Product category:
CNC lathes
News Release from: TS Harrison and Sons | Subject: Alpha 330T (Touchscreen) electronic lathe
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 10 October 2002
Electronic lathe produces precise lab
components
An electronic lathe is providing vital engineering support to Oxford University's Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory in the production of precise components and apparatus.
A Harrison Alpha 330T (Touchscreen) electronic lathe purchased through Datamach of Coventry is providing vital engineering support to Oxford University's Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory (PTCL) The Alpha, delivered and commissioned in April 2002 and acquired by the Laboratory's Mechanical Workshop, is used to manufacture a wide range of precision components and apparatus for use by research groups within the PTCL
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 12 Sep 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Research activities include most branches of physical and theoretical chemistry and the PTCL boasts 22 academic staff and four Fellows of the Royal Society.
In the PTCL's early days, the then combined Mechanical and Electronics Workshops pioneered the development of fine scientific instruments such as spectrometers and spectrographs, and they continue the tradition to this day with the production of sophisticated scientific apparatus in support of the Lab's research groups.
Head of Mechanical Workshops Roger Bowler explains the work of his department.
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"We provide engineering support for the PTCL, predominantly manufacturing close tolerance components for ultra high vacuum and laser apparatus.
The head of a research group will discuss their requirement with a member of the Mechanical Workshop staff and from that discussion a CAD drawing of the component will be produced.
Although we are equipped with a wide range of machine tools, the acquisition of the Alpha 330T has enhanced our capabilities significantly so that a larger percentage of work can be manufactured in-house." Mr Bowler cites a perfect example - that of a stainless steel discharge electrode manufactured for an experimental laser.
As well as requiring an excellent surface finish and close tolerances, the component incorporates a 36mm diameter spherical body, a profile virtually impossible to manufacture satisfactorily on a standard manual lathe.
Using the Alpha_s AlphaLink CAD/CAM program in conjunction with the Constant Surface Speed (CSS) function, the electrode was manufactured 'with ease' and with the necessary level of surface finish.
In 'pre Alpha' days this relatively complex component would have been sub-contracted out at considerable cost, thus diverting precious resources away from the PTCL.
The Alpha 330T's AlphaLink system is an extremely easy-to-use, yet powerful and intuitive drawing and simulated machining package, which enables CAD/CAM programs for components with complex contours and profiles to be prepared 'offline' without interruption of the machine's operation.
Not underestimating the importance of having a lathe with such a system within his department, Roger Bowler adds: "Several lathes were appraised when the purchase was being considered, but the Alpha 330T's offline CAD/CAM program was a major feature and one that its major rival lacked.
This, and the easy-to-use touchscreen were telling factors." "The Alpha 330T has been a revelation," he adds.
"The workshop's staff of six, who are primarily from manual machining backgrounds was proficient after only a day's training from Datamach.
More importantly, its production capabilities have enhanced the service we can provide to the laboratory's research groups.
We have also been able to set up a machining service to other Oxford University establishments on which we can make a modest profit and plough the money back into improving our own facilities.' The Alpha's simple menu-driven touchscreen can access full manual operation or initiate automatic cycles for stops, tapers, threads, chamfers, radii, rough and finish box cycles, and CAM.
The PTCL Mechanical Workshop team has also found the thread cutting feature of the Alpha particularly useful.
With the integration of automated Acme thread cutting cycles alongside existing DP, MOD, TPI and Pitch thread cutting cycles as well as a new thread chasing feature the lathe's reputation as one of the best thread cutting lathes on the market has been further enhanced.
The box cycle program is another useful feature, enabling automatic, multi-pass roughing and finishing on specified rectilinear and taper stock removal cycles.
The Alpha 330T with its 330mm swing x 1m bed is the Alpha T entry model and complements three other machines.
These are the Alpha 400T (400mm swing over 1.25m bed), Alpha 460T (460mm swing over 1.5m) and Alpha 550T (550mm swing over 2m).
With the PTCL's Alpha decreasing the requirements and thus the total cost of outsourcing; reducing in-house cycle times; and generating profit from other Oxford University research establishments, it is well on its way to pay back in only its first year.
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