Product category:
CNC lathes
News Release from: TS Harrison and Sons | Subject: Alpha Plus S 550 manual/CNC lathe
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 21 January 2002
Manual/CNC lathe brings work back
in-house
A Harrison Alpha Plus S 550 manual/CNC lathe has given a significant boost to capacity at Invensys Brook Crompton, enabling it to improve its competivity by bringing work back in-house.
A recently installed Harrison Alpha Plus S 550 manual/CNC lathe has given a significant boost to capacity at Invensys Brook Crompton, enabling the West Midlands based manufacturer to improve its competitive edge by undertaking turning operations which it had previously sub-contracted Supplied by Derek Robinson Machine Tools of Leicester, the Alpha Plus S 550 replaces an outdated manual copy lathe and is used in the one-off and small batch production of large DC motor shafts
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 12 Sep 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Made from EN8 steel and with lengths of up to 2.2m, the shafts are supplied to some of the world's leading manufacturers of lift systems.
Typically, the lathe is used to achieve a cut depth of 3mm over each shaft's diameter, leaving 0.3mm excess material for removal by rotary grinding.
Already familiar with Harrison's manual lathes, which it has used in other applications for many years, Invensys Brook Crompton chose the Alpha Plus S 550 for its combination of capacity, versatility and competitive cost.
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In order to make absolutely sure that the Alpha would be capable of the levels of performance required by the application, Invensys Brook Crompton asked Harrison to demonstrate the lathe's turning capabilities.
Machine Shop Engineer, Mark Matthews, explained, "We sent a billet to Harrison's factory in West Yorkshire, where the Alpha Plus S 550 performed a number of cutting trials which proved to us that the machine was more than capable of meeting our specific requirements".
Crucially, the Alpha's 3m bed and 1800 rpm maximum spindle speed have provided Invensys Brook Crompton with the capacity to perform certain turning operations in-house, leading to a decrease in production costs as the need for time-consuming and expensive sub-contracting is eliminated.
Mark Matthews explained, "The Alpha's additional capacity and versatility have helped to streamline our manufacturing operations by enabling us to undertake work which we couldn't have performed here before its introduction.
We are now spared both the expense and inconvenience of sending components elsewhere".
The Alpha Plus S 550's ease-of-use has also proved a major benefit to operators at Invensys Brook Crompton and is assured by the lathe's combination of highly flexible, state-of-the-art Alpha programming software and a control system from Fanuc.
The lathe's twin keypad configuration provides operators with a choice of ISO CNC operation using the right-hand keypad, or AlphaLink CAD/CAM and AlphaSystem semi-automatic interactive operation from the left-hand keypad.
Mark Matthews explained, "The Alpha software and Fanuc control work extremely well together, contributing to the lathe's overall ease-of-use and making set-up and programming a quick, trouble-free process irrespective of the job's requirements".
Mark Matthews also drew attention to the Alpha Plus S 550's impressive build quality, a factor which has contributed to its overall suitability for turning large components at Invensys Brook Crompton.
"The Alpha's robust construction and high standard of engineering are reflected in the absence of vibration during the lathe's operation and in its ability to cope with a wide range of component diameters".
It is the Alpha's combination of additional capacity and operational flexibility that has prompted Invensys Brook Crompton to explore the possibility of extending the lathe's usage beyond its original remit, using the Alpha's introduction as an opportunity for product development.
Mark Matthews explained "The lathe's considerable ability has allowed us to investigate the potential for carrying out additional tasks previously performed using boring machines, a benefit which we hadn't necessarily expected but one which opens up exciting scope for further improvements in productivity".
In a final endorsement of the contribution to manufacturing operations made by the Alpha Plus S 550 at Invensys Brook Crompton, Mark Matthews explained, "The Alpha's combination of ease-of-use and performance have won the lathe approval from all those who operate it.
In addition to its popularity on the shop floor, the Alpha has helped to reduce both the cost and production cycle times of our shaft manufacturing operations, while its versatility has opened up new opportunities for streamlining other aspects of the work undertaken at Invensys Brook Crompton".
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