Product category:
Control systems, DROs, etc, for machine tools
News Release from: ACI (UK) | Subject: CNC software and DRO systems
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 30 September 2003
Training Centre has latest in CNC and
DRO
CNC and DROs are helping ensure that the Humber Engineering Training Centre is one of the finest of its kind in the UK.
Anilam CNC and digital readout technology (DRO) is helping ensure that the newly-established Humber Engineering Training Centre at Grimsby College is one of the finest of its kind in the UK, following the installation of a series of lathes and a milling machine fitted with Anilam's Wizard 211 DROs and a 3300 MK control, respectively "As a new training centre we knew we had to have technology that could be relied on if we were to make an impression on those who used the facility," explains Arthur Whitehead, director of the Humber Engineering Training Centre
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 9 Dec 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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"We looked at different equipment and based on price, specification and features, we selected Anilam for the eight DROs fitted to the variety of lathes, as well as the new milling machine's CNC, all supplied by Derek Robinson Machine Tools." Committed to developing further education courses, Grimsby College was formed by the merger of several educational institutions in the area.
The college's development programme led to the creation of the School of Construction and Engineering, of which the Humber Engineering Training Centre is a part.
Lord Sainsbury opened the centre last September.
Further reading
Milling in two/three axis cost-effectively
Demonstrations of a two-/three-axis CNC for intuitive knee-type milling operations will highlight the system's cost-effectiveness and user-friendliness.
Measuring distance and position accurately
As well as demonstrating four-axis DROs, a range of linear scales will also serve to reinforce both the accuracy and performance benefits of its glass linear encoder technology.
"We have not had a single problem with the equipment," confirms Arthur Whitehead, "and because our students find it easy to use, the Anilam systems have enabled them to quickly grasp machining skills." Designed to be user-friendly yet fully functional, the Anilam 3300 MK CNC is a conversational control featuring powerful, easy-to-use programming tools that simplify programming.
Many canned cycles are also available as well as a three-mode calculator for trigonometry and geometry calculations.
Canned cycles are programming shortcuts for common machining tasks.
The machinist is prompted for a few dimensions and the control automatically generates the whole cycle for easier and faster programming.
The 3300 MK CNC features standard cycles such as peck drilling, bolt-hole patterns, pocket milling and face milling; advanced cycles including ellipse, spiral, helical, tapping, irregular pocket milling and profile milling; as well as special cycles such as counterboring.
User-friendliness coupled with powerful functionality are also characteristics of the Anilam Wizard 211 DRO, which features the EverTrack permanent position tracking feature.
Other features include the ability to display position as either a radius or a diameter (invaluable for turning work) as well as automatic machine error compensation and absolute/incremental mode, depending on each job's datum requirements.
"We have a range of people with varying abilities using the training centre including students from the college, people from the local business innovation centre as well as local companies," concludes Arthur Whitehead.
"So, ease-of-use was a big factor in our purchasing decision.".
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