The first UK 'taker' for a linear motor axis powered CNC lathe reports some cycle times cut by up to 35% on complex aerospace hydraulics components, and considers buying another.

The first UK customer for DMG's groundbreaking CTX 420 linear lathe is aerospace specialist Metric Precision Engineering. This investment has allowed the Birmingham-based company to cut some of its cycle times by up to 35%. The CTX 420 linear, and the smaller CTX 320, offer dramatically increased production through the use of dynamic linear drives in the X-axis.

The result is instant response, with acceleration/deceleration up to 1.5G and rapid traverse speeds of up to 60m/min.

Both CTX lathes utilise the high-speed, Pentium-powered Siemens 840D Powerline CNC with 3D ShopTurn software - a Windows-based interface that gives fast and simple interactive programming and integrated 3D real-time simulation.

The machines also feature extremely fast turrets and tailstocks as well as direct measuring systems in all axes.

The result is minimum idle time and maximum productivity.

Metric Precision supplies four of the biggest aerospace companies in the country with complex turned parts, including components for hydraulics, linkages, gearboxes, drives and control valves.

As Joint Acting MD Darren Causer explains: 'Our parts are made to the highest standards and we are quality assured suppliers to all of our customers.

We work to very close tolerances on a daily basis, often with exotic materials, and specialise in making the components other companies find almost impossible.

Nothing we make is simple - they are all complex parts.

'To achieve our goals we needed a machine to help us maintain our competitive edge.

I started looking at what was available, and what would complement the range of machinery that we already had in place.

The CTX 420 linear turn and mill machine from DMG, with a magazine bar feed and twelve driven tools, was the machine I was looking for.

'The linear drive gives a big advantage over a ballscrew as there is no delay in the response time - it moves instantly when the CNC tells it to.

It is also totally consistent with no play or variation in diameter due to changes in temperature.

And it really is fast.' As well as the linear drive, he was also impressed by the Siemens control with real-time simulation and the 5000-rpm main spindle.

The integrated spindle drive gives exceptional acceleration and braking - from 0 to maximum revs in just 1 second, from full speed to zero in the same time and a continuous duty torque of 270Nm.

Typical operations on a component might include turning, back-turning, drilling, reaming, thread cutting, chamfering and boring.

According to Mr Causer: 'With the CTX 420 linear we can get the component off the machine complete with no need for second operations on a milling machine.' The CTX 420 linear will be used on some of Metric Precision's longer running components to make the most of its superior capabilities.

It is currently running 10 hours a day turning and milling on bar up to 65mm in diameter.

'The linear motor's speed and versatility mean we have cut some of our cycle times by up to 35%.

Installation and training went very smoothly with no disruption to our other manufacturing.

The back-up service seems to be very good too.

We are probably looking at buying another one in 18 month's time,' says Mr Causer.

'Nothing can touch this machine - and we've got some nice machines.

We not only have the first CTX linear lathe in the UK, we also have the edge on the competition.'