CONTENTS
Volume 177 Number 4288 September 2019
10 Lead feature Totally automatic
Why can’t NC programming for subtractive metalcutting be as easy as it
is for additive manufacturing? Basically, present a 3D le to a
programming system and press ‘go’. Andrew Allcock visited a company
that has achieved that ambition, but also has a much larger one in mind
14 EMO 2019 exhibition show issue Technology showcase
Last month (p15) we focused on the growing Industry 4.0 element of the
biennial EMO exhibition, but here we return to the established heart of
the show, the manufacturing hardware on display
44 Automation Don’t wait to automate
Previewed at the MACH 2018 exhibition, developing XYZ Machine Tools’
Robo-Tend vertical machining centre/lathe automation solution has, it is
admitted, been a more challenging task than initially thought. Now
available, Andrew Allcock details the system’s useability
49 Industry 4.0 Start spreading the news
It’s all very well there being powerful digital tools available, but people
have to know how to use them, often breaking with well-entrenched
traditional approaches. Autodesk’s Digital Catalyst programme aims to
confront that issue. Andrew Allcock explains
52 Heavy engineering Better bigger cuts
Twin-pallet HMC installed at transmission specialist; crusher machine
OEM invests in horizontal borer; large turn-mill machine arrives at
turbine/pump manufacturer. Steed Webzell provides the details
57 Tooling Effective separation
Andrew Allcock catches up with a urry of tooling developments in the
parting and grooving area. Iscar, Horn and Walter all have news
61 Punch, profi le, bend Automated 2D investments
Mazak bre laser technology plus automation in bespoke layout suits
CSM Sheet Metal; switch to Trumpf punch press plus automation
speeds caravan part maker’s production. Plus industry & product news
update
64 Grinding & surface fi nishing Finishing the job
Automotive subcontractor installs universal grinding machine;
transmission component specialist acquires latest gear grinding centre;
tooling expert invests in another cutter grinder. Steed Webzell has the
details
69 Tool, mould & die Case studies & news update
73
Deep hole drilling Machine shops go deep
Steed Webzell reports on recent deep hole drilling projects at
subcontractors, as well as the initiative of a product manufacturer to
bring this niche process in house
77
Marking & traceability Marked out for success
Steed Webzell examines the speed, quality and versatility of the latest
laser marking kit, as selected by two notable auto sector companies
Regular sections
7 Comment
News round-up
8 Andrew Hodgson becomes
MTA vice president
8 LVD acquires automation
rm Compac
8 Sunnen works with Swedish
rm on anti-friction nish
8 Filtermist completes
Kerstar acquisition
8 UK space propellant tank
manufacturing effort
8 Laser Lines picks up SISMA
laser welding agency
9 Dugard to exhibit cobots at
Robotics & Automation show
9 MTC to hold free robotics
learning event
9 Walter & Schunk put on
aerospace machining demo
9 Reshoring website live;
aims to boost local sourcing
9 Appointments at: Ward
CNC, Schunk & Walter Ewag
New products
9 Titanium milling
9 Graphite machining
9 Better laser pro ling
9 GOM inspection news
9 CAM for Nakamura-Tome
9 Larger laser pro ler
9 CoroMill insert geometry
9 Mazak/Rigibore partnership
9 Capture more surface data
9 Kuka robot world- rst
80 Classifi ed section
82 This month
25 years ago...
10
14
44
64
time, reports record global order levels for Q2 of £200m+, a 30%
increase over the same period last year. Italy’s machine tool industry
is also celebrating; it has seen a 30% growth in orders for Q1, the
country’s machine tool sector representative body reports.
Sliding-headstock/bush lathes are put under the spotlight this
issue, with the various construction approaches detailed. We are
still in an era where cam-driven machines remain in use and to
compete with these yet give companies more control over their
machines there are hybrid machines that have cam-driven tools
employing a standard set of cams controlled by CNC.
