The UK has a proud history of producing some of the best quality defence equipment in the world, from fighter aircraft to missiles and machine guns. As one of the most dynamic manufacturing industries, which, together with aerospace, accounts for over £12 billion in output, the defence sector is well-positioned to support the UK economy as it rebounds from the slump caused by the global pandemic.

Production demands can often be met in-house; however, in some circumstances, it makes sense to outsource manufacturing to an outside expert. Outsourcing is a viable option when specialist skills or processes are required but a business doesn’t possess the necessary tools, equipment, or expertise to deliver outstanding results, or it can be part of a long-term business strategy to cut costs and increase profits.

At Hone-All, we have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to tackle complex projects in a range of sectors. As a family-run business that prides itself on teamwork, collaboration, and communication, we’re not constrained by muted ambition; instead, we invest in our teams and technology to ensure the highest quality service for our customers in diverse areas of industry, from aerospace and pharmaceuticals to defence and motorsport.

In the 2020-2021 season, the global audience watching Formula 1 reached 433 million viewers, making it one of the world’s most popular sports. Yet few people realise that each F1 car is constructed from an astounding 80,000 separate components, making each vehicle a compressed 720kg package of hydraulic systems, mechanical devices, carbon, tyres, and fuel!

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology is at the forefront of the precision machining industry, yielding greater control, more accurate results, and a reduced need for manual intervention during the manufacturing process.

When you contract your precision machining project to a specialist, you’ll want the process to run as smoothly as possible. To eliminate the risk of problems and to maximise the likelihood that your deadline will be met, you should provide the precision engineer with some important information at the earliest opportunity. This will enable both parties to share a common vision for the project, with any potential issues identified and resolved before fabrication begins.

In this guide, we’ll outline the information you should provide to your CNC machining specialist and explain what to do if you don’t have it to hand.

Precision engineering methods have been at the heart of manufacturing for nearly 200 years, since the first mills were designed to offer a faster, more cost-effective way to create new products. This ‘Sustainable Revolution’ is witnessing a shift towards cleaner, renewable energy sources across the manufacturing sector, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power.

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.

Precision engineering is now one of the most widely used techniques in manufacturing, responsible for manufacturing the majority of everyday items, alongside specialist and precision components used in engines, pumps, and machinery.