Ayrshire-based NPI Solutions has installed two new vertical machining centres and a new Doosan cobot to replace to older machines.
The machines – a Doosan DNM 4000 and a DNM 6700 supplied by Mill CNC – were installed at the company’s 46,000 square foot facility in the first week of July and replace two older machining centres that had served the company well but which had seen better days.
The Doosan M1013 cobot, the company’s first investment in a robotic automation system, was delivered and installed in late July.
The decision to invest in new machine tool and automation technologies was made during the height of the pandemic in April.
Says Kevin Priestley, NPI’s managing director: “We are a company that’s committed to continuous improvement and, as such, regularly monitor and review our performance.
“We had become aware earlier in the year that two of our older machining centres were creating a ‘pinch point’ in our operations and were affecting our productivity and efficiency.
“We decided that we wanted to replace the two older machines and approached Mills CNC to discuss a way forward.”
The company has been using Doosan machine tools since 2011 and in addition to the latest machines has three other Doosan machining centres and three Doosan lathes.
The new DNM 4000 is a compact machining centre equipped with a 18.5kW/12,000rpm direct-drive spindle, a 20-position quick-change ATC and, inline with NPI’s preference, the Fanuc 0iMF control.
The DNM 4000 is similar to the larger Doosan DNM 6700 machine which is equipped with a 18.5kW/8,000rpm direct-coupled spindle, a larger ATC (30/40position), grease-lubricated LM roller guide ways and thermal error compensation system that ensures high-accuracy over long machining runs.
Explains Kevin Priestley: “We machine high-precision components - from prototypes and small batch series through to larger volumes - for a growing number of UK and international customers.
“To meet their quality and lead time demands we need access to reliable, high-performance machine tool technologies. The new Doosan machining centres are a case in point.”
The company’s commitment to continuous improvement and willingness to invest in the future was the driving force behind its first collaborative robot investment.
Says Kevin Priestley: “We are always looking to improve and recognise the power and potential of automation.
“In discussions with Mills’ sales and technical consultants we began exploring the benefits we could gain from integrating a cobot with our Doosan DNM 350-5AX (5-axis) machining centre acquired in 2016.”
“The ability to run the machine and cobot unattended was particularly appealing and would help us really take advantage and exploit of the DNM 350-5AX’s one-hit machining capabilities.
“Lights-out operations is a desired state. The cobot investment is a first step in getting there.”