To strengthen its position even further in the area of stationary systems, Hainbuch, a manufacturer of high-precision clamping devices, has acquired the Docklock zero-point clamping system from Vischer & Bolli AG in Switzerland.

The Docklock system has been on the market for more than 20 years, while its features and user benefits match perfectly with Hainbuch’s product philosophy. Hainbuch has been offering quick change-over systems or zero-point clamping systems for lathes for many years, and now it is expanding its capabilities in the area of stationary systems. The four variants of the Docklock system now have Hainbuch branding. Both pneumatic and hydraulic variants are available for either manual or automated change-over.

According to Hainbuch, the Docklock zero-point clamping system has two decisive advantages over other systems. The first is form-fit clamping with a collet or clamping segments, ensuring stiff clamping and higher repeatability. This also means that there are no pressure marks on the clamping bolt compared with systems featuring balls or slides, which lead to inaccuracies and consequently the need to replace the clamping bolts. Secondly, it is impervious to dirt and swarf, which means less wear and less maintenance. The base plate, which screws on to the machine table, provides the base for a quick change-over.

Notably, it is possible to change the clamping device combined with Docklock in just two minutes. The zero-point clamping system thus produces savings in terms of production time and cost. Using the interface, users can perform set-up outside the machine, thus avoiding lost production. The collet chuck lock ensures the trouble-free insertion and removal of workpiece pallets, while direct installation on machine tables, pallets or fixtures can be implemented cost-effectively by means of flanged cylinders.
For further information www.hainbuch.com

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of DN Solutions’ machine tools (formerly Doosan machine tools) in the UK and Ireland, has recently supplied an automated machining cell to a precision aerospace subcontract specialist. The cell was delivered and installed at ASG Arrowsmith’s machine shop facility in Coventry and is being used, at present, to machine a range of pre-production, high accuracy aero-engine parts for the new, ultra-efficient Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 business aviation engine.

Says Jason Aldridge, ASG Arrowsmith’s managing director: “We’re gearing up for full production and, since the cell’s installation, have been focused on designing, optimising and proving-out the machining processes for eight Pearl 700 engine parts ready for PPAP, a standardised aerospace industry process for the design and manufacture of new and revised parts.”

The parts being machined by ASG Arrowsmith are all made from aerospace-grade titanium alloys and other exotic materials. They are machined to exacting tolerances and super-fine surface finishes, and are characterised by their complexity and intricate features – many of which can only be produced economically by using simultaneous five-axis machining technology.

DN Solutions’ DVF 5000 machining centre provides ASG Arrowsmith with full five-axis simultaneous machining capabilities and, as such, enables the company to machine complex, high-precision parts to completion in a single set up. To improve productivity and process efficiencies the machine is integrated with a compact eight-station automatic workpiece pallet changer: each pallet is 350 x 350 mm in size and has a 250 kg maximum load.

ASG Arrowsmith regularly invests in advanced machine tools and automation systems from Mills CNC.

“We are advocates of the advanced technologies they supply and the applications and technical support they provide,” says Aldridge.
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

As a company that specialises in providing electro-mechanical solutions to the aerospace and defence sectors, Rochdale-based NEMA Ltd is at the cutting edge of technology. To work at this end of the industry, the company invests in machine tools from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG). NEMA acquired its first ETG turning centres back in 2018 and this has been followed by 3D printing technology, a Mitsubishi EDM and most recently a Quaser MV184 CNC machining centre with a Nikken 4th axis rotary system.

The company’s managing director Andy Wilding says: “We’ve worked with ETG for several years and they always have the solution we require. The staff are friendly, supportive and always available, and we have a great relationship – but most importantly, the technology is fantastic.”

Alluding to why the 40-employee business required a new machining centre, Wilding continues: “We have a machining centre that is now approaching 20 years old and, while it still performs brilliantly, we want to reduce our reliance on an older machine that is susceptible to increased maintenance and downtime than a newer machine – especially as we win more new work. Additionally, a lot of our milling work revolves around the design, development and manufacture of electric motors for the next generation of ‘electrified’ aircraft. As the motor units evolve to generate more power, they subsequently increase in size, and our 400 x 800 mm bed on the existing machining centre was too small for many of the new parts coming through our door.

“The four-axis Quaser MV184 is not only faster, the build quality has created a more stable platform and this is giving us improved tool life, surface finishes and process reliability,” adds Wilding.
For further information www.engtechgroup.com

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), one of the UK’s fastest growing manufacturing R&D organisations, is welcoming its first group of official members from around the global manufacturing, engineering and technology sectors. The NMIS Group, based at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) in Renfrewshire has attracted investment, commitment and support from US tech trailblazer Infor, oil and gas giant Baker Hughes, and seven other major manufacturing related firms: FANUC, ATS Global, Sandvik, Skyreal, Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies, Beckhoff and Nikken.

The companies are the first to sign-up to the NMIS membership programme, which will see them work together to innovate, access world-leading expertise and technical capability, and form a supportive network to ultimately tackle the global manufacturing challenges of tomorrow.
For further information www.nmis.scot

Motion plastics specialist Igus is investing in growing its low-cost automation activities by acquiring a majority stake in robot integrator Commonplace Robotics, based in Bissendorf near Osnabrück. Commonplace Robotics specialises in intuitive control and software, as well as power electronics for robotics, in the industrial and educational sectors. Both companies have worked together closely for six years and jointly developed the iRC robot control, which complements Igus’s low-cost kinematic parts (all of which are made of high-performance plastics).
For further information www.igus.co.uk