Machinery & Manufacturing | Issue 11 | Sept/Oct 2023

Aerospace supplier

machine is “remarkably” faster than a 40-taper model, thanks to its dynamics. This is due to 2.2g linear axis acceleration, 0.2 second spindle acceleration to 16,000 rpm, simultaneous tool changing (0.7 second) and repositioning of the spindle for the next cut, reduced machine downtime for tool replenishment thanks to the 40-station tool magazine (14 or 22 tools are optional), and the fact that the 2APC arrangement means that there is only a short delay before the first cut is taken on the next part. The high productivity enables him to keep the prices he charges customers at a constant level, despite the surge in material and energy costs, and is also helping him to win new business. He is now actively selling the capacity, with its benefits of economy and short lead times, to customers and prospects that require components machined within the machine’s 650 x 400 x 435 mm working envelope. n

VMC. SPE’s electricity bill more than trebled from £9,000 to £28,000 per month between December 2022 and May 2023. So it is clear that low energy consumption is no longer merely an added bonus but just as critical to manufacturing parts cost- effectively as fast cycle times. It was the high speed of the Brother machining centre that was central to Mr Smith’s decision to make the investment. He says the

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