The Tewkesbury-based precision sub-contractor
Colt Precision recently installed a Doosan DNM 6700 vertical machining centre, which is being used to machine a range of high-precision and complex parts for the medical devices, defence, aerospace and general engineering sectors.
The machine — supplied by
Mills CNC Ltd, Leamington Spa, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland — features the latest Fanuc 0iMP control and was supplied with a Nikken 5AX 201FA five-axis rotary tilting table to help increase its capabilities and application potential.
Parts are machined — in relatively small volumes — from a diverse range of materials that include stainless steels, steels, aluminium, titanium and plastics.
Explaining the background to the company, owner and co-director, Simon Tarrant, said: “When we acquired Colt Precision in 2014 our objective was to create a world-class manufacturing company.
“With our our background and previous experience medical devices, we decided to focus on this sector and did everything we could to build a strong reputation in the market for precision and perfection, and cultivate a growing and loyal customer base. We are always monitoring and analysing the business and its performance, and if we identify a weakness or an area that can be improved, we act quickly to rectify the situation.”
Following an internal audit (undertaken in 2018) that focused on company sales, the future sales pipeline and existing customers, Colt Precision decided to gradually reduce its dependance on the medical devices sector, which then accounted for 80% of its business. The outbreak of the pandemic proved that the company’s decision to diversify was both a prescient and a prudent one.
To consolidate and grow its position in other industries and sectors, which incidentally also includes other medical markets like surgical instruments, equipment and accessories, Colt Precision undertook a review of its CNC technologies in January 2021. This showed that if the company was to keep moving into different industry sectors its milling capabilities needed to be revamped and strengthened. The result was the Doosan DNM 6700.
This large-capacity vertical machining centre has a work envelope of 1,300 x 670 x 625mm, a 1,500 x 670mm table, a direct-drive 18.5kW 12,000rev/min spindle with the BIG Plus dual face and taper interface, a 30-position ATC, roller LM guideways, integrated thermal compensation and a Fanuc 0iMP control with the latest iHMI.
In addition to the Nikken five-axis unit, the machine was also specified with a Renishaw OMP60 and OTS tool and workpiece probe package, and an MH500 swarf conveyor for high-efficiency chip evacuation.