The mechanical workshop of the Department of Physics at Durham University has expanded its manufacturing capacity with the purchase of a bed mill from XYZ Machine Tools (www.xyzmachinetools.com).

The SMX 3500 with ProtoTrak control takes its place alongside several other XYZ machines, including an SLX 1630 ProTurn lathe. It will be used to make complex parts for a number of different departments at the university.

The machines in the workshop were previously available for students to use, but they are now solely the domain of workshop supervisor Stephen Lishman and his six technicians, along with two apprentices.

Mr Lishman sees the benefit of having a number of machines that are fitted with the same control system: “The ability to transfer skills from machine to machine is important to us, as we rarely know what we will be machining next, and our technicians and apprentices find the ProtoTrak control easy to use.

"This, in turn, helps to generate good quality and accurate parts from the machines. The choice of XYZ machines is down to their ease of use, accuracy, repeatability and all-round value for money. By focusing on one make of machine and control, our skills have developed alongside the machines that we buy.”

Another plus for Mr Lishman was the detail that the installation team went to before delivering the SMX 3500. Durham University campus is built on a hilly site, so delivering machine tools can be awkward.

The XYZ team did a pre-installation visit, took photographs and ensured that the right truck and crane were chosen for the job. “The good communications between XYZ and the university ensured that the installation was straightforward.”