Hone-All Precision Ltd

The 2020 pandemic has brought together some of the greatest minds from some of the most prestigious manufacturers in Britain to design, build, and ship vital medical equipment at very short notice.

Companies as diverse and skilled as Siemens, Rolls Royce, and BAE Systems have pooled their expertise to create large quantities of CPAP ventilators for use in hospitals and surgeries worldwide, in record time.

Together, they have become known as the Ventilator Challenge UK Consortium - a new UK super group of UK manufacturers to build medical equipment. The initiative has won praise from Unite, Britain's biggest union, and gained extensive coverage from the media.

With the help of medical experts from UCL and Oxford University, precision compression and control techniques usually found in extreme engineering environments (such as Formula 1) have been retooled and helped late-stage COVID-19 patients survive the deadly 'cytokine storm' phase of the disease.

Co-ordinating vastly different companies to work together against a strict time limit has been integral to the scheme's success. This was driven by Dick Elsy, CEO of High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a group of manufacturing research centres in the UK.

We caught up with PP’s Sales Director, Garry Myatt, last month to find out more about what originally inspired the new initiative ‘#ukmfgunite’, how they supported the ventilator challenge and what he thinks of the UK's response to Coronavirus.

What do you usually do in your day job?

Garry: I’m the sales director for PP Control and Automation. We help machine builders scale up and then in co-support of UK manufacturing the collaboration director of #ukmfgunite.

We work with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) who make machines for tasks such as industrial printing, automotive manufacture, food processing and so on. We provide electro-mechanical products to help them increase operational efficiency. We sell to clients in the UK and overseas, too.

What was PP Control and Automation dealing with before the 2019 Coronavirus pandemic hit Britain?

Garry: Before COVID-19, our biggest concerns were how Brexit would impact our OEM customers.

We were already having close internal discussions about how this would impact us. We talked through the risks, what we needed to buy from outside the UK for these machines, implications for our import and export tariffs, to name just a few examples. We were already worried about how cost-down requests from customers and lead times might be impacted by leaving the EU.

This had already inspired the idea of setting up an alternative supply chain for some of our machines closer to home... and then COVID-19 took control.

Furloughs, people being made redundant, suppliers shutting down factories, countries closing borders - our discussions suddenly changed.

It was now centred back around re-shoring and accelerating the supply chain closer to home.

How did PP Control and Automation respond to the UK outbreak and March lockdown?

Garry: On 15th March, Matt Hancock (MP, UK health secretary) announced live on air that we were in a pandemic in England. He claimed that the UK government would be looking to buy up as many ventilators as they could to help the NHS cope with COVID-19.

We wanted to help.

Throughout Monday and Tuesday, we contacted 21 different companies in the UK who make ventilators. Across two days we spoke to all the Chairs, Operation Directors, CEOs, and procurement professionals. They were mostly happy to hear from us.

No-one had a clue what was really happening, though. No-one from the government had contacted them about ventilators but they were all ready to accept as many orders as needed.

How did you originally try to help?

Garry: As soon as we could, we registered PP Automation and completed the government’s questionnaire on-line. We provided them with all our details and our expertise and capabilities - everything we're good at. This way they could look at our offer and approach us for help. We also reached out to our network partners within Make UK (Formerly known as EEF) and The Man Group.

We then spoke with ABHI (Industry association for HealthTech) who also put us in touch with the government’s departmental liaison for biomedical industries the BEIS (Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy) After this, we received no further contact from or with the government. We couldn’t have done any more.

How did PP Automation contribute?

Garry: PP Control and Automation is a strong and versatile manufacturing company at and we have a vast array of skills that can build ‘machines’ very quickly.

These two qualities don’t go hand in hand with offshoring - there’s a serious lead time lag. In a time-critical pandemic when there’s a lack of vital equipment, you don’t have time to go further abroad. You have to source it locally, and quickly.

If you look at all the companies that pulled together, even the people at home making face masks to go to the NHS, the response from UK Manufacturing was phenomenal.
The UK does have the capability, we’re just not using it.

In the fortnight after lockdown, we spoke with our friends at WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group) and by chance the team at WMG was contacted by other suppliers in the Ventilator consortium to find a company that could make cable looms and harnesses in high volume. Guess what... at PP, we do exactly that!

In just six weeks, we built approx. 50,000 components across various part numbers for use in the group's ventilators. We were able to commit 30 or so of our staff to the project and we all worked over Easter and the May bank holidays - the commitment from our team was amazing and we’re so grateful to them for their efforts!

What machines were your ventilator parts used in?

Garry: The Penlon ESO-2 was the design chosen (by the consortium and then the Government) to be used in hospitals.

We were just one ‘cog’ in the wheel of a vast network of UK manufacturers and SME’s that made all the different components. Under the consortium, Penlon were just one of a handful of OEM’s that were awarded a state contract, but they had to release the data to the consortium to allow it to be built. Many companies, particularly Ford UK, all pulled together to help produce a finished unit for use in hospitals.

How have things changed as to PP Control and Automation's Role in the Consortium over time?

Garry: We eventually got involved because we 'knew someone' despite our efforts and shouts of “we can help” to Government.

