Manufacturing centre unveiled

Daventry has been unveiled as the new home for an advanced engineering and manufacturing centre of excellence.

JRM, a company founded in 2007 and noted for its international success on the racetrack, has received funding of more than £1.6m from South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) to extend and remodel one of its existing sites in Daventry. Staff have already started to migrate into the new centre, while a new DMG Mori 3D printer (first in the UK) has also been installed. Building work is set to begin on what will become the UK’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Low-carbon Automotive Technologies.

JRM managing director Jason King says: “With the CoE we will become a company able not just to design and manufacture products, but test and approve them in our QC department. This means we’ll bring together under one roof all our capabilities as an advanced engineering company and, at the same time, bring in new ones – for industries locally and oversees.”

For further information www.semlep.com

TDT boosts sales force

TDT Machine Tools has signalled its intentions for growth by further strengthening the company’s sales team.

Mark Hone, who has around 15 years of experience in the machine-tool sector, has been appointed primarily to spearhead the sales of high-quality CMZ lathes and turning centres across the central England region. TDT was appointed a UK sales partner for Spain-headquartered CMZ in January 2020.

Hone arrives at TDT following extensive periods at a number of established competitors. His central England sales area for CMZ is extensive, running coast-to-coast from Lincolnshire in the east, to Wales in the west, taking in the East and West Midlands, including Hereford and Worcester, and extending as far north as Sheffield. Hone’s past experience will also be useful for TDT’s larger machine-tool products, from principals such as Kafo, You Ji and Lagun.

For further information www.tdt-machinetools.co.uk

Turning stainless steel made easy

For turning stainless steel components – regardless of whether they be cast, forged or semi-finished parts – Ceratizit says it now has the optimum insert in its range.

The established CTPM125 carbide grade has been joined by two new cutting materials to complete the product range: the more wear-resistant CTCM120 and the tougher CTCM130. Both feature the latest Dragonskin coating.

The arrival of these two new carbide grades, which are recommended for turning austenitic stainless steels, coincides with the publication of the new Ceratizit Up2Date supplementary catalogue. Development was focused on the most frequently used stainless steels – V2A (e.g. 1.4301) and V4A (1.4545) – with the aim of providing a wider selection of inserts to cover every application from roughing to fine machining.

CTCM120 is said to allow high cutting speeds on austenitic stainless steels and boasts a smooth cut. According to Ceratizit, the grade also impresses with its long tool life, which in some cases was double that of the competition in benchmark tests.

The tough CTCM130 carbide grade is recommended for interrupted cuts. If cutting speeds need to be kept low and conditions are unstable, the attributes of CTCM130 help to increase process security.

Ceratizit’s complete range for austenitic stainless steels is characterised not just by the precise co-ordination of the three grades, but by the free selection of different chip breakers. Depending on the application, customers can choose from three geometries for negative indexable inserts, or two for positive inserts.

For further information www.cuttingtools.ceratizit.com/gb/en.html

Expanded range of turning tools

Big Kaiser has significantly expanded its range of turning tools with multiple new tool-holder dimensions and extensive new lines of indexable inserts.

UK availability is via Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC).

In response to customer feedback, Big Kaiser has launched new C4 and C8 size extensions, a Type F turning tool holder and a range of indexable turning tool inserts.
The new Big Kaiser Lathe Master eliminates the need for trial cutting and reduces set-up times on NC lathes. With an LED light that indicates when the tip of the tool touches the sensor plate of the Lathe Master, the new system provides convenient visual guidance for the machine operator. Suitable for external, internal and face-turning applications, Lathe Master is available in both 15 and 30 mm diameter configurations. Repeatability is ±2 μm.

Another addition to the Big Kaiser product line is the new Weldon adapter: a surface-mounted chuck now offered in size C8. Also, Big Kaiser has expanded its family of Big Capto tool holders with a C4 size. C4 is becoming increasingly popular as a quick-change tooling system for lathes and turning centres with a turret configuration. The Big Capto C4 is now offered for both rotating tool holders and turning tools for lathes.

Marco Siragna, head of product management at Big Kaiser, says: “These new turning-tool additions provide customers with a ‘one-stop shop’ for perfectly compatible components enabling more applications, better results and significantly higher efficiency.”

For further information
www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Vixen takes first Star SX-38 Type A

Star Micronics GB is reporting a high level of demand for its SX-38 Type A model, with the first UK machine ordered prior to its arrival from the factory.

The latest offering from Star – the SX series – represents years of machine-tool research and development to produce the next generation of sliding-head lathe technology.

For machining on the main spindle, the 12-axis SX-38 features a 10-station turret and an opposing four-station gang-type tool platen. In addition, the fully programmable swivelling B axis offers four driven tools for machining on the main and four counter spindles for the sub-spindle model. Mounted on an independent Z3 axis, the turret utilises Star’s quick-mount tool units, which maintains compatibility with existing models.

The very first of the new SX machines has been pre-ordered by Vixen CNC, a specialist supplier of mill-turn components located in Gwynedd. With 20 existing Star models on-site offering up to 42 mm diameter capacity, the acquisition of a new SX-38 further enhances its machine-tool portfolio and marks another significant milestone in the growth of the business.

Vixen CNC’s managing director Jake Wood says: “Remaining at the forefront of the turned-parts industry is of great importance, and our continued investment in the latest Star technology allows us to offer unparalleled response times, superior quality and full manufacturing flexibility.

“The SX-38 offers significant benefits and further increases our sliding-head capabilities,” he adds. “We work with a vast range of materials and supply finished parts to a wide array of sectors, including automotive, medical, marine and fasteners. Our new SX machine will give us the ability to explore additional business opportunities.”

For further information www.stargb.com