FEATURE ON CNC LATHES AND TURNING CENTRES

Reshoring and exports boost Wealdpark growth

In response to an upturn in business over the past few years, Merseyside subcontract machining company Wealdpark is to treble the size of its factory. The first phase of expansion, due to begin immediately, will add an extension a little larger than the 6000 sq ft unit it presently operates in St Helens. By the end of 2023, another 5000 sq ft unit is scheduled for completion on an adjacent plot that was purchased recently.

Mainly a precision turned parts subcontractor, the family owned and run firm operates two vertical machining centres and 15 sliding-head lathes on the shop floor, alongside six Miyano fixed-head turning centres from Citizen Machinery UK. The latest to arrive, in April 2022, was a Miyano ABX-64SYY, bringing to four the number of these 65 mm diameter bar capacity machines purchased since 2014. Also in use are 51 and 42 mm capacity models.

Together with father Jim and brother Steve, Phil Smith is a director and joint owner of Wealdpark. He says: “We’ve increased turnover by a quarter in the two years since the start of the pandemic and sales during each of the first five months of 2022 were at a record level compared with previous years. The production of parts for the hydraulic, pneumatic and yellow goods industries is particularly strong at the moment. We’re also active in the aerospace, automotive, electrical fastener, firefighting, military and temperature measurement sectors. This has given us the confidence to invest in new infrastructure and capacity to develop our business. Part of that strategy will be the continuing purchase of top-quality plant like Miyano lathes, which we’ve used since 2007.”
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

ETG releases Nakamura JX-200 into UK market

Taking its turning technology to a new level, Nakamura-Tome has introduced the new JX-200 multi-tasking turn-mill centre. Now available in the UK from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG), the JX-200 incorporates Nakamura’s new NT Smart Cube, which the company says is the world’s shortest tool spindle in its class. This design supports a compact footprint with a spacious work area and high-performance kinematics.

Nakamura has recognised the increasing need of industry to manufacture smaller batch sizes with higher flexibility. The new JX-220 is a twin-spindle machine with an upper tool spindle that swivels ±95° to provide high levels of flexibility. Furthermore, the machine offers 15/11 kW power output and a 12,000 rpm spindle with an 18,000 rpm spindle as an option. The upper tool spindle has an 80-position tool carousel as standard with 40 or 120 tools as optional extras.

The lower tooling turret offers milling capability as standard, along with Y-axis machining. In addition, the lower turret provides a 6000 rpm milling spindle with 8000 rpm optional, and both upper and lower milling capability is rigid and robust for heavy-duty material removal applications.

In combination with the upper tool spindle and the lower turret, the JX-200 is suitable for a multitude of different machining methods, such as simultaneous machining with both left and right spindles, engaging both upper and lower tool positions simultaneously, and even machining with centre support mounted on the lower turret. With the facility for operations such as turning, milling, drilling and gear cutting, this ‘all in one’ machine will appeal to manufacturers in a variety of sectors.
For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Arturn makes a turn for Hanwha turning centres

Arturn Precision Engineering has invested in a Hanwha XD38II sliding-head turning centre from Dugard to enhance capacity and throughput at its Rugby-based facility. As a tier-one automotive supplier, as well as a manufacturer for the fastener, electrical, food and pharmaceutical industries, Arturn is no stranger to high-volume production runs, which is where the Hanwha machine from Dugard is making a difference.

Myles Rudkin, foreman at Arturn Engineering, says: “One of the main reasons we bought the Hanwha XD38II is because we can turn up to 38 mm diameter on a sliding-head machine, which in my opinion is pretty impressive, especially when the sweet spot is from 32 to 38 mm. That’s where we have a broad diameter of parts, so it means we can expand the range of components which we can machine for customers.”

Looking at the specific attributes of the machine, Rudkin adds: “It’s a great machine and, where the tools are located, particularly the power tools, makes it easily accessible to interchange cutting tools and accelerate our set-up processes.”

Considering the FANUC 32i-Model B CNC system and the programming, Rudkin says: “I like the programming on this machine. It has broadened my knowledge because a lot of the M codes are familiar, like on a fixed-head machine. This means that my knowledge of fixed-head machines and the respective G- and M-codes will transfer directly to the Hanwha.”

With flood coolant on the new Hanwha XD38II sliding-head turning centre, ISO9001-accredited Arturn has noticed a marked improvement in tool life.

“The coolant flow on this machine is excellent and there is a high number of coolant hoses on the machine that can be moved and directed at specific tools,” says Rudkin.
For further information www.dugard.com

Small Lynx 2600 lathe range becomes larger

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of DN Solutions’ machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has announced that the recently introduced Lynx 2600 series (comprising Y-axis and Y-axis with sub-spindle models), has been expanded with the introduction of two new machines. The 10” chuck/81 mm bar capacity Lynx 2600 and Lynx 2600M machines provide the same speed, accuracy and cutting performance as the other Lynx lathes in the series.

The Lynx 2600 and Lynx 2600M have many technology features in common. Both machines have 30 m/min rapid rates and are equipped with: 18.5 kW/3500 rpm spindles (403 Nm); high precision and rigid roller-type LM guideways; servo-driven turrets; hydraulically actuated tailstocks; and a grease-type lubrication system. The machines are also available with a choice of control (FANUC i Plus or Siemens 828D). Despite the similarities there are, however, some important differences between the two models.

The first and most obvious is that the Lynx 2600M has a C axis and driven tooling capability (5.5 kW/6000 rpm), which increases this model’s flexibility and productivity potential.
Other differences include: a larger maximum turning length and turning diameter for the Lynx 2600 model (460 and 658 mm) as opposed to 380 and 610 mm for the Lynx 2600M; and a larger capacity BMT 55P turret with the Lynx 2600M (12-tool station), as opposed to a 10-tool station with the Lynx 2600.

Says Tony Dale, Mills CNC’s CEO: “The availability of the new Lynx 2600 and Lynx 2600M models increase the appeal and attractiveness of the series, further reinforcing the proposition that DN Solutions is committed to providing component manufacturers with unrivalled choice and flexibility.”
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

MACH prize win leads to machine investment

HepcoMotion is a specialist in linear motion technology, with its linear guide systems featuring V-guide technology adopted by machine designers across a range of sectors, including food processing and packaging, automotive (particularly EVs), renewable energy and medical. Continued product development and increased demand resulted in a need to invest in machine tools that would both improve productivity and enhance existing capacity. A visit to the XYZ Machine Tools stand at the MACH 2022 exhibition in April made that investment a little easier.

HepcoMotion’s engineering manager Ryan Berry was investigating improvements in the machining of ballscrews to support a new product launch, so a turning centre was on his list. While on the XYZ Machine Tools stand he was invited to fill out his details for entry into the now traditional XYZ prize draw, the winner of which would receive either the free use of a bed mill for 12 months or the option of a £10,000 discount off any machine in the XYZ range. Learning of his success in the draw, Berry chose the latter, placing an order for an XYZ CT 65 HD turning centre.

“We needed a turning centre that was capable of efficiently machining our hardened ball-screw ends, and the design of the CT 65 HD with its hardened box ways meant it would be robust enough for that work,” he says. “The machine also had the advantage of easy programming and quick changeover, making it ideal for both low- and high-volume work. We placed the order and were surprised to be advised that delivery would be within four weeks.”
For further information, www.xyzmachinetools.com