Delcam software opens new business opportunities for Midland Precision

July 25, 2002 - Adding Delcam's CADCAM software as part of a comprehensive investment plan has opened three different types of new business opportunity for Midland Precision Equipment, a sub-contract machining specialist based in the Solihull district of Birmingham. "Firstly, we have been able to undertake a wider range of machining operations for our existing customers," explained Managing Director, Alan Ormandy. "Secondly, we have gained a number of new customers, including our first project for a Formula One team, which we certainly wouldn't have won without our Delcam software. Thirdly, it has enabled us to get business from other sub-contractors who are unable to manufacture complex forms requiring high level software."

MPE specialises in the contract manufacture of small, high-precision, complex components, with 90% of them for critical aerospace industry applications. Four years ago, Mr. Ormandy started the development of new business plan for the company, which he felt was in danger of stagnating.

"Our review of the business highlighted two key strengths at MPE," he remembered. "We had built up an excellent reputation for quality, ever since the company had first been established in 1941 as a toolmaker. Also, we had an extremely skilled and experienced workforce. Some of the staff had been with the company for forty years, starting even before we moved into aerospace work in the 1970s."

"In contrast, it was clear that the company would have to upgrade both our buildings and equipment. There would then be a need to provide training in additional skills to compliment our existing strengths and adopt new technologies."

Following an impressive investment programme, MPE now has five Bridgeport and five Mazak machines, including two 5-axis Integrex machines, one Variaxis 5-axis machining centre, plus a Studer 3-axis CNC grinder. The first seat of Delcam's PowerSHAPE and PowerMILL software was installed in June 2001.

"The versatility of the PowerSHAPE modelling software has been extremely valuable," said Mr. Ormandy. "With new projects, we are able to read in and interpret CAD data from the customer very efficiently. We can produce quotations more quickly, which means we get more work. At the same time, being able to undertake accurate calculation of machining times in PowerMILL helps to ensure that we are quoting at the correct level."

"Much of our work involves replacing old components for which no CAD data exists," added Mr. Ormandy. "In these cases, we can quickly recreate the design with PowerSHAPE. We also use the software to design jigs and fixtures to hold the parts during machining and, in some cases, to develop fixtures to assist our assembly operations."

Using PowerMILL's five-axis capabilities has allowed set-up times to be reduced for more complex components. "In many cases, we can machine one side of the part on the three-axis machine, and then place it into a fixture and complete all the other machining in a second set-up on one of the five-axis machines," commented Mr. Ormandy. "The most extreme example was the manufacture of a replacement part that had required 30 separate machining operations when it had first been made. With our new Integrex machine, the majority of the part can now be produced in a single visit to the machine."

Mr. Ormandy predicts that an even greater benefit will come from the ability to machine extremely complex parts from solid that would otherwise have to be cast. For prototypes and very small runs, this approach will be much quicker and cheaper. It can give lead times of two weeks, instead of two months or more that would be needed for castings. This could be critical for Formula One teams, as it would allow them to produce many more design variants of components during their development programmes.

"The success of our investment programme has generated more confidence throughout the company" summarised Mr. Ormandy. "We are now looking for more complex work and longer runs that we would have been nervous to commit to previously."

"The people here are proud of what we have achieved and they have every right to be pleased. We are determined to continue to change and improve so that we can offer an even better service to our customers."

www.delcam.co.uk 

www.delcam.com 

 

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