Machining centre overcomes EDM cell bottleneck

Cheviot Precision Engineering's ongoing success is demonstrated by its recent investment in a Mikron VCP 710 high performance three axis vertical machining centre

Leading light of the North East of England Engineering sector, Cheviot Precision Engineering Ltd., has been going from strength to strength since its foundation in 1988.

The company's ongoing success is demonstrated by its recent investment in a Mikron VCP 710 high performance three axis vertical machining centre to help tackle an increasing workload machining electrodes and mould cavities primarily for the automotive and telecommunications sectors.

Strong demand for its products led the company to move to larger premises twice in its relatively short history.

Cheviot now employs over 65 staff using state of the art equipment in modern premises conveniently located between Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland.

The company's commitment to the highest engineering standards is evidenced by their impressive list of blue-chip customers and their continuing investment programme in the latest technology, of which the Mikron VCP 710 is an example.

Explaining the rationale for the purchase, MD Ken Hunter commented, "We had found that the time taken to produce electrodes using conventional machining centres often caused bottlenecks which meant that waiting periods developed in the EDM cell.

This was clearly inefficient.

The Mikron VCP 710, with its fast machining rates, solved that problem right away and has freed capacity on the other machines, so speeding up our entire production cycle." Cheviot's objective is to continue to cut production time while maintaining the highest engineering standards.

"Depending on complexity," Ken continues, "It is our aim to produce a prototype tool in aluminium or P20 within four weeks.

We achieve these objectives, not by using stereo-lithography or other RPD methods, but through the use of CADCAM and high speed machining.

We are confident that this is the way forward and we are working towards automating both our machining and our EDM cells." Martin Leaper, MD Mikron (Birmingham), takes up the story, "The management team at Cheviot were impressed by the VCP 710's high build quality, and although they had researched the market thoroughly, they were quickly convinced that that it was the best solution to their functional requirements and would provide the productivity benefits they were looking for." The Cheviot team particularly appreciated the solid, polymer concrete base and columns which result in excellent workpiece accuracy and longer tool life, as well as the benefits of good access to the spacious machining area.

The tool changer, being integral, prevents tools from becoming contaminated with swarf.

The last word goes to Ken Hunter, "At Cheviot we pride ourselves on making a tool as good as anyone in the world.

It's having the discipline, the systems and the technology in place that gives us our competitive edge.".

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