AMETEK Precitech has announced the creation of the Precision Advancement Center of Excellence (PACE), which will open at Taylor Hobson’s facility in Leicester.

To help improve the facility’s capabilities, AMETEK Precitech has supplied a four-axis Nanoform X configured with the Optimus Laser Assisted Machining system from Micro-LAM. This machine is designed to improve the throughput and quality of diamond-turning processes for materials that are hard to machine, including glass, fused silica, BK7 and Zerodur.

The PACE facility is an applications centre for advanced diamond turning manufacturing and metrology. The goal of the centre is to provide coordinated advanced diamond turning and metrology capabilities to the European market under one roof.

Keith Kowalski, Precitech vice president and business unit manager, said: “I am excited to join forces with Micro-LAM, Taylor Hobson, and Zygo to create this applications centre for advanced machining and metrology.

“In addition to expanding cooperation with Taylor Hobson and Zygo, which are both business units with the Ultra Precision Technologies Division of AMETEK, I am also delighted to expand our partnership with Micro-LAM to deliver unrivalled performance in ultra-precision machining of glass and other challenging substrates.

“Their laser technology, combined with our industry-leading machining capabilities, offers something truly unique – extending tooling life and providing fast, accurate machining of both challenging, as well as previously unmachinable, materials.”

Deepak Ravindra, CEO of Micro-LAM, said: “This is a great step forward for Micro-LAM, our AMETEK partners, and our customers. The PACE facility is an ultra-precision machining ‘playground’ for the precision machining community

“What makes this venture more exciting is its timing. While our industry has been somewhat separated by the global health pandemic, we are joining forces to provide our customers in Europe access to ‘state of the art’ technology.”