Second CNC tool measuring machine added

A second CNC tool measuring machine will help unplug an inspection bottleneck at a tool maker created by increased customer demand for documented inspection reports.

Specialist tooling manufacturer and supplier, Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), had had installed the UK's first Walter Helicheck Plus CNC tool measuring machine.

Supplied by Koerber Schleifring UK of Honiley near Kenilworth, UK, the Helicheck Plus complements ITC's existing Walter Toolcheck tool measuring machine.

Koerber Schleifring told manufacturingtalk that ITC was currently the only UK company operating two Walter tool measuring machines.

The machineswill help 'unplug' an inspection 'bottleneck' at the company created by increased customer demand for documented inspection reports.

Technical director at ITC, Peter Graves, said that the Helicheck Plus will prove invaluable in allowing the Tamworth-based company to streamline floor-to-floor times of, for example, form tools produced and delivered with appropriate documentation for manufacturing certification and traceability, for aerospace customers such as Rolls-Royce.

Capable of measuring tools within the 0.1mm to 200mm diameter range, the Walter Helicheck Plus is equipped with four fixed cameras for non-contact, fully automatic measurement routines in accordance with VDI/VDE 2617.

The machine achieves a measuring length deviation of E1 = (1.4 + L/300mm) micron, where L equals measuring length.

The machine has a substantial granite block with excellent vibration damping.

The Helicheck Plus features front, back and top light camera magnification of up to 400x for micro tools, and back light up to 50x for standard larger tools.

The machine has a Diffusor 'soft light' illumination that avoids excessive reflection of the face/feature being measured, to aid inspection clarity.

ITC operates eight Walter Helitronic 5-axis CNC tool grinders and other tool production/grinding equipment and designs, manufactures and regrinds high-precision drills and reamers among a wide range of HSS and carbide tooling.

Customers include the motor sport (Formula One) and die and mouldmaking sectors in the UK and overseas, as well as the aerospace sector.

It is also UK stockist of Hanita (Israel) and Metal Removal (USA) products.