FEATURE ON CNC MILLS & MACHINING CENTRES

Healthy Investment Strategy In Action At Oracle Precision

Oracle Precision is investing in three DN Solutions DVF 5000Mk II simultaneous five-axis machining centres with integrated workpiece pallet changers from Mills CNC, increasing capacity and process efficiency for its growing medical device business.

The Rotherham-based precision engineering subcontractor, part of Kaleidex Group since its acquisition in April 2025, manufactures high-accuracy, performance-critical components for regulated sectors. The new machines will be ‘ring-fenced’ for medical device manufacture, including surgical instrumentation and its constituent components.

The machines, all FANUC-controlled, were ordered earlier this year, with confirmation taking place at the MACH 2026 exhibition (pictured). The first was installed in May, with two more scheduled for September and December.

Parts manufactured from stainless steels, polymers and other materials can feature tolerances down to a few microns and demanding surface finishes. Some require more than 20 hours of machining. Oracle Precision’s previous five-axis experience highlighted the benefits of completing complex components in a single set up, reducing cycle times and improving throughput.

“Our ambition to build a world-class medical manufacturing operation can only be achieved by having access to advanced multi-axis machine tools,” says Shaun Palmer, director and co-founder of Oracle Precision. “Achieving 24/7 lights-out unattended operations was, and is, the goal.”

The DVF 5000Mk II machines feature 120-tool magazines, linear scales, laser tool and radio-frequency workpiece probing, 70-bar switchable coolant, and FANUC 31iB5 controls. The first machine has a 15,000 rpm spindle and 28-pallet AWC, while the two subsequent machines will feature 20,000 rpm spindles and eight-pallet AWCs.

Mills CNC is also providing training and process support. “We’re ensuring that nothing gets left to chance,” adds Palmer. “Developing robust machining, inspection and verification processes at the start will stand us in good stead.”

More information www.millscnc.co.uk

DN Solutions and Heller To Show Manufacturing Expertise

DN Solutions and Heller will present their combined advanced manufacturing expertise at AMB 2026 in Stuttgart on 15-19 September (hall 10, stand 10A31/32). The joint exhibition will focus on integrated manufacturing solutions that combine machine tools, automation, digitalisation and AI-driven technologies to support future-ready production. The stand will feature live machining demonstrations highlighting advanced machining technologies and integrated automation. 

Heller will show its HF 5500 horizontal-spindle mill-turn centre for high-precision, five-axis complete machining; and the F 6000 five-axis mill-turn machine, which is suitable for heavy-duty cutting, deep-cavity machining and producing large, complex parts. Within the Heller technology area, visitors will be able to explore application expertise, digital production optimisation and intelligent support solutions, including the AI-based chatbot “Ask.me.” 

Additional exhibits ae set to include service offerings for maximising machine availability, scalable automation concepts, digital twins, the Heller Services Interface and the MyHeller customer platform. Workpiece examples from various industries will demonstrate how the combined expertise of DN Solutions and Heller supports efficient, flexible, high-quality manufacturing, from prototype production and single-part machining to high-volume series production.

DN Solutions plans to present the DVF 5000, a compact, five-axis vertical machining centre for machining small-to-medium size workpieces that require complex, multi-sided machining in a single set up. There will also be a DN Solutions DNX 2100 SB integrated with RoboJob automation to create a high-productivity cell designed for high-mix, low-volume or continuous-run manufacturing. By pairing a fully-featured multitasking turn-mill machine with flexible robotic part loading/unloading, machine shops can achieve true lights-out unattended machining.


The exhibit will be complemented by an SMX 3100 S turn-mill centre, a DNM 5700 three-axis vertical machining centre and a PUMA 5100 LYB heavy-duty CNC turning centre.

More information www.heller.biz/en

Starrag Supplies High-Precision Heckert HEC 800 To Kapp Niles

In 2024, Kapp Niles replaced a 16-year-old jig-boring machine at its Coburg production facility with a high-precision Heckert HEC 800 machining centre from Starrag. For Sascha Forkel, head of prismatic machining, the replacement was akin to a heart transplant: “It’s a key machine in our production operations, without which we would no longer be able to supply.”

Kapp Niles machines prismatic components up to 1 m³ in size, to tolerances as tight as 3 µm. The components, made predominantly from cast iron, are pre-machined before finishing, where accuracy and surface quality are critical.

