A specialist sub-contract machinist has installed a a B-axis mill-turn centre to extend considerably the complexity of in-cycle prismatic machining that may be carried out.

Specialist contract machinist, PG Technology, has installed a B-axis mill-turn centre at its factory in Mitcham, Surrey. Supplied by NCMT, the Okuma Multus B300-W is the first twin-spindle mill-turn lathe on site and increases the contract machinist's turning capacity to 630mm diameter by 900mm long. It also extends considerably the complexity of in-cycle prismatic machining that may be carried out.

Business development manager, Clive Evans, stated, 'The addition of the Okuma machine to our existing, high quality CNC turning department will give the company a strong competitive edge in the UK and Continental European market place.' He added: 'With the Multus, we can make in one operation components that are normally machined in three to four ops.

So we are able to be even more competitive in delivering the right price for our customers, with which we have built up excellent working relationships based on high quality and rapid delivery.' Evans recently mentioned an aircraft hydraulics component in stainless steel that was previously quoted at GBP 118 and which could now be supplied for GBP 85.

There is a good chance that PG Technology will win this work next time around.

Another mill-turn job that will shortly take advantage of the 11kW milling spindle on the Multus is a stainless steel, eccentric cylindrical component that currently needs four operations on a lathe and a machining centre.

It will be machined in two operations and to very high accuracy, the position of some drilled holes being tied up to 3 microns relative to the bore centreline.

Installed at the end of August 2006, the Multus was first used for pure turning applications to give the operators a chance to familiarise themselves with the Okuma OSP P200L control and the machine's 7-axis CNC technology - X, Z, Y, B, C1, C2 and W (longitudinal travel of the opposed spindle).

On these jobs, the combination of the 15kW turning spindle, HSK A-63 tooling, 40m/min rapid traverse in X and Z and synchronous pick-up by the opposed spindle has on average allowed PG Technology to halve both the number of separate operations and manufacturing times, according to Evans.

Vincent Bootes, owner of PG Technology, commented, 'I am delighted to support the company with substantial new investment in the latest technology when I see the enthusiasm and commitment of the business to progress and strive for the ultimate accolade of world class supplier.' Concurrent with the new mill-turn centre installation, PG Technology purchased several seats of EdgeCam software, version 11, from Pathtrace to generate complex cutter paths.

A further development will be relocation of the factory in the first quarter of 2007 to new freehold premises nearby in Mitcham.

This will see the present 24h, 5 days/week operation go to 24/7 working, subject to recruitment of extra skilled people, which Evans complained is always a challenge.

He concluded, 'The Okuma Multus has already strengthened production of rotational components.

It brings turning in line with the highly advanced machining centre capacity we have, which includes full 5-axis capability.' 'The only way to compete these days is to invest in modern, capable production equipment like the Okuma Multus and it does not stop there, as we are currently looking into another 5-axis milling centre.

It will help in our goal to become the best supplier in the UK of machined parts, on time and to the right quality.