Product category:
General Machining Subcontracting Services
News Release from: Hemlock Engineering | Subject: Multi-axis machining speciality
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 April 2006
Multi-axis machining speciality
portrayed
Multi-axis machining subcontractor will be portraying its fast growing capability in single-cycle, short lead time, subcontract machining services at the UK's Subcon Exhibition.
Reflecting its web sites of five-axis machining and sliding head turning capabilities, the Hemlock Group headquartered in Stapleford, Nottingham, UK, will be portraying its fast growing capability in single-cycle, short lead time, subcontract machining services on Stand C10 at the Subcon Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham These high technology based production services are set around the company's investment in the latest three, four and five-axis, high speed machining centres and its multi-axis mill/turning capability involving CNC sliding head autos and high performance mill/turn centres
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 Jul 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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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.
Said managing director Paul Cobb: "We have invested heavily in creating a high quality, on-time delivery operation service around the very latest multi-axis mill/turning and machining centre technology with the support of a resident 3-D modelling specialist using SolidWorks CADCAM software able to accept ProENGINEER, Catia and Unigraphics files." With the recent installation of a GBP 300,000 Mikron XSM 1000U, five-axis 36,000 rev/min high speed production machining centre having seven pallets, the Hemlock Group has structured its operation around single operational cycles.
Alongside the new Mikron are 12 Haas VF2-SS 12,000 rev/min vertical machining centres, five Haas VF-OF vertical machining centres with 10,000 rev/min spindles, most with multi-vice set ups or palletised trunnion systems, giving 3- and 4-axis capabilities.
The multi-axis, single cycle culture is also employed in the turn/mill area where a 63mm bar capacity Nakamura WT250 MMY twin-turret with Y-axis crossfeed and twin-spindles, a Nakamura WT150 MMY with similar specification and 51mm bar capacity are installed adjacent to 10 Citizen CNC sliding head autos.
Further reading
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.
Subcontractor rapidly expands M-C park
Within a month of installing its 15th machining centre, a five-axis VMC, a UK subcontractor ordered two additional vertical machining centres for immediate delivery.
These Citizens include two of the latest GBP 160,000, m32 machines with the added flexibility of two Y-axis cross feeds to the turret and gang tool slides.
The Hemlock customer base is growing fast with projects from the motorsport, domestic appliance, aerospace, packaging, computer and printer sectors completed.
According to Cobb, these sectors demand precision and quality work that is only realisable from creating a practical method of production involving single cycle operations on quality machine tools.
However, he said: "You still need to apply knowledge, experience and skills that have been learnt from these industries to achieve a successful business with these customers." Typical contacts have involved components produced from solid aluminium billets or bar where multi-operational and high speed machining techniques have been applied.
The Group is also producing batch and volume production components out of stainless steels and other difficult to machine materials, brass, copper and plastics.
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