UK NEWS

Recognising future engineering talent

The Design & Make Challenge 2024, organised and run by the Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN) earlier this month, attracted nearly 100 pupils from 15 schools in what was one of the largest independent STEM events ever held in the UK. Southam College, Barclay Academy and Lawrence Sheriff High School took the main prizes, winning the Efficiency, Innovation and Manufacturing Awards respectively. Judges liked the way they tackled their challenge, using a box of simple materials to build a device that could securely lift a 23 kg metal block with nothing more than a pulley system.

More information www.man-group.co.uk

Hyundai Wia CNC lathe attracts the crowds

Ward CNC returned to the MACH 2024 exhibition in Birmingham earlier this year with a double presence. Highlights included many visitors enjoying the display put on by cutting tool partner Vargus UK, which showcased a Hyundai Wia HD3100YA Y-axis CNC lathe (available in the UK from Ward CNC). The company was also delighted with visits from other lathe principals such as Gurutzpe and Takisawa Japan.

At MACH, Ward CNC was able to discuss its wide range of CNC machine tool and metalworking solutions with both new and returning customers from across the UK, resulting in much interest and many enquiries.

Ward CNC’s applications team showcased the impressive specification of the Hyundai-Wia CNC lathe, which ran live demonstrations throughout the week on the Vargus stand. Among the machine’s features are hardened and ground box guideways, plus a one-piece heavy-duty cast-iron bed for accuracy and rigidity during machining. Further features include a BMT65P turret, Y axis, C axis, driven tooling, 10″ chuck, 12-station ATC and a FANUC 0iT control with 15-inch monitor. Users can take advantage of a 760 mm maximum turning length and a swing-over-bed of 800 mm. The A2-8 spindle nose offers 3500 rpm, plus 5000 rpm live tooling speed.

Utilising a range of cutting tools from Vargus, the demonstration showcased a vast array of machining techniques, including wave-form grooving, Y-axis milling, and C-axis polar milling. Ward CNC is now in discussions with the businesses and engineers who came for a chat during the exhibition. The company holds over 40 machines in stock from seven brands.

More information www.wardcnc.com

Multi-axis turning options from Dugard

Following the announcement that the Mylas range of multi-axis turning centres will be available in the UK from Dugard, the latest machines to join the portfolio are the DY twin-spindle, double Y axis, multi-tasking turning centres. Rapidly following the UK launch of the Mylas DT series of twin-spindle, twin turret turn-mill centres, the double Y-axis configuration of the DY range presents manufacturers with more flexibility than ever before.

The arrival of the DY series with two Y axes presents new opportunities to machine shops in the aerospace, automotive, medical, hydraulics, electronics and general subcontract manufacturing arenas. Like DT models, the DY series is available in three variants: the DY42, DY52 and DY60. Each designation specifies the maximum bar turning capacity of the main spindle.

From a specification perspective, travel is 175 mm in X1/X2 axes with 240 mm on the sub-spindle, whilst Z1/Z2 travel is 450 and 500 mm respectively with ±35 mm in the Y axis. The DY42, DY52 and DY65 have a swing over the saddle of 260 mm with a maximum bar turning length of 135 and 150 mm on the main spindle and 60 mm on the sub-spindle, providing a total maximum turning length of 350 mm.

Dugard says that the DY series offers robust construction with oversize precision ground box-ways on all axes that deliver rigidity and precision with heavy-duty cutting capability. Underpinning these attributes is the stress-relieved Meehanite casting that maximises vibration dampening and supports the heavy-duty precision spindle.

Looking at the kinematics of this addition to the Dugard portfolio, front machining is supported by a 7.5/11 kW spindle motor with a BMT 45 12-station tool turret that can accommodate up to 24 tool positions.

More information www.dugard.com

Tufcot Engineering installs large Puma lathe

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of machine tools from DN Solutions and Zayer in the UK and Ireland, recently supplied Tufcot Engineering with a new, large-capacity multi-tasking lathe. The machine, a 24” chuck DN Solutions Puma 700LM II featuring driven tooling and FANUC 0iTP control with 15” touchscreen capability, is one of the largest CNC machine tools acquired by Sheffield-based Tufcot in its 43-year history.

Tufcot’s relationship with Mills CNC began in 2005 with the purchase of its first Doosan lathe, a Puma 240LC. Over the past 19 years, more investments with Mills followed and, in early 2024, the company placed an order for the Puma 700LM II and a new 21” chuck Puma 4100MC lathe (due in August 2024). These latest investments take the number of CNC lathes Tufcot has acquired from Mills CNC to 11.

Tufcot’s managing director Greg Majchrzak says: “The high-performance lathes from Mills are real workhorses; they are reliable and deliver the fast processing speeds and high accuracies we need to meet the quality and lead-time demands of customers.”

The Puma 700LM II is machining small batches of high-precision, large diameter Tufcot composite bushes and bearings for customers primarily in the UK and European marine sectors. These parts, machined to tight tolerances, often have long cycle times (hours as opposed to minutes) and a range of intricate milled features.

Says Justin Krebs, Tufcot’s operations manager: “Our own knowledge of composites and their application in the marine sector, combined with expert insight from our international distributor network and existing customers, helped highlight significant new business opportunities that we could exploit if we had larger and more sophisticated in-house turning capabilities.”

More information www.millscnc.co.uk

Government’s industry focus welcomed

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) says it welcomes the new government
and its robust commitment to revitalising the UK’s manufacturing and technology sectors.
For over a century, the MTA has championed the cause of a comprehensive industrial
strategy, and it is thrilled to see this vision finally seeing recognition and implementation by
the new administration.
The Labour Party’s manifesto promises a strategic partnership through a new industrial
strategy that is both mission-driven and future-focused. According to the MTA, this initiative
is precisely what industry needs to seize emerging opportunities and remove barriers to
growth. Establishing an Industrial Strategy Council on a statutory footing – ensuring
representation from all regions, businesses and trade unions – marks a significant shift
towards long-term economic planning and stability.
More information www.mta.org.uk