The challenge
Customer demand at Pulse Engineering had grown so quickly that they needed two fully automated 5-axis machining centres to keep up. The problem was manpower: with the team flat out on existing work, there was nobody free to get new machines up and running.
Wayne suggested they go ahead with the order and leave everything else to us. GF Machining Solutions had the machines in stock, so delivery was quick and the clock was ticking.
What we did
- Planning: sat down with the Managing Director to agree budgets and the work planned for the machines.
- Tooling and workholding: negotiated and ordered all the tooling and workholding for both machines, while programming the first jobs for each in hyperMILL.
- Grid plates: designed and programmed versatile grid plates for quick, easy setup changes, then machined them once the material arrived.
- Machine setup: mounted Lang Technik vices to the plates, loaded the standard bank of tools, filled the machines with coolant and proved out the programmed jobs.
- Inspection and handover: sent the first-off parts to inspection and, while waiting for the results, loaded the remaining System 3R pallets so production could start as soon as any adjustments were made.
The result
Both machines were handed over fully set up and ready to run 24/7 with minimal intervention from the Pulse Engineering team, giving them the extra capacity they needed without taking anyone off existing work.
Services used: Automation, CAD/CAM programming, Tooling & fixturing advice and Machine investments.
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