Investments boost efficiency at Alrose

Due to the significant growth of its subcontract CNC turning and machining service, Alrose Products invested in a selection of precision measurement instruments from Bowers Group to improve turnaround times and deliver high-quality machining processes. Enhancing its operations with both a Baty Venture vision system and a Trimos V7 height gauge, the company now offers the highest levels of accuracy to customers by measuring to very tight tolerances with consistent precision.

“Buying any equipment is a consideration as there are so many factors involved, not least the investment of capital,” says Jon Aconley, managing director at Alrose Products. “However, knowing the reputation of Bowers Group and understanding what’s on offer made it far easier. The equipment was agreed and ordered, delivered on time and to specification, while the back-up service has been faultless.”

Bowers says that its instruments adhere to strict tolerance standards, ensuring consistent and reliable measurements across all operations. This consistency eliminates the potential for operator-induced variations, providing the business with enhanced accuracy and confidence in their measurement data.

The Baty Venture Vision System features powerful optics and intuitive software in support of measurement capabilities that include dimensional analysis, surface inspection and defect detection.Key features include high-resolution cameras, precision motorised stages and intuitive software interface, which allow for rapid and accurate measurement of complex parts with minimal user intervention. According to Bowers, the system’s robust construction and ergonomic design ensure reliability and ease of use in demanding manufacturing environments.

The Trimos V7 height gauge features a touch-display and lateral insert holders, serving as a versatile tool for workshop environments.

For further information www.bowersgroup.co.uk

Affordable CMMs gain extra accuracy

Manufacturers wishing to inspect components machined to tight tolerances, but unwilling to invest in an expensive, ultra-high-accuracy CMM, now have the option of selecting theAltera C HA (high accuracy) from LK Metrology. Available in five sizes, the largest 15.9.7 model was exhibited on the company’s stand at the MACH 2024 exhibition in Birminghamlast month.

These ceramic-bridge machines are constructed from the same components as the standard Altera C range, but are optimised during build at the company’s Derbyshire production facility to deliver 16% higher accuracy during a measuring cycle, with 13% better repeatability and 50% more accurate scanning. Volumetric accuracy is from 1.3+L/350, repeatability from 0.0013 mm and scanning accuracy from 0.002 mm.

When implementing design improvements to the Altera C HA, the company paid particular attention to upgrading the moving bridge. The spread of the air bearings supporting the main drive leg is now wider to increase the stiffness of the bridge assembly by 17% overall, which is particularly beneficial during high-speed movements. Advantages to the user are considerable, as measuring uncertainty when chasing tolerances down to microns is significantly better. For the same reason, LK further stiffened the bearing mountings and improved their alignment.


The pre-loaded, wrap-around air bearing configuration runs with a reduced air film thickness for low energy consumption and gives repeatable measurement results, even at fast axis speeds, reports LK. Friction drives provide smooth motion together with exact positioning at continuously varying speeds, as well as zero backlash and overload protection.


Multi-sensor capability is provided, with the Renishaw PH10M motorised probe head able to deploy a touch-trigger probe, scanning probe or laser scanner.

For further information www.lkmetrology.com

Raising the experience for QC professionals

Creaform, a business of Ametek and a worldwide provider of automated and portable 3D measurement solutions, is releasing its MetraScan Black+, MetraScan Black+Elite and HandyProbe Next+, all latest versions of the company’s suite of optical CMM 3D scanners and probes.

Leveraging new ISO 10360 certifications and set-up assistance tools, this latest-generation MetraScan 3D line-up aims to provide professionals with sophisticated tools that optimise operations.Guaranteeing confidence in the stated specifications, the sensor acceptance test procedure is based on ISO 10360, an international standard which ensures intense testing to define specifications and qualify sensor performance.Performance tests take place at Creaform’s ISO/IEC 17025-2017 accredited laboratories, which ensures the quality of facilities and equipment, the traceability of artefacts, and the quality of validation methods.

Enabling the simple and precise measurement of large parts, the expansion of this line-up marks a strategic move by Creaform to meet the evolving needs of quality control (QC) experts. The products now offer an accuracy specification of up to 0.025 mm + 0.015 mm/m in the extended measuring volume, ensuring trust in the performance and accuracy of the QC process on large parts.

Another stand-out feature is 360° magnetic targets. Visible from all angles, these reusable and durable targets are easy to set up. They offer automatic detectionto support the fast delivery of results.

Guidance tools are available to provide visual guidance feedback on positioning targets when creating a set-up, which is especially useful for non-experts, while troubleshooting tools offer advanced set-up diagnostics if required.

For further information www.creaform3d.com

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT LEADS TO CONTINUOUS INVESTMENT AT MPM

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of machine tools by DN Solutions and Zayer in the UK and Ireland, has recently supplied subcontract specialist Markyate Precision Machining (MPM) with a new vertical turning lathe.The machine, a DN Solutions 32-inch chuck Puma VT 900, was installed at the company’s 9000 sq ft facility in St Albans, Hertfordshire in July 2023. MPM is currently putting the Puma VT 900through its paces by machining a range of large, complex components primarily for the oil and gas sector.

