Bentley Motors CMM Retrofit

ITP Group have just completed a successful installation at luxury car manufacturer Bentley Motors Limited, Crewe - part of the Volkswagen Group.

The scope of work was to upgrade an existing 26 metre, four mast, Horizontal Arm CMM System to CNC control, to have the capability of measurement and milling to CAD data.

The CMM uses ITP standard controllers, with the controller, computer, monitor and keyboard all mast mounted to avoid the encumbrance of cables and trailing wires. A wireless network link also allows for the transmission of cutter paths and digitized data.

ITP took full control of the project, including installation of a new control and magnetic scaling system that replaced the existing optical device to ensure successful operation in a clay-contaminated environment. Mechanical, electrical and software aspects of the project were also undertaken, as well as calibration of the machine.

The system is capable of full CNC measurement, digitizing and milling to CAD data - using the ITP standard lightweight indexable milling head.

Two software packages from ITP – DRO Digitizing and Milling Control; are used to facilitate the operative capabilities of the machine.

A major part of the brief was to give Bentley as little disruption to their working schedule as possible, working to a very tight deadline.  From date of order to cutting the first clay was achieved in just four working weeks.

ITP Group Managing Director, Dick Turpin said, “We were very pleased to be asked by Bentley to upgrade their existing styling equipment. The cooperation between the engineers at Bentley and our own technical team made the installation run exceptionally smoothly. This is now our sixteenth installation of this nature as a company, but the first time that we have been asked to upgrade an existing system”.

Bentley Motors’ management and operators are all extremely pleased with the outcome. Kevin Baker, of Bentley’s Design studio added -  “The project was completed ahead of schedule and has been 100% successful. Our time savings are in the order of 60% on previous methods of operation”.

For further information on ITP Group's bespoke styling and measurement solutions, Contact ITP Group.