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Measuring Machine Drives Technological Excellence at Aerospace Manufacturer

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of precision aerospace parts, UK-based ANT Industries has built its reputation on producing components of uncompromising accuracy and quality. Manufacturing complex parts and assemblies for more than 20 different aerospace and gas turbine engines, the SME quite naturally demands the highest levels of precision and reliability from the machine tools and equipment it uses.

With extreme precision key to everything that ANT Industries produces, in 2014 the business invested in a RONDCOM 65B ultra-high-precision roundness and cylindrical surface measuring machine from premier industrial metrology and semiconductor equipment specialists, ACCRETECH.

“The time had come to update our existing roundness and radial form measuring capability,” comments Jordan McAllister, Manufacturing Engineer at ANT Industries. “Having considered various measuring machines, a conversation with one of our aerospace customers led us to look at, and ultimately purchase, the RONDCOM 65B. Our customer had been using an ACCRETECH machine for quality assurance at one of its in-house facilities for a number of years and couldn’t fault its capabilities.”

“As you can imagine, component accuracy and repeatability are critical to our business,” adds Jordan McAllister. “Hence, the RONDCOM 65B’s ability to identify rotational measurement inaccuracies down to 10 nanometres (± 0.01 µm ) was incredibly reassuring when we were looking to purchase. Additionally, over the years, the machine’s considerable throughput capability – thanks to automatic component centring and tilting (a process that typically takes less than 60 seconds) – has saved us a vast amount of process time.”

Week-in, week-out, ANT Industries’ RONDCOM 65B is used to confirm the precise cylindricity, concentricity and run-out of various aerospace components. Parts measured typically comprise engine bearing sleeves of up to 400 mm in diameter, with a roundness tolerance of below nine microns. Thanks to a maximum loading diameter of 680 mm, however, the machine is also well-suited to R&D work completed on behalf of the company’s extensive customer base, while its class-leading accuracy has removed any need for outside verification of components on even the most demanding of projects. Combined, these attributes, along with the RONDCOM’s exceptionally competitive purchase price, have ensured the machine has paid for itself many times over.

The RONDCOM 65B’s easy integration with ANT Industries’ previous and current CMM systems has also proved a major advantage for the aerospace parts manufacturer, as has the machine’s intuitive ACCTee user interface, where simple, straightforward operations for component measurement through to printing of analysis results, enable instant corrections for cylindricity, straightness and concentricity. Extensive component data storage capabilities also ensure rapid comparison and identification of even the smallest deviations or trends in repeatability.

Often an additional-cost option with metrology equipment, active anti-vibration isolation is standard on all RONDCOM 65B machines. A high-precision, air-bearing spindle of ± 0.01 µm accuracy ensures wear-free rotation of the measuring turntable. Additionally, ACCRETECH’s use of gabbro – a highly dense igneous rock – provides high strength, low thermal conductivity and a low expansion coefficient. Non-magnetic, with minimum age-related deterioration, gabbro is practically maintenance free. These attributes further contribute to the RONDCOM’s industry leading accuracy and stability. Gabbro is used in the machine’s column, base and measuring arm for consistent, unwavering results.

What ANT Industries didn’t perhaps anticipate, however, when purchasing their RONDCOM 65B in 2014 was just how consistently reliable it would be. After almost ten years of regular use, the only work required was an adjustment relating to the machine’s R-axis. “This was dealt with promptly by ACCRETECH’s Coventry-based service and support team,” says Jordan McAllister. “Although it wasn’t needed, ACCRETECH also offered to fulfil any calibration requirements we might have while the machine was offline. ACCRETECH are always quick to respond, are genuinely interested in supporting our production goals and provide the highest levels of service.”

“Although 10 years old and in regular use, ANT Industries’ RONDCOM 65B is in first-class condition, delivers class-leading accuracy and shows no signs of age ¬– all virtues which are typical of our measuring machines, and are directly related to their exacting build quality and future-proofed technology,” adds Tim Wood, Head of Industrial Metrology at ACCRETECH Europe. “It is an absolute pleasure to be able to support ANT Industries in the smooth running of their RONDCOM 65B machine and, in doing so, help them maintain the high standards they are renowned for across aerospace manufacturing and MRO.”

For more information: www.accretech.eu

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