Age doesn't enter into the equation at this honingsub-contractor, whose senior machinist quickly took control ofnew CNC machine tools, acquired to expand machining capabilities.Age doesn't enter into the equation at sub-contractorHone-All Precision. Enthusiasm and commitment are the qualitiesthis precision machining specialist looks for when recruiting,and machinist Roger Ayers, while cheerfully admitting to beingeligible for his bus pass, fits the bill precisely. He joined theDunstable-based company a year or so ago as a highly skilledmiller whose 45 years' experience had been gained on manualmachines.

Since then, encouraged by managing director ColinRodney and co-director Andrea Rodney, he has progressed to CNC,and has also added turning to his skills set.

It's part ofwhat the two directors describe as a multi-skilled approach tothe business of providing a single source capability.

Althoughwell known for its honing, deep hole drilling and boringexpertise, the past two to three years have seen Hone-AllPrecision expand its machining and project management capability.The result is an ISO 9001-2000 accredited business capable ofmachining components in virtually any material up to three metresin length to the highest quality standards and within onefacility.

Part of the GBP 0.5 million investment to date has beenin two new machines from XYZ Machine Tools.

These are a3HP/2.25kW Edge 2000 manual/CNC mill equipped with the innovativePrototrak control and a centre lathe equipped with a Newall C70digital readout, both of which Roger Ayers uses for intricateprototype work.

The turret mill has a table work surface of1270mm by 254mm and X, Y and Z travels of 762mm, 406mm and 406mmrespectively, while the 7.5HP/5.6kW XYZ 1550 lathe provides a390mm swing over the bed and 1250mm between centres.

ThePrototrak control's question and answer format has provedparticularly helpful, because it has enabled skilled machinistssuch as Ayers as well as younger trainees to adapt quickly toCNC, with both machines playing their part in Hone-AllPrecision's continuous improvement programme.

'Beforewe bought the XYZ mill some nine months ago we were doingone-offs on our machining centre and holding up production workas a result,' says Andrea Rodney.

'So we began lookingfor a machine that would be easy to set-up and operate, but onethat could also be used in our in-house training programme.

Wehad good reports about these machines from customers and have notbeen disappointed.

We freed up the machining centre and havesince taken on more prototype work because we can turn the workround more quickly.

Much the same has happened with the newlathe: as well as one-offs it does all the preparation work forthe smaller gundrills, freeing up much-needed capacity.