FT Gearing Systems
operates 16 Studer
CNC grinders
Committed customers
FT Gearing Systems depends on Studer grinding technology; Coorstek returns to Okamoto for challenging
ceramic grinding duties; plus, Italian fi rm gets more out of tools ground on Walter Ewag kit
Aldershot-based FT Gearing Systems
operates 16 Studer (Advanced
Grinding Supplies, www.is.gd/
uhagad) CNC grinders, the largest collection
of Studer machines owned by a single UK
company.
The business has established ve
satellite production units since the
company’s inception in 1978, all co-located
at FT Gearing System's HQ. Each unit is
dedicated to a separate manufacturing
function, with the company's most recently
opened production unit specialising in high
precision grinding in a temperaturecontrolled
facility and where the company’s
16 Studer CNC grinders can be found.
Explains managing director Graham
Fitzgerald: “In addition to other challenging
customers, we manufacture and supply both
domestic and overseas defence and
aerospace companies with a wide range of
safety-critical components, such as gears,
miniature gearboxes, fuel pumps, engine
controls, wing surface actuators and
instrumentation.
“Given the sectors we deal with, quality is
in the very DNA of FT Gearing Systems and
permeates every aspect of our work. A major
part of our quality philosophy is to provide
our highly skilled staff with the best
available machine tools and to maintain
GRINDING, HONING & SURFACE FINISHING BENEFITS START TO SURFACE
close relationships with our machine tools
suppliers.
“A perfect example of our use of premium
quality production aids is our use of our
range of advanced Studer CNC grinders.
These technically superior machines are
able to consistently deliver levels of
accuracy and repeatability that conventional
grinding machines are unable to achieve.
For instance, through the use of Studer
technology, we are able to accomplish submicron
total cylindricity results on 35 mm
diameter gear journals, we can also achieve
0.08 micron levels of surface nish and gear
atness to three light bands equivalent to
0.00088392 mm.
“To enable grinding to sub-micron
dimensional tolerances, we recently installed
our Studer CNC machines in a new,
temperature-controlled grinding facility.
To guarantee the highest possible levels of
quality and productivity, we also use the
best available grinding consumables and
accessories. Therefore, as well as
purchasing our Studer grinders from
Advanced Grinding Supplies, we also rely on
the company for items such as diamond
dressing tools, precision centres, abrasives/
grinding wheels, coolant lter media and air
ltration systems.
“Our Studer CNC grinders provide
excellent levels of precision, surface nish
and reliability, they also deliver outstanding
levels of production. Even though we have
always been delighted with the performance
of our Studer machines, mindful of the
possibility of technical developments made
by other manufacturers, in the past we have
considered other brands. Although, each
time we have been able to specify a Studer
grinder that perfectly meets our needs and
that outperforms the alternatives.”
CERAMIC GRINDING CHALLENGE MET
At leading engineered ceramics
manufacturer CoorsTek, following 12 months
of trouble-free operation at its Crewe
manufacturing facility, an Okamoto 818 CNC
surface and pro le grinder has been
integrated as a core part of the company’s
specialist surface grinding operations.
The machine was one of the rst to be
supplied by Jones & Shipman Hardinge
(www.is.gd/tirasi) Okamoto’s sole distributor
in the UK. As a long-standing Okamoto and
Jones & Shipman user, CoorsTek did
however consider another CNC purchase
from the company.
The Crewe manufacturing plant produces
high precision and complex components
such as extreme duty seals for use in
sectors like oil and gas, chemical and
www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets | May/June 2020 25
/
/tirasi)
/www.machinery.co.uk