Mollart Engineering X-ray head assembly win is reshoring success

The contract, which is being completed at the Resolven facility of Mollart in South Wales, involves some 45 components in each assembly and additionally includes the machining of some significant high tolerance components at the 22,000 ft2 Resolven facility, together with the supply and build of mechanical and electronic components into the final units that will be completed in the recently established Class ISO 7 standard cleanroom area. Says the facility's director, Wayne Thomas: "This project is a milestone for Mollar,t due to its complexity. Significant in the customer decision to appoint us was its in-depth survey and assessment of our facilities and capability. They were impressed with the level of quality that we demonstrated we are able to maintain on other contracts and, most important to them, our track record in meeting delivery schedules." Within the X-ray head assembly is a large aluminium housing that requires 5-axis machining to obtain the geometry and 0.05 mm tolerances. The housing is being machined on a recently installed Mazak VTC-800/30 SR travelling-column machining centre, which represents an investment of £400,000. A surface finish requirement of Ra 0.2 is also demanded, with no allowance for any surface marks - Mollart has to 100% certify each component. Included in the processes that have to be carried out prior to final assembly in the cleanroom area are ultrasonic cleaning and purging using nitrogen. Once assembled, each completed X-ray unit is individually packed and sealed to avoid any contamination.