UK NEWS

Ward Hi-Tech reports successful end to 2023

Machine tool supplier Ward Hi-Tech says that November and December 2023 saw the company conclude several significant projects, taking orders for a number of large-frame machines from principals Hwacheon, Kiheung, SFM and Dah Lih. For instance, two Hwacheon Hi Tech 850LYMC heavy-duty turning centres were sold to a large subcontractor in the north of England, while a Midlands-based manufacturer placed an order for a 5 m between centres x 1800mm swing CNC lathe from SFM.

The Hwacheon Hi Tech 850 series of horizontal lathes with box guideways are suitable for large and hard workpieces. With the Hi-Tech 850, userscan master demanding machining tasks which require milling and turning operations, thanks largely to the large and stable tool turret and monolithic machine bed.

The machine bed, which is slanted at 45°, supports optimal swarf removal and reduced heat input. For a maximum degree of stability and precision, all linear axes are provided with box guideways. Due to the main spindle’s transmission gearbox, the Hi-Tech 850 also provides very high torque at lower speeds. High-power machining is equally possible at higher speeds. The optional Y axis allows users to deal with particularly complex workpiece geometries.

Ward Hi-Tech also reports that the year ended on a high with two double-column Dah Lih machining centres sold in the northwest and a Kiheung U1200N CNC universal bed mill with 3 m X-axis travel delivered to a local manufacturer in Yorkshire.

The Kiheung U1200N bed-type mill offers an X axis from 2100 to 5000 mm, a 1250 mm Y axis and a Z axis from 1050 to 2000 mm. Storage for 24, 30, 40 or 50 tools is available.

Ward Hi-Tech says it moves into 2024 with several large projects on the boil.

For further information www.wardhitech.co.uk

You Ji vertical lathe in situ at TDT Machine Tools

A new You Ji VTL1600ATC+C vertical lathe is now in situ at TDT Machine Tools. From the world’s largest producer of large-capacity vertical lathes, theVTL1600ATC+C made an epic journey fromYou Ji in Taiwan to West Yorkshire.

In an era where precision meets power, the eagerly awaited arrival of the You Ji VTL1600ATC+C vertical lathe sent waves of excitement through TDT. Arriving on four lorries with a wide-loadescort, the new addition replaced an old Dörries machine and brings new turn-mill strategies to the manufacturing process. According to TDT, the robust design, heavyweight performance and unparalleled capabilities support the adoption of new machining methods and tooling that users can push to the limit.

The You Ji YV and VTL series of vertical ram-type turning lathes are built for large, heavy part machining with tables ranging from 600 to 4500mm diameter. These vertical lathes feature a heavy Meehanite cast iron construction, rigid, extra-large box ways, and large diameter pre-tensioned ballscrews. All mating surfaces are coated with Turcite-B and hand scraped for perfect fit and alignment.

Both the YV and VTL series machines feature Timken cross-roller table bearings for rigidity and precision. High-power spindle motors coupled with ZF planetary gearboxes provide high torque for heavy metal removal.

VTL series machines are available in table sizes from 1000 to 4500 mm and feature a symmetrical base/column design with moveable cross rails in programmable 200mm increments. Variable column heights/ram strokes are available to accommodate very tall workpieces. Twin rams are available on the VTL-1600 size and larger machines.

The installation process spanned two weeks of meticulous work, with TDTs team of engineers installing the machine into the existing pit foundation, with minor modifications where the Dörries came out.

For further information www.tdt-machinetools.co.uk

Europe’s first 5G interactive microscope labs

The University of Plymouth will become the home of Europe’s first 5G interactive microscope labs. This advanced facility will transform the learning experience of students on a number of science courses.

