THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Success for Chester at SteelFab 2019

Drawing attention from high-ranking officials on the opening day of SteelFab 2019 (pictured), Chester Machine Tools enjoyed success at the Middle East’s premier trade show for metalworking, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication.

“We were extremely proud to exhibit for the sixth year running under the flagship of the British Pavilion, demonstrating our range of CNC and conventional machine tools,” states sales director Anthony Edwards. “As a global supplier, our multiple machine tool solutions support the infrastructure of growth in many countries, and we were extremely pleased to see that our machines received much attention and interest from attending delegates. It proved to be a highly successful five-day event for us, particularly when a customer specialising in oil field component manufacturing purchased our demonstration model – a Kitchen & Walker G62 radial drilling machine.”
For further information www.chestermachinetools.com

Hainbuch to display chuck solutions

Hainbuch will show a range of chuck solutions on stand P230. With flexibility, minimal interference contour and precision levels all being key factors for modern workholding solutions, Hainbuch will be demonstrating these attributes in its newly developed range of TOPlus and SpannTop mini chucks.

(c) Andy Ridder, Hainbuch Marbach Maschine Wasser Spâhne Metall

Of particular emphasis be the latest SpannTop modular mini chucks. Hainbuch has developed the chuck to make it compatible with an adapter ring in order to leverage the benefits of the modular system. The company‘s Mando Adapt mandrel and corresponding jaw module already work with SpannTop mini, meaning complete autonomy for small component clamping needs.
For further information www.hainbuch.com

Mazak spotlights five-axis machining

Yamazaki Mazak (stand J220) will be exhibiting its Integrex i-400S multi-tasking machining centre, which features a newly designed 1500 mm machining bed, offering higher performance machining and greater workpiece capacity than any other multi-tasking machines in its size range, says the company.

At the heart of the machine is a 30 kW, 3300 rpm main spindle, supported by a 26 kW 4000 rpm second spindle, which combine to machine workpieces up to 658 mm in diameter and 1519 mm in length.
The Integrex i-400S is equipped with the company’s SmoothX CNC, which not only contributes to improved cycle times, but can reduce programming and set-up times, it is claimed. Alan Mucklow, managing director UK and Ireland sales division at Yamazaki Mazak, says: “Our Integrex i-400S combines the capabilities of a high-powered turning centre and full-function machining centre to produce a range of complex parts, from fully prismatic to round or highly contoured components, in a single set-up. The i-400S can be used across small batch prototype work, in addition to volume production.”
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Goodwin boosts in-process checks

Staffordshire-based Goodwin International manufactures components for a range of sectors, including the nuclear, defence, oil and gas, power generation, aerospace and renewable industries.

From large primary circuit reactor components standing at 4 m in height and 5.5 m in diameter, to machined and welded assemblies of up to 100 tonnes in weight, Goodwin International is able to manufacture a multitude of large, high-specification components.
As a result of the size and the demanding dimensional tolerances of many components, the company makes use of one of the largest capacity CMMs in the UK. However, given the problems associated with transporting large, heavy workpieces to
the CMM, the company also uses a range of Faro portable CMMs with both tactile measurement and scanning capabilities to perform regular in-process checks.
A growing order book and increasing need for the scanning and dimensional inspection of large components – and comparing them to CAD models – prompted Goodwin International to purchase a
4 m version of Faro’s recently launched Quantum FaroArm, used in combination with a FaroBlu Laser Line Probe HD (High Definition).
Goodwin International’s quality control manager Mark Woolmer says. “Having compared several options, I came to the conclusion that Faro’s 4 m Quantum ScanArm was the ideal portable CMM for our needs. It shares many of the qualities of our existing portable CMMs, although the new Quantum ScanArm boasts the latest FaroBlu Laser Line Probe HD and delivers even faster scanning times. In fact, its speed and ease of operation means that, without compromising on accuracy,
we have cut our scanning inspection times in half.”
For further information www.faro.com

Strong machine tool sales figures

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has reported strong sales figures for 2018.

When the order books closed, just before the Christmas break, Mills had taken orders for 440 new Doosan machines during the past 12 months and delivered 431 machines in the same period. The success is being attributed to the latest machine tool introductions and an exceptional MACH 2018 exhibition, combined with continued growth in demand for large-capacity Doosan machines and turnkey solutions.
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk