Atkinson Equipment Slashes Lead-times by Automating Prismatic Machining

“Since automating the milling side of the business, we have also seen a reduction in the bottleneck we previously had when parts arrive from our turning section for prismatic machining. Our ability to get product out of the door to our customers is through the roof. It is helping us to win new business in the subcontract area, as well as to grow our OEM division.”

Based in Westbury, Wiltshire, Atkinson Equipment is required to manufacture large volumes of parts for its own refuelling and liquid transfer products, which it has been doing for over 50 years. It also needs to produce a high mix of smaller volumes for the subcontracting division, which has been running for half that time, but which is growing rapidly. This dual role places significant demands on its manufacturing capabilities and was pivotal in the investment in the automated Brother-Tezmaksan cell.

The relationship with Whitehouse Machine Tools began in 2019 with the purchase of a Brother 5-axis CNC machining centre, a Speedio S700X1 equipped with a Lehmann rotary-swivelling compound table. This initial investment allowed the company to machine complex parts on multiple faces in a single set-up, significantly improving efficiency. Having experienced the benefits, Atkinson Equipment went on to buy a Brother Speedio M200Xd1 trunnion-type 5-axis machining centre in 2023, initially to manufacture a complex aerospace part.

At first, the idea was to automate the existing S700X1 on site with the Tezmaksan CubeBox, but this would have necessitated an upgrade to the Lehmann equipment to provide pneumatic supply for automatic clamping of parts. However, a visit to the Whitehouse showroom in Kenilworth revealed the potential of automating a Brother U500Xd1 5-axis machining centre instead, as this was the configuration being demonstrated.

Mr Walford explained, “Looking at the cost differential between just the Tezmaksan compared with the automation plus the U500Xd1, it made sense to go for the automated set-up complete with the new 5-axis machine. We needed extra capacity anyway, so it made absolute sense for us, especially as it was more affordable than we anticipated.”

The Brother U500Xd1’s large working volume for the compact footprint, 28-tool ATC capacity and integrated rotary joint for pneumatically actuating the fixtures proved ideal for the Westbury firm’s production needs. Whitehouse provided comprehensive support during the set-up process, assisting with tray template design for holding raw material and finished components, as well as the end-of-arm tooling with double grippers for handling them. The automated cell’s sensors create a safe working environment, without the need for traditional guarding.