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Based in a 10,000 ft2 facility in West Yorkshire, Leyden Transmissions was established over two decades ago to produce power couplings and braking systems for various industries, such as the heavy braking systems fitted to large cranes and hoists.
With a background in lean manufacturing gained within the automotive and various other industry sectors, managing director Mike Robinson is acutely aware of the efficiency gains and production benefits available when a machine shop is set up to maximise the spindle run time of its machines.
“From stopping one job to cutting the next, our vision is 20 minute maximum set up time for any part, including loading any tools required, workholding and downloading the NC program. It is an aggressive target but it is achievable once everything is in place,” he says.
The high precision Hainbuch MS Dock and Mando segmented mandrel from Leader Chuck Systems addresses the quick change workholding demands.
“It is well suited to the quick changeover ideology. The kit is very rapid when changing from one size to another, as a full mandrel change only takes three to four minutes. And, with its vulcanised rubber joints between the chrome/nickel steel segments it is flexible, so we can hold parts with 16 up to 100 mm diameter bores with just five mandrel cores,” states Mike Robinson.
“Leader’s support has been superb. I was sceptical at first because of the weight of the component and the overhang from the bore to the face being machined. For example, one component has a 38 mm diameter bore and the part is around 200 mm across flats. And, it’s not just the weight of the part - there is the cutting force of the tool contacting the workpiece. However, it works prefectly.”
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