The ageing jig-boring machine presented an increasing failure risk, with spare parts no longer guaranteed. Kapp Niles therefore shortlisted three potential replacements and subjected each to identical trials using the same complex motor housing, tooling, NC programs and clamping devices.

The company ultimately selected Starrag and its Heckert HEC 800, equipped with a high-precision kit. Mechanical accuracy was a key consideration.

“Various manufacturers achieve similar accuracies through compensation in the control software,” explains Forkel. “This can cause problems. For us, bores must be cylindrical.”

The HEC 800 incorporates water cooling for stands, axis drives and ball screws to ensure thermal stability, while heat sources are isolated from accuracy-critical components. Starrag also further tightened the circular-axis tolerances and reduced B-axis wobble.

A direct-drive spindle was selected, with maximum speed deliberately reduced from 12,000 to 10,000 rpm to increase process reliability. An Erowa LoadMaster automation system with nine pallet stations was also installed, allowing uncritical components to be machined without human intervention.

The old machine was removed in July 2024, with the HEC 800 arriving in August. Following site acceptance and operator training, production began in January 2025.

“Our conclusion: the heart transplant was a complete success,” states Forkel.

More information www.starrag.com

Rainford Precision Secures Alzmetall Partnership in UK

Rainford Precision has announced a new partnership with German machine tool manufacturer Alzmetall, becoming an agent for the company’s drilling and machining centre technologies throughout the UK and Ireland. The agreement combines Alzmetall’s German engineering expertise with Rainford Precision’s technical and application knowledge, providing manufacturers with direct access to high-performance machining solutions designed for precision, productivity and long-term reliability.

At the heart of the new offering is Alzmetall’s GS Series of machining centres. Manufactured in Germany, Rainford says the range is recognised for its build quality, rigidity and accuracy, making it suitable for demanding applications across a variety of industries.

The GS series incorporates an intelligent carriage travel system based on a box-in-box design with a symmetrical structure and monoblock cross slide. This configuration delivers stability, while the Z-axis slide and spindle are mounted directly within the carriage body to help maximise rigidity and machining performance.

Available in five sizes – GS 600, GS 800, GS 1000, GS 1200 and GS 1400 – the range supports component diameters from 600 to 1400 mm. Multiple machine variants are available within each size category, enabling manufacturers to select a solution tailored to their production requirements.

A key feature of the range is the SDK NC swivel/rotary table, which can be specified with either gear-drive or direct-drive torque motor technology. This application-focused approach allows customers to optimise machine performance for both conventional five-axis machining and dynamic operations requiring high positional accuracy.

For larger and more demanding applications, Alzmetall’s patented ASGK gantry concept assigns all three linear axes directly to the gantry structure, creating a rigid platform capable of handling substantial workpieces while maintaining the precision, repeatability and productivity expected from premium German-built machine tools.

More information www.rainfordprecision.com

Higher Precision With Advanced Mill-Turn Machine Technology

Precision engineering specialist ANT Industries has strengthened its advanced manufacturing capability with a six-figure investment in a new Axile G8 mill-turn centre at its facility in Atherstone, Warwickshire.

The machine forms part of the company’s ongoing strategy to expand its role as a trusted supplier of complex components to the aerospace and gas turbine sectors. Combining high-speed machining with advanced multi-axis control, the Axile G8 is being deployed primarily for the manufacture of high-value aero-engine components where precision, repeatability and surface quality are critical.

Managing director Shaun Rowley says early trials have already demonstrated significant performance benefits: “From our initial testing, the machine has exceeded expectations for accuracy, speed and ease of programming. The combination of processing power, axis control and machining speed gives us greater accuracy when producing complex profiles.”

The Axile G8 has also delivered notable improvements in surface finish quality, an important requirement for demanding aerospace applications.

“Parts produced on the machine have an exceptional finish,” says Rowley. “In many cases, the surface appearance is closer to a ground finish than a milled one, which is a reflection of the machine’s rigidity and precision.”

A key feature of the machine is its centred trunnion construction, designed to maximise stability and control during machining operations. The rigid structure enables tighter tolerances and improved consistency when producing complex geometries.

The machine also allows multiple milling and turning operations to be completed in a single set up, eliminating the inaccuracies that can occur when parts are transferred between machines.

“Our main reason for investing was the accuracy gained by removing multiple changeovers,” he adds. “The machine delivers exceptional repeatability, allowing us to produce highly complex components efficiently and consistently.”

More information www.antindustries.com