Reduction in manufacturing times

Citation

(2003), "Reduction in manufacturing times", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 75 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2003.12775bab.006

Reduction in manufacturing times

Reduction in manufacturing times

Keywords: Manufacturing, Cycle times

It is reported that the recent installation of a Harrison Alpha 800S CNC/manual centre lathe has led to a dramatic reduction in the manufacturing cycle times of a range of high-precision aerospace components produced by the Mettis Group company, Nu-Pro Machining Division, based in Stroud, UK. Supplied by Derek Robinson Machine Tools (DRMT) of Leicester, UK, the Alpha 800S is said to be proving a major asset at Nu-Pro after being chosen for its large capacity and celebrated combination of performance and reliability (Plate 4).

Replacing a manual centre lathe, the Alpha 800S also undertakes work previously performed by two large vertical borers, operating a two-shift pattern for the production of a wide range of engine and landing gear parts in metals such as aluminium, titanium, aluminium bronze and S99 aircraft steel. The Alpha features a swing over bed of 800 mm, 2 m between centres and a maximum spindle speed of 1,500rpm delivered by a 26kW motor.

Plate 4 Installation of a Harrison Alpha 800S CNC/Manual lathe has led to a dramatic reduction in cycle times for aerospace components supplier Nu-Pro

The lathe performs a wide variety of machining operations including general turning operations, threading and contouring, and it was this versatility which contributed to its overall appeal, as Nu-Pro's Engineering Manager, Ken Chandler, explained, "The fact that the Alpha does everything we could expect from a centre lathe both quickly and accurately made it the perfect choice for the wide range of small-batch applications undertaken at Nu-Pro. We had looked at a number of possible machines but it was the overall package from Derek Robinson Machine Tools which offered the best combination of machine performance, after-sales support and value for money."

Nu-Pro's previous satisfaction with products from UK machine tool giant, 600 Lathes, also played an important part in the decision to invest in the Harrison Alpha 800S. Over the course of the company's 30-year history, operators at Nu-Pro have used a variety of machine tools from fellow 600 Lathes' brand Colchester, and their overwhelming enthusiasm for the Yorkshire-built machines has encouraged a degree of loyalty reflected in this latest purchase, as Ken Chandler explained, "We were already familiar with the excellent design and build quality of 600 Lathes' products and were more than happy to buy another machine tool from the same stable. Our customers expect the highest standards of workmanship in everything we produce and so it's vital that we can completely rely on the ability of our machine tools."

Crucial to the Alpha's success at Nu-Pro is the machine's ease-of-use, which has enabled typical cycle time reductions of up to 40 per cent. Machine Operator, Mike Dixon, explained, "The Alpha 800S is the first CNC lathe I've operated but the machine's Fanuc 21i control and AlphaLink software have made it simple to learn and a pleasure to use, especially for complex machining operations which would have involved painstaking set-ups on a less functional machine." As well as reducing cycle times, the Alpha's solid construction and resulting rigidity have enabled Nu-Pro to easily achieve superior surface finishes and tight tolerances within H7 limits required by the company's big-name aerospace customers.

For further details contact: Harrison. Tel: +44 (0) 1924 415010; Fax: +44 (0) 1924 415011; E-mail: mail@harrison.co.uk; Web site: www. harrison.co.uk