Complex aerospace machining - Investment in five-axis VMCs and turn-mill machines allows the use of fast and effective single-cycle techniques

摘要

Proudly mounted on a plinth on Ray Guttridge's desk in his office above the Gillingham-based machine shop of Phoenix Tooling is the complicated finished assembly of a pilot's side-stick from a fast-jet fighter - made out of titanium parts machined from solid by his company. Having spent almost 40 years in precision engineering, Mr. Guttridge - managing director of the 25-employee company - has seen many changes to his venture and its sector of industry. In his view, the most significant changes include a complete change of tack - from being a manufacturer of jigs and fixtures to using his close-tolerance machining expertise to become a sub-contract machining specialist producing high-precision aircraft components - and the adoption of single-hit machining.