Precision machinist says that electronic manual lathes are more cost-effective on small batch work and prototype production than either the company's CNC lathes or traditional centre lathes.

Precision machinist says that electronic manual lathes are more cost-effective on small batch work and prototype production than either the company's CNC lathes or traditional centre lathes. Three Harrison Alpha T (Touchscreen) electronic lathes, supplied and commissioned by RK International of Erith, Kent have increased manufacturing flexibility for sub-contractor Norman Precision of Thrupp, Gloucestershire by filling a production 'gap' between full CNC and manual turning operations. The three lathes, an Alpha 330T (330mm swing over bed), Alpha 460T (460mm swing) and Alpha 550T (550mm swing), have proved to be far more cost-effective on small batch work and prototype production than either the company's CNC lathes or traditional centre lathes.

The Alphas also provide 'toolroom' support for the CNC operation.

Specialists in high precision CNC machining with customers in the oil, medical and automotive industries, Norman Precision took delivery of its first Alpha, the 460T, in December 2001.

The acquisition proved so successful that it was followed up in August 2002 with the purchase of the Alpha 550T and Alpha 330T.

Managing Director Kevin Norman comments: 'Business has grown tremendously over the last few years and although we never particularly wanted to get involved in small batch and prototype machining, it is something that was necessary due to customer requirements.

Also our own CNC department requires considerable support by way of the manufacture of fixtures.' While many sub-contractors have experienced a downturn in business, Norman Precision's policy of aggressive marketing coupled to an ambitious investment in new machinery has seen the company virtually double its turnover in the last year alone.

The recessionary trend in the manufacturing sector has also had a knock-on, but rather unexpected effect on the company.

As the downturn has taken hold, many of Norman Precision's larger manufacturing customers have cut costs by contracting their supply network while at the same time expecting more value from those suppliers retained.

While this has had dire financial consequences for some sub-contractors, Norman Precision's outstanding ability to produce precision-engineered products at very cost-efficient prices has helped it to actually increase business from some sectors.

The ability to survive in such a competitive marketplace is one thing, to prosper in such trading conditions is quite another and reflects well on the skill and dedication of both staff and management of the company - fully justifying Managing Director Kevin Norman's ambitious decision to invest over 25 per cent of annual turnover in new machinery in a single year.

The three Alphas have taken up a proportion of this investment, though the bulk was spent on acquiring machining centres and CNC spark erosion equipment, and these acquisition costs have had to be fully justified in terms of improved productivity and competitiveness for the company.

Certainly the three Alpha T lathes with their modest acquisition costs, extremely easy-to-use features and productivity benefits from 'day-one' have justified their presence in Kevin Norman's mind: 'I have been keenly aware of the benefits of the Alpha T and its predecessors for some time and although our work is primarily CNC machining I could see a niche for such machines in our operation.

Threading, tapers and large radii are much quicker and easier on the Alpha than on conventional lathes, and it's also a lot more cost effective for small batch work than CNC.' The Alpha T offers the user the benefits of both manual operation, semi-automatic and fully automated cycles, as well as a comprehensive offline CAD/CAM system.

To add to its versatility Harrison has recently embodied automatic 'thread chasing' and 'Acme' threading cycles to the Alpha T repertoire, enhancing the lathe's productivity and boosting Harrison claims that the machine is the logical successor to the manual centre lathe and the natural choice for any manual lathe user wishing to upgrade its production machinery.

Summing up, Kevin Norman says: 'The Alphas are British made, suit our operators and provide extremely cost-effective, precision engineering support to our CNC operation.

What more can I say?