Mazak five-axis machine set for UK debut

Yamazaki Mazak’s new CV5-500 entry-level five-axis machining centre is being given its UK debut at the company’s EMO Encore in December. The open house, which is being held at Mazak’s European Technology Centre in Worcester on 3-5 December 2019, will showcase 26 machines in total.

The star of the show will be the CV5-500, a new fully simultaneous five-axis machine developed in the UK for European machine users engaged in, or aspiring to, five-axis machining. Mazak’s CV5-500, which is being brought to market at a competitive price point, has a high-rigidity bridge construction with a fully supported trunnion table.
A new versatile 12,000 rpm spindle is capable of a peak performance of 18.5 kW and 119.4 Nm, making it suitable for a range of materials. Crucially, the machine has a compact footprint, ensuring its suitability for smaller machine shops, and can be easily automated with a side-loading door and robot interface. The CV5-500 is equipped with SmoothX CNC, Mazak’s specialist five-axis version of its Smooth Technology.
Another standout machine at EMO Encore will be the new Integrex i-200H ST, which is equipped with a second spindle, a newly designed lower turret and multiple turning and milling spindle specifications. In addition, the machine is equipped with a new CNC, SmoothAi, Mazak’s latest artificial intelligence control.
Mazak will also be giving UK launches to two new specialist gear cutting and measurement machines, with the highlight being the Integrex e-1250 V/8S AG. The AG series, which stands for Auto Gear, is a range of high-specification machines featuring specialist hardware, software and metrology, which in combination produce highly accurate gears compared with conventional CNC machining.
Additionally, EMO Encore will include a specialist laser open house featuring the Optiplex 3015 Fiber III laser equipped with multi-control torch and intelligent functions.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Tooling boosts productivity at automotive subcontractor

Scottish subcontract manufacturer Euro Precision Ltd has specified cutting tools from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) to improve productivity on a range of automotive components. The Glenrothes-based subcontract engineering company has built its reputation on manufacturing critical precision components and assemblies to exacting quality standards for the automotive, aerospace, medical, telecommunications petrochemical and electronics sectors.

The diverse customer base has been established over a 25 year history, and from its 30,000 sq ft factory, the company boasts clients such as Siemens Healthcare, Glenair, Leonardo, Zeiss and AMG Petronas, to list but a few. With a customer base of which any subcontract business would be proud, Euro Precision has established a reputation for the production of high-quality workmanship, inspired innovation, cost-effective solutions and customer service.
The Fife company recently undertook a project for Mercedes HPP (High Performance Powertrains) that required programming and tooling efficiencies, and general improvements for machining a series of engine components. The complex outlet manifolds and valve waste assemblies are produced from Inconel 625 on Euro Precision’s Matsuura MAM-72 five-axis multi-pallet machining centre. Manufactured for the next generation of supercar, the Mercedes HPP project requires over 2700 manifold outlets and 2000 valve waste assemblies. With such production volumes, it was critical for Euro Precision to get the process running
as efficiently as possible, and this is where ITC entered the fray.
Commenting upon the situation, Euro Precision’s engineering manager Grant Steele says: “We required a stable process that could achieve the shortest possible cycle time, while returning good size control and cost-effective tooling solutions. I already tooled the part up with another manufacturer and, because material was Inconel 625, I was expecting to take a hit on slower machining times and poor tool life. However, based on production requirements and the project timeframe, I couldn’t live with the current method.

“I discussed the situation with Gary Heaney from ITC,” he continues. “Gary has been a regular supplier of high-quality aluminium cutting tools to Euro Precision for a long time. Down the years, he has successfully supported us on many machining projects to reduce cycle times, tooling costs, and improve our machining performance and consistency. With his experience of supplying tooling to the aerospace engine sector – primarily involving the cutting of high-temperature alloys – Gary seemed the obvious go-to person.”
Heaney immediately manged to double surface speeds by introducing ITC’s Cyber series of multi-flute, variable-helix end mills and a trochoidal machining strategy at 3xD axial depth of cut with 4% radial step over and high feed per tooth.
“With some subtle programme changes, we instigated a trochoidal machining strategy that increased the step over and radial engagement with the application of ITC’s 12 mm diameter solid-carbide Cyber series,” says Steele. “This reduced the cycle time by 50% and increased tool life by three times.”
By implementing a machining strategy that incorporated a 3xD axial depth of cut instead of the previous 1.5xD strategy, Euro Precision was able to conduct most of the rough machining in a single pass. The machining parameters far exceeded the realms of possibility for the previous tools supplied by a prominent international tooling vendor. Notably, the performance of the ITC Cyber series and its ability to prolong machining on such a challenging material led to further ITC solid-carbide end mills being introduced to the project.
Says Steele: “Following the success of the roughing tools, I asked Gary to look at the entire part. He subsequently supplied a range of radii corner tools and micro ball end mills that have performed first time, every time. We’re now machining another high-performance engine component and ITC’s Cyber tooling is again producing the goods.

