OKW is OK with Javelin MRP software

“We don’t do anything, anywhere in the business, without it being on Javelin.” Those are the words of Ian Cox, operations director at electronics housing manufacturer, OKW Enclosures Ltd.

“Javelin has played an absolutely vital role in getting the company to where it is today, and will remain crucial as we grow,” he adds. “As there are between 15,000 and 20,000 parts set up on Javelin across our five brands, we couldn’t run a business of this size without the information and control it gives us.”
The Fareham-based company has used Javelin and its forerunner, Jobshop, for more than 20 years, currently running the 2017 release.
“We updated our entire IT system in 2011, and now that we’ve also made a sea change to meet Javelin’s SQL database requirement, our philosophy is to work with the latest releases,” says Cox.
All shop-floor operations for manufacturing the company’s Metcase-brand enclosures are controlled with Javelin. The blanks are cut on two Murata Wiedermann CNC punch presses and then folded on Amada press brakes. Each part has a Javelin job card detailing every operation and drawing records. But before that stage, the software’s MRP system comes into play, providing precise control of all supply operations, addressing minimum stock levels and showing exactly what components need to be made.
Everything is also costed in Javelin, having been created on the system with a bill of materials and routing, which produces the standard costing.
“Modifications can be built
on to that, giving an accurate price for quotations,” says Cox. “And the standard costing is used in end-of-month stock and work-in-progress valuations.”
For further information www.javelin-mrp.com

CAM suites on show

Vero Software will be demonstrating the 2018 R1 releases of Edgecam, Radan and VISI, on stand G190 at Southern Manufacturing.

The latest Edgecam includes updates to roughing cycles for milling, turning and mill-turn machining. Cited as the most important enhancement is the prevention of unnecessary CAM regeneration. Radan 2018 R1 sheet metal software takes the increasing popularity of automatic bending into consideration, making finger-stops safer by allowing for improved part alignment in the press brake. For the mould and die market, the latest version of VISI provides greater flexibility when constructing supplier and non-standard tool configurations.
For further information www.verosoftware.com

Tooling innovations in the spotlight

From stand H250 at Southern Manufacturing ITC will debut its diamond coated 2301 and 2302 Cyber series of square and ball nosed end mills. For micro- and small-part machining, ITC has now extended many of its existing product lines, including the 3081, 2161 and 3091 series, which are now available in diameters from 1 mm, in 0.5 mm increments.

Visitors to the ITC stand will also have the opportunity to view the Big Kaiser range of Mega micro-chucks. Continuing the theme of supporting small and micro-part manufacturers, the latest line of Mega micro-chucks incorporates a slim nut and taper design that prevents interference in applications requiring the use of micro-drills and end mills. Furthermore, the chuck design has a notch-free nut that prevents vibration and noise. Alongside the Mega micro-chuck will be the Big Kaiser EWN 04-7 series, which ITC says is the smallest boring head on the market.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

XYZ will show five-axis capability

XYZ Machine Tools will display its UMC-5X five-axis, gantry-style machining centre on stand E190 at Southern Manufacturing 2018.

Although the company says that the UMC-5X is available at a competitive price point, it comes with Traori/kinematic functionality for five-axis simultaneous machining, as well as integrated SMT (smart machining technology) and thermal growth compensation.
Of particular 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 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

Probing for benefits

On stand G210 at Southern Manufacturing, Renishaw will show its enhanced surface finish measurement probe (SFP2) for use on the company’s Revo-2 five-axis measurement system.

Combining surface finish measurement and dimensional inspection on the CMM presents advantages over traditional inspection methods requiring separate processes. The Renishaw Equator flexible gauge will also be demonstrated and is now offered with IPC (intelligent process control) software, providing the functionality to fully automate tool offset updates in CNC manufacturing processes.
For further information www.renishaw.com