontract the work. However, the former would require significant investment, whereas the latter brings logistical problems and a lack of control over production. XYZ Machine Tools was able to propose and deliver a quicker and more cost-effective solution.

“It was a chance conversation with XYZ Machine Tools, who have supplied us with several machines, where I mentioned that we needed this extra capacity,” explains Paul Wilkins, managing director at Pattern Forme. “They immediately suggested modifying one of their XYZ 1000 LR vertical machining centres to give the extra Z-axis capability we required. The simple and cost-effective solution was to add a 1050 mm riser block to the machine, which would allow us to drill these holes from either end using the 500 mm Z axis.”

By reconfiguring the machine, XYZ Machine Tools was able to increase the minimum distance from spindle nose to table by 1050 mm. Including the standard Z-axis stroke, this made the maximum distance 1550 mm, which is more than enough to accommodate Pattern Forme’s components. The order for the machine was placed in November 2019 and delivery took place in April 2020.

For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Flexible solution for AM parts

Behringer has recently complemented its product portfolio with the new 3D series, which comprises two models (HBE320-523 3D and LPS-T 3D). The high-performance sawing machines were developed for cutting additively manufactured components in different sizes and shapes.

Additively manufactured parts are printed on a base plate via a supporting structure, and this base plate has to be removed. The new 3D series from Behringer is designed to separate the additively manufactured parts from the base plate with high cutting precision, thus ensuring neither the print plate nor the printed parts get damaged.
No matter whether steel, aluminium, titanium, nickel-based alloy or plastic, the 3D saws from Behringer are said to cut all additively manufactured parts in different sizes and shapes without any problems. As the fixture can be individually manufactured to customer requirements, high flexibility is guaranteed.
The HBE320-523 3D, which is based on the existing HBE Dynamic series, offers a fixture for small and medium-sized plates up to 500 x 300 mm. A simple, quick set-up process and compact machine dimensions are among the advantages of this model.
Behringer’s other machine in the series, the LPS-T 3D, demonstrates its strengths when sawing larger printing plates. The vertical design of the machine, with a freely accessible machine table, ensures easy loading and handling of large and/or heavy base plates. Especially when sawing steel or other difficult-to-cut materials, the standard servo-feed system provides a steady saw-feed movement that helps to ensure a quiet and stable cutting process. This capability results in high cutting performance and blade life.
With the blade deflection monitoring system and its adjustable thresholds, both models of the Behringer 3D series ensure high sawing precision.
For further information www.behringerltd.co.uk