FEATURE ON CNC MILLS & MACHINING CENTRES

Dugard machine is an ace in the hole

Sussex-based Sink Golf, a manufacturer golf putters, has invested in a Dugard 760 machining centre to produce its bespoke products.

Discussing how the Littlehampton business started, company founder Olly Longlands says: “Four years ago I was living in New Zealand and got into CNC manufacturing. I loved it so much that when I returned home to the UK, I bought a 2008 Dugard machine at auction – and I didn’t even know how to turn it on. I called Dugard and they were absolutely unbelievable.With their help and learning from YouTube videos, I managed to get my business up and running.”

Explaining the arrival of the latest Dugard 760 machining centre, Longlands adds: “When I decided to start running the business full-time it just went from strength to strength. I got so busy that I couldn’t keep up with orders using just one machine, so I bought a new one: it wasn’t going to be anything else other than Dugard.”

The company is machining two types of material, 303 stainless steel and mild steel. Now that Sink Golf has two machines, it is possible to perform the first operation on the new machine and undertake facing on the older machine.

“Some clubs have around four hours of machining time, although we also just produced a Damascus club [a process where multiple metals are joined in layers under extreme heat] that took more than 32 hours,” explains Longlands.“Although processing time varies, the rigidity of the new machine enables us to run the tools faster and harder while improving our surface finishes and tool life. This makes us 40% more productive and secondary manual finishing times are reduced.”

For further information www.dugard.com

Variant-rich small batch production with LPPs

Zhengzhou Hengda Intelligent Control Technology specialises in the development, production and sales of key components for intelligent control systems in coal mining.

To produce the often-large components in such a way that they meet the high safety requirements of mining, Zhengzhou Hengda uses machine tool technology from DMG Mori.There are now 14 NH 5000 DCG horizontal machining centre on site,all withlinear pallet pools (LPPs), which play a decisive role in production.

Initially, DMG Mori automated six models in 2018 using an LPP with 48 pallet positions and three set-up stations. The existing two machines were integrated as well. This was followed in 2020 by another LPP with 48 pallet positions and two set-up stations. Here, four automated NH 5000 DCGs were put into operation. The satisfaction with these solutions is reflected in the latest investment.

“In 2022, we purchased another four NH 5000 DCGs with LPPs, which arrived at the end of 2023,” says Wang Haipeng, head of machining at Zhengzhou Hengda. “When it comes to orders for major projects, especially in the area of R&D, we can rely 100% on machines supplied by DMG Mori.”

Zhengzhou Hengda is satisfied with what DMG Mori has accomplished in recent years. Notably, the management team is impressed by the customer-oriented consulting and on-time implementation of projects. Even more important, said the company, was the handling of individual requirements.

“In particular, the integration of existing machines into a new LPP and the associated change in production layout were a major challenge that DMG Mori mastered perfectly.During the adaptation and commissioning, which took almost 20 days, almost all machines remained in normal operation, so production capacity was not affected.” For further information www.dmgmori.com

Starrag HD can cutcycle times by 30%

Now available from Starrag Heckert, the STC1250 HD is the latest addition to the STC series for the machining of the most demanding aerospace structural parts, multi-blades and casings. Starrag says the STC1250 HD machining centre provides excellent static and dynamic properties, as well as a tried and tested rotating head, ensuring its suitability for the heavy-duty machining of titanium and Inconel parts in the aerospace and power generation industries.

Commenting on the machine, Lee Scott from Starrag says: “This is a five-axis machine with a B-axis table that holds the component and an Aaxis on the head; you can actually have an A and C-axis head as well. The new HD is predominantly a machine for optimised roughing and high surface generation finishing of exotic materials.”

The STC1250 HD machining centre offers a 1.25 x 1.25m pallet with a large work envelope for accommodating workpiece loads up to 5000kg. Complementing this capacity is X, Y and Z-axis travel of 2.2 x 1.5 x 2.1m, with a swing diameter of 2.2m.