Comprising 150 microscopes, the labs are the result of a partnership between the university and two global technology companies, Nikon and Ostec Instruments. They also reflect recent changes to courses, aligning their content even more closely with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Professor Kevin Jones, executive dean of science and engineering at the University of Plymouth, says: “These new labs will transform our teaching and revolutionise the learning experience for our students. They will get to explore a wider range of specimens in greater detail than ever before. By getting the opportunity to use cutting-edge technology, our students will also gain first-hand experience of using systems that will either match – or in many cases exceed – those they will work with once they graduate.”

Across two spaces in the university’s Davy Building, students will have access to 60 polarising microscopes and 20 biological microscopes, as well as 60 low-power microscopes used to analyse larger specimens. In addition to the microscopes, each stand will have a digital screen that can link to others across the room to share the same content.

The lecturer will have his or her own camera set-up linked to screens on each of the microscope stands, and the screens will also display QR codes so that students can bring up details of what they have been scrutinising on their mobile devices. Importantly, the combination of microscope and screen displays, as well as desks of adjustable height, will make the set-up more accessible to students with sight or mobility difficulties.

For further information www.nikonmetrology.com

Huge time savings achieved with Sylvac solution

Excel Precision, a prominent player in the UK’s EDM sector, recently worked with Bowers Group to address a complex machining challenge faced by a machine tool company. The solution cut the client’s component setting time from around a week to less than an hour, also resulting in a 12-week reduction in production time.

Steve Batt, technical director at Excel Precision, says: “Our innovative solution transformed a complex and time-consuming process into a highly efficient one. By incorporating innovative technology from Bowers Group and smart engineering from our team here at Excel, we not only met the client’s precision requirements but also significantly increased their annual production capacity by reducing production time.”

The client had a precision issue with a deep-seated bore. The initial approach involved using a conventional DTI but proved inefficient, taking 5-8 days to achieve the required runout. This lengthy timespan was primarily because of the inability to observe the part’s movement during adjustments in the confined bore, which extended to a depth of 350 mm.

Available from Bowers Group, the Sylvac D62S digital display and PS12D digital probe were the solutions identified. The D62S sits on a carbon-fibre tube with a wire passing through, connecting it to the two digital probes. A specially developed mechanism allows one probe to take measurements in the X direction and the other in the Y direction, ensuring precision despite the tight confines of the bore.

Immediate feedback shows a dramatic reduction in set-up time, enabling the client to set the component within an hour, a significant improvement from the initial 5-8 days. Additionally, when combined with a custom fixture, it improved the client’s production capacity by reducing production time by at least 12 weeks.

For further information www.bowersgroup.co.uk

World-first in composites stress testing

StressMap, a specialist in residual stress metrology using the contour method, has invested in two new capabilities to help customers prolong the life and control distortions of critical mechanical components in the aerospace, motorsport and defence industries.

In its quest to making cutting-edge residual stress engineering technology available to industry, StressMap has designed, built and commissioned a new wire cutting machine that facilitates contour method measurements in polymers, ceramics and composites. Before this machine, it was only possible to measure electrically conductive materials (mainly metals), since the only cutting technique available was wire EDM.

StressMap’s invention is the fruit of a year’s worth of research and is the only machine in the world that can cut these non-conductive materials with the required quality. Specialist researchers presented and scrutinised the first results obtained in a PEEK pipe at a conference in the spring, with further structures currently undergoing tests.

Another new capability for StressMap is a laser peening machine, which will see collaborative use with a Formula 1 team as it looks to test engine components. This technique induces beneficial residual stress at the surface of key components, preventing cracking and prolonging their life.

Over the past decade, StressMap has delivered over 150 projects for 80 customers across the world. Applications of the company’s residual stress measurement expertise vary widely, and include: additive manufactured titanium components; nickel superalloys for turbine discs; and cobalt-chrome alloys for bio-medical use.

StressMap has also developed strain scanning simulation software in conjunction with STFC in Harwell Oxfordshire to improve the quality of neutron diffraction measurements by maximising accuracy in strain measurements and providing a high level of positional accuracy and repeatability.

For further information www.stressmap.co.uk