The first UK customer for a Tornos Sigma 8 is PTFE machining specialist Dalau, Clacton.
When the plastic component manufacturer had an intricate part to produce, Tornos was the only machine tool provider that could solve the problem.
A new medical component that required machining to tight tolerances, its current machine tools were incapable of producing the part. The part is a 4.5 mm diameter 2.5 mm long PTFE part that requires 19 holes all on a PCD at 0.2 mm diameter. All turning centres reviewed were incapable of meeting such demands; however the Sigma 8 with its ability to machine to a 1 micron tolerance has little difficulty meeting the challenge.
Dalau typically produces components for the electronics, telecommunications, aerospace and medical industries, making over 100 million PTFE and plastic components a year. The company operates a temperature-controlled environment, as PTFE components are subject to expansion at elevated temperatures, making it difficult to hold tolerances in the realm of ±0.015 mm. The company has been a long-term user of turning machines from Tornos but it was the Sigma 8 that solved the problem on this occassion.
“Many sub-contract machinists won’t touch PTFE, but with the help of the Tornos machines we have gained the experience to make us a leader in our field. The reliability of the Tornos machines is first class, which is exactly what we require for rapid throughput parts,” says Philip Alston production and QA manager for machined components at Dalau.
The Sigma 8 is the latest in a long line of Tornos machines at Dalau. The company installed its first Tornos cam-driven automatic in the mid 1980s, the company now has 45. In recent years Dalau has acquired Tornos Deco CNC sliding head models and the company now owns four Deco 20 machines, seven Deco 10 machines and its new Sigma 8.
“As a general rule of thumb, straightforward single operation components are loaded to the cam-driven autos, while anything more complex, perhaps involving PCD drilling, milling or second operations of any kind, will be put on the Deco CNCs to come off complete. However, the latest order is taking precision to a new level and this called for new technology,” concludes Mr Alston.
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