IMPROVE IN-PROCESS AND FINAL INSPECTION BORE GAUGING ROUTINES
Hone-All Precision Ltd: Boasting an excellent reputation for its expertise within the field of Deep-Hole Boring, CNC Honing, CNC Turning and CNC Gun drilling, Hone-All Precision Ltd has recently invested in additional advanced machine tools and ancillary equipment to help keep pace with the growing demand for its services and to further reduce lead times for the company’s customers.
Hone-All’s advanced technical capability enables the precise machining of components of up to 300mm diameter and 3m in length, often in difficult-to-machine materials such as inconel and hastelloy. Moreover, the company is able to produce depth-to-diameter ratio holes, whilst guaranteeing excellent surface finish and straightness characteristics. Illustrating the Hone-All’s technical ability, a surface finish of 0.8micron Ra/32 and a total run-out (TIR) of 0.025mm/25.4mm can be achieved through the company’s advanced deep-hole drilling techniques.
Components requiring deep-hole drilling of up to 30mm diameter include con rods, drive shafts, electronic housings, injection mould tools, actuators and landing gear.
To help satisfy growing demand for the company’s specialist machining expertise, especially from the Aerospace and Oil & Gas sectors, Hone-All Precision has also recently completed an extensive upgrading and refurbishment programme on its four deep-hole boring machines, providing an additional 20 per cent deep-hole boring production capacity.
Hone-All believes in the power of its effective Quality Management System, and that achieving BS EN ISO9001:2008 is not simply about completing satisfactory audits and achieving a yearly certificate. Used to maximum effect, the company’s Quality Management System has helped streamline all company processes and practices; whilst Hone-All’s world-class manufacturing techniques ensure excellent products and service at every stage of manufacture. By embracing all relevant systems and techniques, the company is able to constantly evaluate all of its processes, allowing the system to highlight areas requiring improvements.
Evidence of Hone-All’s commitment to absolute quality can be found in its recent approval to AS9100 – the dedicated Aerospace industry approval that is required for suppliers of critical aerospace components. This standard demands higher levels of quality, traceability and service reflecting the vital importance of the components supplied under its banner. Typical of the progressive company, within 3 months as a self starter, Hone-All achieved the coveted Bronze award status in the Supply Chains for the 21st Century initiative, and are now also working towards Silver level SC21.
The Directors of Hone-All define quality as the provision of products and services that meet or exceed their customer’s needs and expectations, at a cost that represents true value. To achieve this objective the company strive to understand the needs of their customers and suppliers, focus on the prevention and not the detection of problems and on making continuous improvement against measured objectives. To help improve the company’s effectiveness and to comply with the requirements of the company’s demanding quality system, Hone-All invest heavily in the training and development of their employees and in first-class inspection aids. Typical of the company’s quest for excellence is its recent purchase of an advanced range of long reach Bore Gauges from Bowers Metrology UK.
Explaining the recent purchase, Hone-All Director Andrea Rodney said “Although our previously used Bore Gauges remained serviceable, as part of our continuous improvement programme, we investigated the available systems that would improve the accuracy, repeatability and speed of use of our in-process and final inspection bore gauging routines. Having dismissed the alternatives for not matching our exacting specifications, following a successful demonstration, we were happy to buy Bowers’ XT Xtreme Bore Gauges. Rather than supplying equipment that was a ‘close-match’ to Hone-All’s requirements, Bowers was able to adapt and accessorise XT Xtreme Digital Bore Gauges, transforming them into the perfect Bore Gauging system for our particular needs.
“Not only was Bowers able to provide length extensions to allow us to very accurately measure 3 meters down inside bores, as standard anvils had the potential to leave marks on precisely ground internal surfaces, they also fitted each of our new measuring heads with specially ground spherical anvils.”
Bowers’ XT Xtreme’s advanced Bore Gauging range boast a very impressive IP65 rating, rendering them resistant to coolant, water and airborne particles. This makes them ideal for achieving very precise results within hostile measuring environments such as in close proximity to Machine Tools. Amongst a long list of useful features incorporated into these tough instruments are: a clear digital display, metric/inch conversion, an RS 232 output and hardwearing extended travel carbide measuring anvils. Available to measure internal diameters of up to 500mm, in addition to long reach applications, Bowers is also able to manufacture inexpensive ‘one-off’ XT instruments to cater for many other internal measuring applications, such as threads, grooves, splines, etc.
Andrea Rodney continues; “Now in regular use, for both on-machine measurement routines and within our Inspection Department, our XT Xtreme Bore Gauges allow us to achieve micron accuracy on the shop floor. The new Bowers instruments are already making a significant contribution to the accuracy of our output, and through their speed of operation, helping to reducing our lead times.”
Published on May 05, 2011 11:25 updated on August 18, 2011 10:03