For years, the CAD/CAM system Alphacam has given Darby’s Machine Tool Shop the advantage of being able to direct codes to its machines in an efficient, quick and reliable way.
The Irish company manufactures a variety of machine components used in specialised production lines. Its biggest customer produces process control equipment for the paper manufacturing industry worldwide; it also makes parts for a heating products company; and at the end of 2010 it began a new line of work for an American company making faceplate panels.
James Darby and his brother Tom, who are joint shareholders, have used the fully integrated CAD/CAM system, Alphacam, to drive their machines since 1998. And it now just takes the flick of a switch to direct the CNC codes to whichever machine and cutting technology is required for a particular job.
The company, based at Dunleer in County Louth, has a Fanuc Robocut wire eroder, Burny flame profile cutter, two Haas machining centres, a Colchester lathe and a Bridgeport milling machine.
“It’s very important that Alphacam drives machines from a variety of manufacturers across the full range of cutting technologies. When we buy new machines from manufacturers we don’t use at the moment, we know that Alphacam will have a post processor that marries up to them and will run them in the same way that it runs our present machines, guaranteeing consistent machining,” said James Darby.
