A series of seemingly unrelated events came together to create a win-win situation for a Mills CNC machine user and a CNC Training Academy customer.

Earlier this year when Kettering-based hydrant flow meter manufacturing specialist, Langham Industrial Controls, was seeking a new member of staff to operate its recently acquired FANUC-controlled Doosan Lynx 220 LSYC lathe, the company approached Mills CNC, who supplied the machine, as well as members of staff at the CNC Training Academy (a division of Mills CNC), to see if they knew, or had trained, someone who might be interested in taking advantage of such an opportunity.
It just so happened that, just a few weeks earlier, the CNC Training Academy had trained Krzysztof Zasadzki, a man who, for many different reasons, had made a positive and favourable impression on academy staff. Zasadzki was offered the position and started work at Langham Industrial Controls in May 2019.
Says director Nigel Langham: “I contacted the CNC Training Academy to see if they knew anyone who could be suitable for the setter/operator position. Krzysztof was mentioned in glowing terms.”
Since May 2019, Zasadzki has attended further courses (Fanuc Manual Guide i) at the CNC Training Academy. In only a few months he is now setting up, operating and programming the Lynx 220 lathe.
The 8” chuck Lynx 220 lathe at Langham Industrial Control is equipped with a sub-spindle and driven tools, and has Y-axis capability. Since being installed back in 2016 the lathe has been busy machining high accuracy components in small volumes from a range of different materials that include aluminium, steel and plastics.
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

Star GB will host its most advanced open house event yet on 8-10 October at the company’s Technology Centre in Derby. The open house is an educational event that will welcome visitors from across the UK and Ireland. Guests will gain an insight into Star sliding-head technology with a special focus on automation and Industry 4.0 solutions.

At the event will be the UK premiere of a newly developed 38 mm sliding-head lathe following its unveiling at EMO 2019. In addition, an array of Star’s most popular machines, including the ST-38, SR-38 Type B, SR-32JII Type A, SR-20RIV Type A, SB-20R Type G, SV-20R and SW-12RII, will be on show producing demonstration components.
All machines will be equipped with High Frequency Turning (HFT) swarf-control software, which has been developed by Star to increase machine efficiency on difficult-to-chip materials. HFT works on any linear axis on any channel, and is said to be the only chip-breaking software of its kind which is capable of being fitted to both new and older Star models dating back to 1996.
An Industry 4.0 machine monitoring system from Star will be set up at the event using live data from several machines operating in the showroom. SMOOSS-i is a web-based application which allows the remote monitoring of up to 100 FANUC-controlled CNC machines (with FOCAS software) via PC, tablet or smartphone. The software provides a real-time analysis of machine status, cycle time, part count, production rate, production history and tool life, with the additional benefit of email notifications for any important machine alerts.
NC Assist programming software will also be on display, with the company’s engineers showing how quickly and efficiently CNC programs can be generated via its conversational interface.
For further information https://stargb.com/

The purchase of a CNC turning centre by GWR Fasteners, a manufacturer of special fasteners and precision components, has been funded by Close Brothers Asset Finance. Having recently moved into new premises in Oswestry after outgrowing its former location, the new machine will enable GWR Fasteners to both ramp up production and offer new products.

“Here at Close Brothers, we’ve been partnering with GWR Fasteners since they established their firm over a decade ago,” says Simon Parker, regional sales manager for Close Brothers Asset Finance – Manufacturing Division. “We funded their very first CNC machine and we’re delighted that they selected us as their funding partner for the Miyano BNE-51SY6 eight-axis CNC turning centre with bar feed. Despite the considerable cost of the machine, the bespoke finance package we compiled will have a negligible impact on GWR Fasteners’ cash flow, which is always a key consideration in this type of deal.”
Jude Robinson, who founded GWR Fasteners with her partner, Gary, adds: “The purchase of the new CNC machine is a strong statement of our ambitions and it wasn’t a decision we took lightly. Having worked with Close Brothers Asset Finance since we started out, we were able to negotiate a deal that worked for both firms, and we’re delighted with the outcome.”
For further information www.closeassetfinance.co.uk

Family-owned Stevens & Carlotti is a subcontractor supplying metal fabrications to a wide range of industries from its 64,000 sq ft facility in Sandwich, Kent. These fabrications, which can be anything from a simple bracket to fully-assembled and tested machines, are supplied to customers in the power generation, oil and gas, and yellow goods sectors, among others.

At any one time Stevens & Carlotti can have up to 1200 individual jobs in progress which, in addition to laser cutting, CNC punching and folding, welding, and painting, also require the support of a machining facility. Investment in turning and milling capacity with machines from XYZ Machine Tools has enhanced productivity on the company’s fabricated components, and created opportunities to develop a dedicated subcontract machining capability.
“The machining of parts used in our fabrications remains the bread and butter for our machine shop, but with the increased capacity and capability we have now, we’ve seen a growth in pure machining work for customers,” says Joe Douglas, planning manager at Stevens & Carlotti. “This now accounts for between 10 and 15% of our machined output, and is growing year-on-year.”
Most recently Stevens & Carlotti has taken delivery of additional capacity in the form of an XYZ TC 320 LTY turning centre, an XYZ 1510 HD vertical machining centre and an XYZ 710 HD VMC.
The XYZ TC 320 LTY turning centre replaced a temperamental lathe from another manufacturer and provides greater capacity with its barfeed, 78 mm bar capacity, 32 kW spindle and 100 mm Y axis. It is the turning workhorse of the business, with operator Callum Jones simply stating “it works” when asked why he likes it.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

According to Big Kaiser, the company has released the world’s first hydraulic chuck designed specifically for Swiss-type automatic (sliding-head) lathes.

Now available in the UK from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), this chuck solution overcomes the problems frequently encountered when using ER collet chucks.
Swiss-type machines make widespread use of ER collet chucks. However, operators often face difficulties when replacing their cutting tools as the available space inside the compact work envelope is extremely tight, providing very little space for tightening the nut. The hydraulic chuck from Big Kaiser simplifies the tool replacement process by using just a single T-wrench. In addition, the chuck facilitates the connection of a coolant tube from the underside.
Head of sales and marketing at Big Kaiser, Christian Spicher, says: “This hydraulic chuck finally provides a simple, easy-to-use solution for all Swiss-type machines, including those from Citizen, Star, Tornos and Tsugami. With the chuck, customers can simplify and accelerate tool replacement. In addition, the system achieves even higher precision cutting results than ever before.”
The new chuck offered by ITC is a world-first concept and Big Kaiser is said to be the only company currently producing such a hydraulic chuck solution. This chuck promises to save time and take the frustration out of tool replacement, essentially superseding existing ER chucks. The Big Kaiser hydraulic chuck for sliding-head lathes is available in six sizes.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk