FEATURE ON CNC MILLS & MACHINING CENTRES

20 years of Starrag/Liebherr-Aerospace partnership

Smooth, precise and with perfect timing: modern landing gear works just like an eagle about to land. For the first time, Starrag presented a fully assembled nose landing gear of the Airbus A350 at last month’s EMO 2025 exhibition in Hanover, Germany, representing a symbol of a close partnership with Liebherr-Aerospace that has lasted over 20 years.

It all began in 2004 in Lindenberg, Bavaria, with a single Droop+Rein FOGS machine. Today, the partnership has developed into one of the most productive in the field of landing gear production. To celebrate, Starrag exhibited a fully assembled nose landing gear for the Airbus A350 – manufactured by Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg and machined on a Droop+Rein machining centre.

The partnership represents the shared journey of two global specialists – one at the system level, the other in mechanical engineering. It is a collaboration of equals based on technical understanding, long-term thinking and a global perspective.

“The trust that Liebherr-Aerospace has placed in us for two decades is both an obligation and an incentive for us,” emphasises Heiko Quack, director of sales for large projects. “Together, we’ve developed processes that are considered a global benchmark – especially when it comes to safety-critical components.”

For over 20 years, the two companies have been working closely together to produce one of the most demanding components in the aviation industry efficiently, reliably and with maximum vertical integration – landing gear. Starrag supplies the machining technology; Liebherr the system solution.

Liebherr-Aerospace operates one of the most modern landing gear production sites in Europe at its Lindenberg site, where four Droop+Rein FOGS machining centres work in combination. This capability is supplemented by robot-supported tool systems, laser measurement and integrated automation.

More information www.starrag.com

Motorsport Inspires RPH’s Hurco Machine Investment

RPH Manufacturing, a tier-one supplier based in Wimborne, has consistently prioritised precision, efficiency, cleanliness and innovation throughout its long history. At the helm is owner and managing director Richard Haim, whose passion for engineering, which began 57 years ago, led him to start his own company in 1981. Upon asking him why he has a preference for vertical machining centres from Hurco, he says: “I like the brand because I know a lot of the Formula 1 Teams are customers of theirs. I have been a lifelong motorsport enthusiast and I thought there could be no better endorsement to purchase a Hurco machine tool.”

Four Hurco VM-series machines, equipped with Max 5 twin-screen controls running proprietary WinMax conversational programming software, today form the backbone of RPH’s workshop. They enable the company to deliver more than 45,000 parts per year to a wide range of industries. Just-in-time and Kanban systems offer customers reliable, often daily supply of parts keep their businesses running and minimise their stockholding.

Haim is always open to innovations and new working methods that can make his business perform more efficiently. A good example is the way in which he has embraced Hurco’s Solid Model Import software. Already a user of Hurco DXF software, he was easily able to realise the additional benefits of applying dimensions directly from a STEP file into a conversational program. 

After 44 years in business, Haim is as committed as ever to running his VM-series machines and has set his sights firmly on reaching RPH’s 50-year trading milestone, which will be in 2031. His unwavering commitment to Hurco underscores the value the machines have brought to his business and his confidence in the supplier’s ability to support his continued success in the future.

More information www.hurco.com

Starrag introduces Heckert X70 f-axis machine

Starrag has launched the Heckert X70, a versatile five-axis machining centre designed to deliver precision and productivity within a compact footprint. Building on the features of the Heckert HEC X5 series, the Heckert X70 incorporates a swivel unit on the workpiece side, facilitating dynamic five-axis machining from a single clamping position.

Due to receive its world premiere at the EMO 2025 exhibition in Hanover on 22-26 September (stand C35, hall 12), the Heckert X70 offers X, Y and Z-axis travel of 1200 x 1100 x 1200 mm. The compact machine requires 18% less installation space than its predecessor: the Heckert HEC 630 X5. It accommodates workpieces with a core contour diameter of 960 mm and a maximum height of 800 mm, supporting a mass of up to 1000 kg.

