The two companies recognised a £30,000 Acrow package that provides the control, flexibility and speed required to cope with increasing volumes in the machining shop. The solution focused on interchangeable NR collets that would be used exclusively on this machine and tend to be smaller in diameter, offering greater contact with the components, improved tool life and the ability to move freely around tight clearance spaces.
“A lot of what we do is bespoke to the application and has to work in an Ultra High Vacuum environment whilst still providing motion and manipulation…typically these components will end up in scientific experiments like CERN’s Large Hadron Collider,” explained David Heward, machine shop manager at UHV Design.
“We have grown 15% over the last twelve months and the future pipeline was rich with opportunities that necessitated investment in new technology and the purchase of our first 5-axis machine, which we sourced from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG).”
He continued: “The Quaser MF500UH was equipped with a 15k ‘face and taper’ spindle and a 48-strong carousel that allows us to store 80% of all our tools in the one machine – ideal for reducing changeover times and reducing secondary operations.
“However, to make the most of it we needed to find the right tooling system and that is where Hyfore came into its own.
“Its engineers spent a lot of time at our East Sussex base looking at the components we were planning to machine, before identifying the package that best suited what we were trying to achieve.”
Oli Riley, workholding product specialist at Hyfore, continued: “This is the largest single order placed for an Acrow package to date and reinforces its popularity with machinists in the UK.
“We have seen a 20% increase in this type of tooling technology and it’s not difficult to see why when you consider the control, quality, durability and aesthetic finish it delivers time and time again. It’s a perfect fit for the 5-axis Quaser.”
He concluded: “Importantly, it also shows how we can work with specialist manufacturers like UHV to understand its production challenges and come up with flexible solutions. This is just the start of a relationship that will hopefully grow in line with the client’s own expansion plans.”
