UK NEWS

High-volume machining of aircraft brake clips

Aerospace is Westley Engineering’s largest market, accounting for 45% of total production by value. A notable aerospace contract involves the manufacture of rotor clips used in aircraft disc brakes. Made from aerospace-grade steel and Inconel, the components see application in both civil and military aerospace programmes.

Three years ago, Westley Engineering improved the accuracy of the manufacturing process by switching from piercing holes in the clip using press tools to drilling them on a 40-taper vertical machining centre. Although it improved precision, the new approach also increased cycle times substantially and made the process more labour intensive. So in late 2023, the company installed a Brother Speedio S700Xd1 4-axis, 30-taper machining centre, followed by a second in April 2025. Supplied by Whitehouse Machine Tools, the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for the Japanese manufacturer, these high-speed machines have now replaced the VMC for clip production.

In partnership with Whitehouse Machine Tools, Westley Engineering implemented an automated, single-operation process on each Speedio. The new production route features custom-built fixtures with nine inclined bars, each capable of holding 36 clips. This high-density arrangement enables over 300 parts to be machined per cycle, significantly more than the flat fixtures used previously.

Cycle times have been reduced to between two and three minutes per clip, depending on the variant. For example, the Inconel version requires additional milling on the outer arms, whereas the steel variants do not. Typical batch size ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 units.

Before deployment, the process was validated at Whitehouse Machine Tools’ Kenilworth technical centre.

More information www.wmtcnc.com

£250,000 investment enhances quality control

Basildon-based Rodwell Powell, a specialist in precision machining for the aerospace, defence, marine, construction and other industries, has invested £250,000 in a renovation of its inspection department. The centrepiece of the upgrade was the acquisition of two CMMs manufactured by LK Metrology at its Castle Donington factory. The CMMs are delivering high levels of accuracy and efficiency to support increasingly complex quality control requirements for Rodwell Powell’s clients, which include Rolls-Royce Aerospace and Caterpillar.

The two next-generation LK Metrology Altera C CMMs are enabling the subcontractor to handle larger, more intricate parts with greater accuracy and efficiency. One of the new machines is an LK Altera C 10.7.5 equipped with a Renishaw PH10M Plus motorised indexing head deploying an SP25M probe with an SH25-2 stylus holder, which can perform scanning for form measurement and reverse engineering, as well as touch-trigger probing for accurate geometrical measurements. Featured also is a six-port stylus change rack to enable unattended completion of complex inspection routines.

The second CMM is a smaller LK Altera C 7.7.5 with PH10M Plus and SH25-2, and additionally equipped with a Renishaw TM25-20 touch-trigger probe module, allowing the continued use of legacy CMM Manager software alongside LK’s latest CAMIO 2024 R2. The latter is CAD-based metrology software that underpins the use of multiple sensors, intuitive programming, simulation, results analysis, GD&T, reporting and automation.

Andrew Rodwell, managing director, says: “Our investment in LK Metrology’s cutting-edge CMM technology is a game-changer for us. The CMMs allow for increased accuracy, greater throughput and reduced lead times, reinforcing our reputation for uncompromising quality in these highly demanding industries.”

More information www.lkmetrology.com

Daltons Wadkin named UK supplier for Schiavi

Daltons Wadkin, a UK multi-material machine solution supplier, has established a new partnership with Italian manufacturer Schiavi, becoming the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for its press brake range.The move marks a milestone in Daltons Wadkin’s continued expansion into CNC metalworking technologies. It also signals the company’s intent to position itself as a full-service provider for sheet metal processing from cut to bend to finish. Under the agreement, Daltons Wadkin will offer four press brake models from Schiavi’s portfolio – the BSTs, HFBs , HFBx and LineAr – all of which can be fully automated.

More information www.daltonswadkin.com

David Brown Becomes SID President

During this year’s SID (Syndicat International du Décolletage) International Congress in Chicago, it was announced that David Brown, current president of the BTMA (British Turned Parts Manufacturers Association) and director at Neida (Stoke-based precision component supplier), will serve as SID president from 2025 to 2027.

SID was created in 1963 to bring together national organisations representing the precision machining industry. For over 10 years, Brown has been a member of the BTMA and, during his current presidency, has driven manufacturing initiatives related to skills and training, legislation and regulations, sustainability, and process improvements. During his new presidency at SID, Brown’s key objectives will take on a global focus.More information www.neida.co.uk

£17m hydrogen aviation project

The MTC (Manufacturing Technology Centre) is playing a pivotal role in a major new £17m initiative to accelerate the development of a zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell system that could power commercial aircraft before the end of the decade. Project HEIGHTS – a three-year programme led by Intelligent Energy – aims to advance the company’s modular 300 kW aviation fuel cell platform, IE-FLIGHT 300, for use in next-generation aircraft.

MTC has secured £1.2m in funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) to support the work. It will utilise the latest design tools and state-of-the-art metal additive manufacturing equipment to reduce the weight and size of critical components developed and tested in the HEIGHTS project. The work will be completed in a way which will also enable these parts to be manufactured on a commercial scale.

More information www.the-mtc.org