Aberlink CMM in Motion

LG Motion Ltd design and manufacture specialist motion technology products and provide associated services to End-User and OEM professional institutes and organisations throughout Europe. The Basingstoke based company's powerful computer aided design provision, together with its impressive manufacturing facility and access to the technical resources of major international motion technology manufacturers, enables the delivery of a range of imaginative solutions to global customers' problems.

As mechanical and electronics disciplines continue to merge into an integrated whole, LG Motion recognise the need to provide a comprehensive service embracing all aspects of system engineering. This all-inclusive approach has lead LG Motion to becoming the motion technology provider of choice for many of the world's leading companies involved in the fields of science, industry and commerce. Areas covered include - Laboratory Automation, Scientific Research, Aerospace & Defence, Processing & Packaging, Energy and Specialist System Integrator markets. Motion applications across science and industry include nuclear handling and fuel-rod inspection, synchrotron facility installations, aerodynamic analysis of high performance racing cars and the design and manufacture of rapid pick and place machines.

Due to the nature of the important projects LG Motion undertake and their customer's high-precision requirements, in addition to employing premium quality machine tools and ancillary equipment, the company also invest heavily in the best available inspection equipment. To avoid the potential inspection bottle-necks, that could have occurred due to the growing volume of work passing through the company's busy workshop, a decision was recently made to investigate the available high-quality Coordinate Measuring Machines. LG Motion Managing Director, Gary Livingstone explained "In addition to our reputation for innovation, our current status is based on the extremely high quality of our output. As well as thorough in-process inspection routines, we also undertake exhaustive trials and final inspection before pass-off. To keep pace with our manufacturing facility we identified the need for a CMM that could carry out rapid inspection of components, and that would also further improve our accuracy capability. Having had demonstrations of several excellent CMMs, we decided that the Axiom Too from Aberlink Innovative Metrology had the edge on its opposition. As much of the Axiom Too is based on our field of expertise, high-quality motion technology, we were able to appreciate the CMMs ingenious design and robust construction."

"Now installed, the Aberlink CMM has far exceeded our expectations, it has proven to be extremely accurate and repeatable, and through its speed of operation, has removed the possibility of delays in our Inspection Department. As the machine is so easy to operate, our training period was surprisingly short, in-fact our operators were able to undertake complex measuring routines within hours of the Axiom Too's installation. In addition to all aspects of dimensional inspection, the recorded data from our new Aberlink CMM now plays an important part in our essential traceability records"

"As we believe in on-going close liaison with all of our clients, each major project has its own dedicated LG Motion team, consisting of a project manager, a project engineer and a designer. The team is responsible for every aspect of a system from its earliest design stages, through the development phase where modifications can be agreed and costed, then on to final assembly and commissioning. To enable visual communication with our customers throughout the inspection stages of projects, we have fitted a high-resolution web-cam to our Aberlink CMM. This facility has proven to be an excellent aid to communication and is very popular with all of our clients"

The cost effective Axiom Too is the top selling Coordinate Measuring Machine from the largest UK owned CMM manufacturer – Aberlink Innovative Metrology. Available in manual and CNC variants, Aberlink's popular Axiom Too CMM can truly be described as the complete Inspection Centre; high measuring accuracies are achieved through the use of the latest metrology techniques and advanced in-house manufacturing methods. The Axiom Too boasts an all aluminium bridge resulting in a very low thermal mass, this means that the machine ideal for use either in controlled environments or within less than perfect shop-floor conditions. Thanks to the Axiom Too's use of advanced materials, its reduced inertia results in class leading speed of operation. For increased accuracy air bearings of optimised stiffness are employed on all axes, whilst a granite Y Beam allows preloading of bridge bearings in both directions.

The CMM's sturdy component support consists of an advanced granite/aluminium honeycomb construction, this technology, borrowed from the Aerospace industry, provides natural damping and further improves the machine's thermal properties. Despite the Axiom Too's generous measuring volume 640x600x500 or 640x900x500, the machine's compact design occupies a relatively small footprint, with the controller and all peripherals housed within the Axiom Too's workbench.

Equally rewarding when used by the novice or an experienced CMM operator, the easy to use Axiom Too utilises Aberlink's famous, intuitive 3D software, ensuring greater user productivity and profitability. A welcome bi-product of any Aberlink CMM inspection routine is that a simultaneous picture of the measured component is created on the computer screen. Dimensions between the measured features, mirroring those that appear on the component drawing, are then picked off as required. In essence this ‘smart' software represents an intelligent measuring system that is able to automatically recognise and define the various features being measured. Aberlink 3D is claimed to be the easiest to use CMM software currently available, and a complete novice is usually able to perform relatively involved measurement routines after just 5 minutes training.

