Keywords
Citation
(2002), "AB Marwin five-axis Automax II order", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 74 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2002.12774eab.007
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
AB Marwin five-axis Automax II order
Keywords:Aerospace industry, Machining, Aluminium, Component
West Midlands-based machine tool manufacturer, AB Marwin, announce today its forthcoming partnership with sub-contractor machine shop, Gretone Limited, to supply an Automax II, high speed, five-axis machining system for the production of high-precision aluminium components for the aerospace industry.
The order was achieved against fierce competition and is the first AB Marwin machine to be supplied to Gretone. The sale is thought to demonstrate not only customer confidence in AB Marwin product standards, its competitive pricing and short lead time, but is also a reflection of the increasing buoyancy of the British Aerospace Industry.
Gretone Ltd, based in Lytham St Annes, UK, is a sub-contract machine shop serving both the commercial and military aerospace industry, Ian Hawkins, commercial manager of Gretone, comments: we chose the Automax II as an addition to our machine shop as it offers cost-effective, high-precision machining. Crucially, AB Marwin could also deliver the machine within a very tight timescale.
The Automax II will be used specifically to manufacture prismatic and control surface aerospace components up to 3met on two major orders from Airbus and Euro Fighter projects.
According to Marwin the Automax is at the forefront of the AB Marwin range offering an applications-led, single-source solution for light alloy aerospace components and with its exceptional speed, offers fast, precision production with high levels of repeatability.
The system is said to have an extremely powerful 75kW spindle motor, a spindle speed of 27,000rpm and traverse rates of 25m/min. Power and speed are matched by precision with X, Y and Z axes accurate to ±0.015mm and A and B axes accurate to 15sec of arc.
Advanced features claimed of the Automax include Renishaw spindle probing, Blum laser verification system and Balluf read/write tooling system, while control is through a state-of-the-art Fanuc 150i with dynamic tool length compensation and high precision contour control.
Other features include a 48-position rotary disc-type tool changer, fully integrated swarf management and coolant system, and twin pallets with a capacity of 3.1 x 1.2m.
AB Marwin Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1902 390400; Fax: +44 (0) 1902 390500; E-mail: dmcbean@abmarwin.co.uk; Web site: www.abmarwin.com