Dynamatic-Oldland Aerospace (www.dynamatics.com) is installing a DMG Mori DMC 340 U RS4 Giga milling centre in a new purpose-built unit at its Swindon facility. The first machine of its type in the UK’s private sector, it has a work envelope of 3,400 x 3,400 x 2,000mm and four pallets that can accommodate parts weighing up to 16 tonnes. The rapid-traverse rate is 60m/min, while the tool magazine can hold 180 tools weighing up to 30kg.

Dynamatic managing director James Tucker says, “The versatility of this machine in the manufacture of complex parts in aluminium alloy, steel and titanium alloy fits well into our existing machine pool. The machine — being
installed this month — will help us to serve our existing and new customers and accommodate larger and much more challenging parts.”

Started in the 1970s, the Dynamatic Technologies group has companies specialising in the hydraulics, automotive and aerospace industry sectors. For the aerospace sector, Dynamatic-Oldland Aerospace has four manufacturing plants; these are at Bristol and Swindon in the UK and Bangalore and Nashik in India. The company supplies aero structures and assemblies for the fuselage and wings directly to aerospace ‘primes’, including Airbus, Boeing, Bell
Helicopter and Hindustan Aeronautics.

It is also an Airbus Centre of Excellence for flap-track beams. Dynamatic-Oldland produces two track variants: one for the A320, manufacturing around 50 sets a month; the other for the A330 at eight sets a month.

Ajay Gururaj, project manager at Dynamatic-Oldland, says the size of the machine and the number of pallets was an important factor. “The large bed size will allow us to machine larger parts, while the four pallets will make it possible to run the machine unmanned. With the four-pallet arrangement on the DMC 340 U RS4, parts can be set while the machine is running and complete parts produced in one cycle, cutting one side of the component in one fixture and the other side in a second fixture.

“Additionally, the arrangement gives more flexibility, allowing unmanned machining overnight and the ability to choose the order in which parts are run. If we had chosen a single- or dual-pallet machine, 2-4hr set-up times would have resulted in significant idle times and much less flexibility.”

The company already has enough work to fill the capacity of the new DMC 340 U RS4, with parts that require machining to tolerances of 50-60µm — well within the capabilities of the machine. However, the machine will also give Dynamatic-Oldland the opportunity to broaden its horizons with engine and landing-gear parts, which require tolerances in the 15-20µm range — also easily achievable by the DMG Mori Giga.

Mr Gururaj says: “We get involved in projects at an early stage, with a nine-18 month lead time for industrialising and optimising for cost-effective manufacture. During this phase, we develop special tools and strategies; we also identify the machines — for delivery in nine-12 months — that will be required to solve complex problems.

"Because of the scale of our operation, we are able to plan well ahead, as we are dedicated to longer-term contracts — from a minimum of five years to the life of the product. We have a strategy for investing in capital equipment and manufacturing in the UK, as the cost of money is low and we are close to our market here.”

Steve Finn, managing director of DMG Mori UK, says: “Investing in the DMC 340 U RS4 will give Dynamatic-Oldland a very significant advantage in its market place, enabling it to offer a unique service to its customers. We are delighted that it has chosen to work closely with us both in the UK and India, and we look forward to continuing and expanding our collaboration.”