JCF Engineering boosts capacity with new XYZ machines

John Felton, owner of JCF, taking full advantage of the Siemens Shopturn software on the XYZ 65 LTY-S

Since 2008, when JCF Engineering was founded as a sub-contract machining business by John Felton, the company has invested in XYZ machines of various types supplied by Devon-based XYZ Machine Tools, to allow for the manufacture of a wide range of components. Such has been the success of the company that it now has two sites, one located in Scunthorpe and a second facility in Norfolk. It is at the Scunthorpe facility that the latest acquisitions of an XYZ 750 LR vertical machining centre (VMC) and a 65 LTY-S sub-spindle turning centre are located, to handle the growing demand for sub-sea components.

When Mr Felton saw that XYZ had launched a sub-spindle lathe, it had him thinking about how he could reduce set-up and handling times on parts that were getting ever more complicated, especially as there are only two members of staff on site. He said: “We were spending a lot of time here at JCF doing set-ups for the second or third operations when taking parts from the single-spindle lathes to the machining centres fitted with a fourth axis. We could see that by investing in an XYZ 65 LTY-S we could reduce this non-productive time, and free-up capacity on our existing machines to take on additional work.”

Pictured left: One of the advantages JCF see with the XYZ 65 LTY-S is the use of the BMT65 turret

The 65 LTY-S purchase has certainly paid off for JCF, allowing the company to produce ever more complex components while at the same time increasing capacity. He added: “Since the investment in the 65 LTY-S, our turnover has grown substantially and it was only after we had got into the swing of using the machine that we fully appreciated the gains that were being provided.”

One of the advantages JCF see with the XYZ 65 LTY-S is the use of the BMT65 turret. Having multiple tools available on each station reduces set ups and increases functionality

Mr Felton continued: “There are a number of areas that this machine excels with the work we do. Firstly, the fact that the machining features are all aligned between first operation in the 65mm bar capacity spindle and the 45mm capacity sub-spindle, with the sub-spindle coming across and clamping on the part before parting off ensures the machine never loses where the component is during the manufacturing process.”

Real benefits
He added: “This is aided by the easy-to-use Siemens 828D control, fitted with Shopturn software. We have yet to find a job we cannot program with the Shopturn software and reduces any need for CAM in the office. In fact, programming transfer of the part from main to sub-spindle was covered by XYZ in a matter of minutes. Secondly the BMT65 turret has real benefits for us.”

Pictured right: A sample of the parts produced on JCF’s XYZ 65 LTY-S using the sub-spindle to ensure feature alignment

The holding of a number of static or driven tools in each station has proven to be a massive advantage. With the Y axis having 100mm of travel (50mm above and below centre height), the flexibility to move tools off centre for not only milling, drilling and tapping, but also the turning style tools has opened up capability and reduced set-ups, as most of the time the tools we require are already in the turret and set.

Finally, the machines motorised spindles offer masses of power (22kW main spindle and 15kW sub-spindle) for the main material we machine which is 316 stainless steel but having driven tools running up to 5,000rev/min is helpful when machining material such as PEEK.”

Since the formation of the business, JCF has continued to purchase XYZ products from the Devon-based machine tool supplier in many different formats. Mr Felton concluded: “XYZ’s products have provided us with the perfect machining platform for the work we produce, and the LTY-S has been no exception. Furthermore, the support has been excellent and if the XYZ engineering team visit, they know the products well and provide a fast and efficient service. This, mated with the controls that XYZ fit, namely ProtoTRAK and Siemens using conversational software, ensures the machines are perfect for our business needs.”