Public concerns about the state of the environment have soared in recent years and, at Hone-All, we recognise that we have a role to play in protecting the Earth in any way we can.

Nearly one-quarter of carbon emissions are produced by manufacturing businesses worldwide and, while the CO2 emissions in the UK have fallen by 10% in the past year, there’s clearly a long way to go.

We are looking forward to welcoming a new Pinacho ST285 CNC lathe to our workshop here at Hone-All, after accepting a quote from C Dugard Ltd, of East Sussex.

This is an exciting investment for us because it is the first CNC lathe we’ve purchased with a C-axis. The additional axis gives us the capacity to drill and tap on PCDs and machine keyways/slots in-house, increasing the range of services we can offer. Previously we had to either subcontract this aspect of our work to a trusted supplier (with customer permission of course), or request the customer to arrange it themselves after machining – something we were always uncomfortable with because it meant we couldn’t offer an end-to-end service.

A wide range of materials are used in CNC machining, making it one of the most versatile methods in modern precision manufacturing. Most metals are compatible with CNC machining, alongside several plastics and polymers, and even certain foams. Your choice of material hinges on the purpose of the component, the environment in which it will be used, it’s stress load, and your production budget.

Few people foresaw the Covid-19 pandemic and, in a world in which global supply chains had become the norm for many businesses, disruption was unsurprisingly high. With many countries implementing lockdowns at different times, manufacturing hubs subjected to short-notice closure, and international shipping routes restricted, supply chains have suffered. Furthermore, unstable political climates have forced many businesses to evaluate their dependence on international suppliers and markets.

Honing and lapping are often mentioned in the same breath as if they were interchangeable terms, and the two processes do share some similarities. 

However, honing and lapping are, in fact, two distinct processes with fundamental differences. In this article, we discuss what each process refers to in the world of precision machining, and the pros and cons of each:

You may think that they all say that, and they probably do.

Therefore, it’s worth taking two or three minutes to understand our justification for claiming that you will not find better – or at least understand our approach and the way we do business. It’s the only way for us, and it has delighted thousands of customers throughout the years. We believe we have the winning formula of professionalism, advanced technology and industry expertise and it’s all at your disposal.

CNC honing is a specialised manufacturing procedure used to finish a wide range of industrial and machine components. Here are answers to five of the most frequently asked queries that we receive about CNC honing:

Manufacturing products and shipping them to customers doesn’t just happen overnight by magic. Instead, the design and creation of products relies on a complex supply and resource management system that often extends beyond international borders, from the sourcing of raw materials to the eventual delivery of the completed product to the end user.

It's common for companies to use third party accountants, solicitors, and IT providers when they don't have teams of experts in-house. However, in recent years, manufacturing companies have realised that they can also benefit from working closely with precision engineering firms to handle parts of their manufacturing process. What advantages could your business gain from using Hone-All's subcontract machining services?

Have you ever paid over the odds for drilling, boring or honing? If so, you’re certainly not alone. 

Drilling, honing and boring costs are notorious for being something of an arcane secret for people who aren’t ‘in the know’ about the process involved. We have attempted to shed some light on the world of pricing in our latest downloadable e-book: The Guide To Deep Hole Drilling, Boring & Honing Costs. You can download a copy by clicking here.