FEATURE ON CNC MILLS & MACHINING CENTRES

Lights-out milling of multiple small batches

The benefits gained from automating the machining of prismatic components in a high-mix, low-volume production environment are no better exemplified than at Alitech Precision Parts in Silverstone. Since 2019, the subcontractor has invested in four German-built Hermle five-axis, trunnion-type machining centres from UK agent Kingsbury. Two are equipped for automatic exchange of pallets (with fixtured workpieces) between a storage system and the machining area.

Alitech’s owner and managing director Darren Cudd says: “The essence of making this type of production profitable is to buy a high-quality, powerful, reliable machining platform, equip it with accurate zero-point clamping systems and use high-end carbide tools that we can push to the limit of their performance. You must also have the confidence to program and simulate a new cycle in CAM before leaving it to run overnight without anyone present.”

This is exactly what Cudd has been doing since a Hermle C 22 UP machining centre, equipped with a PW150 storage and handling system for 18 square pallets (320 mm), was installed in 2020, six weeks before the start of the Covid pandemic. Two years later, a Hermle C 42 U arrived on the shop floor. Then in October 2024, a second automated Hermle cell was installed, a 650 x 600 x 500 mm capacity C 32 U machining centre featuring an HS Flex two-level store housing 12 square pallets (400 mm).


Cudd calculates that, disregarding this latest purchase, the other automated C 22 UP cell accounts for less than 30% of the site’s machine tool investment, yet has for the past few years generated up to 50% of Alitech’s turnover, a performance-to-cost benefit approaching 2:1.

More information www.kingsburyuk.com

Heller expands five-axis machine range

Following the introduction of its F 5000 and F 6000 five-axis machining centres, Heller has extended the company’s latest-generation series with the addition of a larger capacity model, the F 8000. According to Heller, the F 8000 is suitable for everything from single part manufacture to flexible series production, 24/7.

The machine is capable of producing parts within a 1400 x 1200 x 1400 mm working envelope, the X-axis stroke being 150 mm longer than that of its predecessor. Nevertheless, the new machine occupies a 25% smaller, narrower footprint, thanks in part to a new design of rack-type tool storage. Users can now place four machines side by side, rather than the previous maximum of three.

If a manufacturer purchases an optional, enhanced-specification PRO version, it will benefit from a machine with 50% higher linear axis acceleration at 6 m/s², reducing chip-to-chip time by approximately 30%. The PRO package also offers greater precision, with positioning tolerance in X/Y/Z of 6 µm, representing a 25% improvement over the former model.

Equipped with an automatic pallet changer as standard, the new machine utilises 800 x 800 mm pallets, although it also is possible to use larger 1000 x 1000 mm pallets. The maximum load is 2000 kg, but from the start of 2025 an optional pallet load of 3000 kg will be available. In addition, Heller can offer extended automation with linear/rotary storage systems or robots.

The F 8000 uses the same modular system as the entire F series for key components such as heads, spindles, pallets and tool magazines. Machine structure is also consistent across the series, ensuring compatibility – not only with previous five-axis generations – but also with Heller’s new H series of four-axis horizontal machining centres.

More information www.heller.biz

Setting the course for high precision

Some 15 years ago, Ammann AG changed its strategic business orientation from a contract manufacturer for machined switch and track parts to Ammann Components, a system supplier specialising in complex, high-precision workpieces. Success and growth followed – thanks in part to the company’s high-quality machinery, which is dominated by several Heckert machining centres from Starrag. Now, the of Tägerwilen, Switzerland-based is expecting a further boost from its recently delivered Heckert H75.

The successor model to the successful Heckert HEC 500, the H75 comes with various improvements and promising options. The machine produces large aluminium gearbox housings for which the customer specifies centre distances with a tight tolerance.

