TPT September 2016

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44 September 2016
T E CHNOLOG Y
Machining centre halves company’s lead times
A NEW Mecal MC 309 Nike CNC
machining centre from Addison Saws is
enabling Stayfix Architectural Aluminium
Systems to halve production lead times.
With business growing significantly,
Stayfix had begun outsourcing the
machining of components for several of
its window and curtain walling systems.
“This approach was fine as an interim
measure,” commented company direc-
tor Kiran Bhudia. “However, with
growing sales and an ongoing drive to
provide even higher levels of quality and
service, we took the decision to invest
in a manufacturing solution that would
enable us to bring all our machining
back in-house.
“Addison’s were particularly helpful
and informative throughout the entire
buying process. By providing a full
demonstration of the machining centre’s
capabilities, including extensive cutting
trials, they ensured we understood fully
how investing in the Mecal would benefit
our business and satisfy our ongoing
production requirements. With the
machine now in place, we have been
able to reduce our lead times by 50 per
cent.”
With an intuitive operator interface,
the Mecal MC 309 Nike has streamlined
Stayfix’s manufacturing processes.
Able to machine components of up
to 6,540mm in length, it can easily
accommodate even the larger
extrusions used by the aluminium
systems business. The Nike’s 3+1-
axis configuration allows full use of the
automatic tool change capability when
working at any angle to 180°, enabling
drilling, milling and tapping processes
to be carried out in one operation, and
accelerating the production of drainage
slots and apertures for locks and
handles.
In addition to the Mecal MC 309 Nike
machining centre, Stayfix purchased
a Mecal SW 453 Plug double mitre
saw (selected for its ability to provide
a fully automatic sawing solution for
extrusion, prior to CNC machining),
and two Tronzadoras semi-automatic
upstroke aluminium sawing machines
from Addison Saws.
The Mecal MC 309 Nike machining
centre is equipped to automatically
machine, drill, mill, slot and prep both
aluminium and steel extrusion bars. It is
also suited to new product development,
while its high levels of accuracy and
repeatability ensure minimal waste.
The MU-DPM version has an
automatic magazine and clamps
positioned by head. Features include
pneumatic profile rotation ±90° to
work three sides; mechanical stops
for intermediate angles; the main
spindle does all work with full use of
the automatic magazine; full CAM-
3D software; integration with external
software; 3,490mm working length;
open ends to allow machining of longer
pieces; zero stops at each end to work
multiple profiles; and an automatic
centralised lubrication system.
Addison Saws offers an extensive
range of full CNC machine tools
from premier industrial machine
manufacturers. The product range
includes simple, manually operated
machines to highly sophisticated,
fully automated sawing lines, and
has recently been increased with the
addition of heavy duty 3, 3+1, 4 and
5-axis long-bed multi-piece machining
centres. The company is part of the
Addison Group, which also includes saw
blade re-manufacturing firm Dynashape,
and tube-bending technology specialist
Tubefab.
Addison Saws Ltd – UK
Fax: +44 1384 264955
Email:
Website:
Quick-change technology for mills
and roll forming
RAFTER Equipment Corporation has
introduced a new patented Mill-Flip®
quick-change technology for tube mill
and roll forming machines that promises
part-to-part changeovers in 15 minutes
or less.
The new system requires no
special mill stands or roll tooling, no
complicated mill drive connections or
electrical controls systems, no special
operator or maintenance training, and
no overhead cranes or special raft
handling equipment. It features the
ability to quickly break into a production
run and quickly go back to the previous
product, as well as built-in redundancy
for increased line up-time, and no
infringement on the operator’s side of
the mill during changeovers.
The company also manufactures tube
mills, pipe mills, roll forming machines,
flying cut-offs and other related mill
machinery. Its business includes the
retrofit and replacement of common
tube mill components, including driven
roll stands, idle side roll stands, weld
squeeze boxes, weld upset bead
removal equipment (OD bead trimmers)
and turkshead type straighteners.
Rafter Equipment Corp – USA
Email:
Website:
The Mecal MC 309 Nike CNC
machining centre