As the project gathered momentum, we thought, we can help save lives and quickly - what does this really mean for us? How can we help reduce risk and how can we get other manufacturers we know talking to each other?

The result was the #ukmfgunite website. Before we knew it, we had over two-hundred manufacturing companies signed up, including yourselves at Hone-All.

We needed to do something different. There are lots of social platforms for all aspects of manufacturing - but a lot of these come with stipulations. We wanted to build something hard-hitting and impactful that would help people NOW and get manufacturers and SME’s talking.

How has #ukmfgunite helped the ventilator project and British manufacturing?

Garry: We’ve created a free platform that doesn’t cost you anything to register and gives you the ability to post your company profile, skills, good news stories and case studies. By sharing and collaborating through social media together, we can reach a much wider audience.

You can add notices that you can provide help or post requests for when and how you need help.
Every two weeks, all requests and offers of support get sent out via e-shot to all registered users.

Already we’ve created orders worth more than £600,000 just by enabling people to talk to each other through the platform. We’ve successfully retained within the UK massive orders that would have traditionally gone overseas which helps increase both UK GDP and business growth in Britain.

Are you pleased with what you've achieved so far with PP Control and Automation, your website, and the #ukmfgunite platform?

Garry: Definitely. It’s always nice to help others and to know we have saved lives is even nicer. This has gone on to be greater than I could have ever expected.

What do you hope to see for #ukmfgunite and British manufacturing, coming out of COVID-19?

Garry: I hope that more companies will see that placing their orders outside the UK is a serious risk, in terms of delays, unreliable supply chains and the worldwide damaging effects of natural disasters. To respond quickly and effectively to a pandemic means we must limit the things we are not in charge of and have no control over...

If we can create and sustain our platform that says 'there are X amount of companies producing Y' and we can get more Managing Directors and purchasing professionals talking to one another and recognising the versatility and reliability of the UK supply chain, those extra orders will keep on being placed here within the UK and manufacturing will play a major part in the economic recovery!

We are delighted to announce that we've won the 2020 UK Enterprise Award for excellence in Sub-Contracted Machining for Oil and Gas! We were extremely proud to be nominated by our customers for the Best Subcontractor Oil & Gas in the SME Energy & Power Awards at the end of last year and now we have been selected as the overall winner for Best Oil & Gas Subcontractor in the SME News Enterprise Awards 2020.

Although this is not to be formally announced until the end of August, we wanted to announce it as soon as possible to keep the positivity and good news flowing throughout our fabulous industry!

Knowing that customers have recommended us and receiving the honour of this award for our services in deep hole drilling, deep hole boring, CNC turning and honing for the Oil & Gas industry is truly humbling but a great reflection of the efforts of our fabulous team here at Hone-All. It is this award-winning quality that keeps our customers - including Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, and Collins Aerospace - coming back for more, and we are extremely grateful for the opportunities and this wonderful recognition.

Thank You!

To all of our clients, suppliers, stakeholders and well-wishers, we hope that in the midst of everything this news brings a smile to your face and we thank you for your continued nominations, testimonials, recommendations and constant support.

We would particularly like to thank our dedicated, hard-working team, who have been amazing in continuing to work with us throughout the crisis, supplying critical components in the fight against Covid-19. Without their constant loyalty, commitment and support, we wouldn't be able to complete our time-critical, essential work to the excellent standards we do.

As we, and the UK as a whole, gradually get back to normal over the coming months, we'll be delivering the same excellent service and quality machining we always have to help our clients, the UK Manufacturing industry and the economy, rebuild quickly from the COVID-19 crisis.

Machining And Much More From Hone-All

Hone-All is a UK-based, family-run company focused on precision engineering, world-leading expertise, and innovation in supplying precision machined components for a vast array of industries.

Our manufacturing facility in Leighton Buzzard allows us to offer clients an 'all-in-one', single source solution to manufacturing tubular type components, enabling us to meet and exceed your schedule and requirements on time, every time.

Our highly skilled engineers can assist you in your planning to achieve the highest quality at the most competitive rates whilst considering the overall job, not just our own part of it. This ensures that there are no nasty surprises further down your production route guaranteeing that not only we, but you, can also meet your exacting quality and delivery targets.

Call, email, or visit our website www.hone-all.co.uk today to find out more and see for yourself how working with a company which takes a “holisitic” approach to your project can help!

Single stroke honing uses a sequence of gradually larger sized abrading tools to complete a bore in a single cycle whilst using multiple tools. The process is conducted by a special-purpose CNC honing machine, through which the bore diameter and positioning are determined in advance.

Compatible materials for honing include stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, ceramics, polymer plastic, and glass.

Advantages Of Single Stroke Honing

Single stroke honing is chosen for its high precision on small bores, and its accuracy to keep within tight tolerances on large volume production runs.

Single stroke honing is also known as progressive honing, due to the sequential nature of the operation.

