CNC millers extend manufacturing experience

More CNC machine tools have been added to a Faculty of Enginering that uses industry-standard CAD/CAM software so that students experience the complete design to manufacture cycle.

Whatever the individual's background, interests or ability,Coleg Menai reckons to have something to offer on its threecampuses situated in the university city of Bangor and the Isleof Anglesey, North Wales. A wide range of vocational and academiccourses ensures that the college's intake continues toincrease year on year, with over 10,000 students currentlystudying full- or part-time at the College, at home and on-line.The campus at Ffordd Ffriddoedd houses the Faculty of Technology,which has more than 500 students each year signing up toengineering courses ranging from NVQ Level One to Higher NationalDiploma. Students are actively encouraged to move freely betweenvocational and academic courses in order to reach their fullpotential, and the College also plays a major role in keeping theWelsh language alive, with much of the day to day dialogue takingplace in Welsh.

'The quality of the teaching and theequipment we have here allows our engineering students toexperience the complete design to manufacture cycle forthemselves,' says David Price, who heads the Faculty ofTechnology.

'We use industry-standard CAD/CAM software andthe machine tools installed here are broadly representative ofthe level of technology that is to be found with employers inthis region.

One of the reasons why we opted for XYZ machines,for example, is that they are used in the Airbus factory atBroughton and we want to provide training on equipment that iscompatible with the market we serve here in North Wales.'Coleg Menai's latest purchase is a 13HP (10kW) XYZ Mini Mill560, which despite its small footprint of just 6ft2 (0.56m2) hastravels of 560mm in X, 400mm in Y and 500mm in Z.

It alsofeatures rapid travels of 20m/min, a 10-station toolchanger (16optional) and spindle speeds up to 8000 rev/min as standard or12,000 rev/min optional.

With safety very much in mind, steelconcertina covers are fitted to all three axes.

The Mini Mill 560installed in the Faculty of Technology is equipped with theSiemens 802D control, although the Siemens 810D conversationalShopmill, Fanuc Oi MB and Heidenhain iTNC 530 controls areoffered as alternatives.

In common with other XYZ CNC machinetools on site, the new machine is networked to the design suite,which means programming can be done either on- or off-line.

Thisgives students hands-on experience of downloading CAD/CAMprograms.

Workshop instructor Rhys Parry says he reassuresstudents new to CNC with the words: 'If you can use a mobile'phone, you can operate an XYZ machine'.

He singles outthe Prototrak control fitted to the manual/CNC mills as'being a great introduction to CNC' and, as the personresponsible for maintenance, is equally enthusiastic about thereliability and maintainability of the XYZ manual and CNCmachines.

The first Prototrak-equipped mill was installed 10years ago, while the latest, a SM1500, was installed lastSeptember.

It has a 3HP (2.25kW) spindle motor providing a75-4200 rev/min variable speed range and X, Y and Z travels of660mm by 330mm by 406mm.

With operator safety a majorconsideration, especially in a college environment, full tableguarding is supplied as standard.

One indication of how wellstudents have responded to the quality of the teaching and theinfluence of the technology available to them at Coleg Menai canbe gauged from the College's success in last November'sEEF Modern Apprenticeship Competition for Wales.

It was the ninthyear in a row that Coleg Menai swept the board in thisprestigious competition, with prizes awarded to eight studentswho between them are serving apprenticeships with AngleseyAluminium Metal, Blaenau Plastics and BNFL.