Even faster Nakamura-Tome turn-mill centre

The Nakamura-Tome range of multi-tasking turning centres is renowned for being quick and productive, but now there is an even faster model. The launch of the Nakamura-Tome NTY3-100V now available in the UK from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) can reduce cycle times by more than 30% over its predecessor.

The new multi-tasking NTY3-100V is the second instalment of the V series, following the WY-100V announced last July. The V series has speed at the core of its design concept, starting with the incorporation of Nakamura’s ChronoCut software. ChronoCut reduces idle time between operations with a multitude of new featuresthat increase production speed, all without changing the machining conditions or impacting machine accuracy. 

As standard, the twin-spindle Nakamura NTY3-100V includes Y-axis capabilities on all three tooling turrets that enhance processing capabilities with balanced left and right spindle machining. Simultaneous upper and lower turret machining further support high productivity levels.


As a three-turret machine, the NTY3-100V can accommodate up to 72 tools. By pre-setting tools for two or three different component types beforehand, there is no need to change tool set-ups for processing a multitude of different workpieces. Moreover, by adjusting the turret balancing time between the left and right spindles and utilising the lower turret for centre support, gains are available in both flexibility and speed.

Nakamura-Tome CEO Shogo Nakamura says: “Many customers want automated processing of precision workpieces while ensuring high and flexible production volumes. On top of that, we’re determined to deliver the clear value of fast cycle time and set-up time reductions. The NTY3-100V provides this, incorporating feedback and opinions from various internal departments and customers in its development.”

For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Rapid set-ups decide Cincom purchase

Last autumn, motorsport subcontractor h2m needed to replace an ageing sliding-head CNC turn-mill centre at its Hinckley factory. Joint managing directors and owners, father and son team Andy and Martin Forryan, considered buying a replacement from the supplier of the original twin-spindle, 32 mm capacity slider, but insteadopted for a Cincom M32-VIIILFV from Citizen Machinery UK.

Around 3000-off is a large run for sliding-head turned parts at h2m, while the production of batches of relatively simple components up to 500-off is typical for unattended overnight running. However, the company completestrickier jobs during day shifts in batch sizes as low as 10-off, so speed of programming is essential to minimise machine downtime.

Andy and Martin paid particular attention to this issue, concluding that the Cincom lathe with Citizen’s Alkart Wizard programming system would be less expensive and several times faster than if purchasing the other lathe. The wizard assists and simplifies the creation of even complex cycles using a built-in code library, reference material and diagrams.

Sharing some detail of their deliberations, Martin says: “Alkart Wizard is an inexpensive option. We use it to prepare programs and prove them offline for virtually every sliding-head part we produce. We only program the occasional simple component directly at the control.

“Even complicated components take just 30-40 minutes to program in Alkart with only a further 15-20 minutes to check the cycle virtually in the wizard.So a new job is always up and running in under an hour.”

He contrasts this with the much longer and more expensive route that would have been needed with the other slider, for which a similar wizard was not available.

For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

Tornos Swiss XT at micro-machining show

Tornos presentedits Swiss XT at SIAMS 2024 in Moutier, Switzerland last month exemplifying the potential of the machine’s performance in micro-machining operations at small and medium-sized turned-part manufacturers.

Characteristics of the Swiss XT include its ergonomics and compact design, which deliver a minimal footprint and easy access to the three tool systems. Among the aims of these innovationsis reducing maintenance to zero.

With configurations available in eight or nine axes and the ability to use three tools in cut simultaneously, the Swiss XT increases productivity. According to Tornos, the nine-axis version, with its three Zaxes, simplifies complex operations.

The Swiss XT offers up to 48 tool positions, including 18 rotating positions. This capability allows customisation for a wide range of machining processes. The expanded tooling capacity ensures that users can maximise the productivity and efficiency of the machine while meeting complex and diverse production requirements.

Integrated advanced features of the Tornos Swiss XT include Eco Mode to reduces energy consumption and the ACB Plus system for efficient chip management. These advances ensure safer, more sustainable production and underline the commitment of Tornos to both energy efficiency and production safety. 

Also available for Swiss XT machines is the Tornos TISIS software. TISIS simplifies the use of special driven tools, while the integrated Gantt chart facilitates the synchronisation of machine channels. These modules allow operators to master the complexity of the Swiss XT quickly and ensure a smooth transition to this technology. 

For further information www.tornos.com

Start-up makes Lynx its first machine

Mills CNC has supplied Herriott Precision, a precision subcontract start-up, with a new multi-tasking lathe manufactured by DN Solutions.The machine, a FANUC-controlled 8-inch chuck/67mm bar diameter Lynx 2100LSYB sub-spindle Y-axis lathe, arrived at the company’s facility in Worcestershire in April 2024. Mills CNC supplied the machine through its ‘Smart Options’ machine tool rental scheme.

The Smart Options scheme enables manufacturers to ‘rent’ a new DN Solutions machine tool for an initial 12-month period. The initiative is a flexible option for component manufacturers looking to increase and improve their machining capacity and capabilities, without ties to a long-term finance agreement. No deposit is necessary and Mills CNC provides training as part of the package via an agreed schedule of tailored monthly payments. Rental payments are 100% allowable against taxable profits.

Despite being installed just a few short weeks ago, the Lynx 2100LSYB installed at Herriott Precision is already earning its keep machining a range of small, high-precision, complex parts for a range of customers.

