CMM acquired to meet pre-production parts demand

In response to increasing demand from customers to manufacture pre-production and initial-production parts a machine tool builder has acquired a top-of-the-range CMM for accuracy and speed.

Demands upon the machine tool supplier are increasing, according to Geoff Lloyd, MD of Heller Machine Tools.

"Those demands are not just for greater accuracies, faster cycle times, shorter deliveries but for a bigger, better, more complete package.

Our larger customers, typically but not only those supplying the automotive industry, have always sought simultaneous engineering and fixture support.

Now all customers need assistance in a broader context and to greater depth" he said.

In order to further improve the support which it is able to provide to customers, and as part of its own programme of continual investment, Heller is installing another CMM in its temperature controlled inspection room at the Redditch plant.

The new machine is top of the range Leitz PMM-C 1000P (www.leitz-metrology.com), and was selected because it is faster and more accurate than other equivalent machines.

Programming can be completed off-line and data can be received electronically, increasing productivity but more importantly contributing to minimizing inspection times.

Decision to purchase the machine was chiefly in response to the increasing demand from customers for Heller to manufacture pre-production initial-production parts on their behalf.

Only last year, Heller installed a machine cell at Redditch specifically to manufacture prototypes for Cosworth.

Currently, it also has pre-production parts being machined for Dana and Haldex.

In addition, the new machine will be used to inspect components prior to assembly for the Heller range of MC horizontal machining centres, all of which are manufactured at Redditch and NAS test pieces.

"Being successful in this industry demands commitment to and partnership with the customer.

The installation of the new Leitz CMM is one demonstration of ours" Lloyd said.

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