Subcontractor moves into 5-axis machining

UK subcontact machine shop has moved into 5-axis machining for high precision, small batch jobs for the aerospace, defence and motorsport industries.

Chelmsford, UK-based contract machinist and mould tool maker, EDS Engineering, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has purchased a Hermle 5-axis machining centre.

Delivered by Hermle UK agent, Geo Kingsbury, it will supplement EDS' machine tool park of 20 or so 3- and 4-axis machines - including multi-axis mill-turn centre - from other suppliers.

To be installed in October 2007, the Hermle C 20 U machining centre will be used mostly for small batch (1- to 300-off) production of high precision parts for the aerospace, defence and motorsport industries.

Managing director of EDS Engineering, Stuart Clarke, said: "We want to take advantage of one-hit machining on the Hermle, not only to increase productivity when machining complex components, but also to improve accuracy by eliminating the need to reset the part for subsequent operations.

We will also benefit from unattended machining overnight, although we do not intend to use automated component load/unload options".

Apparently EDS had considered six other suppliers of fully interpolative 5-axis machine tools Clarke said that he had opted for the C 20 U owing to its rigid construction and ease of access to the working area.

Also the C 20 U has a compact spindle that minimises interference when carrying out complex machining cycles on small components.

In addition, he had spoken with a number of firms that were impressed with the performance and reliability of their 5-axis Hermle machines.

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