Open Mind helps fast-track COVID-19 project

Letchworth-based Maztech Precision Engineering (MPE), a prominent supplier to the F1 sector, is finding that – with F1 teams so heavily involved in the COVID-19 ventilator project – that is now making component for ventilators.

Indeed, Maztech has won an order to produce 7500 aluminium tube manifold components. The company is now running its four Mazak machining centres 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including a recently installed VariAxis i-300 AWC five-axis model.
“I had a CAM system, but it couldn’t provide suitable post-processors to communicate confidently with the VariAxis configuration,” says managing director Wayne Bouchier. “I also wanted full machine capability, so I could simulate everything, as the machine is a big investment.
“I called Open Mind and had Ken Baldwin come and give me a demonstration,” he adds. “Entering five-axis machining is never easy, but hyperMILL simplified things and made it no more complicated than necessary. After the demonstration, I was very confident in the system and didn’t need to look at any other CAM systems, so we bought our first seat of hyperMILL.”
The company now has three seats of hyperMILL: two seats with a 3+2 axis licence and the third with a full simultaneous five-axis licence. Following advice from numerous motorsport subcontractors, Maztech specified the hyperMILL Maxx Machining package for high-performance metal removal rates.
“Our programming times are at least 35-40% faster with hyperMILL,” adds Bouchier. “One example of this is the mirror function within the software. More than 30% of our work has a left and right-hand variant; hyperMILL and its mirror function is slashing programming times from hours to minutes for these parts.”
For further information www.openmind-tech.com

Rolls-Royce installs ultrasonic washer

Guyson International has delivered and installed a further precision cleaning machine to Rolls-Royce in Bristol for the Ventilator Challenge UK consortium.

This latest Guyson ‘Kerry’ branded Microsolve 250, which was built in record time, has three process stages comprising ultrasonic cleaning, vapour rinsing and freeboard drying. This configuration provides precision cleaning of components used in the ventilators and, crucially, is already cleared by regulators as it is being used by an existing manufacturing company.
For further information www.guyson.co.uk

ProtoTRAK update extends ease-of-use

When the latest ProtoTRAK control was introduced it brought with it a range of benefits to improve programming efficiency and ease-of-use, all based around a 15.6” touchscreen that puts the system’s advantages at the users’ fingertips.

Now, with the latest update, users of the control on XYZ RMX bed mills can further simplify the programming of complex features, such as islands in pockets.
New and existing users can take advantage of the islands in pockets feature by utilising the optional DXF converter, which can be added at time of ordering the machine or as a straightforward retrofit for existing XYZ RMX bed mills. With this option installed it is a simple process of importing the DXF file into the ProtoTRAK RMX control. The creation of the island program, for single or multiple islands in pockets, is created in the same easy way as any other machined feature in ProtoTRAK. The program tool path can then be verified on-screen, with an estimated cycle time. For further reassurance, a 3D solid model of the machined part can be generated.
“ProtoTRAK remains at the forefront of programming technology for use on our XYZ bed mills and lathes and continues to be the ‘go-to’ control for those making the step from manual to CNC operation, and for those looking for a machine/control combination that can simplify their manufacturing processes,” says Nigel Atherton, managing director of XYZ Machine Tools. “ProtoTRAK’s popularity has continued through the current COVID-19 pandemic, with customers continuing to order and take delivery of ProtoTRAK-controlled machines; over 250 have been delivered in the past six months.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Cutting tools for ventilator production

McLaren Racing, which is part of the Government’s Ventilator Challenge UK, has enlisted the expertise and cutting-tool technology on offer from Ceratizit UK & Ireland.

Initial tooling requirements have been from the Ceratizit drilling range, with drills provided to produce holes up to 16xD in both aluminium and steel. “While the initial demand was
for drills, we have made many recommendations across a series of approximately 15 components to help improve the production of these vital parts,” says Ceratizit industry solutions engineer Michael May.
For further information www.ceratizit.com

Esprit supports DED manufacturing

The DP Technology team has launched the first commercial version of Esprit CAM software that includes additive direct energy deposition (DED) cycles.

Esprit’s additive capabilities are the product of the team’s more than 35 years of experience in tool-path generation, and include the same intuitive user interface that users expect from the software. The product release includes three-axis, four-axis and five-axis DED support. Combined with subtractive processes into a single software, DP Technology brings a full spectrum of support to hybrid manufacturing. Esprit’s additive DED cycles include additive simulation and verification, as well as global support from the software’s technical teams.
Notably, DP Technology validated its post processor through collaboration with major machine manufacturers and educational nstitutions.
“For more than a decade, we’ve been working on additive manufacturing, including research on DED tool-path trajectories and AM thermal simulation,” says Frederic Vignat, head of the additive department at Grenoble University in France. “Esprit’s additive DED solution is the result of close collaboration between DP Technology and Grenoble University, a world-leading research institution on additive DED technology.”
The new additive cycle offers users a full-spectrum additive solution, from CAD file to finished part.
For further information www.espritcam.eu