Managing director Paul Ammann is especially enthusiastic about the machine’s spindle with its maximum torque of 950 Nm and speed up to 12,500 rpm. This capability makes the BAZ spindle equally suitable for aluminium and heavy machining. To maximise flexibility and keep set-up times to a minimum, the Heckert H75 features extensive tool storage: with its four coupled towers, the magazine has a capacity for almost 400 tools.

As the company plans long term for all its investments, the imminent move to a new location will have an impact on the Heckert H75, as Ammann explains: “At the moment, automation is neither necessary nor possible. At our new location, however, we’ll expand the Heckert H75 and our existing Heckert HEC 500 with a pallet system to create a low-manpower production system. It was therefore important to us that the H75 is fully compatible with the Heckert HEC 500 so that a second set-up station is not needed. As expected, our partner Starrag was extremely flexible and made the necessary adjustments to the Y-axis travel and pallet changer.”

More information www.starrag.com

Double power for machining large light parts

Schwäbische Werkzeugmaschinen (SW) is strengthening its portfolio of multi-spindle CNC
machining centres with the introduction of the BA space3-22 two-spindle machining centre.
This further development of the ‘space’ series is for machining particularly large, light metal
workpieces in sectors such as automotive and aerospace.
SW launched the single-spindle version of its BA space3 in 2020. Since then, the machine
has found use primarily in e-mobility applications. To achieve even greater efficiency, SW’s
R&D team subsequently began developing the two-spindle version for demanding
manufacturing processes such as giga-casting or machining other complex components in
the automotive and aerospace industries.
The BA space3-22 is currently the largest machine in the SW portfolio. Its independent
horizontal spindle arrangement enables two machining scenarios: simultaneous machining
of two parts by two spindles, or the use of both spindles on one large workpiece. This
flexibility is particularly valuable in series production, where maximum machine utilisation is
crucial. The benefits are clear: parallel machining significantly reduces production times and
increases output.
Markus Löhe, aerospace key account at SW, explains: “In a nutshell, two-spindle machines
double output. The BA space3-22 can be used as a conventional two-person machine or, for
very large components, can easily be configured as a one-person machine with an even
larger machining area.”
At the heart of the BA space3-22 are powerful linear and torque motors. In this
combination, the advantages of both motor types are exploited to the full: linear motors
guarantee fast and precise linear movements, while torque motors provide dynamic rotary
movements. This capability allows the machine to achieve maximum acceleration, not only

minimising machining time but also downtime during tool change and positioning. The rapid
feed rate of the BA space3-22 is 120 m/min.
More information www.sw-machines.com

Filtermist increases up time at Tooling 2000

One of the biggest challenges for any machine shop is workshop air quality and the impact
coolant mist has on staff wellbeing. To prevent coolant mist from impacting the air quality in
the workplace, Tooling 2000 installed on-machine mist extraction systems from Filtermist.
In addition to COSHH-compliant clean air, the Birmingham-based automotive subcontract
manufacturer is also benefitting in other less obvious ways, as senior business development
manager at Tooling 2000, Iain Bubb, explains: “Filtermist systems firstly protects our
workforce, which is of paramount importance. However, they also allow us to open our
machine doors sooner, providing more machining uptime.”
 
If the doors of the machines are opened immediately after a cutting cycle without Filtermist
system in place, oil mist enters the air. This results in a film on the machines, tools, floor and
anything else in the vicinity, causing a health and safety concern.

“With Filtermist, we’re removing all airborne particulates from the machine tool
atmosphere, which not only keeps the inside of the machine clean, but also also helps to
remove the swarf as it does not stick to any tacky coolant residue on the machine bed.”
 
With the Filtermist FX5002 mist extraction systems fitted to its range of Hurco machining
centres, Tooling 2000 finds maintenance of the technology easy to manage.
“We have a TPM [Total Productive Maintenance] system in place so, after a set number of
production hours, we change and clean the Filtermist filters. Productivity is also very
important to us as it cascades down to the bottom line. With the Filtermist technology we
get more uptime from our machines, giving us better productivity and profitability.”
More information www.filtermist.co.uk