Asquith Butler Open House to demo new mill-turn and volumetric error compensation technology

Visitors will be able to see, for the first time, a new compensation system that improves volumetric positioning accuracy, developed for use on large machine tools by the University of Huddersfield's Centre for Precision Technology, in close collaboration with Asquith Butler. The system will be demonstrated at the show integrated into an Asquith Butler Powercentre 500 MT travelling-column, horizontal spindle, mill-turn machining centre, which has 8 m by 2 m by 1.5 m linear travels and a 30 tonne capacity, plus a 3 m diameter turning and positioning table. The compensation system is claimed to reduce geometric errors by up to 90% over the entire working volume. The Open House will also provide a first opportunity to see Asquith Butler's recently launched mill-turn capability in action, with the Starturn - VTG (Vertical Turning Gantry) and Powercentre 500 MT (horizontal mill-Turn) 6-axis machining centres capable of achieving micron tolerances in both milling and turning modes. The machine ranges are based on the long established Starcut and Powercentre series of 5-axis machining centres, to which has been added a large capacity turning/positioning table of 3, 4 or 5 m diameter. In addition to live cutting demonstrations on new equipment, there will be used machines on show, including a 5 m Butler Elgamill HE that is currently undergoing comprehensive electrical and mechanical refurbishment and CNC retrofit. Key equipment suppliers co-exhibiting will be Fanuc, Siemens, Heidenhain, Renishaw, Sandvik, Cytec Systems and CNC Rotary. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Paul Hinchliffe, managing director, email phinchliffe@asquithbutler.com tel: 01484 726620.