The Lynx 2100LSYB at Herriott Precisionalso features a number of options and accessories.These include a high-efficiency Filtermist oil mist extraction unit, a MH500 swarf conveyor and bin, Hainbuch collet chucks and a Hydrafeed MSV65 servo-driven bar feeder with an integrated bar support unit.

Says owner and directorJoshua Herriott:“To date, we’ve only used our Lynx 2100LSYB for chucking work. However, the integration of a bar feeder enables us to take on new, higher volume work and, where feasible, run the machine unattended to achieve improved productivity and process efficiencies.”

He adds: “Throughout the whole process, Mills have been very supportive and proactive; exactly what was required to help me get the business up and running.”

For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

ACCURL FIBRE LASER AND KELLYS WELDING JOIN FORCES

With business booming at Wetherby-based fabrication specialist Kellys Welding, the company wanted to replace its pre-owned CO2 laser cutter with a new fibre laser. With a shortlist of ‘wants’ that included quality, speed, energy efficiency and a very competitive price, Kellys Welding spent nearly 12 months assessing the UK market. The company discovered that only an ACCURL fibre laser cutter from Axe & Status could meet its requirements and provide the impetus for further growth. Such has been the impact of the ACCURL Masterline 3105 that the monthly savings on electricity consumption alone pay for the finance on the machine. According to Kellys Welding, “it’s like having a laser cutter for free”.

Kellys Welding is a family-run business launched by owner Joe Kelly in 2017. In just seven years the company has grown from a one-man start-up to a 10-employee enterprise that is on track for a turnover of £1.3m in 2024.

The reasons behind this impressive growth are many, but ironically the company gained its first real break during the pandemic. Although welding jobs came to a halt, Kellys Welding was also selling raw material online, an activity that boomed.

“After the pandemic we had enough money to buy our first laser cutter, a pre-owned CO2 model,” says Kelly. “It was perfect at the time but we soon ran out of capacity due to our growing workload and the machine’s lack of speed. It also consumed a lot of electricity, so we started thinking about a replacement.”

By then, Kellys Welding had built up a robust customer base; sufficient to afford a brand new laser cutter. Around the same time, the company relocated to the unit next door, which at double the footprint would provide the perfect home for its new laser cutter. The question now, was which one to buy?

“We looked at lots of machines over a 12-month period,” states Kelly. “At first we only considered brands that were familiar to us, but soon realised they were way out of our price range. We started looking at other brands, including from Asia, but they were poor. We even went to see one in action. Although it was cheap and did the job, it seemed unsafe. It had a CE mark, but it only stood for ‘Chinese Export’.”

He continues: “Then we came across the ACCURL Masterline and knew it was the one for us. It’s had all of the right parts. A lot of machines from Asia come with parts we’ve never heard of. The ACCURL is different with its PRECITEC cutting head, for example. The machine also carries an official CE mark and features integrated Class IV safety systems. Axe & Status did some test cuts for us and we were very happy to proceed.”

Kellys Welding estimates that the ACCURL Masterline 3015 6kW fibre laser cutter from Axe Status is about eight times faster than the company’s previous CO2 laser cutter. Moreover, the ACCURL offers far more economic running costs.

“The ACCURL Masterline uses around five times less electricity than our CO2 machine, equating to a saving of around £4000 a month,” reveals Kelly. “These savings pay for the finance on the machine, so it’s like having a laser cutter for free!”

The company also reports that the ACCURL fibre laser uses far less gas and requires a lot less clean-up: parts come off the machine ready to weld. The CADCAM nesting software for the ACCURL brings further savings.

“We nested a job the other day for 5mm thick stainless steel. Whereas previously we would need three sheets, now it’s just two because the software can place parts closer together. At £500 a sheet, it’s a big saving.”

Kellys Welding laser cuts mild steel from 1 to 20mm thick, stainless steel from 1-12mm and aluminium up to 6mm. The company processes everything from 1-offs and small batches up to thousands. Investing in the ACCURL fibre laser is not only good news for Kellys Welding, but also for its customers.

“Keeping our CO2 laser would have created such a backlog with our workload today,” explains Kelly. “Our customers need a quick response and if we weren’t in position to meet their requirements they would quickly go elsewhere.”

Kellys Welding has a strong and growing pool of local customers in sectors that span construction, automotive and retail, with many now trusting the company as its main supplier. The business has seen its turnover double every year for the past five, based on an ethos of short lead times, competitive prices and top-quality products.

“As a small company we usually have the flexibility to price match and win orders. In contrast, many of our competitors have expensive monthly machine payments to meet. We looked at a European machine with the same specification as the ACCURL and it was over £500,000. The ACCURL was less than a third of that, with a three-year warranty for parts and labour.”

ACCURL Masterline fibre laser cutters offer high dynamics, achieving a positioning speed of up to 180m/min and acceleration of 3 g.Thanks to high-quality components, such as an IPG laser fibre source, PRECITEC ProCutter laser head and Rexroth servo drive, ACCURL laser cutters can operate continuously seven days a week, 365 days a year supported by automatic nozzle cleaning and graphite anti-burn technology. The machine is Industry 4.0 ready. 

Kellys Welding is pleased to report that the ACCURL Masterline has proved totally reliable since its arrival, with the company enjoying high-level support from both Axe & Status and ACCURL.

“During commissioning we had the engineer from ACCURL optimise the parameters for every single material we cut here,” says Kelly. “Since then, Axe & Status set up a What’s App group. If we ever had a query we simply post a message and get a reply around two minutes later. The group is even linked with the ACCURL factory, which will be useful if we ever need their input in the future.”

For further information www.axestatus.com