Ficep UK’s P27 CNC plate drilling system has been installed at Washington Waterjet, based in the northeast, helping the business to improve speed and precision and extend its services, moving up execution classes from one and two to cover classes three and four.

Washington Waterjet, a £2m turnover business, has invested in the Ficep P27 with tool changer to enable the delivery of automated plate processing up to 3-inch thick. A key consideration when selecting the new machine was its footprint. Alongside its existing waterjet and CNC plasma, the P27 takes up minimal space while offering complementary processes that are unachievable on existing machines.

The benefits of Ficep’s P series punching and drilling lines extend way beyond a small footprint and ease of installation: the ability to combine drilling, scribing, tapping, countersinking, milling and marking makes the multi-tasking capabilities of the P27 suitable for many plate applications. High-speed drilling comes courtesy of the 27 kW direct-drive spindle with ball-screw feed for maximum performance. In addition, the machine has an intelligent self-adjustable clamping system to suit different plate thicknesses, allowing quick loading and unloading.

Washington Waterjet managing director Peter Robinson, says: “The new CNC plate drilling line helps us to work on projects we previously would have had to outsource. Prior to acquiring the new machine we could carry out work up to execution class two, but with the Ficep P27 we can provide drilling to meet execution classes three and four. This is a major development as it opens the door for us to drill steel components, which have far wider applications. The new drill is also quicker, helping to improve our productivity.”

For further information
www.ficep.co.uk

The recent installation of what is Holt Broadcast Services’ third machine, an XYZ 500 LR vertical machining centre from XYZ Machine Tools, is already paying dividends, with improved cycle times, reduced post-machining operations and greater versatility.

Founded in 1994, Holt Broadcast Services is a specialist manufacturer of sheet metal enclosures, whether they are standard 19” rack mounting enclosures common in the broadcast industry or customised solutions. While much of the company’s production can be generated using conventional sheet metal forming equipment and skills, there is also a requirement for machining. This is generated through the extensive use of extruded material and the individual requirements of customers, where the design and manufacture of specialist tooling, such as punches, makes machining much more cost-effective and efficient.

Holt Broadcast Services initially purchased a two-axis ProtoTRAK mill from XYZ Machine Tools for this work, then progressed to a three-axis ProtoTRAK bed mill for greater efficiency. The latest development is the arrival of a XYZ 500LR vertical machining centre that has again transformed how this work is undertaken.

“Typical of this work are vent panels, which can have up to 400 holes in them,” explains Jon Sturgess, workshop manager. “We normally produce these in batches of 100 off and, by utilising the tool changer and 12,000 rpm spindle on the XYZ 500LR, we are reducing the cycle time per panel by up to 30 minutes, a significant saving.”

Further benefits of machining these parts compared with punching include the elimination of secondary operations. Punching caused distortion that required correction, as well as burring on both sides. Machining eliminates distortion, while deburring is reduced to just one side as holes are deburred as part of the machining process and included in the cycle time saving.

For further information
www.xyzmachinetools.com