Jones & Shipman Ultramat has added another dimension to Produmax machining expertise.
Among its newest acquisitions is a Jones & Shipman Ultramat 1000 CNC B universal grinder that has been acquired to replace three older J&S machines, giving Produmax a range of new grinding options while significantly reducing manufacturing cycle times on a number of components.
Produmax has become the first company outside of the USA to achieve the latest AS 9100 revision D quality standard and the first company globally to be accredited to prEN 9100:2016.
One of larger contracts that Produmax undertakes is the manufacture and assembly of wing flap actuators for Bombardier – which have been produced successfully for over 20 years. The actuator assembly contains a number of components where concentricity and a good seal between surfaces is essential for unblemished operation. The new Ultramat CNC has proved highly adept in this grinding operation while reducing the cycle times from 25 minutes to around 5.
Produmax operations director Paul Birtles explains: “Having a machine with such capability and capacity means the technical team are continually finding new projects for it in addition to those we had initially allocated on its installation. This has given us greater flexibility when reviewing methods of manufacture.
The machine at Produmax is a highly specified grinder with a variable rotating B axis, Renishaw probing, Heidenhain ‘Absolute’ linear scales, a full Fanuc 0i CNC and J&S’s own software to minimise set up times and maximise output.
Mr Birtles adds: “We are a highly regulated business, and as validation processes on component manufacturer became ever stricter, we feel that keeping our grinding operations in house gives us 100% control of every process.
Integral to the design and rigidity of the Ultramat is the one piece ‘Tee Bed’ design with fully supported table to produce high geometric accuracy. Available in two grinding length capacities (650mm and 1000mm) with four wheel head options, the Ultramat CNC offers faster set-ups and operating efficiency achieved by the incorporation of a Fanuc® 0i-TD with touchscreen control.