Product category:
General Machining Subcontracting Services
News Release from: Hemlock Engineering | Subject: Improved cost-effectiveness
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 January 2005
Putting eight into two ups
cost-effectiveness
Combining up to eight separate production operations into one or two unmanned machining centre cycles is a target set by a subcontractor to increase cost-effectiveness.
The combination of up to eight separate production operations into one or two unmanned machining centre cycles is the target for Hemlock Engineering of Stapleford, Nottingham following the purchase of a GBP 75,000 package comprising a Haas VF2 vertical machining centre with a TR210B dual-axis trunnion and rotary table The machine is the 15th Haas installed by the precision subcontractor and is planned to be used as a robotic cell to take the company into round-the-clock unmanned production milling
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 Jul 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Subcontractor builds up motor sports expertise
In just two years, sales of sub-contract machined components to the UK motor sport industry has grown from zero to over GBP 100,000 a Nottingham, UK-based subcontractor.
Aluminium base plates machined at high speeds
Aluminium base plates and face plates having high degrees of flatness and parallelism are high speed machined and used in a wide range of products such as mould plates and printer frames.
Hemlock has already proven these methods to be highly cost-effective with its Citizen CNC sliding head autos and Nakamura mill/turn centre.
Says managing director Paul Cobb: "We need to reduce even further our lead times, eliminate separate operations into one or two efficient cycles which will also improve the maintenance of geometric relationship tolerances of component features.
By combining multi operational machining sequences it will also simplify workholding, and through new thought processes being developed for programming, give us much greater opportunity to improve efficiency and machine utilisation." The Haas VF2 has already been installed with the trunnion unit and automatic pneumatic chucking to give a 3 + 2 axis machining capability.
The next stage is to prove the five-sided machining concepts on a very complex automotive trim component and contract for machining foot pedals for the autosport industry.
Once satisfied, Cobb will then transform the machining centre into a robotic cell and initiate limited manned running which will be followed by totally unmanned production.
• Hemlock Engineering: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
