"A principal requirement for the VTL was therefore robustness, which was part of the reason we chose the 19 tonne Okuma & Howa. The twinspindle lathe turns left and right knuckles simultaneously over three shifts, seven days a week, producing 150 pairs a day well within tolerance."

Painted steel knuckle forgings are delivered by a local supplier. Handed components are set up by the operator in bespoke fixtures in the two vertical spindles and the components undergo mirror-image operations, as follows.

First, a centraliser mounted in the 12station tool turret moves in to ensure that the part is fixtured correctly, followed by rough turning of the datum and back bores. Next, a combination tool finishes the top of the datum bore with one indexable insert and a second insert turns an internal groove. Finally, the back bore and the bottom of the datum bore are finish turned.

Operations on the twin-pallet, horizontal machining centre, on which four knuckles are fixtured per pallet, involve milling all faces, removal of the calliper and strut using gang milling cutters, drilling four holes and boring to size.

Tel. 024 7659 0669