Starrag UK has enhanced the number of machines it has in-situ on the Advanced Manufacturing Park with a seven-axis Bumotec s191 linear CNC turn-mill centre being installed at the AMRC with Boeing Centre.

This Swiss-built machine has linear drives and high-level thermal stabilisation that achieves machining accuracies of 2.5 microns in the six-sided single set-up machining of even the most complex workpieces within the X, Y and Z axes capacity range of 400 mm, 200 mm and 410 mm, respectively.

According to Dr David Curtis, Technical Fellow at the AMRC with Boeing Centre: "The Bumotec s191 gives us opportunities to develop revolutionary new machining processes in any material and for any sector. We are now looking for projects where we can take small, complex components and develop optimised, cost-saving solutions that add value to UK industry."

With the main spindle complemented by a sub-spindle that can turn in both horizontal and vertical planes, the multi-functional machine offers a host of functions including turning, milling, drilling, thread generation, grinding, gearcutting and hobbing.

Tool magazine options extend to up to 90 pockets, to enhance single set-up operations on a machine with a bar capacity of 42 or 65 mm. Rapid traverse rates of 50 m/min and a 30,000 or 40,000 revs/min spindle speed also contribute to the machine's fast cycle times.

The machine will be on show and demonstrated on Tuesday May 9 when visitors will be able to witness its prowess at presenting cost-effective and highly accurate solutions to industry sectors including micro-mechanics, medical, avionics and watchmaking components, for example, as well as electronic and aerospace parts in a host of materials including all metals, composites, ceramics and zirconium.

The Bumotec s191 joins six other Starrag-supplied machines at the Advanced Manufacturing Park; three each at the AMRC with Boeing Centre and the Nuclear AMRC.