Aberlink CMM a 'Paragon of Virtue' for Speed & Accuracy

Established in 1973 by John Kratovil, Paragon Precision Products has developed into a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality turned/milled components to international markets. The demanding global industries supplied by Paragon include the defence, aviation, automotive, autosport, fibre optics, medical and scientific research sectors. The well known company also has extensive experience in manufacturing and supplying highly specified components for a range of military applications.

Paragon is committed to maintaining the highest standards of component quality and service whilst optimising productivity; this is achieved by utilising advanced CNC Machine Tool technology. Further efficiencies are gained through the implementation of a progressive Kanban system and whenever possible, by the use of "lights out" production. Paragon's policy of continuous investment in the most up to date, highly productive technology and the use of progressive production systems, enables the company to produce high-quality components in small, medium and large batch quantities, at very competitive prices. An illustration of the success of the company's abiding price/quality philosophy is the recent award of a large production contract, won despite the presence of extremely aggressive Chinese competition.

Paragon's modern production facility provides a clean and efficient, purpose-designed operating environment where a team of precision engineers are able to produce high-quality components to exacting specifications. The company's well-equipped CNC machine shop houses a comprehensive range of precision machining, milling and turning equipment, all using up to date CNC technology. Operation of the company's machine tools is optimised by the use of a fully automated, feature-rich CAMWARE system that provides extensive CAD drawing capability and design tools.

To ensure that this ISO 9001 Quality Assured company retain the hard won reputation they enjoy for the high quality of their output, regular investments are made in the best available quality control technology. An illustration of Paragon's commitment to quality is the company's recent purchase of an advanced Axiom Too Coordinate Measuring Machine from Aberlink Innovative Metrology.

Paragon Precision Products Managing Director Paul Kratovil explains the reasons behind the company's latest, high-tech acquisition. "Although our Inspection Department is well equipped with a range of modern measuring and testing equipment, the high volume of work now passing through our production facility meant that we needed to procure a high-accuracy, high-speed CMM that could keep pace with our current levels of production. As our proposed CMM would represent the most expensive piece of quality control equipment ever purchased by the company, we considered many alternatives makes. We also took advice from our customers, who operate several different CMMs. Although some alternatives came close, the ‘stand-out' CMM was the Axiom Too from Aberlink."

Available in manual and CNC variants, the cost effective Axiom Too is the best selling CMM from the largest UK owned Coordinate Measuring Machine manufacturer – Aberlink Innovative Metrology. Aberlink's popular Axiom Too CMM can truly be described as the complete Inspection Centre; high measuring accuracies are achieved through the use of the latest metrology techniques and advanced in-house manufacturing methods. The Axiom Too boasts an all aluminium bridge resulting in a very low thermal mass, rendering the machine ideal for use either in controlled environments or within less than perfect shop-floor conditions. Thanks to the Axiom Too's use of advanced materials, the machine's reduced inertia results in class leading speed of operation. For increased accuracy air bearings of optimised stiffness are employed on all axes, whilst a granite Y Beam allows preloading of bridge bearings in both directions. Borrowed from the Aerospace industry, the CMM's sturdy component support consists of an advanced granite/aluminium honeycomb construction, this technology, provides natural damping and further improves the machine's thermal properties. Despite the Axiom Too's generous measuring volume 640x600x500 or 640x900x500, the machine's compact design occupies a relatively small footprint.

Equally rewarding when used by the novice or an experienced CMM operator, the Axiom Too utilises Aberlink's famous, intuitive 3D software, ensuring greater user productivity and profitability. A welcome bi-product of any Aberlink CMM inspection routine is that a simultaneous picture of the measured component is created on the computer screen. Dimensions between the measured features, mirroring those that appear on the component drawing, are then picked off as required. In essence this ‘smart' software represents an intelligent measuring system that is able to automatically recognise and define the various features being measured. Aberlink 3D is claimed to be the easiest to use CMM software currently available.

Paragon Precision Products Managing Director Paul Kratovil continued. "From the moment of our first contact with Aberlink, we were impressed by the company's very professional manner and their understanding of our needs, later a very impressive machine demonstration helped us to make our decision. Following a short learning curve, our operators found the Axiom Too very easy to operate, and are now using our new CMM for a multitude of measuring tasks. The speed and accuracy of the Aberlink machine ensures that it is able to perform a range of complex gauging procedures extremely rapidly. Our new CMM has also proven very easy to programme, by undertaking a manual mode inspection routine of a given component, Aberlink's 3D software automatically creates a part programme for future use. When working in a CNC mode, the Axiom Too's large component support allows us to load multiple parts, and by selecting the appropriate, pre-written part programme, measure parts in a fully automatic mode."

"As a company we have always adhered to our philosophy of purchasing the best tool for the job in hand, as illustrated by our range of premium quality machine tools. Having applied this same attitude to our CMM purchase, it was particularly pleasing that on this occasion the ‘best tool for the job' was a British CMM that came in at a very competitive price."

