No job too difficult 

As production director Mark Simmons explains, the heavy-duty Hartford HCMC 2082 accommodates workpieces weighing up to 2,600kg and provides an X-axis capability of more than 2m: “This now allows us to machine long shafts for oil and gas valves for example, and the machine’s high-speed milling capability of up to 8,000rpm combines perfectly with its high torque value of 650Nm.

“The result,” he says, “is a machine that is perfectly suited to processing the difficult to machine materials we process such as Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel, 17-4 PH, S316 Super Duplex, Zeron 100 and Waspalloy that have characterised our business since we were established 39 years ago.

“Importantly, too,” he adds, “the machine’s integral thread milling capability has also enabled us to eliminate a separate tapping operation which, on these types of materials, often created problems and frequent tap breakages.”

With ten employees, the family-run business knew investment in a larger, faster vertical machining centre to ensure it continued to provide its oil and gas industry customers with the parts they wanted at cost-effective prices was a necessity.

“We decided to replace two ageing machining centres with one new machine and when we compared the Hartford to a competitor, it was immediately clear that it was a much better machine. Also, we already have a smaller capacity Hartford Kappa machining centre and have been very pleased with its rigidity, performance and the level of back-up and support from the supplier, TW Ward CNC Machinery (Ward CNC). We had no hesitation in placing the order for the new machine.”

Processing small batches of either one-, five- or ten-off – for companies also in the defence, hydraulic, mining, nuclear petrochemical and rail sectors, the Hartford HCMC 2082 has X-, Y- and Z-axis capabilities of 2,060mm x 820mm x 660mm/820 mm respectively and spindle speeds (geared) up to 8,000rpm from the 11/15kW (optionally 15/18.5kW) motor. The machine has an arm-type tool storage facility for 24/32 tools.

TW Ward CNC www.wardcnc.com

CS Simmons Precision Engineering www.cssimmons.co.uk