GB Precision
(www.gbprecision.co.uk), based in Birmingham, says that hard-metal machining on its high-accuracy five-axis Röders machine can provide a very effective alternative to the conventional combination of grinding, jig boring and EDM work for complex components such as mould tool dies.
Supplied by Hurco Europe, the RXP500DS high-speed milling machine was purchased to form an automation cell, along with a System3R robot and an Agie Hyperspark die sink EDM machine.
GB director Paul Turner says: “We selected the Röders for its consistent accuracy. With linear motors on all five axes, precise temperature control and high-resolution optical encoders, it was perfect for the type of work we were looking to automate.
“By directly machining hardened heat-treated components, not only can we eliminate several secondary operations — reducing the opportunity for human error — we can also avoid common problems such as distortion during the heat treatment process. Using hard-metal cutting, we have found that we can produce more-accurate components in a significantly reduced overall time.”
The materials involved are mainly hardened tool steels (including those with a high chrome content), plus titanium, magnesium and others. “Success depends on a number of factors, all of which have to be right, and one of the greatest difficulties to overcome is people’s perception
of what can be done on a milling machine today.
"With the level of accuracy we can achieve on the Röders machine and the vast improvements in cutting tools, whole new ways of working have become possible, with really significant benefits in terms of lead times, finish, manpower and increased accuracy.”