Single set-up success

So when operations manager and company director Mark Bennett describes the productivity gains achieved with an Amada THV460 milling machine as impressive, the story is one worth hearing.

“The Amada machines four sides of the workpiece for a single job set-up,” he explains. “Also, the operator can set up another job on the control unit with one still running for an immediate follow-on. The Amada even enables continuous cutting of a manifold block on the machine, while the operator is setting it up in readiness for the next job.”

The Amada THV460, installed at Sun early in 2018, handles 50% of its manifold production, replacing two Nichols machines which had been fitted with CNC controls by Sun. Only a Kearney & Trecker machine remains active, alongside the Amada.

Mr Bennett says the Amada duplex milling machine has significantly reduced the job throughput times – which he refers to as: “an amazing achievement.”

The Amada THV460 was supplied by Accurate Cutting Services, and Mr Bennett was impressed with the comprehensive operator training.

He comments: “There were two days of training onsite with a further day on offer to check how well the operators had settled into their routines. The support from both Accurate Cutting Services and Amada has been very good.”

The THV series of duplex milling machines handle up to 1,200 x 1200 x 400mm material and are equipped with two milling heads which self-centre to the component to reduce setting time. Each head can be fitted with multi-face cutter blocks to mill faces and corners in the same operation. These features offer a high angularity and parallelism and speed of changeover to reduce costs and time.

Accurate Cutting Services www.accurate-cutting.co.uk