Leicester-based JWA Tooling has recently invested more than £2.5m in an additional factory, three new FANUC EDM machines, three new automation-ready Mazak machining centres, a Doosan Lynx turning centre and a Colchester Harrison Alpha 1400XC lathe. The link that is increasingly tying these machines together is work holding and clamping technology from Hainbuch.

Says company founder John Wood: “If you analysed our company, you’d see that we have lots of machines and lots of set-up time, which means the machines can be stopped for longer than they are running. We have chosen to address this issue by investing in new work-holding systems.”

For instance, when JWA Tooling invested in a Colchester Harrison Alpha 1400XC manual and semi-CNC turning centre, the decision to invest in a Hainbuch Torok 65 manual chuck was influenced by the ability of the chuck to offer fast and precise changeovers. The flexibility of the Hainbuch Torok 65 also permits fast changeover from ID clamping to the OD jaw clamping of components.

More recently, when the company decided to install a Doosan Lynx 2100LY turning centre, the subcontract manufacturer once again opted for work-holding technology from Hainbuch with the Top Plus 65 combi pull-back collet chuck.

“The reason for picking this particular design of chuck is quite critical, as we have been well established with round collets over the years,” says Wood. “However, if you look at modern machines with live tooling and C-axis configurations, you need to index accurately and know where the component faces and locations are. So, with the Hainbuch system and its hexagonal fitting, you can identify your mark on the chuck and the collet and put the collet back in the identical position.”

For further information
www.hainbuch.com

A new, high-precision, electrically actuated vice for securing workpieces on vertical, horizontal, five-axis and mill-turn machining centres is now available from Roemheld UK. It is possible to integrate the operating functions of the Hilma AS 125 E into the machine’s CNC system or regulate them via a separate control.

The Industry 4.0-compatible vice is equipped for automatic jaw change, making it suitable for unattended machining involving the robotic loading and unloading of components, as is often found in series production environments. Users can manufacture entire families of parts without manual intervention.

Roemheld’s AS 125 E lowers operating costs by eliminating the need for hydraulics or pneumatics, and by retaining the holding force without the power supply connected thanks to the self-locking mechanical spindle. The motor precisely adjusts the tightening torque, so the holding of thin-walled components and other delicate workpieces can take place without damage. The vice is also suitable for applications where the risk of contamination by hydraulic oil must be avoided.

Guido Born, the product manager in Germany responsible for the launch, says: “Beta tests in production applications have shown that the electric vice lends itself well to the accurate retention of parts, as the pressure may be finely controlled to suit the workpiece material and geometry.

“The automatic jaw change has been particularly impressive,” he adds. “One user told us that the system paid for itself quickly and plans further investments. Electromechanical designs are now being developed for other proven clamping systems in the Roemheld range and will be released in the near future. Additionally, we are planning further innovations such as using sensors in our hydraulic work-holding systems to help determine clamping force.”

For further information
www.roemheld.co.uk

A specialist engineering company has invested more than £700,000 to develop tools which provide greener, faster and safer solutions for decommissioning in the energy sector. Decom Engineering has updated its pipe coating removal (PCR) equipment, which cleans decommissioned or surplus pipelines of multiple coatings, so they can be repurposed for use on other projects. Based in Northern Ireland, Decom has also upgraded its cold cutting saws, which have been deployed on international decommissioning projects, as oil and gas operators replace or remove ageing infrastructure.
The latest modifications to its single-blade cutter will allow the company to target a new revenue stream, assisting clients in recovering conductors from decommissioned oil and gas rigs. Decom also believes there are opportunities for its patented saws to be deployed on offshore wind farm repair and maintenance projects, as well as onshore pile cutting.

For further information www.decomengineering.co.uk 

Speed, precision, flexibility: thanks to the new laser output of 15 kW, the Bystronic ByStar Fiber can cut steel, aluminium and stainless steel with a thickness from 1 to 30 mm, and brass and copper up to 20 mm.

On average, due to the 15 kW laser, the cutting speed of the ByStar Fiber increases by up to 50% (when cutting with nitrogen) compared with a 10 kW laser source. The new power level is available for the ByStar Fiber 3015, 4020, 6225 and 8025 models.

Bystronic’s BeamShaper function ensures clean cutting edges and high operational reliability across the entire range of thicknesses up to 30 mm. This function can be selected as an option when purchasing a new 15 kW ByStar Fiber, or added later as an upgrade. The BeamShaper enables the shape of the laser beam to be optimally adapted to thicker sheets and various sheet metal qualities.

Control of the high-performance flagship machine is via the ByVision cutting software and 21.5-inch touchscreen. According to Bystronic, operating the machine is as simple as using a smartphone.

In order to provide optimal material flow at the high speeds of laser cutting, Bystronic has a broad selection of automation solutions available for the ByStar Fiber 3015 and 4020. The offer includes loading and unloading systems, sorting solutions and individually configurable storage systems. Based upon the existing manufacturing environment and available space, it is possible to develop a seamlessly integrated automated laser cutting process.
ByTrans Modular is the newest loading and unloading solution on offer from Bystronic. This automation platform can be flexibly adapted to changing order situations and production rhythms in laser cutting.

For further information https://bystarfiber.bystronic.com 

Worcestershire-based MJH Fabrications has recently invested in two Amada ENSIS-3015AJ 9 kW fibre laser cutters with MPF load/unload automation systems. This significant capital investment is helping the company to better serve its UK-wide customer base in sectors that include shop-fitting, agriculture, yellow goods and factory automation.

Formed in 1990, MJH Fabrications has grown to become a progressive subcontract fabrication specialist with £2.5m annual turnover, 20,000 sq ft premises and 18 employees.
The company’s entry into laser cutting arrived a number of years ago when it acquired a second-hand machine. Several other preowned laser cutters followed before MJH Fabrications purchased its first new model: an AMADA F1 with automation tower. The company retained this “excellent and reliable” 4 kW CO2 machine for eight years before deciding to enquire about an upgrade.

“With the industry transitioning from CO2 to fibre laser technology, it made sense to think about new investment,” explains company founder Mike Hemming. “Thanks to the experience we’d had with the F1 – a machine that was nothing short of bulletproof – we had no hesitation in returning to Amada. With our F1 we never once had a requirement to call Amada out. The only visit was for annual servicing.”

An ENSIS-3015AJ 9kW fibre laser with MPF load/unload automation provided the perfect solution for MJH Fabrications.

“To be competitive we knew that adopting fibre technology was the only option and, sure enough, we immediately noticed a difference in speed capability with the new ENSIS – it’s unbelievably fast,” says Hemming.

MJH also takes advantage of Amada Variable Beam Control technology, whereby the laser beam is automatically adapted to deliver stable cutting across all material types and thicknesses.

For further information www.amada.eu