JC Precision Engineering earns 70% of its turnover from producing a wide range of components for racing go-carts.

The business, which originated from the racing exploits of the Munday family, was set up by Vincent Munday 36 years ago. It is now run on a day-to-day basis by his two sons — Dan and Chris.

Production at the Market Overton factory in Rutland has historically been based on CNC machining centres and fixed-head lathes, and about £1 million has been spent on machines over the last five years.

Following a visit to MACH 2014 at the NEC, the family began discussing the possible use of CNC sliding-head turn-mill technology for producing smaller precision parts.

Director Dan Munday said it was at MACH 2016 that they finally ‘took the plunge’ and ordered a Citizen Cincom L32-VIII with removable guide bush from Bushey-based Citizen Machinery UK Ltd (www.citizenmachinery.co.uk).

“The machine was installed last July; almost immediately, we were wondering why we had debated so long about buying a sliding-head machine. Indeed, such has been the success of it that we are now planning for a second, because we are becoming concerned we could run out of capacity.”

Apart from allowing work to be transferred to it from other machines and be produced more effectively, the L32-VIII has enabled JC Precision to win new contracts for parts the company could never have dreamed of producing before.

Moreover, profitability has improved significantly, with some cycle times a third of what they were previously. One part that was taking over 50sec on a fixed-head machine is being produced on the Citizen in just 17sec.

According to Dan Munday, even more important is the fact that lead times are considerably shorter compared with the previous methods involving fixed-head turning followed by milling and drilling on other machines — plus manual finishing.

“Further benefits are gained by the machine’s consistency, which allows us to run ‘lights out’ through the night, while maintaining tolerances as tight as 10µm. Previous production methods involving four or five set ups have been reduced to one that includes in-cycle deburring; and with appropriate planning regarding bar size and tooling requirements, batches of just 20 parts can be produced economically.”

When ordering the Cincom L32-VIII, the Mundays specified the detachable guide bush. “We have a considerable demand for short parts such as spacers, and without the guide bush fitted, we can save on bar end material.

“That said, it takes less than 30min to change back to a guide bush when needed. Furthermore, Citizen’s AlKart CNC Wizard simplifies programming and helped us get up to speed soon after the machine had been installed.”

JC Precision produces a wide range of parts in materials that include EN24, 316 stainless steel, plastics, aluminium and brass. These parts include special bolts and pins, master-cylinder brake pistons and brass fuel fittings.

The capabilities of the Cincom L32-VIII were demonstrated by the machining of a stub axle from 31mm-diameter EN8; this saw a single 7mm-deep cut produce a 17mm diameter that was held to a tolerance of 0.025mm. The part was then threaded at each end, using the main spindle and sub-spindle, and a hexagon was milled adjacent to a flange.

JC Precision, which employs 15 people and has a turnover of about £1 million, acquired its premises in 2000. These offer a floor area of 1,000m², although the company is currently planning to add another building. This will enable it to install a second Citizen and expand the sub-contract side of the business.

In conclusion, Vince Munday says: “The business has always achieved steady growth, with our input into design, development and prototype activities paying massive dividends in terms of customer loyalty and a long-term order book.”