MACHINING CENTRES DRIVING PERFORMANCE
To build on the success of the other
machine, JWA decided to buy another VCN-
530C and purchased one of Mazak’s rst
state-of-the-art 5-axis CV5-500 machining
centres.
The CV5-500 is unique in its category due
to its high rigidity bridge construction with a
fully supported trunnion table that travels in
the Y-axis direction under the bridge,
ultimately delivering an extremely accurate
and compact machining solution.
Operations director Peter Wood says: “In
order to take that next step as a business
and take on larger orders, we needed
precise, automation-ready machine tools that
could operate with minimal manual
production. With these aims in mind, it was
clear that Mazak were the rst choice.”
The CV5-500’s 12,000 rpm spindle is
capable of a peak performance of 18.5 kW
and 119.4 Nm, making it suitable for the
wide range of materials JWA works with. Its
rapid traverse rates of 36 m/min in the X, Y
and Z axis also allows for highly agile
performance, and it can process work pieces
up to Ø500 mm x H320 mm, and up to 200
kg in weight.
This 5-axis capability will enable JWA to
increase the manufacture of high quality
parts and reduce the amount of operations
required for job set-ups. Additionally, the
CV5-500’s compatibility with a wide variety
of automation systems will allow the
company to implement ‘lights out’
machining, further expanding its overall
production capacity.
PEDAL POWER
In another sector, bike pedal company
Pembree, which was launched during the
pandemic by Phil Law, has installed a Haas
( www.is.gd/Xhrvt3 ) VM-3 vertical mouldmaking
machine with a 12,000 rpm spindle,
30 +1 side mount tool changer and a 5-axis
trunnion unit (pictured to the left).
Law says he wanted a CNC machine in
his factory from the beginning and after
shopping around and asking the advice of
some former engineering colleagues, he
decided to go for the Haas model.
Pembree’s rst product, entirely selfdesigned,
is the R1V bicycle pedal and was
unveiled in August 2020. The pedal is 100
per cent recyclable and is developed at a
factory, in Heath eld, East Sussex, that is
powered by solar and wind.
“It’s very important to me to have full
control of my products,” he explains. “I
know where all the materials come from and
I know the names of the people making the
parts I outsource. Of course, I manufacture
most things in-house.”
– a Grob ( www.is.gd/eYOnfa ) G550T 5-axis
New bike pedal company Pembree has installed a Haas VM-3
vertical mould-making machine with a 12,000-rpm spindle
(pictured right)
The Yamazaki Mazak CV5-500 is helping JWA Tooling “take
the next step” as a business (pictured below)
“I’m a product designer and this is my
rst CNC, but the Haas control is so simple,
I can do everything I need to. The machine
was installed right before lockdown so the
on-site training did not happen as planned
but Haas could not have been more helpful
though. They organised a virtual training
session where I picked up the basics to get
me running,” adds Law.
He uses the Autodesk ( www.is.gd/RzTZTA )
Fusion 360 CAD/CAM package for designs,
which he explains works seamlessly with
Haas and the 5-axis capability “has paid for
itself already”.
“As I am the only person on the factory
oor, I don’t have time to keep moving
metal. The R1V pedal can be made in two
operations; that makes a massive difference
to the ef ciency of my day,” adds Law.
“The next 12 months will be very
important to Pembree. I have three more
products ready to roll; I really want to get the
message out there and Haas is helping me
achieve those goals. They’ve got the
solutions and given me the support to move
forward.”
KEEPING ON TRACK
At Simmons Machine Tool Corporation – a
machine tool builder for the railway industry
www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets | January 2021 35
/Xhrvt3
/eYOnfa
/RzTZTA
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