Keeping pace with demand

For more than 25 years Pace Precision in Harlow has specialised in the design, prototyping and manufacture of precision components and associated equipment.

Ongoing investment, most recently in an XYZ 250 TC turning centre, coupled with traditional engineering skills is contributing to a third consecutive year of record growth - with current turnover up 20% on the previous year.

The XYZ 250 TC turning centre is the third machine tool to be supplied to Pace Precision by XYZ Machine Tools. Its two predecessors, a ProTURN CNC/manual lathe and a ProtoTRAK CNC/manual mill, have performed well, prompting investment in a 38hp/3500 rev/min turning centre with a 12-postion VDI turret and MT5 tailstock.

With a turning capacity of 250mm diameter (77mm bar capacity) by 650mm, and equipped with Siemens ShopTurn conversational control, the XYZ 250 TC is earmarked for longer batch runs. This enables one operator to oversee two machines, making more productive use of skills.

Programming is carried out on the shopfloor; the simplicity of the Siemens CNC system, with its easy to navigate menus and 'help' screens, contributes to significant time savings. The control can be programmed by operators without specific DIN/ISO programming knowledge, with canned cycles catering for common machining functions such as stock removal against contour and residual material recognition.