We give grinding using CBN wheels coverage, although it seems
companies are reluctant to take advantage of the material. Costs for
larger wheels able to deliver the peripheral speeds required seem to
be an issue, so companies such as Jones & Shipman are looking at
developing higher speed spindles that can employ smaller diameter
wheels.
Mould tool manufacture remains a major topic at this time, but it
is the technology of capturing 3D data from physical models that, in
turn, captures our attention. We review a number of different
systems for obtaining 3D data, as well as machines that combine
digitising and cutting on a single unit, the latter effectively a modern
equivalent of tracing machines that traced and cut simultaneously.
This month sees one of our regular subcontracting supplements.
An interview with Sony’s buyer about his £600 million procurement
activity is the cover story. The thrust of the article is that information
technology is transforming the whole process of logistics and supply
chain management. Subcontracting in Scotland and the support that
the manufacturing sector receives in the country from various
agencies is another focus. Outside of Scotland, in Bristol, we report
on a new laser cutting company, Laser It. Still a novel technology,
much of the work it is winning was not previously produced by laser
pro ling. Short lead times are demanded, with some 80% of work
required on a three-day turnaround.
25this month
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through case studies & news, taking in machining, NC programming &
73
OVER A CENTURY OF MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT
www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets September 2019 5
CloudNC
Separate Five-Axis Machining Supplement
Now a technology available to all, we detail the wide variety of uses
workholding
We kick off this month by praising the Machine Tool
Technologies Association (MTTA) on its initiative to bring
engineering to primary school children in Warwickshire.
Our enthusiasm is prompted by this year’s university place
abundance of un lled science and engineering places - although
that’s typical, we say. Our second issue’s comment concerns the
globalisation of the aerospace sector. It is the Farnborough Air Show
that highlights this; it has been restructured as a commercial
operation that re ects a broadening reach. Europe and North
America still dominate, but Japan, Eastern Europe and China will
become more signi cant manufacturers, we suggest. The journey to
the cost-down world of today is beginning.
In news, the interest in high speed machining is demonstrated by
the large coverage we give to Mori Seiki’s SH-50 horizontal
machining centre with 12,000 rpm (20,000 option) spindle. Claiming
a chip removal rate that is 50% higher than with conventional
machining, cutting feeds are up to 10 times greater, while cutting
force is up to 90% lower – the latter is bene cial when machining
thin-walled parts. A further bene t is that heat is taken up by the
chips, not the component.
The combination manual/CNC lathe is big
news at this time and Philips had launched
its Manual Plus control unit the previous
year. In the UK, Philips agent Robtec saw an
opportunity to bring in a complete
machine/control unit and is launching a
£35,000 machine (Philips, which also
incorporated Grundig, was acquired by
Heidenhain).
American machining centre maker
Cincinnati Milacron (subsumed within
Fives Group today), which has a
Birmingham manufacturing base at this
82
years ago
Creating interest in engineering; aerospace globalisation; high speed machining;
manual/CNC lathe new entrant; machine tool orders up; Sony’s buyer speaks; CBN
grinding slow uptake; mould tool digitising; subcontracting in Scotland, & more
september 1994
sep 94
PA
Key Events
German discount
food supermarket
Lidl opens
rst 10 stores in
Britain
stock.adobe.com/daboost
ASport and General/S&G and Barratts/EMPICS Sport
Broadcasting
ban on Sinn Féin
and paramilitary
groups from
Northern
Ireland lifted
Roy Castle,
dancer, actor
& TV
presenter,
dies of lung
cancer at 62
Eight-time tennis
major winner Ivan
Lendl (34) plays
nal professional
match, retires
Russia & People’s Republic of
China agree to de-target each
other’s country with nuclear
weapons
PA
082_MACH_SEP19.indd 82 23/08/2019 11:43
www.machinery.co.uk September 2019
FIVE-AXIS
MACHINING
SUPPLEMENT
Seven machining case studies p4
NC programming/CAM case studies, plus industry & product news p14
Workholding case studies & product news update p18
Sponsored by:
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