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Lentus Composites installs Asquith Butler's machine

19 Jan '17

3 min read

Eynsham-based Lentus Composites has installed a Sahos Dynamic bridge-type machining centre with 5 metres X-axis for machining pattern board, aluminium mould tools, and components made from composite materials. The 5-axis machine was delivered and commissioned in March 2016 by sole UK agent, Asquith Butler, provider of solutions for machining applications.

The model chosen by Lentus from Blue Ray’s compact, modular range of Sahos Dynamic travelling-gantry, 5-axis machining centres was the FC5000 High 5X. It has a fixed, 5-metre, cast iron table that allows either one long component to be processed, or tandem machining whereby a smaller part is set up at one end while machining of another component is in progress at the other.

A 2-axis, liquid-cooled head, which carries a 24,000 rpm / 12 kW spindle motor, provides the two rotary CNC axes, ± 110 degrees in A and ± 400 degree in C. Control is by a TNC530HSCI from Heidenhain, whose TS640 touch probe for workpiece datuming and TT140 measuring probe for tool wear and breakage detection to minimise spindle downtime are also in use. A 12-position disc magazine is installed for HSK-F63 tools.

The machine is presently operating a single shift at Lentus plus two to three hours unattended at the end of the day. Addition of a second manned shift will be instigated soon and 24-hour operation with a 10.00 pm to 6.00 am ghost shift is planned.

Simon Odling, managing director of Lentus said, “We chose the Sahos Dynamic for a number of reasons. In particular, we felt that the construction of the machine when compared to its competitors was an improvement on the industry norm, providing a stiffer, more stable machining environment. In addition, we specified direct measurement in all axes including the 5-axis head. These provide absolute feedback and minimise time-consuming maintenance and down-time associated with aligning the axes, as well as providing significantly improved positional repeatability. Having tested the market with other local machine users, we received positive feedback from other Sahos machine owners in our sector.”

The rationale for the Sahos machine’s purchase was to further develop Lentus’ vertical integration, as the ability to deliver the complete supply chain solution, often in compressed timescales, was important. There were already two turn-mill lathes and a mill-turn machining centre with a carbon management package on site, all of which continue to be used, but a dedicated, large-capacity machining facility was needed for composite components and the manufacture of patterns from tool boards. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India