MACHINING & MACHINERY
THE PERFECT MATCH
FANUC
Fanuc CNC makes the cut for Holroyd
When a UK manufacturer of ultra-precise
rotor milling machines required a CNC
system for one of its multi-million-pound
technologies, it needed to work with
a trusted CNC supplier with global
recognition. Holroyd Precision was tasked
to deliver a rotor milling machine, with
internationally-recognised controls which
could perform high precision cutting
for a leading Chinese manufacturer of
refrigeration equipment.
The complex machine required a CNC
solution that would be easy for operators
to use. Holroyd turned to FANUC UK for
support, where it provided its CNC services
to the UK manufacturer.
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED
MANUFACTURINGWith 160 years of
experience, Holroyd Precision specialises
in the design, build and supply of high-
precision rotor milling and rotor grinding
machine tools. The company’s founder
designed and patented a unique thread
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milling process that utilised a rotating cutter
with multiple blades. This machine was
ultimately exhibited at the British Science
Museum.
Fast forward to 2019 and Steven Benn,
Regional Sales Director at Holroyd, explains
how the company prides itself on delivering
high precision: “Our grinding and milling
machines produce some of the world’s
most accurate rotors, gears and threads,
which are used in a range of applications,
including refrigeration, air compression and
gas processors. All built to order, Holroyd
machines feature uncompromising levels of
innovation and build quality as standard.
“Over the decades, we have established
ourselves as a trusted global manufacturer,
supplying a number of industries. The
Holroyd 8EX, as purchased by our Chinese
customer, for example, is essentially a large
helical profile milling machine, which uses
carbide insert roughing cutters to create a
full-depth groove by traversing the cutting
tool through a material at the relevant helix
angle. Simultaneously, the machine rotates
the component in the C-axis, which allows
customers to manufacture rotors to a high
standard in a timely manner.”
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CNC?
The choice of CNC has a big impact on
the performance of the machines. Having
worked with FANUC since the 1990s,
Holroyd Precision contacted the team to
see if they could provide a suitable CNC
solution for this latest 8EX build project.
FANUC recommended the use of its
31i-MODEL B CNC for the Holroyd 8EX,
thanks to its ability to manage highly
complex machines with multiple axes,
multi-path and high-speed, high-precision
machining requirements. Providing the
highest performance, accuracy and surface
quality, the CNC is partnered with Holroyd’s
specially developed human machine
interface (HMI).