PS packaging producer boosts machining capacity

New SCM Pratix machining centre replaces small 12 year-old machine

Leicester-based PACS, a specialist in the design and manufacture of polystyrene and foam packaging products, has invested in a new SCM Pratix Z2-A CNC machining centre.

The company undertakes to meet “almost any” packaging requirement, from simple transport solutions to custom-designed tool storage units for organising the workplace and point-of-sale items.

Mouldings in complex 3D shapes include end caps, profiled fittings, corner protectors and box liners.

Having gained experience with a small 12 year-old CNC machine, PACS managing director Malcolm Robotham decided at the beginning of 2011 to invest in a much larger CNC machining centre. He approached Blyth Machinery (also based in Leicester), the local distributor for SCM UK. Blyth's Mark Noon discussed Robotham’s exact requirements. Demonstrations were organised, quickly followed by an order being placed for June 2011 delivery.

The new machining centre was supplied with a 2750 x 1300mm table size to accept 8 x 4ft sheets of material. Tandem machining is available when required. A Z axis of 180mm allows tall components to be accepted and machined. A 7.5kW spindle running at up to 24,000 rpm is fed with tools from a ten-station rack-type tool changer, with an F12 drilling unit with independent vertical and horizontal spindles located next to the routing head.

SCM's multi-functional work table enables the location of jigs or vacuum modules for machining components or, using an MDF baseboard, the nesting of component parts from a full-sized sheet of any material downward. Hold-down is vacuum powered.

The Pratix is programmed using SCM's Genio CAD/CAM package. Tooling files and integrated macros are managed using Microsoft Excel files. Nesting mode management and simulation of all programmed machining via a 3D display make Genio easy to learn and use, according to SCM. PACS’ customers usually supply the company with files in the DXF AutoCAD format for their machining requirements.

Robotham concludes: "We have been very pleased with both SCM and Blyth during the installation and commissioning of the Pratix machine. The quality of the finish obtained from the machine with standard tungsten carbide tipped tooling is excellent”.

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