Following the recent acquisition of a Miyano BNE-51MSY multi-axis turn-mill centre from Citizen Machinery, Wednesbury-based precision subcontractor Machine Tech Engineering (MTE) has been able to slash production lead-times on batches of hydraulic bodies from three weeks for the first operation, plus a week for the second operation, to machining the entire batch complete in just five days. Batch sizes on the Miyano, although early days, are between 100 and 300.

The eight-axis Miyano BNE-51MSY with Iemca Kid 80 barfeed has created an advantage in lead-time reduction for MTE due to the ability to overlap in a cycle and cut with up to three tools simultaneously. Featured on the machine are two 12-station driven turrets, one with three axes, and the other with two axes that can service either or both spindles at the same time.
In producing a hydraulic body from 38 mm bar, a 22 mm spade drill is used to a depth of 57 mm, then, using a special flat-bottom tool a face and corner relief is created at the bottom of the bore prior to final boring to within 0.03 mm. A further bore is then drilled and reamed to 11.9 mm diameter (0.03 mm tolerance) by 76 mm deep, and the initial bore threaded 1” x 20 TPI Whitworth by 8 mm deep. After, the OD is turned and threaded 11/2” x 16 TPI Whitworth over a length of 100 mm.
The part is then taken by the three-axis secondary spindle, faced, and a 30 mm A/F hexagon is milled by 20 mm long before a 6 mm straight-knurled shoulder is created. Following this operation, a through-bore is drilled to break into the 11.9 mm bore, which is finally tapped 7/16” x 20 TPI UNF by 26 mm deep.
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk