What goes around comes around, and the XYZ Lean Production Machine (LPM) is a case in point for specialist manufacturer of industrial blades and machine knives, Horsham-based Precision Edge and its director Ross Candfield.
“We initially considered buying an XYZ LPM machining centre five years ago, but after due consideration we decided our workload wasn’t quite right for the machine and went for an XYZ SMX 5000 bed mill with ProtoTrak SMX control instead,” says Candfield.
As time went on, workloads changed, and Precision Edge needed additional capacity,
with the LPM still in mind it returned to XYZ, but came away with one of its XYZ 2-OP machining centres.
After having the 2-OP for 18 months, business growth meant a need for further machining centre capacity, and the advantages seen from the XYZ 2-OP, with its ProtoTrak control and Jergens Ball Lock table, finally created the opening for an XYZ LPM to complete Precision Edge’s machining capabilities.
“As we already had the 2-OP, the addition of the LPM was straightforward as the programs are compatible between the two ProtoTrak controls, while the fixture plates that we had invested in were also transferrable between the two machines,” says Candfield. “The extra spindle power means that we can also maximise cutting data and we are seeing cycle times and productivity improve dramatically as a result. The capability of the LPM goes beyond improved cutter performance as we can now machine a part from blank to finish-machined in a single set-up. Prior to the LPM’s arrival this would have been completed on three machines.”
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