Linear drives cut auto cycle time

Tag : Machine Tool Body

Mr Schlaefli first saw the compact linear driven Citizen machine inits original R04 version in operation at a watchmaker inSwitzerland and realised the potential for the type of small turnedparts his company is producing in Merton, near Wimbledon. At thetime though he felt that the machine’s 4 mm capacity mightbe restrictive.
But his view was changed when Citizen introduced the larger R07, a7 mm material size version in 2006 and Mr Schlaefli put a proposalto Citizen Machinery UK of Watford on certain changes he would likeon the machine to make it more versatile for his production.Following his approach it was then agreed a process applicationwould be developed with his company for the automotive component.
As part of the agreement, Citizen Machinery UK loaned the firstmachine for three months and its application team, with Citizen inJapan’s approval, worked with Mr Schlaefli and his setters tocarry out the changes that enabled the massive reduction in cycletime of 14 secs on an automotive part to be achieved. Indeed, suchwas the success and the return generated from the trials, thatTenable Screw paid for the machine, ordered two more and even paida premium to air freight the two purchases from Japan rather thanface delays for the normal sea transport. Said Mr Schlaefli:“It’s simple economics – our savings meant theadditional cost of air freight was recovered in just fourweeks’ production.”
Said Mr Schlaefli: “Investment has never been a problem forour company providing it can be justified.” Tenable Screw hasthree operational centres: the headquarters in Merton running 45CNC machines; a production site in Coventry, largely involved insecond operation machining and multi-spindle production, serves theMidlands; and another sited in Marlborough that covers productionof high volume components using cam and rotary transfer machines.