The new 3-axis machines supplement the
two 20-year-old Roeders machines that
RDMS operates, leaving a Roeders 600p
VMC free to produce nearly all of the
graphite electrodes in use in the factory, as
well as mould tools, while the Roeders
RP800 continues to be used.
The new RXP500 has a 500 x 455 x 240
mm machining envelope and 60,000 rpm
spindle, while the new RXP801 offers 800 x
635 x 400 mm and 42,000 rpm. Both
machines have spindle growth
compensation.
All machining centres on-site are verticalspindle
models from Hurco, not only the
Roeders but also several own-brand, 3-axis
models tted with the WinMax twin-screen
control system. In addition to two Hurco
BMC30s and the same number of
BMC2416s, there is a pair of VMX42i
machining centres.
They are all used for manufacturing
bolsters, ejector plates, back plates and
other less high-precision work. However, it is
notable the latest Hurco VMX42i has linear
scales rather than rotary encoder feedback of
axis position to the control, making it
accurate for nish-machining of dies.
“The future for us is more automation to
enable us to remain competitive on price
and keep lead-times short, this being one of
our USPs over competitors, especially those
overseas,” explains Richardson.
NUCLEAR AMBITION
Birmingham-based precision subcontractor
Burcas Ltd was searching for a large
capacity, powerful VMC, so it invested in a
new Doosan Mynx 9500/50 (pictured on
Bavarian upgrade
The new Roeders RXP500
machining centre on the shop-fl oor
of RDMS in Oldham
page 24) with a Doosan-Fanuc control from
Mills CNC ( www.is.gd/OIjyom ) - the exclusive
distributor of Doosan machines in the UK &
Ireland.
The privately-owned engineering
subcontractor has had the machine installed
at its 32,000 square foot facility and is
using it, primarily to machine specialist
tooling, prototypes and a range of highprecision
components for the nuclear sector.
The Mynx 9500/50 has also been used,
to a lesser extent, to machine high precision
tungsten carbide and high-speed steel (HSS)
sheeter and slitter knives and blades for
Burcas domestic and internationally-based
paper and packaging customers.
An increase in demand for Burcas
SUBCONTRACTING ADAPTING TO THE MARKET
machining services from customers in the
nuclear sector was the catalyst behind the
new machine tool investment. “To capitalise
on the growing business opportunities in the
nuclear sector we, at the beginning of the
year, audited our existing machining capacity
and capabilities,” says owner and managing
director Mike Burrows.
Subcontractors on the continent are also investing, including
German contract machining rm Microart, based in Roding, Bavaria,
which specialises in the production of components in small and
large batches to very tight tolerances.
Founded in 2007, Microart has become one of Germany’s
fastest-growing subcontractors. It currently has 186 employees and
an annual turnover of around €14 million.
Due to the high level of precision that needs to be achieved,
much of the shop- oor is temperature controlled. To ensure that
billet material is supplied to the machine tools ef ciently and at
a constant temperature, the company has invested in a Unitower
“The results of the audit combined with
our knowledge of the sector (i.e. the type of
components and parts required by our
customers, the machinability of the
materials being used for these components
etc.), highlighted a need for us to strengthen
our milling capabilities as a matter of some
urgency.”
“Although the new machine tool purchase
was driven (almost entirely) by an increase
in demand from customers in the nuclear
sector, we never lost sight it would also
become a major machining asset for our
future aerospace and oil and gas business -
when both returned to something
resembling normality.”
The Mynx 9500/50 is a large-capacity
machine with a working envelope (X-axis
2500mm; Y-axis 950mm and Z-axis
850mm), and a large work table (2500mm x
950mm) that can accommodate parts up to
3,500kg in weight. The machine’s 16m/min
rapid rates on all axes make it extremely
productive.
The Kasto Unitower storage
system and two KASTOwin
bandsaws installed at
microart in Roding, Bavaria
tower storage system and two automatic KASTOwin A 4.6 bandsaws
from German manufacturer, Kasto ( www.is.gd/WP7TNb ).
All three are adjacent to one another at one end of the factory
and the roller door through which new material arrives is carefully
managed to ensure it is opened only when necessary and for the
shortest possible time.
www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets | February 2021 25
/OIjyom
/WP7TNb
/www.machinery.co.uk