Product category:
Subcontract machining and assembly services
News Release from: Agie Charmilles | Subject: 5-axis machining service
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 31 July 2006
Investment in 5-axis machining is
ongoing
A precision engineering subcontractor investments in high-speed 5-axis machining centres with integrated pallet changers is having a significant impact on productivity and performance.
Northamptonshire, UK-based market-leading precision engineering subcontractor - Salcey Precision Engineering - has recently invested in a second Mikron (High-Speed), high-performance 5-axis machining centre This latest acquisition - a high-speed 5-axis HSM 400U machine with integrated pallet changer was installed in September 2005 and is situated, in the company's temperature-controlled room, alongside a Mikron UCP 600 - Salcey's first 5-axis machine tool investment
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 17 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Both Mikron machines are having a significant and positive impact on the company's productivity and performance.
So much so, in fact, that Salcey has recently ordered a second HSM 400U - due for installation in May 2006.
Salcey Precision manufactures high-precision complex components for a diverse range of blue-chip OEM and first-tier suppliers in the motorsport, aerospace, defence, medical, space and electronic sectors.
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These components are manufactured to tight tolerances from a variety of materials that include - stainless steels, aluminium, titanium, advanced alloys, perspex, etc Over the last six years the company has focused its attention, skills and resources on the motorsport sector, in particular manufacturing precision parts for high-performance racing engines.
The motorsport sector now accounts for over 60% of the company's business.
The motorsport sector is tough and demanding.
Subcontract companies working (and succeeding) in the sector are faced with serious manufacturing challenges.
The sector is renowned for its ever-decreasing lead times and there is always continuous pressure on subcontractors to reduce their costs.
In addition because engine components are 'performance-critical' - part accuracy and quality are not just expected, they are demanded.
A key element that does much to explain how Salcey Precision has been able to balance these seemingly competing demands and, at the same time, maintain its growth - is its approach and attitude to investing in new technology - and specifically in 5-axis machining.
Said Richard Alcock, managing director at Salcey Precision: "Making the right investments in new manufacturing technologies is important.
Making them at the right time is vital." He explained: "We started looking seriously at 5-axis machining a couple of years ago.
At this time we knew we needed to increase our manufacturing capacity - but we also knew we needed to become more sophisticated in how we managed high-precision, low-to-medium volume production of complex parts - and in particular how to make it economically viable for us to manufacture them." Alcock said: 'Our existing 3- and 4-axis CNC machines had served us well - but they couldn't give us the real performance breakthroughs we required to maintain our competitive edge." In response to these demands, Salcey Precision invested in their first 5-axis machine - a Mikron UCP 600.
Continued Alcock: "Virtually straight away the decision to invest in 5-axis machining was vindicated.
We saw immediate improvements in our productivity via reduced machining operations, less operator interventions and reduced time spent on job set-ups and workholding." The latest investment in the Mikron HSM 400U has made the company's manufacturing operation even more sophisticated - and more production oriented.
The HSM 400U gives Salcey Precision high-speed 5-axis simultaneous machining capability.
Furthermore, the machine's integrated automatic pallet changer (APC) and generous tool changer (ATC) - means that the company can set up jobs on the machine's pallets and leave them to run - unattended, overnight, over the weekends, etc Concluded Alcock: "The HSM 400U is a manufacturing cell in its own right.
The machine gives us all the speed, accuracy and process reliability we need and the imminent arrival of our second HSM 400U is destined to improve our capacity and capability still further.
Whether we're producing components in the tens, hundreds or the thousands - we have the technology and the flexibility in place to ensure commercially-viable manufacture.
And that's exactly what we were looking for from our 5-axis machines." * About Salcey Precision - Salcey Precision was established in 1972 and currently employs 25 staff at its purpose-built facility in Hartwell.
The company has a strong (and well-deserved) reputation for quality, reliability and manufacturing excellence.
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