Cutting edge
Jarrow-based precision components manufacturer H Mullins (Earby) has boosted efficiency by reducing manufacturing time and costs on a specific contract by using cutting tools from Dormer Tools.
The company has improved machining time by 140 hours (equivalent to over £6,500) on production of a complex stainless steel part for equipment used in oil exploration. The job required four drilled and tapped holes, plus a deep machined slot.
The solution came via Geoff Robinson, sales engineer at Dormer, who provided a 10mm S250 four flute carbide cutter for roughing a 25 by 20mm slot in 3mm steps; and a 12mm S250 to finish in one pass. These two tools helped to cut the milling processes alone from 25 to 11 minutes per piece after Robinson had advised on the running conditions required to gain maximum output.
Peter Scott, H Mullins’ senior engineer, says: 'Dormer’s tools did the whole job, which the previous tools could not do. The accuracy of the component produced improved as well, while our customer benefited because delivery time was cut by weeks. We win more business by being competitive and we believe in passing on savings to the customer. We have learned that if we spend a little more on tooling to get the right solution, we reduce costs by speeding up production and getting more products out of the tool.'
H Mullins was established in 1941 and has endured by continually adapting and seeking out new markets. In its early days it produced components for the Spitfire; nowadays it mainly serves the petrochemical industry, investing steadily in new machines and technology so that it can offer design as well as manufacturing services, particularly for components in exotic materials. Geoff Robinson adds: 'It’s not just a financial saving the company benefits from. The carbon emissions to produce the component are reduced because the machine time has been cut.'