“Gary certainly hasn’t rested on his laurels,” adds Steele. “He is always looking to provide continuous improvement and we are already testing new indexable tooling solutions from ITC business partner Widia.”
The Scottish manufacturing success story at Euro Precision is built upon the foundation of high-specification machine tools like the two Matsuura MAM72 five-axis machining centres. The Matsuura machines incorporate the Big Kaiser face and taper dual-contact spindle interface, which ITC says is the only genuine face and taper contact system on the market. To benefit from the performance, rigidity and precision of the Big Kaiser face and taper system, which guarantees run-out of 1 µm at the nose and 3 µm at 4xD, Euro Precision has installed a complete range of Big Kaiser precision collet and chuck systems (available in the UK from ITC).
The stability of the Matsuura spindle configuration and Big Kaiser face and taper interface has enabled ITC to introduce a variety of high-performance tooling solutions. Included are a complete suite of five and six-flute VariMill end mills, as well as indexable face and shoulder milling tools from Widia with both rough and finish machining insert designations.
The machining platform has enabled ITC’s Heaney to utilise both the ITC and Widia tools to full effect. Ultimately, the results have been a revelation to Euro Precision, which has also implemented Widia indexable drilling and turning, as well as solid-carbide drilling tools, to great success following the Mercedes Inconel project.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Valve body machining simplified

The latest investment at KOSO KentIntrol is a Heckert 630 DBF horizontal machining centre from Starrag, which is paying big dividends in the machining of valve bodies, predominantly because the machine’s ability for single set-up, multi-tasking machining has eliminated the need for two separate machines, and all the associated resetting and queuing times.

Starrag bei Koso Kent, Brighouse, UK

“As well as replacing separate machining operations, the Heckert DBF has effectively ‘simplified’ the production process by allowing us to load once with raw material, undertake complete machining, then unload a finished part ready for inspection,” explains Richard Addy, machine shop manager. “This also means we’re effectively getting more parts per week from the machine than when we were using separate machines by, of course, eliminating queuing times.”
Formed in 1967 (as Introl) and now a worldwide supplier of valves (choke, control and butterfly), as well as actuators and instruments to sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemical and power generation, KOSO KentIntrol purchased the Heckert DBF to increase its capacity for machining valve and globe bodies in the 1-6” range (flange outlet bore size) – from materials that include Inconel.
“Previously, we were using two machines to complete the bodies,” says Addy. “A lathe to produce the flange and plug-way in three operations; then the part often had to queue for a separate operation [and additional set-up] on a drill, the final operation. The Heckert 630 DBF offers a machining capability and specification that more than meets our needs for valve bodies.
“On Duplex bodies, for example, we’re taking 3 mm cuts at speeds of 60 m/min and 0.25 mm/rev feed rates,” says Addy. “However, it’s a careful balance between cutting depths, speeds and tool wear; we aim to prolong tool life as much as we can.”
For further information www.starrag.com

Alucast targets more automotive contracts

Wednesbury-based aluminium foundry Alucast has completed a £2.25m investment drive by upgrading its casting capability and opening a new 7000 sq ft machine shop to support the growing demand of its automotive customer base for lightweight, complex components.

Following the investment, the company can now call upon a total of 20 CNC machines at any one time, with five of those being five-axis machining centres. This latest equipment, which has been supplied by the Engineering Technology Group (ETG), delivers a 30% increase in capacity to take on up to £3m of new projects.
For further information www.alucast.co.uk

New record for Northern Manufacturing

The Northern Manufacturing show made a triumphant return to EventCity, Manchester last month, where it welcomed 2240 industry professionals over the two days, an increase of more than 10% on the previous event. Over 200 companies and organisations participated from a variety of sectors and specialities.

Visitor demographics for the 2019 show reveal significant increases in attendance from the aerospace, defence, medical and industrial machinery sectors. Materials and composites, rapid prototyping, and toolmaking all saw significant upticks in interest, reflecting a wider interest in advanced manufacturing materials and techniques. Northern Manufacturing will return to EventCity on 7-8 October 2020.
For further information www.industrynorth.co.uk