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With 5-axis machining
technology now
accessible to any
company, Machinery
delivers seven case
studies to highlight the
breadth of available kit
and its application
Companies
give it fi ve Rivercircle returned
First of newly introduced machine
model gets thumbs up for a second
Last year, Rivercircle invested in one of
the rst XYZ UMC-5X gantry-style
simultaneous 5-axis machining centres,
with the ambition was to gain ef ciency
by transferring work being done on 3- and
4-axis machines. Such was its success
that it has won numerous new contracts
for 5-axis-type work, resulting in the
arrival of a second UMC-5X.
For over 30 years, Peterboroughbased
Rivercircle has developed its
business, becoming a leading designer
and manufacturer of special-purpose test
and assembly machines, and multi-cavity
rubber and plastic mould tooling. It
prides itself on being able to provide a
complete service, keeping as much as
possible, from design through to nal
mechanical and electrical assembly and
testing, in house, including machining.
Says Jonathan Theobalds, managing
director, of the rst machine: “Our
investments in machining capacity had
led us to ever more complex machines
and we had been considering 5-axis for a
few years, but always struggled to justify
the price-versus-capability argument. The
size of machine we needed always
appeared far too expensive, while the
those we felt we could justify on price
just didn’t have the performance or
capacity we needed, limiting the
potential gains for the business from
5-axis. Therefore, when we were
introduced to the XYZ UMC-5X, which
was in the right ballpark, as far as price
and performance were concerned, we
went for it.”
In selecting the machine, a team from
Rivercircle visited XYZ Machine Tools’
factory in Devon to see the UMC-5X in
action and talk through its potential with
the XYZ sales and applications teams.
Given the type of work undertaken by
Rivercircle, particularly on its mould tools
where materials such as P20 tool steel
to XYZ Machine Tools for
more 5-axis kit
is commonly machined, spindle
performance and overall machine rigidity
were vital considerations in making any
purchasing decision.
“There were several factors that
swung us in favour of the XYZ UMC-5X”,
says Paul Langan, Rivercircle’s
production manager. “The machine
construction and design gave us the
con dence that it would perform as we
expected and with our mould tool work
the high torque (260 Nm) and 15,000
rpm spindle are perfect for roughing and
nishing tool steel.
“Another key point was the option of
the Heidenhain control, as this is a
control system that we favour here, and
not having that option would have been a
barrier to us placing an order. As it was,
we only used one day of training to
familiarise ourselves with the machine,
and our CAM programming engineer,
Steve Goodson, has fully embraced the
move to 5-axis with no further
requirement for programming support
from XYZ.”
The production manager adds: “We
have also fully integrated our Mastercam
software 4D Engineering, https://is.gd/
uvameq with the machine control and
the post-processors all being updated
during the installation of the machine,
Editor – Andrew Allcock MIET
Art editor – Neil Young
Sales director – Joe Opitz
Sales manager – Beverly Jepson
Circulation manager – Chris Jones
Production – Chloe Jeakins
Publisher – Jon Benson
Cover image: Whitehouse Machine Tools
Machinery (incorporating Sheet
Metal Industries)
MA Business, Hawley Mill, Hawley
Rd, Dartford, Kent DA2 7TJ
Tel: 01322 221144
© MA Business 2019
(ISSN print 1753-0482/online
2049-3312)
Printed in the UK by Pensord Press
4 September 2019 www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets
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