production world
Centrax builds on FGC capacity
CENTRAX has
bought four new
high-performance
(FGC 2) Flexible
Grinding Centres
from Hardinge. The
machines were
ordered when the
Newton Abbot
company visited Hardinge’s stand at EMO, and
the deal was finalised at Hardinge’s open house
event in October. They will be delivered to
Centrax’s Turbine Components Division (TCD)
by Spring 2008.
The capex decision follows trials based on
performance (part accuracy, quality,
repeatability); operational efficiencies
(increased tool/wheel life, reduced consumable
costs etc); technical and applications availability
and accessibility - and price. Says Andy Bould,
R&D and Operations Teamleader at CTD: ‘The
Hardinge solution was first-class; we value
Hardinge’s applications support and project
Finite Precision bolsters machining capacity
management - and that they have taken the
time to understand our business and the
pressures we face.’
The Division specialises in making highprecision
compressor and turbine aerofoils,
discs, shafts and casings, and associated hardware
including sub-assemblies and engine modules.
Centrax, a privately-owned company established
in 1946, is an approved supplier to many of the
world’s leading gas turbine engine OEMs and its
products are used extensively in both civil and
military aerospace and industrial gas turbine
applications as well as in military auxiliary
power units. The company’s Gas Turbine
Division manufactures and maintains power
generation equipment (from 2.5MW to 6.3MW)
for industrial and oil/gas markets. Over the last
eight years Centrax has invested in six Mark 1
FGC machines (Bridgeport FGC 1) that are still
effectively doing the work of four or five
conventional creep feed grinding machines.
The FGC 2 machines are 5-axis travelling
column-type VMCs designed to optimise the
FINITE Precision now has all of its requirements for large, specially machined bolsters met by DMS-
Diemould, the UK’s largest manufacturer and distributor of precision engineered components for use
in injection moulding and diecasting tools. This arrangement affects price, delivery and quality for
Finite and its customers.
Totnes-based Finite Precision was formed ten years ago, and now has a a strong order book serving
the consumer goods, packaging, automotive and medical sectors. Services include pressure dies for
aluminium and zinc including clip tools, injection mould tools (single and two-shot), stack moulds,
prototype aluminium injection moulds, compression moulds, jigs and fixtures. ‘We’re extremely busy
at present,’ says director and co-founder Peter Vosper; ‘we know that many of our customers enjoy
the flexibility we can offer because of our relatively small size; and for various reasons, want to
continue sourcing tools from the UK.’
His association with DMS-Diemould began along with his own career in toolmaking some 35
years ago. ‘Even then DMS-Diemould was one of the main suppliers in the UK’ he explains; ‘I had no
hesitation in continuing to use DMS when we launched Finite Precision. Today we place more orders
with DMS than at any time in our history. DMS-Diemould has machines that we haven’t; it can
machine large, special bolsters more cost effectively than us - it’s as simple as that. We prefer to
concentrate on our core business, which is making the parts that go in the bolsters.’
At present DMS-Diemould has two special bolsters in progress for Finite Precision, one of which is
a huge 2 tonne bolster for a 2.5 tonne tool for a vacuum pump component. Finite Precision also
purchases the majority of its ancillary requirements from DMS-Diemould.’ DMS always hit the delivery schedule,’ says Peter Vosper, ‘which is obviously
crucial for a small company with a number of important customers. Together with DMS-Diemould we know we produce a quality product; in fact this
was the original premise behind the formation of Finite Precision. We gained ISO9001:2000 accreditation in 2004 and operate a policy of continuous
improvement. We take a lot of pride in what we produce and I can say with confidence that today we are one of the best in our field.’
www.finiteprecision.co.uk www.dms-diemould.co.uk
CNC Mini Mill £21,995
Simple. Innovation.
For details, or to view this machine locally call 01603 760539 or visit www.haas.co.uk
10 MWP january 2008
creep
feed grinding
process, while
delivering the benefits of
multi-axis one-hit machining.
Key performance attributes and features
include: diamond roll (double) dressing
capability to cater for extended and/or multiple
machining operations - plus ability to dress incycle;
automatic wheel change capability (48position),
either 16 by 220mm or 12 by 250mm
diameter wheel capacity with 3.5 sec T-T-T
changeover time; 38kW 8,000revs/min spindle
(BT 40 face and taper); improved high-pressure
and programmable coolant delivery system
using twin nozzle technology delivering 90bar
through its wheel cleaning nozzle and 40bar
through its grinding/cooling nozzle;
Heidenhain iTNC 530 control with specific
NGV grinding software enabling simultaneous
5-axis machining of complex features.
www.hardinge.co.uk
www.centrax.eu.com
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