Bristol University needed a large machine to be used manually but also had the software programs to turn more complex shapes, for which a 'half-NC' or 'combination' lathe was selected.
Bristol University has opted for the advanced touchscreen technology of Harrison's Alpha T range of electronic lathes to support the work of its Engineering Faculty, including major new research facilities, which will 'enable world-class UK scientists to remain at the leading edge of research'. An Alpha 460T has been supplied to the refurbished central manufacturing workshop within the faculty; this incorporates the recently-opened Bristol Laboratory for Advanced Dynamics Engineering (BLADE), described as Europe's most advanced multidisciplinary dynamics engineering research facility. Ivan Laver, the Central Workshop Manager, said: 'The workshop is a manufacturing facility for project work, research work, one-offs and specialist requirements for a wide range of engineering studies carried out across the Engineering Faculty'.
'Active suspension, vibration control, materials tests, dynamics engineering, aeronautics and even earthquake research are just some of the projects and areas'.
'There are around 300 undergraduates in each year, who carry out projects, mainly in their third and fourth years, and we also manufacture parts required for these projects'.
'Some projects are carried out in partnership with businesses outside the university so they have to meet standards required by the industry concerned'.
'We needed a large machine that had the capability to be used manually but also had the software programs to be able to turn more complex shapes'.
'The Alpha 460T was recommended to us and we found it was competitively-priced and fulfilled our technical requirements.' Workshop Technician Chris Hunt, who is one of a team of experienced operators, said the Alpha 460T electronic lathe had proved that it was highly capable of producing high-precision turned items, using computerised programs: 'To begin with we mainly used the software on the lathe, but recently we have done a lot more off-line programming and this has enabled us to make even more advanced and complex items.' David Smith, Harrison Lathes' sales director, said: 'The education sector is an important and expanding area for our business'.
'The Engineering Faculty at Bristol University is one of the foremost research and training centres for graduate engineers in Europe and we are very proud that an Alpha lathe was selected to meet the highly demanding requirements of a facility at the very cutting edge of science in this country.' The Harrison Alpha 460T electronic lathe was supplied to Bristol University by Harrison's main UK regional distributor, R K International Machine Tools of Erith, Kent.