The first of its type in the UK, the larger of the two, the 65 mm bar capacity Biglia Quattro 465 T3Y3, has twin-opposed spindles and three Y-axis turrets -13 axes in total - has doubled the company’s capacity and widened its capabilities.
For example, as multiple spindles allow it to mill and turn simultaneously, the time to make one particular mechanical component for the aerospace industry was cut from 75 to just eight minutes on the machine.
Managing Director Tim Winzer said: “It was an important investment for our company but we knew we had to reduce cycle times to remain well ahead of the competition. “Before they arrived we were using two or three machines per component. Now it’s all done in one machine. We are now able to carry out a lot of balanced turning and milling at both spindles, as the third, lowest turret serves both. Often during the cycle we have three tools cutting simultaneously.”
Morris production engineer Lee Clarke said the Biglia had improved his working environment with a full week’s production recently completed in just one day. He said: “It really has made a difference and the accuracy is staggering. It can work in any metal or plastic and the process is so quick.”
Accuracy is everything in precision engineering with a margin of error on some components of less than a few microns.
The second machine is a smaller, 36 mm bar capacity B436 Biglia twin-spindle lathe with two Y-axis turrets for producing smaller turn-milled parts.
