simonr Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 X-Eng subcontracts most of the CNC Machining to other companies in the UK. Unfortunately, over the last couple of years I've had a bad run of poor quality control & punctuality from the last two. I find this surprising when there is over £100k of business at stake but it seems most companies try really hard to impress initially then figure you are a safe bet and they don't need to bother! But it bothers me! I gave the current one their final warning today. They had guaranteed delivery of a pallet of parts but when it didnt show up, on the phone said they would probably ship it next week! If the bits were not so urgent, I would have told them to **** ***! Do you use a company that have been consistently on the ball? I need someone who is good value, (which does not necessarily mean the cheapest!) and reliable in quality and delivery dates. To do most of my stuff cost effectively, they need a lathe with a bar feed which will accept 65mm through the bore, powered tooling and ideally secondary spindle. On that, all the components can be made in a single operation. Any ideas would be gratefully received! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I cant fault Stable fabrication in Towcester; although there name suggest differently, they have invested heavily in CNC turning and milling equipment in recent years. They do a lot for motorsport, which means they will be busy this time of the year, but between march and september they will be less busy. I deal with them a lot through work. Speak with mark (MD) or Bob. Tell them I send you! Daan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 A friend of ours is MD of a CNC and machining company in the west country - I'll see if I can dig out some details and PM you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I work at Monard Precision Engineering in Rugby and we are a sub contract machine shop. PT Engineering in rugby where EJParrot works would be worth a look as well but i think your stuff woukd be a bit small for them and also for sheet metal work in Rugby theres Shaw Sheet Metal who are very helpful. They all have websites that are easily google. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 BSP Engineering in Suffolk are my local top machinists, Stewart ,the boss has been machining for over 30yrs and has a good selection of CNC gear and 3D Mititoyo measuring , others nearby to me , Brafe machinists at Woodbridge and Raiment in Braintree area for spline and keyway specialist work no connection apart from good service mm engineering cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedLineMike Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Hi si, have you considered redstart design in chard, I know they have a large arsenal of cnc equipment & the service I have had from Neil & his team has been outstanding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 No job too small! Our bar fed machine won't take 65mm though I don't think, but the HiCell machining center will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spongie Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Could try Able engineering they make a lot of the components for the 101 club. www.ableoverland.co.uk (same company different web address) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatbloke Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I Know you are in the south east so there are many of my customers I can recommend. Russnorth eng, Maidstone Fewell engineering, Dartford Evridge Precision, Dartford Turncircuit, Sevenoaks Metaltech, Hailsham HPC, Burgess Hill Crosthwaite & Gardiner, Uckfield To name a few Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 No job too small! Our bar fed machine won't take 65mm though I don't think, but the HiCell machining center will. Our Colchester will take 65. The Conquest and Cobra both handle 42 and have a bar feed. And of course theres my Lathe that handles a beating most days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
q-rover Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 I could recommend 2 that do stuff for the oil industry. But because they do stuff for the oil industry, prices are accordingly, and being in Norway prices for Norwwegian oil industry stuff is even more, and then there is shipping. So I won't bother... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted January 24, 2013 Author Share Posted January 24, 2013 Thank you for all the replies! Also the ones by PM & Email. I'll start making enquiries with the ones who appear (from their web sites) to have the capability. I've found that for X-Lites in particular, the only cost effective way to make them is 65mm through spindle, bar feed & sub-spindle - so I'll start with them! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Good luck, we've been really hampered by this very problem. My current suppliers give a lead of 2 weeks which becomes 4 or 6. Thee are mistakes and poor finishes. Last year I drove around 20 companies with drawings for £5k of work that would be repeat business. Only 3 even came back to me with a price. If I can get 2 out of 3 from a good price, quality or lead time I consider it good. I find it very sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Thank you for all the replies! Also the ones by PM & Email.I'll start making enquiries with the ones who appear (from their web sites) to have the capability. I've found that for X-Lites in particular, the only cost effective way to make them is 65mm through spindle, bar feed & sub-spindle - so I'll start with them! Si Si any chance you have a video of something like an X-Lite being machined? Might be a nice addition to the website, a video of each thing being made? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted January 24, 2013 Author Share Posted January 24, 2013 Si any chance you have a video of something like an X-Lite being machined? Might be a nice addition to the website, a video of each thing being made? Sadly the Elves that make them are camera shy! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Si any chance you have a video of something like an X-Lite being machined? Might be a nice addition to the website, a video of each thing being made? Youtubes your friend. Look for guildermister machines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Si, I am a bit late to find this thread. Have you come across Pheonix Engineering? Not far from you in Blatchford Road, they are in fact mould toolmakers, but I think they'll turn they hands to other batch work. Some of the chaps there I have worked with in the past, at other companies. No connection beyond that though. http://www.phoenixengineering2009.co.uk/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 Mickey, that's interesting! I wonder if they are called Pheonix because it was born out of the ashes of the previous company in that building! I approached the previous company and they said they would not get out of bed for any order under £10k & a minimum of £1M per year. I suspected it wouldn't be long before they went bust. It was full of people and machines, but few seemed to be doing anything except the slimy double-glazing salesman! I'll give them another try! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Si you are spot on with the ashes. The company is now owned by the all guys that work there. Their previous incarnation was a very successful and long established toolmaking business, until they were bought out by some unpleasant people that destroyed all they had and sunk the company. The figures you were quoted are not in the right league with anything to do with toolmaking. Sounds like you got to talk the one of the bad guys. Robin Rapley is a nice guy to deal with, and unless they are rather busy I can't see him turning you away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 How did you get on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 I spoke to Robin at Phoenix the other day; said he hadn't heard from you, but was more than happy to take on small production runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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