Made from hard and difficult-to-machine materials that include stainless steel, MPM machines these parts in small batches to tight geometric tolerances and exacting surface finish requirements.The investment in the VT 900 was made primarily to enable MPM to bring this type of large oil and gas work back in-house. In particular, the decision helps illustrate and underscore the company’s future ambition to focus on high-precision machining of medium-to-large components for a range of industries.

Says Dean, MPM’s operations director:“The VT 900 is a rigidly-designed and built box guideway vertical turning lathe with a 900mm maximum turning diameter and an 850mm maximum turning length/height.The machine’s large working envelope and its 45kW/1800rpm/4443Nmspindle make it ideal for the heavy-duty turning operations and the machining of large components, which we see as a high growth area for the business moving forwards.”

Continues Bygate: “The VT 900 delivers power, speed, precision and machining flexibility. Furthermore, we receive Mills CNC’s aftersales support services – such as machine tool servicing, operator and programmer training, and replacement parts – which we can’t fault. This was a key factor in our decision-making process.”

To help improve MPM’s productivity and process efficiencies, Mills CNC supplied the machine with through-spindle-coolant capability (70bar), a manual tool setter, an automatic door facility and a Filtermist extraction unit.

The VT 900 might be the latest machine tool MPM has acquired from Mills CNC, but the relationship between both companies stretches back seven years to 2017, when the company invested in its first Doosan machines: a large-capacity Puma 400 lathe, a box guideway Puma GT 2600 lathe and a DNM 4500 three-axis vertical machining centre.Since then, more investments have followed, frequently and regularly.

To upgrade and help strengthen its small turned part processing operation, MPM invested in two Lynx 2100B lathes with bar feeders in 2020 and, a year later, to help meet a significant increase in demand from an existing customer, seven more (Doosan) machines arrived.This latest haul included two new DVF 5000 simultaneous five-axis machining centresthat have helped MPM achieve improved process efficiencies by reducing the number of machining operations (from two down to one) on particular high-precision components.Once machined, surface treated and painted, these parts are assembled to create high-strength, anti-corrosion undersea housings and enclosures.

“Demand from our international submarine customer really took off in 2020/21,” says Bygate. “Prior to then we were making and supplying 18 completed assemblies a week, but this increased dramatically in 2021, requiring us to supply 54 completed assemblies a week. This 200% increase was a tall order, and it soon became clear that to meet our customer’s new expectations we needed to increase our in-house machining capacity and capabilities, fast.”

MPM approached Mills to discuss how best to go about this task, which resulted in the company placing orders for seven new machines that, in addition to the two aforementioned DVF 5000 machining centres, also included three new lathes – a Puma 4100, Puma GT 3100 and Lynx 2100B (with bar feeder), and two new DNM 4500 machining centres.

“Doosan machines are reliable and deliver excellent cutting performance,” says Bygate.“They help us achieve and maintain quality, and ensure that we can hit the often stringent delivery schedules of our customers.Furthermore, owing to the stocking policy of Mills CNC, machines are often readily available. This is a particular strength that Mills has over many other machine tool suppliers, and is another reason why they are our first port of call.”

MPM is a family-owned business that was first established in the 1950s.The company has a rich pedigree and a reputation based on innovation, engineering excellence, continuous improvement and customer service.Currently employing 24 members of staff (19 in production-based operations), the company regularly invests in its people, plant and equipment, and in its processes and systems.

The company runs a successful apprenticeship programme in conjunction with Milton Keynes College which has helped MPM considerably reduce its age profile and address potential skills shortage issues that could affect growth and performance in the future.

MPM has, in recent years, also introduced in a sophisticated MRP/ERP system to improve operational and process efficiencies. To improve component inspection, the company has invested in a portable Keyence benchtop CMM.

MPM operates across a number of sectors that include aerospace, defence, medical, marine, oil and gas, and machine building.In addition to machining high-quality components, the company also designs and manufactures advanced tooling systems and solutions for customers, as well as for its own use.

Along with CNC machining, MPM specialisms include turnkey projects, technical consultancy (including design for manufacture services), assemblies and sub-assemblies, and materials science.

Concludes Bygate:“We’re not your typical machine shop and can provide customers with a range of high-quality and integrated manufacturing services and specialisms.From prototyping and one-offs, through to small-to-medium batch processing, MPM has the knowledge, experience and technology in place to help customers make things better.Our investments in machine tools from Doosan and, more recently, DN Solutions, and the strong relationship we have built with Mills CNC, have made us more efficient, productive and competitive.”

For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

ETG sheet metal event

On 4 June, the Engineering Technology Group’s (ETG) Fabrication Division will host a sheet metal event in conjunction with its fabrication principal Durma, which has more than 1000 machine installations at UK businesses. Hosted by product manager Andrew Smith-Hughes,and supported by Durma sales and technical engineers, the event will include technical presentations and live demonstrations on aDurma HD-F 3015 6kW flat-bed fibre laser and AD-Servo 30175 press brake. Putting both machines through their paces, attendees will be invited to ‘look under the hood’ and ask questions of the experts.For further information www.engtechgroup.com