UK NEWS

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

Measured performance

Aberlink will be demonstrating the company’s most recently launched CMM on stand L230 at Southern Manufacturing.

The Xtreme CMM features a non-Cartesian structure and makes use of linear motors and mechanical bearings – a configuration that Aberlink says ensures the retention of accuracy at very fast measurement rates and avoids the accumulative inaccuracies that occur in conventional three-axis Cartesian arrangements. Also on the stand will be Aberlink’s Axiom Too CMM.
For further information www.aberlink.com

NSSS orders four Citizen machines

The specialist fastener operation of Hockley-based Non Standard Socket Screw (NSSS) is continuing its policy of upgrading competitiveness by not only increasing productivity with further lights-out operations, but achieving improvements to quality and, most importantly, consistency of production, especially in more difficult to machine materials.
To help achieve this target, NSSS has ordered four CNC sliding head turn-mill centres worth £400,000 from Citizen Machinery UK.

Two Citizen Cincom installations comprising an L32-VIII and L20-VIII are already in full production. These machines will soon be joined by a further Cincom L20-VIII plus a smaller capacity L12-VII.
Says marketing director Melvin White: “We are in a very competitive market and it is important to maintain our production capability for both UK and overseas customers. We’re a modern business that is driving the use of automation and the latest manufacturing technologies to continually improve quality and output.”
By way of example, he follows on to describe the recent installation of a computer controlled heat-treatment facility and how lights-out techniques contribute to the firm’s improved levels of productivity.
“Our market demands consistency of production over long periods, which is being achieved with the latest machine-tool installations,” he says.
Since its foundation in 1971, NSSS has developed a fully self-contained fastener manufacturing operation that employs 90 people. In addition to its stockist business, the company produces a range of special fasteners, including prototypes for customers that range in size from M1.4. Parts are produced from up to 32 mm diameter bar on the Citizen Cincom machines.
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk