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attaching machine The Middle East's largest manufacturer of welded casing (pipe), the Arabian Pipes Company (APC) based in Riyadh Second Industrial City, Saudi Arabia, sought to replace two hollow spindle lathes Aberdeen consultants, Norkram, approached Broadbent Stanley first, a specialist lathe builder in Halifax, West Yorkshire APC's specification initially specified two 'stand alone', hollow spindle CNC lathes with a 21in (535mm) spindle bore for machining an 18.625in (473mm) oil standard, buttress thread on each end of a 40ft (12.2m) long steel casing. APC wanted the machines delivered on a short lead time. The lathes would then be supplied to another party who would be responsible for the complete turnkey package. Further reading Non-linear error correction is major factor As well as being reliable and very user-friendly, the Acu-Rite/Quadra-Chek technology deals with non-linear error correction, which is another factor that sets it apart, says a user. Training Centre has latest in CNC and DRO CNC and DROs are helping ensure that the Humber Engineering Training Centre is one of the finest of its kind in the UK. The cell incorporated a complex mechanical handling system for manoeuvring the 40ft casings and a torquing machine for attaching the threaded joining collars to them. Thomas believed that with the experience and knowledge available within Broadbent Stanley, the company could handle the complete project and contacted APC via Ron Slater of Norkram to quote for the full turnkey package. Thomas told manufacturingtalk that so impressed was the Saudi customer, a contract price was negotiated and an order duly placed. While negotiations were proceeding, the Broadbent Stanley Company, purchased by Thomas in 1999, was becoming increasingly busy. While producing the two model LC50 x 1.5m heavy duty oil country lathes wasn't a problem, there was now no space within his Burnley Road factory to lay out the full manufacturing cell. People in the UK say Yorkshiremen are resourceful. Thomas proved this by contacting specialist machine tool rebuilder and CNC retrofitting company, Halifax Numerical Controls, (HNC) based in nearby Halifax. HNC agreed that Broadbent Stanley could use the facility and HNC skills. Broadbent Stanley completed the lathes, fitting them with Schunk front and rear mounted pneumatic self centring, three-jaw chucks, and shipped them to HNC. At the same time AMC Engineering in Aberdeen, Scotalnd, delivered the torquing machine, with all mechanical handling equipment from American casing manipulating specialists OCTG of Houston, Texas, to HNC. At HNC, Broadbent Stanley engineers, assisted by HNC personnel, constructed the cell, complete all the climatically enclosed electrics. They also developed and wrote the additional software for the GE Fanuc 18i-TB controller including the necessary thread repair cycles. All this was done within the tight schedule previously agreed with Broadbent Stanley's customer. Successful cutting trials followed with the turnkey package delivered and installed as agreed. Broadbent Stanley said that the customer was so impressed with the speed and efficiency of the project, combined with the quality and competitive pricing of the two lathes, that Broadbent Stanley now tops APC's preferred supplier list for all their oil country, hollow spindle turning requirements.