Keywords
Citation
(2004), "Mill/turning capacity for subcontract production", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 76 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2004.12776fab.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Mill/turning capacity for subcontract production
Mill/turning capacity for subcontract production
Keywords: Turning, Machining, Aerospace industry
An investment of over £500,000 has been made by Kenard Engineering in a Mori Seiki five-axis mill/ turn centre and multi-axis turning centre to expand its capacity for machining, in particular, complex components in difficult materials for aerospace and defence sectors.
The two machines, a simultaneous five-axis MT 2,500 mill/turn centre with 120 tools and 12 station turret and SL603 chucking lathe, were a result of several months trials and comparison against similar machine concepts. The new installations are a key element in the continuous investment plan of Kenard that has two sites in Dartford, Kent and Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.
Said Keith Ellis, Director: “The type of work we produce is very demanding in material, complexity and especially customer requirements. We need machines of this capability to combine operations wherever possible and give us a lot of flexibility and capacity”.
Both machines will be installed at the Dartford site which employs 52 people and runs around the clock. The MT 2500 which has 30 kW spindle and 15 kW drive to its single milling head is backed by a 120 tool magazine. It has a maximum machining capacity of 550 mm diameter by 1,528 mm turning length under Fanuc 16 MT control. It also has a high accuracy capability through glass scale axis positioning and has high volume 70 bar coolant pressure.
Higher spindle power from a 45 kW motor and a 930 mm maximum turning diameter by 2,300 mm between centres and a 275 mm through bore, will enable the Mori Seiki SL 603 with its 12 station, all driven by 9.75 kW motor mill/turn turret, provide a universal solution to Kenard to cater for a wide range of precision sub-contract components.
Details available from: Kenard Engineering Company Limited. Tel: +44 (0) 1322 292238; E-mail: keith@kenard.com; Web site: www.kenard.com