INVITATION TO TENDER FOR Multi-Axis High Speed CNC Machine Tool

Sheffield Hallam University requires a Five Axis milling machine tool with its supporting equipment, initial consumables, software, and warranties, for the College of Business, Technology and Engineering (BTE). The equipment is part of a long-term plan to ensure that the University continues to offer an up-to-date, industry-relevant experience to our students and that we teach innovative cutting-edge technologies that not only add to the student experience but also the credibility of the University. This tender is for the supply, installation, commissioning and warranty and maintenance of a Five Axis milling machine tool. The equipment should have adequate robustness, high precision, and repeatability to facilitate the manufacture of high-performance components that is subject to tolerance requirements. The piece of equipment should allow machining with high pressure coolant, tool coolant, flood coolant and dry cutting. The intended use of the new 5-axis machine tool is threefold; firstly, it will be used to produce one-off, or small batch of components for projects and students; secondly it will be used to provide the practical principles of CNC and automated manufacture to groups of 10 University undergraduate students. Finally, it will be used to undertake research in 5-axis machining. This may include cutter analysis (wear, chatter, etc.), developing machining strategies, and machining parameter optimisation. The machine tool will be used to cut mostly aluminium, and occasionally steel and titanium.