As a manufacturer of purpose-built leak testing machines, process automation and special purpose machines, and multi-cavity mould tools, Rivercircle Ltd produces and appreciates high-quality machines. That is why the Peterborough-based company says it now has two Axile G8 five-axis machining centres from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG). Specifically, it is the machining of pre-hardened tool steel and larger tool components that led to the addition of the Axile machines.

Jonathan Theobalds from Rivercircle says: “The important thing for our business regarding the selection of the G8 was the need for something with power, strength and rigidity. We’re machining hardened and pre-hardened tool steel, so we require that capability to remove a lot of metal quickly at the beginning and then move into the fine cavity work.”

Discussing one of the big advantages of investing in Axile G8 machines, he says: “With a five-axis machine we’re not doing multiple set-ups, so if we can strap the billet to the machine once and do all the heavy-duty coring-out before using the same machine for delicate finishing, there’s a huge efficiency advantage.”

The ability to hold 1350 kg on the moving bed of the five-axis Axil G8 is very important for Rivercircle.

“As machine builders ourselves, we really appreciate how the Axile machines are built,” says Theobalds. “The Y axis has twin spindles and twin drives, while the tilting B axis features a motor on each side. This design gives the machine excellent rigidity and accuracy. Furthermore, the Axile has a 20,000 rpm spindle and high-pressure through-spindle coolant for both heavy-duty roughing and high-speed finishing.”

For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Productive Machines, a provider of autonomous machine tool optimisation technology, is making its core technology available in a fully automated software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering. The company says that its SenseNC Finesse software is the world’s first to provide automated optimisation of all milling operations, enabling manufacturers to set up each machine tool and run production without chatter at every cutter location across the tool path.

The software uses an artificial intelligence (AI) model to optimise machine processes and is deployed at more than 10 major manufacturers already, including Renault and MASA Aerospace. By making it available as an automated SaaS product, Productive Machines aims to help many more manufacturers eliminate trial and error iterations on machine tools, reduce waste, and deliver better and faster products.

According to the company, machines configured with the technology not only demonstrate the ability to produce parts in half the original time, but also to improve surface quality significantly and reduce waste by up to 25%. In addition, users report a substantial decrease in tooling costs, up to 20%, on optimised machines.

SenseNC Finesse is now available to manufacturers using Siemens NX CAM software via a software plug-in, enabling them to improve the performance of existing machines within their chosen CAM environment. Productive Machines will launch a plug-in for Mastercam users this summer and make its software available to users of CAM software from other vendors in the coming months. 

Dr Erdem Ozturk, CEO at Productive Machines, says: “Since the beginning of our journey, manufacturers have told us they needed an optimisation solution that doesn’t require extensive experience to use. We’ve poured more than 100 years of our cumulative machining dynamics and software engineering expertise into creating our autonomous, easy-to-use solution for users of all levels.”

For further information www.productivemachines.co.uk