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Aberlink CMM

7/26/2019

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​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
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​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 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.” 
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Aberlink CMM

7/8/2019

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With a global Headquarters in Troy, Michigan, at the heart of America’s largest automotive manufacturing area, in addition to being involved in a multitude of other industrial sectors, Delphi is one of the world’s largest automotive parts manufacturers. Reflecting the global nature of its business, the company operates 138 wholly owned manufacturing sites, 36 joint ventures, and 28 technical centres located in 34 countries.

Delphi boasts extensive experience in high-pressure fuel injection technology and has developed several innovative design and control strategies to meet customer’s requirements for cost competitive, low noise systems that provide accurate injection
over the life of an engine. The company is the world’s second largest supplier of diesel technologies and has a strong position in the light duty, medium duty and heavy duty segments, covering everything from low-cost light vehicles for developing markets,
up to high-technology common rail and Electronic Unit Injector (EUI) systems for the world’s most sophisticated passenger cars, trucks and off-highway vehicles. One
of several company manufacturing plants situated in the UK, Delphi’s Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, facility specialises in the high-precision manufacture of EUIs for heavy duty applications, helping vehicle and engine manufacturers around the world to meet increasingly demanding emissions legislation.

Delphi’s advanced EUI comprises an individual camshaft-plunger pump for each cylinder, that is capable of delivering fuel at very high pressures (up to 2500 bar). These high injection pressures are absolutely essential to enable engines to meet current and future emissions legislation, but require incredible manufacturing tolerances – often in the sub-micron region. Delphi’s ingenious EUI systems incorporate full electronic control, with pilot injection being employed to reduce noise. Ensuring optimum operation efficiency, sensors located around the engine feed a continuous stream of data to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) which calculates the exact amount fuel to be injected and the timing of its delivery.

In accordance with the company’s philosophy of continuous improvement, an international truck manufacturer recently challenged Delphi Stonehouse to tighten the geometric tolerances on the interface between the EUIs from 100 µm to 30 µm.

Exceeding drawing requirements, and beyond the inherent capability of the processes involved, the new increased tolerance demanded a revaluation of the manufacturing and inspection methods involved. The urgency of the request called for a rapid reaction from the customer-focused Stonehouse team. Mindful of the required quick response, a manufacturing and inspection strategy was embarked upon for the
high-volume injectors. As an inspection bottle-neck was quickly identified as a major potential difficulty, in consultation with Chris Gay, one of the Delphi Stonehouse’s preferred inspection equipment suppliers; several potential gauging solutions were explored. Having deemed dedicated fixtures as being too inflexible, an ideal solution was found in the best selling, Axiom too Coordinate Measuring Machine from the largest UK owned Coordinate Measuring Machine manufacturer, Aberlink.

Will Johnson, Delphi Stonehouse Quality Manager, takes up the story. “Having rejected several other measurement strategies, the in-depth understanding of our complex
and tight-tolerance measuring problem, shown by Aberlink, on our initial approach to them, gave us the confidence to explore their suggested solution. Within a two week period, working closely with Delphi personnel, Aberlink ran injector measurement trials, made minor modifications to their software, successfully completed arduous R&R trials and installed two Axiom too CNC CMMs within the Stonehouse facility. Mindful of the urgency of our requirements and to further expedite the procurement process, we took advantage of Aberlink’s Rental Scheme. As the Aberlink operator interface is relatively simple, we have enjoyed the benefits of a reduced training time, whilst the high speed of our new Aberlink CMMs will enable us to keep up with the current, unit inspection volume of 2000 units per week, and also our projected throughput of 3000 units. It   was enlightening to compare the Axiom too with our existing CMM, that cost 5 times more. We were astonished that our new, less expensive machines delivered similar levels of accuracy, whilst considerably out-performing the more expensive CMM when it came to the speed of inspection routines.”

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Despite the prevailing economic conditions, Aberlink has continued to enjoy excellent global sales within the small and medium CMM market. Dave Robinson, Business Development Manager at Aberlink, points out “our strategy of providing high quality products, that are affordable, accurate and above all easy to use, has enabled   Aberlink to grow organically to become the largest UK owned CMM manufacture. New initiatives, such as our generous Machine Rental Scheme, have enabled customers to continue to obtain our CMMs at a time of restricted liquidity”.

Always at the forefront of CMM innovation, Aberlink has recently completed installation of several specialist machining centres at its worldwide headquarters in Gloucester.
In-house manufacturing is an investment Aberlink has always believed in, not only to control cost but more importantly to ensure the most appropriative equipment and process are used to manufacture the key components it uses to build machines. Every Aberlink CMM’s boast a high-grade aluminium bridge incorporating premium quality air bearings ensuring optimum performance across a range of environments, including less than perfect shop-floor conditions. Whilst ingenious integration of the machine electronics into the CMM frame, rather than a separate desk unit, has resulted in Aberlink machines boasting the smallest footprint of any equivalent size machine.

Popular throughout the world, Aberlink’s revolutionary 3D measurement software provides the user with a powerful, yet easy to use interface, substantially increasing new users’ component through-put, whilst greatly shortening their software leaning period. Aberlink’s flexible 3D metrology software package has been developed as a multi-platform solution, in addition to supporting both manual and CNC CMM’s, it can also be used on portable arms, vision systems, video machines and profile projectors.

​​Visit us at: www.aberlink.com email: sales@aberlink.com or call: +44 (0)1453 884461 for more information.
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    Don Ward
    Manager Sales and Consulting

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