Helps in making of solid rocket motors

HMT Machine Tools Ltd, Hyderabad, has designed, developed, manufactured and assembled a 3-axis CNC Vertical Facing Mill for ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota (SDSC SHAR) to machine solid rocket motors.

The HMT has manufactured such a large machine first time. All parameters of the machine were validated during the pre-dispatch inspection thus confirming the entity’s strength to build such high-end machines. A release from HMT-MTL said HMT Chairman and Managing Director S. Girish Kumar inaugurated the machine and handed over the same to A. Balamurali, Senior Scientist of ISRO’s SDSC SHAR.

The release said it was a state-of-the-art machine with various sub-systems like chip and dust collection system, remote CNC-controlled system to machine extremely hazardous solid propellant and high speed machining for motor insulation. The machine would help the ISRO to increase production of solid rocket motors for launching more satellites.

The cost of the machine is around ₹18 crore. The ISRO has placed order for two more machines with the HMT MTL and they would be delivered by March 2019, the release said.