Based in the heart of Rutland, Hi-Spec Engineering recently bought its second Hurco VM10OUi machine, after installing the first back in August 2013; the company had exper-
ienced such high demand for the five-axis machine that it ordered a second identical model to keep up with demand.

Hi-Spec director Darren Grainger said: “We invested in five-axis capacity because we are keen to expand our business by carrying out fully interpolative machining that we were previously unable to take on. Also, we wanted to produce components in fewer set-ups with less operator attendance, using 3+2-axis strategies.”

Mr Grainger, formerly a technical manager at a hydraulics manufacturer, started his sub-contract business in Market Overton in 2004. His brother, father, mother and sister-in-law all help in the business, which still derives 60% of its turnover from the hydraulics sector. Automotive and agricultural parts are also routinely produced.

The first Hurco machining centre that Hi-Spec installed — back in 2009 — was a VM1 fitted with an indexing head. Mr Grainger selected this model from High Wycombe-based Hurco Europe Ltd (www.hurco.co.uk) because of its large machining volume and compactness, which is beneficial in a factory with limited space.

This first installation was so successful that a VM10, which has slightly larger linear travels, was added in November 2011. Swarf augers were subsequently added to both machines; furthermore, the control software has been upgraded to WinMax Version 9, making the machines noticeably faster and more productive — even on 3+2-axis work. Almost all cycles are programmed on the shopfloor; only fully interpolative cycles are programmed using a OneCNC five-axis CAD/CAM package.

Hi-Spec has achieved a year-on-year growth of 20-30%, and it now has 10 CNC machines in total. The purchase of a bigger three-axis Hurco VMC is planned, to match the larger-capacity lathes that the company intends to install.