Aberlink Ensure Wall Colmonoy Accuracy

Established in 1938, Wall Colmonoy is a multinational materials engineering company with operations in the U.S, Canada, U.K, and France.  The company's high-quality products, marketed under the Colmonoy and Nicrobraz trade names, are well-known throughout the global metals industry for their superior wear protection and advanced joining properties. Wall Colmonoy's renowned hard surfacing and brazing alloys have multiple applications within a wide range of global sectors including the aerospace, petrochemical and processing industries.

From the company's European Headquarters located near Swansea, Wall Colmonoy Ltd (WCL) manufactures Nicrobraz, nickel-based braze filler metal powders, and are able to develop bespoke vacuum brazing techniques and customer solutions for OEM applications.  With the benefit of forty years of UK based experience, the company's high-tech Swansea facility operates a number of vacuum furnaces which range in size from 0.5m to 2.1m in diameter and up to 2.8m in length.  The furnaces feature the latest Eurotherm furnace control technology and are used for vacuum furnace brazing, in addition to a wide range of other advanced heat treatment applications.

Wall Colmonoy Ltd operations are ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, whilst the company's processing operation has NADCAP approval for vacuum heat treatment and vacuum brazing.  Processes such as fluoride and hydrogen cleaning are also available, enhancing the company's advanced brazing/processing capabilities. A fully equipped machine shop, using a range of advanced CNC machine tools reflects the comprehensive nature of the services on offer.

As a provider of advanced wear protecting and joining solutions to extremely challenging applications, within some of the most demanding industries in the world, WCL operate a rigorous quality control regime throughout all aspect of the company's endeavours. Remaining at the forefront of material and dimensional testing techniques, WCL make regular purchases of the latest inspection and testing equipment.

Typical of the company's frequent investments in quality is the latest Coordinate Measuring Machine purchased from the largest UK based CMM manufacturer, Aberlink. David Wilmer WCL's Inspection Supervisor takes up the story. "After seriously considering the alternatives, we purchased our first Axiom CMM from Aberlink more than 15 years ago. The accuracy and ease of use our first Aberlink machine, together with its ability to operate within our harsh environment, meant that, soon after the launch of the successor to our first CMM, we obtained the enhanced Axiom Too machine. Now based within our machine shop the Axiom Too's user friendly characteristics allow our machine operators to make regular in process checks and to measure first-off components."

"Our recent purchase, the much larger Aberlink Zenith Too, CNC Coordinate Measuring Machine, is situated in our environmentally controlled Inspection department were it is used to accurately measuring both single large components, and because of its generous bed size and fully automated, CNC capability, multiple, jig-mounted smaller parts.

Although a relatively recent addition to Aberlink's growing collection, the Zenith Too CMM range, has attracted higher than expected orders from customers involved in, amongst sectors the aerospace, automotive and heavy engineering industries. Boasting volumetric capacities that are able to accommodate an extremely wide range of components, the extensive new Zenith CMM series encompasses 10 machines with XYZ specifications from 1000x1000x600mm – 1000x3000x800mm.

The Zenith Too's cutting edge all aluminium construction, advanced drive design and raised guide-ways ensures that despite its generous measuring envelopes, the machine's extremely low inertia characteristics guarantees supreme speed of operation. The machines' impressive accuracy and repeatability figures are further aided by the range's measuring structure being completely independent of the machine's granite surface table.

Although the new Aberlink series is perfectly suited to use within environmentally controlled inspection areas, it is on the shop floor where the Zenith Too's low thermal mass and extremely robust characteristics come to the fore, enabling the accurate measurement of medium/large or multiple components to take place nearer to their point of manufacture.

The impressive hardware of the new Zenith Too range is complemented by Aberlink's intuitive Windows based software. A welcome bi-product of any Zenith Too CMM inspection routine is that a simultaneous picture of the measured component is created in real-time on the operator's computer screen. Dimensions between the measured features, mirroring those that appear on the component's drawing, are then picked off as required. In essence Aberlink's ‘smart' software represents an intelligent measuring system that is able to automatically recognise and define the various features being measured

So successful has Zenith Too been since its launch in 2009, to help keep pace with the growing demand, from Aberlink's domestic and global markets, the company's UK manufacturing plant is now working at full capacity and actively recruiting both production and development staff to help satisfy its healthy order book.

David Wilmar concludes. "Having explored the alternatives, we felt at the time of our first CMM purchase, that Aberlink had a definite edge over the opposition. Although we are aware of the developments made by other CMM manufacturers in the intervening years, we remain convinced that the technical progress made by Aberlink over the last 15 years, makes Aberlink CMMs by far the most suitable for our particular purposes."