As demand on the UK’s rail network continues to increase, the support CNC manufacturing offers the industry has never been more important. One of the most significant issues in recent times has been the aging assets of the rail network.
How aging assets impact the rail industry
Whilst much of the network has been modernised and improved, the UK rail industry has been in operation for over 200 years – and some parts of the network’s infrastructure date back to this time.
Aging assets are one of the biggest causes of unscheduled downtime for rail services. Some trains are over 50 years old – maintaining older vehicles and sourcing legacy components manufactured to meet the rail industry’s strict safety standards is an ongoing challenge.
How CNC engineering supports legacy component machining
CNC precision engineering has long been the manufacturing partner of choice to the rail industry. CNC machinists like M-CNC support legacy component manufacture in the rail industry in a number of ways.
1. Filling engineering skill gaps
Like many industries that rely on complex machinery, the rail industry can fall victim to a shortage of engineering skills. Collaborating with a trusted CNC manufacturing partner can fill these skill gaps, whilst keeping downtime to a minimum.
When it comes to legacy component machining, we have the in-house skills, expertise, and equipment to provide a solution. This includes:
- Using sophisticated CAD/CAM programming to design parts that are machined to precision.
- Strict quality control processes that use methods including CMM measurement to ensure components are accurate down to the last micron.
2. Robust supply chains
When obsolete rail parts need to be replaced, ensuring their swift availability is key for keeping downtime to a minimum.
At M-CNC, our robust supply chain enables us to meet tight deadlines and handle both large volumes of standard parts, and smaller orders for legacy parts. We have attained RISQS verification, which demonstrates our supply chain resilience – alongside our compliance with rail industry regulations.
3. Meeting tight tolerances
CNC manufacturers for the rail sector machine complex components, such as railway bogies and suspension parts. We are used to meeting the tight tolerances safety demands – and it’s no different when it comes to legacy component manufacture.
By using CAD/CAM software at every stage of part design and manufacture, we can:
- Accurately create a 3D digital design of an obsolete part that can be thoroughly tested.
- Easily make alterations to the design of a legacy component and every stage of manufacture.
- Keep workflows streamlined and efficient, lowering the cost of production.
4. Quality control
Our strict quality control processes ensure the unparallelled precision of every legacy part we manufacture. We use CMMs (Coordinate Measuring Machines) to accurately measure the physical geometry of components. This ensures every part meets the intent of the original design.
Once quality inspections are complete, we generate quality control documents, such as:
- First article inspection reports (FAIR)
- Detailed inspection reports
- Statistical analysis reports of process capability
We also provide full material traceability on all manufactured components – this includes high-strength alloys. Our AS9100 Rev D accreditation attests to the resilience of our Quality Management Systems.
