Enhancing Gas Distribution Manufacturing with Sliding Head Technology

Situation:

Our customer in the gas distribution industry historically manufactured their components using a casting process. This method can cause porosity making the parts weak. Recognising an opportunity for improvement, CBE+ assessed the process and believed that better quality parts could be produced more efficiently and cost-effectively using solid bar (with minimal porosity) and our advanced machining capabilities.

Task:

CBE+ was tasked with manufacturing these parts on our Citizen Sliding Head Machine, ensuring they met exact specifications while significantly reducing production time and costs.

Action:

To achieve this, we leveraged the capabilities of our bar-fed Sliding Head Machine:

• Three simultaneous programmes – The machine is capable of running three different programmes simultaneously, allowing multiple tools to machine the parts at the same time.
• Twin-spindle operation – This feature enables two machining operations to be performed concurrently, reducing overall cycle times and improving efficiency.
• Continuous bar feeding – Eliminates manual loading and downtime, ensuring a seamless, high-speed production process.

Result:

By implementing this advanced machining solution, CBE+ successfully manufactured the gas distribution components with:

• Faster turnaround times – The production process became significantly quicker compared to traditional casting.
• Cost savings – Automation and simultaneous operations reduced labour and material costs.
• Consistent quality – The precision of CNC machining paired with the technical knowledge of our team ensured that every part met the required specifications with high repeatability.

By transitioning from traditional casting to our Citizen Sliding Head Machine, CBE+ delivered an innovative, cost-effective, and high-quality solution for our customer, reinforcing our commitment to continuous improvement and advanced manufacturing excellence.