Apex Dynamics has supplied low-backlash planetary gearboxes and rack and pinion technology to Reekie Machining for an adjustable CNC machine used in high-accuracy in-situ milling and machining.
The modular machine was developed for work on large parts at a shipbuilding customer’s site. Reekie Machining needed precise position control across an adjustable length of 2 m to 4.5 m, including machining work on large components such as baseplates.
A conventional ball screw linear drive was not suitable for the required travel range and adjustability. A rack drive offered the necessary reach, but only if backlash could be controlled tightly enough to maintain the required finish and repeatable positioning.
Apex Dynamics supplied a rack and pinion system with AB range planetary gearboxes, creating a coordinated drive arrangement for the machine axis. Reekie Machining had previously avoided this type of configuration because of backlash concerns, but the finished system achieved positional accuracy of +/-0.05 mm across the 2 m to 4.5 m operating range.
David Reekie, Managing Director of Reekie Machining, said: “The project has now been completed and it has all gone well, the machine works and we got the accuracy we needed. Using a rack drive system allows us to go a lot longer without compromising precision. The parts we ordered from Apex Dynamics were exactly as specified and the quality was really, really great.”
For in-situ machining, the combination of travel, stiffness, and accuracy is central to commercial performance. Large marine and heavy industrial components are often expensive, slow, or impractical to remove from site, placing greater value on portable CNC systems that can reach the workpiece without sacrificing precision.
Reekie Machining, founded in 1947 to manufacture and sell portable machining tools, now provides on-site machining services and CNC technology solutions for special projects. Following the shipbuilding application, the company is looking at developing its own in-house machine using a similar design.
CAD step models and technical resources from Apex Dynamics helped Reekie Machining incorporate the gearboxes and rack and pinion system into the machine design. The company also highlighted Apex Dynamics’ customer service, responsiveness, and delivery accuracy.
Mike Gulliford, Managing Director of Apex Dynamics UK, said: “We are pleased that our continuing relationship with Reekie Machining has enabled us to provide the right solution to meet their needs with this challenging custom project.”
He added: “Apex Dynamics is a world leader in precision servo gearbox technology. We are the only leading brand that produces rack, pinion and gearbox systems of this quality to meet a range of different industrial requirements. We work closely with our customers to provide the right precision gear solution and our products come with our market-leading five-year warranty, 2-3 week lead times, and ATEX as standard.”
The project gives Reekie Machining a proven route to longer CNC travel in portable machining systems, with rack drive precision now validated on a large-scale industrial application.
