The installation of an 'electronic' lathe has saved up to a third in machining times over previous methods for copper welding arms and released CNC machines for higher volume work.

The installation of a Pinacho Mustang 200 'electronic' lathe by StarragHeckert UK of Brackley has saved up to a third in machining times over previous methods for copper welding arms at Welding Electrode Store of Redruth, Cornwall. Says Andrew Hosking, managing director: 'We carefully evaluated the market for the most suitable machine before purchasing the Pinacho and concluded that it represented excellent value for money over the competition. The added benefit of the flexibility of the Mustang 200 is that it releases our other CNC machines for higher volume work.' The decision to purchase was also aided by the ability and reputation of StarragHeckert UK as a lathe specialist with the resource to provide training and full service backup.

Installed in August 2001, the electronic Pinacho is now used exclusively for the production of welding arm components which were previously machined on more expensive CNC machines or manual centre lathes using skilled operators.

It is in daily use producing batches of between one and 10 components that vary in diameter from 12 mm to 50 mm and are up to 500mm long.

Tolerances are generally within + 0.05mm.

The copper welding arms are widely used by the automotive industry for fitment to industrial robots engaged in car body welding and are ordered directly by the vehicle manufacturers from the Redruth company.

Welding Electrode Store, which is a 30 employee company with some 10 CNC and 15 manual machines on the shopfloor, produces resistance welding equipment and consumables for most of the major automotive companies in the UK.

The Pinacho Mustang 200 has a swing over the bed of 400mm, a 7.5kW drive giving up to 3,000 revs/min with constant cutting speed and electronic handwheels for X and Z axes.

Ideal for single parts or small batch runs, the operator is fully supported by high level graphics with a choice of different visualisation zones as well as zoom and a large capacity memory allows program storage for repeat machining tasks.