Market Deeping based PJ Innovations makes dough divider-rounder machines (and theirassociated spare parts) for the bakery industry. When the company formed in 2014 it subcontracted all component manufacturing requirements. However, PJ Innovations started investing in XYZ Machine Tools in 2016 to bring some of the work in-house.

The company’s first purchase was an XYZ Proturn SLX 425 lathe with ProtoTRAK control, which it uses for turning large shafts 90mm diameter and 1m long in batches up to 100.The Proturn SLX 425 is a gap-bed lathe with a capacity of 2m and swing over the bed of 480mm. The extra length gives options for longer shafts. Notably, the operator has 20-30 tools ready set, so switching between programs stored in the control unit takes just 5-10 minutes.

For frame plates and the many parts which require lots of drilling, tapping and boring, the company takes advantage of an XYZ SMX 5000 with ProtoTRAK control and 1930 x 356mm table. Programming takes place at the control and fast changeover between jobs makes this machine suitable for 1-offs and low batch sizes.

The most recent acquisition is an XYZ 1000 TMC with ProtoTRAK RMX control. Manufacturing manager James Goode says: “The tool changer speeds machining up a lot and the enclosed cutting area is better from a safety and cleanliness perspective. We also like the handwheels on all XYZ machines, which allow us to move backwards and forwards through a program to prove it out. You can easily learn to program the ProtoTRAK in one day.”

PJ Innovation’s new XYZ 1000 TMC is for component batches of up to 50-off that need drilling, boring and tapping. Additionally, tool setting is easy using the touch probe, with offsets recorded in the control by pressing the ABS set button.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com