Redcliffe Precision has invested in a cylindrical grinding machine for a new contract to finish machine chromium plated hinge pins for aircraft landing systems.

The company says the purchase of the Jones & Shipman Suprema 650 EASY U machine brings in-house a process that has proved challenging for even highly specialist grinding shops who have struggled to meet both the demanding tolerances and the productivity necessary to make the operation cost effective.

"Grinding hard chrome workpieces is widely accepted as being a challenge,” explains Redcliffe Precision CEO and managing director Kevin Sage.

"The pins are a wear part and the hard chroming is necessary to offset both wear and harsh operating conditions. That said, the hard chroming process creates an inconsistent component to grind and one in which creating too much heat (by grinding) can result in costly rejects. We consulted with Jones & Shipman about our dilemma and after conducting some rigorous test projects, they advised investing in the Suprema machine and bringing the process in-house.”

After chroming the pins have a coating of about 6 thou with the grinding operation reducing this by half. Grinding time per component has been significantly reduced to around an hour in comparision with previous 2-3 hours on manual machines.

Redcliffe Precision Ltd has been supplying precision components to the aerospace industry for over 30 years, specialising in all aspects of grinding, milling and turning and precision thread rolling and thread testing for cracks and deviations.