CNC sliding head turn-mill centres aid Adaero

Citizen Machinery has revealed how its CNC sliding head turn-mill centres have helped Adaero Precision Components secure lucrative components contracts.

Adaero Precision has two Citizen machines installed in its newly extended facility at Crediton, Devon; an M32-III and a mid-range L20 with the high pressure Coolblaster 2,000 lb/in2 coolant system.

The machines produce batches of 500 or so parts in Acetal, aluminium, brass and a variety of stainless steels.

Such is the complexity of some of the single operational cycles - for instance, an optical focus component that uses 24 tools on the Citizen M32 - that while cycle times can be relatively long at 5.5min, the overall benefits are significant through combining operations and shortening lead times.

Indeed, it was the purchase of the Citizen L20 in June 2007 that led Adaero to win an important medical contract for three variants of an air flow adjuster in 316 stainless steel for anaesthesia equipment.

Consistency of production from the two Citizens has never been an issue, resulting in the company's high level of confidence for long periods in limited manning and unattended running.

Such is the level of setting expertise that requirements to maintain grinding tolerances can be met when turning on features such as seal diameters and grooves, that are then monitored using the latest optical inspection equipment to ensure full compliance to drawing requirements.

Changeover normally takes between two and three hours depending on the complexity of the batch but, according to Mark Pearson, engineering sales manager at Adaero Precision Components, this time is minimised due to machine's flexibility in being able to accommodate different tooling layouts.

Also, as most programming is performed offline and most jobs have been previously run, efficiency is high, keeping lead times short.

The 13-axis Citizen M32-III is able to hold up to 80 tools.

Common tooling can be left set on the vertical tool platen and drilling station for back machining as well as on the Y-axis fed, 10-station turret that is able to accommodate up to 50 tools by using its half index capability and special tool holders.

Three tools can be employed to cut a part simultaneously with the main 5.5kW, 8,000 rev/min spindle and 2.2kW, 7,000 rev/min subspindle.

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