The AS9100 registered business’ policy of continuous investment in the best available machine tools has resulted in what is an impressive plant list, including 3-, 4-, and 5-axis milling and twin spindle mill-turn centres. Merc’s high specification machine tools allow the efficient manufacture of a wide variety of complex, components and the production of parts from difficult to machine aerospace and subsea related materials, including nickel alloys, duplex and stainless steels, titanium and magnesium.
Prompted by continually growing demand, Merc recently installed an additional Matsuura MX-330 PC10 5-axis machining centre, bringing its dedicated Matsuura cell total up to four. As with its predecessors, the new Matsuura machine tool was equipped with Lang workholding purchased from Thame Workholding.
Before the installation of the company’s two original Matsuura 5-axis machining centres, thorough research was undertaken into the most suitable workholding systems. Having assessed the options in the marketplace, it was decided that the Lang workholding range from UK agent Thame Workholding was the ideal system.
Merc Aerospace commercial director, Richard Meade explains: “As we purchased both of our original Matsuura MX-520 machining centres and our recently installed models to satisfy increasing demand, we knew that installing these high-yield 5-axis machines was only half of the answer.
“To make certain that we delivered the volumes of high-quality components demanded by the ambitious contacts we had committed to, we needed to source a suitable range of robust workholding that would not only hold our workpieces securely, but would also be able to minimise our non-productive time spent on set-ups and maximise our machine tools’ available production time.
“A demonstration made by Thame’s Tony Lewis convinced us that Lang workholding ticked all the right boxes. Having now used the system for some time, we have estimated that we have slashed the time previously spent on set-ups by as much as 75%. In addition, the Lang system provides exceptional rigidity and repeatability of location, when for instance, moving a Lang vice that is holding a part to a second machine tool for further operations.
“When undertaking tight tolerance work, the secure and robust nature of the system has helped us to achieve the required levels of precision and surface finish, thereby enabling us to further reduce our reject rates. It also helps that the various elements of the Lang system have the kind of compact designs and profiles that give us excellent workpiece accessibility. This enables us to adopt our preferred one-hit machining approach and to achieve further timesaving.”
He continues: “Although selected on technical merit only, when comparing it to other brands we were pleasantly surprised to find that Lang workholding was less expensive than some of the other products we considered. As it has significantly increased our Matsuura machining centres’ available productive time and reduced scrap levels, we are happy to report that the Lang workholding has delivered a much quicker return on our investment than we first calculated.”
The UK agent for the Lang system, Thame Workholding, is a leading provider of workholding solutions for all types of machining in both standard and special applications. A high proportion of Thame’s products are designed and manufactured in-house. In addition, the business supplies several ranges of high quality products from companies such as Lang.
Tony Lewis, Thame Workholding’s northern sales manager adds: “As a workholding solution provider, Thame has the resources to offer either standard products from stock or bespoke design and manufacturing services to create the optimum solution to most workholding needs. Having spent some time so that I could fully understand Merc Aerospace’s particular requirements, I was certain that two specific Lang workholding ranges would be perfect for the company needs.
“Now used around the clock and delivering on all of the promises made, the Lang Makro-Grip 5-axis workholding system is proving to be the ideal solution for Merc’s demanding 5-axis machining. Clamping on only 3mm of material and featuring Lang’s renowned stamping technology, the range delivers exceptionally secure holding for high performance milling and offers optimal access for five-face machining.
“Also considered a great success by Merc Aerospace’s management is the Lang Zero Point Clamping System. Currently the lowest profile zero-point-system on the market at only 27mm high, Zero Point provides precise and repeatable multifunctional mounting of different fixtures on machine tables, indexers, cubes, rotary tables and mill-turn machine tools.”
Thame Workholding www.thameworkholding.com
Merc Aerospace www.mercaerospace.co.uk
