MACH Machine Tools, part of the Vigilance Group and a supplier of CNC and manual
machine tools, has recently supplied Newcastle College with eight MACH VS-1SP turret-type
manual milling machines, eight MACH L-1340 manual lathes and eight MACH MDV 700-DT
CNC vertical machining centres. The investment not only reflects the college’s commitment
to continuous improvement but also underpins its intention to create a world-class
engineering training facility at its main Rye Hill Campus.
There is much debate in the UK – at national, regional and local levels – about making careers
in engineering and manufacturing more attractive and appealing to young people. Running
parallel with these discussions is a recognition, made more acute by the pandemic and the
continuous of global supply chains, that UK manufacturing needs to be more resilient, more
productive and more competitive. However, a major stumbling block to achieving these
objectives remains the perennial skills shortage issue, experienced by many, if not most, UK
manufacturers.
Explains Mark Goodall, head of engineering at Newcastle College: “As one of the region’s
largest colleges, we need to be attracting highly motivated and dedicated students on to our
further education and higher engineering courses, and on to our apprenticeship
programmes. One of our biggest priorities is working in partnership with local employers to
ensure that our curriculum meets their recruitment needs – now and in the future. We must
be able to provide them with a large pool of highly-skilled labour in support of their long-
term growth and prosperity.”
He continues: “Critical to attracting and retaining students and increasing the participation
of employers are the training facilities at our disposal. If the technology and equipment we
use to train students doesn’t match up with industry, we won’t be achieving our goal of
preparing students for their future employment, or a addressing the skills gap.”
The recent investment made in new MACH manual and CNC machine tools by Newcastle
College has to be viewed against this backdrop.
The upgrade of the college’s engineering capabilities and resources at its Rutherford
Building facility is a never-ending process: a journey rather than a destination, so to speak.
In late 2023, Newcastle College made the decision to completely modernise and revamp its
manual and CNC machine tool capabilities within its two engineering workshops as a route
to transforming the practical and skills-based content of its engineering courses.
As part of the investment process, two different open tenders inviting potential suppliers to
submit detailed proposals for the supply of a range of manual lathes and milling machines,
and a suite of CNC vertical machining centres, were prepared and advertised. The two
tenders were mutually exclusive, with interested suppliers being able to bid for either or
both tenders.
An extensive evaluation process followed, with every tender invitation reviewed against the
published evaluation criteria and weightings to determine the most economically
advantageous and best-value submission. MACH Machine Tools, with its extensive CNC and
manual machine tool line-up combined with its knowledge and experience of the FE and HE
sectors, was able to score highly with both of its tender submissions. It won both contracts.
Successful factors included: the technical quality, price and availability of the machine tools
recommended; the level of service and support, including delivery, installation and training
provided; and the scope, scale and value of ‘social’ support provided, namely sponsorship,
promotions, advertising and master classes.
“MACH Machine Tools submitted two competitive tenders that represented real value and
included a number of advantages that the other suppliers could not match,” confirms
Goodall. “We hadn’t dealt with MACH Machine Tools previously, and it was really
encouraging to see a company prepared to ‘go the extra mile’ to win our business.”
Prior to the investment, the college’s manual machine resources comprised eight older
lathes and one older vertical mill that were “long in the tooth” and created issues from both
a teaching and learning perspective.
Says Carmelo Catalanotto, advanced technical lecturer at Newcastle College: “The manual
machine investment was vital and was made to satisfy two key criteria. Firstly, we needed
modern and reliable machines for students to understand and learn basic milling and
turning principles, and to become proficient in different machining operations. Secondly, we
needed to increase the number of manual machines we had at our disposal so that students
could learn new skills and put them into practice on a machine by themselves or in pairs,
rather than in groups.”
He adds: “Our investment in MACH manual machine tools means that all students now have
access to, and can be taught on, the same machines.”
MACH says its manual machines are built to last and include standard technology features
that only available as optional extras on many competitor machines.
MACH VS-1 SP turret type milling machines have a small footprint and are equipped with
large-capacity 1245 x 229 mm worktables with a 340 kg table load, 5,000 rpm spindles and
digital readouts(DROs). L-1340 lathes from MACH are compact machines equipped with
quick-change tool posts and tailstocks, and feature anti-vibration and stress-relieved beds,
backlash eliminators, and two-axis DROs. As part of the manual machine tool package,
MACH Machine Tools also arranged to remove the older manual machines from the
college’s workshop before installing the 16 new machines.
The eight MACH MDV 700-DT three-axis vertical machining centres have joined a number of
other three- and five-axis CNC machines previously acquired by the college.
Says Catalanotto: “Similar to the rationale for investing in the MACH manual machines, we
needed a number of high-specification machining centres to enable students to acquire and
try out their newly acquired CNC machining skills. For more advanced students, the
machines would also help develop their manual, CAD and conversational programming and
post-programming skills and expertise. We believed that eight identical CNC machines
would be the optimum number we would require, from both a workshop space and
classroom size perspective.”
MACH says that its MDV 700-DT machines are fast, powerful and precise. The machines
were supplied (as requested) with a FANUC 31i-B5 Plus control, while also featuring a
12,000 rpm direct-drive BT 30 spindles, 21-tool automatic tool changers (ATCs), and a tool
holder and cutting tool package for each machine. Oil/mist extraction units are also fitted to
the machines.
In addition to their FANUC control, the machines were further integrated with a MACH
Programming Station. This Windows-based PC features a custom-designed version of the
DynaPath software and a Fusion 360 CADCAM package that is networked to every
machine’s FANUC control.
“The FANUC control enables us to teach students the fundamentals of ISO programming,
using G-and M-codes, while the inclusion of the MACH Programming station means we have
access to many innovative DynaPath software features,” explains Catalanotto. “These
include the ability to take advantage of conversational programming and the facility to
create complete machining programs directly from DXF files. The inclusion of Fusion 360, a
recognised CADCAM software package, also provides us with the inherent flexibility to
design and generate machining programs complete with full simulation and reliable tool-
path verification.”
More information www.machmt.co.uk