Discussing reports that the new features of the STC1250 HD can reduce cycle times in titanium machining by more than 30%, Scott adds: “At Starrag’s Aerospace and Turbine Competence Centre in Rorschach, we saw a 63mm deep cut with a porcupine cutter where buckets of swarf continually fell into the base of the machine. Traditionally, what would have been three or four passes with a tool can now be done with a single pass. The machine may draw more power in that single pass, but overall, it has a significantly reduced cycle time when compared with the previous method of multiple passes.”

For further information www.starrag.com

New MACH three-axis machine on display

MACH Machine Tools used the Southern Manufacturing exhibition in Farnborough earlier this month to showcase two DynaPath-controlled milling machines, including a new three-axis model.The MACH MDT-1 turret-type mill, one of the company’s best-selling models, shared centre stage with a new MDV 800 three-axis CNC vertical machining centre that only recently made its UK debut at the company’s open house in January.

While the MDT-1 turret-type mill, with its rigid design and build, powerful spindle and good-sized working envelope offered obvious appeal to visitors, large and small, it was the new production-oriented MACH MDV 800 vertical machining centre that pulled in the crowds.

The new MDV-series, comprising the MDV 800 and MDV 1100 machines, is a high-performance range of machining centres that MACH Machine Tools says delivers excellent cutting performance and improved process efficiencies.In addition to the DynaPath WinDelta CNC control, the machines featurea BT 40 air-cooled, high-torque (11-15kW) 8000rpm spindles as standard. Options includea direct-drive 12,000 rpm spindle with spindle chiller and through-spindle-coolant capabilities.

Other standard features include: Hiwin linear roller guides; 24-position swing-arm ATCs; and generous-sized worktables which, on the MDV 800, are 1000x 500 mm with a 500kg maximum load.

Both MDV machines are fast, boasting 36m/min rapids on all axes and, for improved process reliability, feature a full enclosure with armoured telescopic covers. The machines deliver precision resultsthrough the use of C3-class PMI precision ball screws, while laser interferometer dynamic lead screw compensation enables 6µm positional and 3µm repeatable accuracies across the work envelope.

The DynaPath WinDelta control, available on all new CNC lathes, toolroom mills and machining centres from MACH Machine Tools, was another main attraction on the company’ stand at Southern Manufacturing.

For further information www.machmt.co.uk

Plus version of Hurco VMC has uprated features

One of Hurco’s best-selling three-axis vertical machining centres (VMCs), the VM30i with a 1270 x 508 x 508 mm working envelope in a compact footprint of approximately 4.1 x 2.7 m, is now available as a Plus version. The machine has been upgraded from a singlescreen to a twin-screen WinMax control and offers a 12,000 rpm/15 kW spindle instead of a 10,000 rpm version. Additional new benefits include 20 bar through-spindle coolant, LCD remote jog and an auger for efficient swarf evacuation.

Philip Carr, an applications engineer at Hurco Europe in High Wycombe, gave an insight into the advantages of the upgraded machine. He started by demonstrating the power of the spindle, with a Kyocera SGS seven-flute end mill ripping into mild steel to a depth of 50 mm. He was running a program with tool paths created using UltiPocket, a milling software option within Hurco’s WinMax programming and control software that allows the boundary of a component to be defined and then pockets or islands within it. The approach eliminates complex calculations and shortens part programming time.

Carr pointed out that the addition of a second control screen allows the generation of a graphical component image as cycle programming takes place and the display of a full simulation after it is complete. Operators receive a precise visual representation of the cycle and the ability to slow down the simulation, enhancing understanding and analysis.

“Utilising a Hurco VM30i Plus with our WinMax twin-screen control system, a manufacturer can take advantage of a powerful piece of production equipment that doubles as a VMC and a CADCAM system,” states Carr.

For further information www.hurco.co.uk