UK NEWS

High-speed five-axis machining cell

At the Gosport factory of Norjon Precision Engineering, a high-speed DA300 vertical machining centre from Makino, the first of its type in the UK, has been supplied as a turnkey package by sole agent NCMT complete with an Erowa storage and handling system for 24 pallets.

It is the subcontractor’s ninth trunnion-type, five-axis machine and is intended primarily for the milling and drilling of aluminium components, but is equally capable of machining stainless steel for long periods.
Kevin Fox, Norjon’s managing director says: “Makino has a reputation for being at the top end of machine tool suppliers in terms of accuracy and reliability, and this particular model is very fast, with 60 m/min rapids and a 20,000 rpm spindle.
Fox adds that the DA300 is built with automation in mind as it is prepared with pneumatic ports in the table, so interfacing the Erowa Robot Compact 80 was seamless.
At present, a family of aluminium prismatic components is being produced in the Makino/Erowa cell.
“We initially set the job up on a Friday evening and inspected the first-off component,” says Fox. “The cell ran continuously over the weekend and the following Monday we measured the first component produced that morning. All of the dimensions were exactly the same, so the accuracy we are achieving in the cell is excellent.”
The Makino DA300 is capable of the fully interpolative five-axis production of complex components. Equipped with integral, direct-drive motors for the swivelling +30° to -120° A-axis trunnion – and for C-axis rotation of the 340 x 300 mm table – the machine deploys a 20,000 rpm, 22 kW, HSK-A63 spindle capable of milling, drilling and tapping.
For further information www.ncmt.co.uk

CNC mill helps control tool-room work

Aylesbury-based motorsport specialist Goodfabs has invested in an XYZ SMX SLV turret mill to help it produce fabrication jigs.

“Because the exhaust systems we produce are bespoke, we either need the car here to fit the exhaust, which is impractical, or need a jig made to replicate the actual mounting points on the car,” says Paul Watson, process manager. “Prior to getting the XYZ SMX SLV we could only machine the smaller parts of jigs, with the rest being outsourced. And, while our subcontractor produced the quality and accuracy required, we suffered some loss of control. With lead times being short, control of production is vital to us.”
The XYZ SMX SLV is the largest turret mill available from XYZ Machine Tools (larger bed mills are available), with a table measuring 1473 x 305 mm that is capable of carrying components weighing up to 580 kg. This capacity is enhanced by axis travels of 1000 x 410 x 400 mm (X, Y, Z). The head can be tilted front to back by +45° to -45° and from left to right by +90° to -90°, with full 360° rotation of the turret possible. Customers have the option of a three-axis DRO (4th axis optional) or, can opt for the ProtoTrak control in either its two- or three-axis configuration. The latter being the choice
for Goodfabs.
“While we already have three- and five-axis machining capability to produce fittings for our exhaust systems, the addition of the XYZ turret mill has introduced an extra dimension to our machining capability,” says Watson.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Competitively priced five-axis machine

Stand CM40 will be the location for XYZ Machine Tools to showcase its UMC-5X simultaneous five-axis gantry-style machining centre.

XYZ says the machine is available at a very competitive price point, yet comes with technology such as traori (transformation orientation)/kinematic functions for five-axis simultaneous machining, as well as integrated smart machining technology and thermal growth compensation.
Of interest is that due to the table configuration and machine design, when the table is tilted 90° towards the rear (component facing forward), there remains 500 mm of Y-axis travel forward of the table surface. According to XYZ, this distance is much greater than many competitor machines, including those that quote the same axis travels as the UMC-5X, allowing larger workpieces to be machined.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Finishing first

On stand D50, PDJ Vibro says it will shine the spotlight on its range of new and refurbished bowls, barrels and high-energy centrifugal equipment, as well as its series of consumables and the company’s repair and subcontract finishing services. PDJ Vibro’s main, high-end vibratory bowl range has chamber sizes from 7.5 to 6000 litres. Alternatively, three competitively priced, entry-level models have process chamber capacities of 300, 150 and 75 litres. They are priced at about 25% less but are nevertheless built to a high specification.
For further information www.vibratoryfinishing.co.uk

Field of view video inspection

Vision Engineering will likely promote its TVM field of view (FOV) video measurement system on stand CM7. The non-contact TVM combines a small footprint with larger system performance and ease of use. Time-saving, instant FOV measurements and a moving stage allow larger components to be measured quickly and easily. The TVM series includes the TVM20 and TVM35, with FOV sizes of 20 and 35 mm respectively. Both systems are designed to meet rigorous quality assurance applications in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, medical and plastics manufacturing. Cylindrical, flat or square components can be measured instantly within the FOV at the click of a mouse.
For further information www.visioneng.com