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Control systems, DROs, etc, for machine tools
News Release from: Halifax Numerical Controls (HNC) | Subject: Rebuilt CNC vertical turning lathe
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 15 May 2007
Rebuilt vertical turning lathe is robust
To machine its larger impellers, a company decided to seek out a high quality used vertical turning lathe and have it rebuilt and retrofitted with an up-to-date CNC system.
When Tony Locke, manufacturing director of Weir Minerals Europe based in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, UK, needed to increase capacity in an impeller cell, particularly for the larger diameter impellers ranging from 1000 - 1500mm, his requirement called for a minimum 1500mm diameter table vertical turning lathe The machine needed to be of robust construction as Weir are great believers in hard metal turning - most of the components manufactured from 650-700 Brinnel hardness, high chrome, white metal castings
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 28 Feb 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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One of the machining operations involves machining a particularly difficult, high pitch thread.
Prices and lead times of new 'quality' CNC VTL machines were out of the question and the mechanics on some of the cheaper ones were questionable.
The decision was made to source a quality, used machine, have it rebuilt and retrofitted with a modern, up-to-date CNC control.
A suitable machine, in the form of a Giddings and Lewis vertical turning lathe with a 60in diameter table was located in the USA and was subsequently purchased and brought to the UK.
David Pullen, Weir's Industrial engineering manager took over the project at this stage and began the search for a reputable company to rebuild the mechanics of the machine, completely rewire it, retrofit a GE Fanuc 18i controller and drives and bring it fully up-to-date in order to meet health and safety regulations.
A number of companies were contacted and put in their proposals, but one stood out over and above all of the others - that of Halifax Numerical Controls.
Mike Diskin, HNC's managing director believes the reason they won Weir Minerals order was not just their price competitiveness but the quality and service they offer combined with relatively short lead-times.
He added: "It has always been our philosophy at HNC not just to be competitively priced and produce a quality rebuild but to turn the project round in a short period of time.
This is why every rebuild at our Halifax facility is allocated a dedicated project manager and it is his responsibility to ensure we achieve, or better, our customers' expectations.".
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