Linear driven machine slashes cycle times
May 1st 2009

Four Citizen R07 Type VI CNC sliding head autos are described by Simon Schlaefli, MD of precision small parts contractor Tenable Screw Co as 'Seriously quick, very consistent in maintaining the high levels of quality demanded and a first class competitor to cam machines'.

The machines feature linear drive technology and enable fast machining of bar stock components. They complement Tenable Screw's Escomatic coil-fed machine production of small components where previously sourced coil is no longer readily available.

The initial three machines achieved the same output as five previous Citizen B12-V machines on a high volume, high accuracy automotive contract, so a further machine was ordered. Each of the original RO7s, had been running the same 150 production hours a week as the five B12s but producing parts 42% faster.

When Citizen introduced the R07, a 7mm material size version in 2006, Simon Schlaefli asked for certain modifications. Citizen Machinery UK loaned a machine for three months and worked with Schlaefli and his setters to carry out the changes that enabled a reduction in cycle time of 14s on an automotive part to be achieved. Tenable Screw paid for the machine, ordered two more and had them flown from Japan. Air freight costs were recovered in just four weeks' production.