SUBCONTRACTING NEWS

New machine investment adds-up for Adnet

Located in Brockworth on the outskirts of Gloucester, Adnet Precision Engineering is a subcontract manufacturer that continually grows its business. Operating in the defence, pharmaceutical, aerospace, metrology, medical, telecommunications and semiconductor industries, the company has ramped up its investment in machine tools to support ongoing growth. The latest investments include an array of turning centres and sliding-head lathes from Dugard.

Caroline Day, director at Adnet Precision,says: “We already had one sliding-head machine, but we were running out of capacity, so we invested in the Hanwha XD20-IIV. This new machine is running parts more than 30% faster than our existing sliding head.”

With a maximum speed of 10,000rpm on the main spindle and 8000rpm on the sub-spindle, the machine has a spindle motor power of 2.2/3.7kW. A FANUC 32i-B CNC drives the Hanwha XD20IIV, which provides precise machining through its high tool adaptability, minimised thermal displacement and driven-tooling capabilities. The Hanwha XD20IIV is supplied material via a 3m bar feed.

Most recently, the company purchased a SMEC SL2000SY twin-spindle turn-mill centre from Dugard. This workhorse has an 11/18kW spindle motor that provides high torque for maximum material removal, while the heavily ribbed Meehanite cast and structural design provide high levels of surface finish, repeatability and precision. The 8-inch chuck machine has a sizeable capacity with a swing over bed and cross slide of 650 and 540mm respectively,alongside a maximum machining diameter of 395mm and a maximum machining length of 450mm.

“With the twin spindles we can achieve a lot more work; it’s probably 30% more efficient than the two machines it replaced,” says Day. “The machine also has far more capability.”
For further information www.dugard.com

Mills CNC supplies MCS with two more machines

Mills CNC has supplied precision subcontract specialist – Machined Component Systems (MCS) – with two newFANUC-controlled multi-tasking turning centres.The machines, a 10” chuck Puma 2600SY II lathe with sub-spindle and Y axis, and an 8” chuck TT 1800SY twin-spindle, twin-turret turning centre, both featureHydrafeed MSV80 bar feeders.

The latest arrivals have significantly strengthened the in-house machining capacity and capabilities at MCS, taking the total number of machine tools at the company’s disposal to 40, five of which are DN Solutions and Doosan machines supplied by Mills CNC.

Says MCS managing director Warren Gray:“The Puma 2600SY is fast, accurate, powerful and reliable. With its integrated Y axis and sub-spindle the machine is capable of processing high-precision, complex parts in one-hit and, in a relatively short period of time, has proved its worth.It was these capabilities, in addition to its immediate availability, which clinched the deal.”

The investment in the TT 1800SY turning centre arrived as a direct result, back in early 2023, of an existing customer dramatically uplifting its requirements for high-quality mill-turned machined parts. While obviously great news for MCS, the increase in demand, if not addressed quickly and decisively, would have swallowed up a significant proportion of the company’s existing turning capacity.

“The TT 1800SY allows simultaneous machining on both spindles and enables us to perform high-precision milling, drilling and tapping operations in a single set-up,” says Gray. “Byintegrating the machine with a bar feeder we have a ‘de facto’ flexible automated manufacturing cell at our disposal.”
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

Ford Aerospace accelerates inspection with Keyence

Ford Aerospace, a global specialist in pressed and high-precision machined parts for a multitude of industries, is leveraging the benefits of a new Keyence IM-8000 instant measuring system.The speed of the IM-8000 is already generating significant savings in inspection time, while simultaneously extending the company’s measurement function to machine operators thanks to inherent system simplicity.

“Our investment decision was based mainly on capacity,” explains Nathan McCully, the company’s quality, health, safety and environmental manager. “We wanted an inspection system that would allow us to increase our speed of measurement for simpler components, while at the same time providing more measurement accessibility to the shop floor. We were using a video inspection system previously but it was cumbersome, slow and complex to program.”

On a day-to-day basis, Ford Aerospace manufactures pressed and machined parts in accordance with the specific requirements of its customers. Although many components are complex in nature, a proportion are very simple. It was here that the company spotted an opportunity to make gains.

“Although the IM-8000 has 3D capability, it was the potential to quickly measure 2D shapes, such as shims, washers and other pressed parts that really stood out,” says McCully. “For components like this we typically perform sample inspection in quantities of 50-100. We would previously have to measure them individually and record the dimensions. However, with the IM-8000 we can measure all the parts simultaneously in seconds simply by pressing one button.”

The IM-8000 can perform measurement on up to 300 part features in a matter of seconds. With its simple place-and-press operation there is no time-consuming positioning or datum set-up required, while the machine automatically identifies measurement points to ensure consistency and repeatability.
For further information www.keyence.co.uk

CTPE growsinspection capability with height gauge

CTPE Ltd, a contract supplier of machined components based in Mildenhall, chose Bowers Group to assist in enhancing its inspection capabilities by investing in a Trimos V3 height gauge.

Alex Taylor, CTPE operations director, says: “We opted to work with Bowers Group for this project as we’ve previously dealt with the company for other measuring equipment and always been very happy with the service. The Trimos V3 is a great product from a quality Swiss brand and it’s been a good addition to ourinspection department. It’s very easy to useand has helped accelerate our inspection times. The accuracy and repeatability are very good, and we can measure features on larger partsthat were previously beyond our capabilities.”

The V3 height gauge boasts a measuring range spanning from 400 to 700mm, ensuring versatility in its applications. What sets it apart is the large two-line ‘black mask’ display, a proprietary feature in the market that guarantees high contrast, regardless of lighting conditions. Its user-friendliness is also a popular characteristic, with electronically adjustable measuring force and an easy-to-read display unit that provides direct and easy-to-read access to functions, enabling rapid operation.

With the Trimos V3 in place, CTPE’s inspection capabilities are taking a significant leap forward. Employed on a daily basis for conducting first article, in-process and final inspections of milled and turned components, the company says that itsquality manager and machine setters are notably impressed by the height gauge’s accuracy and repeatability.

The equipment excelled at precisely measuring the larger milled and turned parts that had previously posed a challenge, even allowing the team to measure specific features that were beforehand were simply not possible.
For further information www.bowersgroup.co.uk

£2m press investment for SDE Technology

A Shropshire-based pressings and assemblies specialist has invested more than £2m in acquiring its largest-ever progression press.SDE Technology installed the 1000-tonne Chin Fong press and coil handling line at its Brixton Way factory in Shrewsbury, an installation that allows larger die usage and helpsbigger larger products for use in the automotive sector.

The press, which has a bed size of 4.5 x 1.8m, has capacity for over £2m of new revenue, with the management team already in discussions with larger OEMs and tier-one suppliersseeking security of supply and opportunities to de-risk the supply chain. Due to the investment, SDE Technology has created eight new jobs and safeguarded tens more.

“This is our largest-ever progression press and one of the largest in the UK automotive supply chain,” explains Richard Homden, managing director of SDE Technology.“It’s a fantastic time to invest in this new capability. Yes, there are current headwinds, but for the bold there’s also opportunities, with lots of reshoring, electrification and carbon reduction projects currently in discussion.The £2m investment will be a game-changer for our business and the West Midlands as a whole.”

SDE Technology is one of the largest manufacturers of pressings and assemblies in the UK, employing more than 130 people across its core production business and at Salop Haulage Ltd.

Chris Greenough, commercial director at SDE Technology, says: “The Chin Fong investment comes off the back of two earlier press installations, offering 100 and 200tonne capabilities.These were put in initially to deliver pressings for the white goods industry, but they could also support other tooling projects going forward.”
For further information www.sde.technology