CASE STUDY - PGM REBALL
PGM Reball approached the Precision Manufacturing Centre (PMC), who were exhibiting at an Aerospace UP event in the autumn of 2021.
They detailed the manufacturing challenges they were experiencing with the development of their bespoke inserts for ball screws.
PGM REBALL
PGM Reball began life in the 1970’s as a Ballscrew Repair business. They are the UK’s leading technical experts in ballscrew design and manufacture, and provide a unique range of ballscrews, actuators and linear motion technology and services.
PGM Reball manufactures a unique range of miniature ballscrews for commercial, aerospace and military applications, a range of special integrated linear ballscrews and make-to-print flying parts for aircraft.
SATELLITE ACTUATION PROJECT
This was a high-profile major satellite project with key challenges of machining miniature components able to survive launch conditions and withstand the harsh environment of space. Thread profile calculations were critical to success and had to be replicated exactly in production.
The Precision Manufacturing Centre was a perfect partner, particularly the micro-machining facilities and their ability to analyse and verify finished parts at minute scale.
HIGH ACCURACY REQUIREMENTS
The PMC undertook delivery of several existing inserts from PGM Reball and inspected these. Half of the supplied inserts were sectioned using our Sodick 200L electrical discharge machine which enabled the inspection of the profile of the ball track, and the remaining inserts were checked using our coordinate measurement machine (CMM) Zeiss O-Inspect and our Olympus Microscope.
The data and analysis from this inspection was passed onto PGM Reball. The business then designed new inserts using the data that had been collected from the inspection so the correct limits & fit could be achieved.
PROTOTYPE COMPONENTS
4 prototypes of this new component were manufactured using our Hermle C20U 5 axis machining centre and once completed, were inspected on our CMM Zeiss O-Inspect to check dimensions against the technical drawings provided.
Once the components were verified, the components were delivered to PGM Reball for proof of concept and further testing at their facilities.
We were introduced to the PMC through the Aerospace UP programme and were impressed by their willingness to engage with SMEs as well as their advanced inspection and machining facilities.
Working closely with the team we have been able to move the project from prototype phase to full production on what is a major telecoms satellite project which adds to the strategic space capability within our region.
Anne Ford, Managing Director, PGM Reball Ltd.