Turning is an integral part of the machine concept and can be configured as an option. Using specially developed assemblies and software modules, both classic and complex turning operations are possible with the productivity of a machining centre, reports Starrag. Unlike a turning centre, the machine benefits from various set-up options. Not only can users clamp workpieces vertically for extra convenience, they can also clamp them during the machining operation thanks to the pallet changer.

The Heckert X70’s rapid traverse rate of 65 m/min and fast component changeover times enhance productivity. Pallet changes are completed in 17.5 seconds, while the tool changer provides a chip-to-chip time of 7.4 seconds.

Customers can choose from a range of tool magazine options, including a timing belt magazine with 45 or 60 positions for HSK-100 tools, a chain magazine with a capacity of up to 120 HSK-100 tools, and a tower magazine capable of supporting up to 440 HSK-100 tools.

More information www.starrag.com

Motorsport specialist brings production in-house

Located near Dumfries, Dunbar Race Engineering was established in 2018 by Duncan Dunbar to design and supply prototype motorcycle parts and small batches of components for the motorsport market. The company also reverse engineers and remanufactures parts that are no longer available, especially for historic and emerging classic racing motorbikes. Today, the firm provides engineering and manufacturing services to other sectors as well, including parts for internal combustion engines targeting the hydrogen market.

At the outset, the company outsourced production. However, Duncan realised that to increase flexibility, reduce lead-times and ensure consistent quality, it would be necessary to progress from a home workshop and move to manufacturing in-house. So in spring 2022, he moved the company into an industrial unit and purchased a Hurco VM10i three-axis vertical machining centre with a 4th-axis rotary table.

Describing his experience of dealing with Hurco, Dunbar says: “They’re nice people to work with and the VM10i is a cracking machine. It has a large working area for its footprint and fitted neatly into the space we had available.”

To make high-quality parts to fine tolerances, sometimes as tight as ±10 µm, the manufacturer takes full advantage of both the Hurco machine’s build quality and the conversational programming of the WinMax control, which Dunbar says is easy and intuitive to use. Most work, including complex jobs requiring 3+1-axis machining, is programmed directly at the control. Tool-path simulation and verification graphics help to avoid any potential input mistakes.

“What you see on the screen is what you get on the part,” confirms Dunbar.

More information www.hurco.com

Five-axis HMC has novel chip-breaking function

NCMT has introduced to the British and Irish markets the Makino a500iR, a five-axis, twin-pallet horizontal machining centre that is available with a choice of three spindles. One has a BT40 interface and a maximum speed of 14,000 rpm, while the other two feature an HSK-A63 interface with a maximum speed of 20,000 rpm or 24,000 rpm.

The centre of gravity of the 500 mm square pallet and fixtured workpiece is close to the vertical centreline of the -110° to +180° rotary B axis, enabling high-speed workpiece positioning at up to 267° per second. Notably, the rotating C axis facing the horizontal spindle has an even faster rapid motion of 600° per second. Maximum workpiece size is 900 mm diameter by 600 mm high and the table will accept a load of 400 kg. Linear travels in X, Y, and Z are 900, 750 and 800 mm.

As with all high-performance machining centres, the a500iR generates copious amounts of swarf that is efficiently evacuated by means of slanted panels in the working area and with the assistance of coolant delivered from the spindle head, nozzles and the ceiling of the chamber.

A new feature is the GI (Geometric Intelligence) chip-breaker function, which introduces micro-movements into a drilling operation to break stringy swarf into small chips, avoiding accumulation within the hole and possible damage to the cutter and component. Manufacturers can therefore leave the Makino to run unattended with confidence. Notably, the GI breaker works without impacting the cycle time. This is in contrast to options offered by other machine tool manufacturers, reports NCMT, which tend to lengthen a cycle.

More information www.ncmt.co.uk