Two further Citizen CNC lathes bring total to 21

The decision to set up a turned parts subcontracting business at the start of the worst economic crisis in living memory has paid dividends for Yian Stavrou and George Dingley, joint owners of Luton-based Sub-CNC Precision. Supporting their successful evolution from earning a few thousand pounds a month in 2008 to turning over a predicted £3m in the company’s current financial year has been, from the very beginning, continued investment in twin-spindle, multi-axis, bar-fed lathes supplied by Citizen Machinery UK.

Over the years, the ISO 9001-accredited and JOSCAR-registered subcontractor has bought 25 such machines, part exchanging a few to leave 21 on the shop floor as of the end of 2025. Two-thirds are Cincom sliding-head models for producing parts from 0.5 to 38 mm in diameter, while the remainder are Miyano fixed-head turning centres. Many run lights-out from 18:00 to 07:00. 

In 2017, the introduction of Citizen’s proprietary LFV (low-frequency vibration) chip-breaking software in the Cincom control massively assisted unattended machining. The big advantage of the function is that it can be programmed using G codes to switch on and off during a cycle, added to which it also has different modes to adjust the size of the chips. The function is disabled for parts of the cycle where enhanced chip-breaking is not necessary.

As to the fixed-head Miyano lathes, which produce parts from bar ranging from 8 to 65 mm in diameter, or from billet up to 200 mm diameter, they started arriving at the subcontractor’s factory in 2012. The latest to take its place on the shop floor, alongside a new Cincom L20-XLFV, is a Miyano BNE-51MSY.

More information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

Blue laser scanner for CMMs now available from LK

A next-generation laser scanner designed for use on CMMs has been launched by LK Metrology, a global specialist in precision metrology solutions. Building on the success of the L100, the new L100NX introduces advanced blue laser technology, delivering superior scanning performance, accuracy and user experience.

Unlike its predecessor, which utilised red laser light, the new scanner employs a 450 nm blue light laser that reduces noise in scan data, resulting in cleaner and more reliable measurements. The advance is particularly beneficial for high-precision applications where data integrity is critical, such as in the aerospace and automotive sectors.

The L100NX combines speed and precision with a wide stripe width of 110 mm and a scanning rate of up to 530,000 points per second, making it suitable for inspecting large components productively. Its high accuracy ensures that even demanding inspection tasks may be handled with confidence.

At the heart of the L100NX is LK’s 4th-generation ESP (enhanced sensor performance) technology, which intelligently adjusts laser power for all 2000 points on the laser line. This capability allows the scanner to measure multi-material assemblies and reflective surfaces seamlessly without surface preparation or other manual intervention, streamlining the inspection process and reducing operator workload.

To further enhance usability, the sensor features an integrated rotation adaptor, enabling optimal orientation of the scanner for inspecting complex part geometries. Additionally, an integrated FOV (field of view) projector visually displays the scanner’s coverage area directly on to the part, simplifying programming and set up.

The L100NX scanner kit comes in a protective casing that, in addition to the scanner itself, contains all necessary accessories and documentation required for operation and basic maintenance.

More information www.lkmetrology.com

Delta XD achieves Nadcap accreditation for measurement

Basingstoke-based Delta XD, a Zeiss-certified metrology partner and provider of advanced dimensional inspection services, has achieved Nadcap AC7130/4 accreditation for 3D structured light (3DSL) systems. The accreditation was awarded following the company’s first audit, building upon Delta XD’s existing certifications: AS9100D, Cyber Essentials and JOSCAR.

The accreditation covers both in-house services with Delta XD’s Zeiss ScanBox and ATOS system, and on-site inspection using portable 3D scanning equipment — a capability held by only a handful of companies worldwide. Nadcap accreditation is widely recognised as irrefutable evidence of a company’s capability to operate at the highest level of quality and safety.

With more than 50 aerospace prime subscribers requiring Nadcap throughout their supply chains, including Rolls-Royce, the achievement demonstrates Delta XD’s ability to support aerospace OEMs and their supply chains with the highest assurance standards.

“We’re very pleased to have secured Nadcap accreditation in such a positive way,” says Daniel Lainchbury, COO of Delta XD. “This milestone underlines our expertise and commitment to high standards. It’s recognition not only of our technical capabilities, but also of the dedication of our team. We look forward to maintaining this accreditation and working towards Merit status in due course.”

Delta XD’s achievement of Nadcap accreditation sends a clear message to existing and future customers: the company is committed to delivering accredited, high-precision 3D scanning services that meet the most stringent aerospace and defence standards.

More information https://delta-xd.com/

New digital pressure scanner suits testing in tiny spaces

Gas measurement and control solutions specialist Chell Instruments has launched its smallest digital pressure scanner to date, the picoDAQ. Measuring just 83.4 x 14.8 x 9.6 mm, the tiny dimensions of the picoDAQ make it suitable for high-accuracy pressure testing in applications where space is limited but precision remains critical.

“Even the slightest variation in pressure can impact performance – meaning every part, place and condition must be measured with absolute accuracy,” explains Jamie Shanahan, director of Chell Instruments. “To give our customers even greater versatility, we’re introducing our smallest pressure scanner yet, built to fit within even the most confined testing environment.”

Despite its ultra-compact size, the picoDAQ does not compromise on its measurement capabilities, delivering up to 0.03% FS accuracy output. As a fully configurable smart pressure scanner, the new device can output pressure data in engineering units over Ethernet and CAN, using both CAN-FD and ‘classic’ CAN.

The picoDAQ makes use of 17 absolute transducers which are thermally compensated and conditioned to provide 16 absolute or differential measurements relative to the one reference port. Due to its rugged outer casing and components sealed to IP67, the picoDAQ is especially valuable within automotive and aerospace testing.

“From wind tunnel to on-track or in-flight testing, our pressure scanners are vital tools in the design, development and validation of aerodynamics in vehicle and aircraft testing,” says Shanahan. “Given these sectors’ need for accuracy and continual improvements in speed and performance, we’re confident the picoDAQ will give our automotive and motorsport clients new ways of enhancing aerodynamics.”

More information www.chell.co.uk

OGP unveils large-capacity SmartScope M130

Optical Gaging Products (OGP), a global specialist in the manufacture of optical and precision multi-sensor metrology systems for industrial quality control, is releasing the latest addition to the next evolution of its SmartScope 3D range: the SmartScope M130.


For manufacturers producing large, heavy parts, SmartScope M130 ushers in the next generation of enhancements in image accuracy, optics and throughput in a new large format 3D multi-sensor video measurement platform.

Tim Fantauzzo, VP of sales in North America, says: “The SmartScope M-Series family has quickly been adopted by manufacturers seeking unrivalled confidence in repeatability and reliability. Larger parts can obviously contain many more detailed features. The M130 optical system is truly telecentric with no distortion, so manufacturers making large, heavy parts can achieve more accurate measurements, particularly at low magnification with far more part features in the field of view.”

At the core of SmartScope M130 is the patented IntelliCentric-M optical system, featuring fixed optics with a 20-megapixel camera and proprietary Virtual Zoom technology. Built from the ground up at OGP headquarters in Rochester, USA, the streamlined IntelliCentric-M optics employ a variety of exclusive technologies that allow for instant magnification changes over the same zoom range as a traditional mechanical zoom system. The result is faster run time and far less downtime for maintenance.
 

Providing a standard XYZ travel of 790 x 815 x 200 mm (optional 300 or 400 mm Z axis) and payload capacity of 75 kg, SmartScope M130 also sports a new base design that presents customers with a lower stage height. Users can now load and unload heavy parts or oversized fixtures with ease.
More information www.ogpnet.com/m-series