Axminster Tools & Machinery’s manufacturing workshop in Devon has recently taken delivery of a new Star SR-38 type B CNC sliding-head lathe from Star Micronics GB (
www.stargb.com).
This machine is said to provide maximum functionality and capacity within a compact footprint, and it comes with a Fanuc high-specification 31i-B5 control, which delivers full five-axis capability, enabling highly complex components to be processed.
The new lathe is the second Star sliding-head lathe that Axminster (
www.axminster.co.uk) has purchased to enhance its manufacturing capability.
It will operate in tandem with the company’s existing Star machine, which can turn up to 32mm. Specialising in small round components, the new lathe can operate at very high speed, producing hundreds of components each day that require no further finishing.
Keith Thompson, Axminster’s innovation and product manager, said: “We make Parf Super Dogs, parts for wood-turning centres, spacers, pins and guides for the Parf guide system and pen-turning mandrels.
“In the past, we made these on a ‘conventional’ lathe, but it took a long time. With the Star machine, the process is much, much quicker.”
Production development director Ian Styles said: “This is a £0.25 million machine we are adding to the machine shop, expanding our manufacturing capacity because we believe in manufacturing in Britain.
"Being a world-class manufacturer in today’s competitive world really does require huge investment, and this
is the second Star machine we have purchased in 18 months.”