5-axis machining centre reduces production time by 75%

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Expansion of 5-axis machining envisaged

The broad base of the firm’s current activities stems from the outflow of toolmaking mainly to the Far East during the last decade. It is true that significant income was retained by correcting poorly made imported tools, work that sometimes cost half as much as the originals, but it was clear that this could not be relied upon long-term.

Shortly after the company moved into its current premises on the Aycliffe Business Park 20 years ago, the first Hurco vertical machining centre (VMC) was purchased, a VM1, which replaced a manual-tool-change milling machine from the same manufacturer. A larger BMC 4020 VMC followed quickly.

Looking to the future, he sees growth opportunities in full 5-axis machining. The VMX60SRTi has already taken over three-axis work from other vertical machining centres, which it completes more economically using 3+1 and 3+2-axis cycles in fewer set-ups.

Contracts are being sought that can exploit its simultaneous 4-axis and 5-axis machining capabilities, which is enhanced by the B-axis spindle head and rotary C-axis configuration, the latter being flush with the machine table. The arrangement offers a bigger machining envelope than an equivalent trunnion-type, 5-axis model, especially for 3- and 4-axis work, and was said to be the reason for the purchase of this type of machine.

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