Milling moulds for greater efficiency

Until recently, hard milling was the job a 3-axis, vertical-spindle machining centre (VMC), while the only 5-axis model onsite at BM Injection was reserved for light mould finishing and machining complex, mostly graphite electrodes for sparking cavities.

In 2019 the company invested in a second 5-axis VMC, a Japanese-built Makino D200Z supplied by UK agent NCMT, for rough and finish milling of tool steels to single-figure micron accuracy.

Machining is now carried out in one hit, including complete milling of the gate, whereas at least two operations were previously needed, or else three if a route involving milling plus electrode production and EDM was chosen. Consequently fewer skilled operators are now needed, cutting production costs and alleviating the problem of recruiting experienced staff.

Higher accuracy

Machining in one clamping by automatically repositioning the workpiece in-cycle using the two rotary axes brings higher accuracy by eliminating tolerance build-up. The Makino has internal sensors and strategic cooling of the spindle, ballscrews and machine structure that allow phenomenally high precision to be held in the Whitchurch factory, even though it is not temperature controlled.

Directors Tim Combes and his son Mark pointed to a 54 Rc Stavax test piece machined by Makino under controlled conditions in its test laboratory in Japan to 2µm total tolerance, commenting that double that is achievable on BM Injection's shopfloor.

Tim Combes comments: "Dimensional accuracy is critical when producing moulds and dies. We need to hold ±0.012mm on cavity dimensions, interpolated diameters and hole positions.

"Surface finish is also important. A mould that takes 20 hours to hand polish if it is produced on a sparker can, after direct milling, be finished in three to four hours on the Makino, which is an enormous labour cost saving. Lead-time from order to completion has been cut by an average of 40%.”

Mark Combes adds: "In the case of side-action mould tools, we previously needed to grind them prior to die sinking to achieve the required finish. Now nothing needs grinding and the moulds are finished in one set-up on the D200Z.

"Also, as the machine's high volumetric accuracy leads to less hand polishing of cavities, it is easier to hold the true shape of the mould and die because less material is being removed. This is especially important when making tools for the production of lenses and other optics."

Apart from the Makino machine's ability to hold very high accuracy over its entire 350 x 300 x 250mm working volume, another reason for its selection was the small footprint of approximately 2.75 x 3.75m, which is important as space is limited in the Whitchurch facility. Other features of the machine include a B-axis with 180° of tilt at 100rpm, a 150rpm table C-axis, a 30,000rpm HSK-E50 spindle and cutting feed rate up to 60m/minute.

New EDM technology

Despite the increasing prevalence of hard milling, there will always be a place in toolmaking for EDM and both die-sink and wire erosion machines are in use at Whitchurch. To take advantage of the latest technology in this area, BM Injection decided to add a second spark erosion machine, ordering a Makino EDAF3 H.E.A.T. that arrived at the same time as the new 5-axis machining centre.

Tim comments: "It is a stunning die sinker that is compact and 100% reliable, even on demanding jobs, and it is capable of machining to accuracies measured in low single-figure microns. The machine raises the interest of shopfloor staff and also impresses our customers when they visit.

"The level of intelligence including built into the machine means that one toolmaker can operate both die-sink machines and also the Makino. Deep ribs can be produced quickly, reliably and with low wear on the graphite electrodes. Constant attendance at the EDAF for manual intervention to avoid the onset of arcing, for example, is not required due to the effective spark gap monitoring and arc prevention circuitry."

The machine was supplied with Makino’s optional high energy applied technology (H.E.A.T.), which incorporates dual high pressure, digitally controlled flush pumps and a large capacity, four-step filtration system to provide even faster machining speeds and accuracy, even under poor or difficult flushing conditions.

The latest EDAF has a new flushing control and increased feed rates up to 5,000mm/minute in the X- and Y-axes. Another feature, HS-Rib, gives the Z-axis a jump speed of 20m/minute, a 31% increase over the previous model. Ease of operation is provided by a touchscreen, Windows-based CNC, allowing programming of complex parts even when the control is being used by less experienced staff.

Market sectors

Established over 30 years ago, BM Injection operates from a 10,000ft² manufacturing facility on the Ardglen Industrial Estate in Whitchurch. Eight in ten moulds produced, which weigh up to two tonnes, are used internally for injection moulding of thermoplastic and thermoset products in medium to large volumes in 22 moulding machines rated from 12 to 250 tonnes, some with a pick and place robot.

Customers are mainly in the aerospace, automotive, domestic appliance, leisure, sports, safety, optics and transportation sectors.

NCMT www.ncmt.co.uk

BM Injection www.bminjection.co.uk