There are several advantages to single stroke/progressive honing:

• Consistent precision in terms of cylindricity, bore size, finish, and geometry due to there being no moving parts for expansion within the tooling;
• As the process requires only a single pass, single stroke honing requires less setup time, and no tool changes mid job;
• Less time-intensive;
• Doesn’t require as high a level of operator skill;
• No need to use several different machine tools;
• Reduced stress on tools/machine parts – increased tool life and lower risk of breakage;
• Fast and cost-effective process for large batch/volume honing.

What Conditions, Equipment And Tools Are Required For Single Stroke Honing?

Unlike standard honing, single stroke honing requires an extremely consistent start size within the bore to be honed and also requires a multi-spindle machine, with each spindle tool progressively making a different type of cut, in a combined operation.

For example:

1) A roughing tool that removes 0.0254mm of material
2) An intermediate-sized super-abrasive tool that removes another 0.0190mm of material
3) A surface finishing tool
4) A polishing tool

The number of tools and their function varies from machine to machine and is adjustable for different applications. Using the example configuration above, the machine would require six pots to place the components for honing: one each for loading and unloading, and one for each of the four operations. Single stroke honing tools can have a bore of >15mm and be up to 160mm in length.

Single stroke honing machines allow extensive flexibility in spindle speed, column feed profiles, stroke depth, rotation speed, hole diameter, and dwell. Most machines can accommodate precision boring for holes of 3 to 50 mm diameter.

When To Use Single Stroke Honing

Single stroke honing is an effective process in several circumstances:

• You have a consistent, pre-machined, small diameter bore;
• You are working to a tight budget or need to reduce costs;
• You want to minimise downtime and machine changeover time;
• You need consistent, repeatable accuracy for bore size, roundness and surface finish over a large volume production run;
• You are working with super-abrasive materials, such as diamond or CBN;
• Your project involves small, precision components, such as hydraulic valves, gears, housings, sprockets etc.

Find Out More

At Hone All Precision, we offer progressive honing as one of our range of deep hole drilling, boring and honing services for a variety of applications.

If you require fast, cost-effective, and high precision drilling for small bores, single stroke honing is an excellent and reliable solution.

To find out more, please have a chat with one of our engineers today by calling 01525 370666 or e-mail our sales team and send your enquiry to sales@hone-all.co.uk

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So-called drill wander is a common and frustrating problem in many deep hole drilling operations.

So long as the drilling machine is set up correctly, the drill should – in theory – both enter and exit from the centre point. In practice, however, this rarely happens on deep holes; defined as any hole with a depth to diameter ratio greater than 10 to 1.

The issue occurs due to the drill’s tendency to wander off centre when carrying out deep hole drilling, especially when gundrilling long, small diameter holes. The hole itself is perfectly straight (gundrilling rarely creates a curved bore) but the exit point deviates from the starting point.

The deviation of the exit hole from the centre – or level of drill wander – is approximately 1 mm per metre, or 0.001” per inch drilled.

What Causes Drill Wander?

Several factors can cause drill wander or worsen its effects.

• The material: Stainless steel is vulnerable to drill wander because of the way the metal gradually hardens during cold machining, driving the drill tip off course and sometimes creating an oversized bore.
• Low-grade metals or poor-quality, rough bars often contain irregularities that worsen the effects of drill wander.
• Longer drills have a higher propensity to wander and are at greater risk of breakage during the drilling process, especially if the drill and bore protrude from the side of the piece.
• Swarf accumulating in the hole can clog the drill and cause it to wander.
• Faulty equipment and warped or bent drills are likely to wander and may also break.
• An inaccurate starting position will make drill wander inevitable.
• Using the wrong feed pressure and speed, or inconsistent drilling, can make drill wander more likely.

How To Prevent Drill Wander

While the risk of drill wander can never be eliminated entirely, the risk and severity may be reduced through a combination of quality equipment, thorough surface preparation, and good drilling practice.

• Use a shorter, stubbier or more rigid gundrill tool when possible.
• Use counter rotation, in which the part and the drill are rotated in opposite directions. This is the most accurate and effective way of minimising drill wander, as the opposing forces counteract the drill’s tendency to wander and force the bore to remain straight.
• Always drill on a clean, perpendicular surface, using faced and chamfered billets.
• Don’t allow swarf to accumulate in the bore.
• Maintain the correct feed rate and drill speed when gundrilling.

Find Out More

Most deep hole drilling issues can be avoided through a careful, precision approach to gundrilling. At Hone All, we combine experience and expertise in a wide range of drilling applications, with the latest CNC equipment and best practices.

This reduces the risk of drill wander and ensures excellent results within tight tolerances.

To find out more, or to request a free quote, please call 01525 370666 and send your enquiry through to sales@hone-all.co.uk today.

This is a company that was set up for UK manufacturers to come together, to innovate as allies and to build networks closer to home.

And we are loving their new term for our wonderful engineering and manufacturing heroes – collaborationeers!

How perfectly this describes us all after the events and amazing achievements we’ve witnessed across the widest range of businesses and industries in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
For the last few months, we have been enjoying and applauding this new ethos of collaboration over competition - and this fabulous concept gives us the platform to harness the recent enthusiasm and recognition for UK manufacturers and manufacturing across the UK.

For Manufacturers, By Manufacturers

The pandemic has highlighted our need to produce more critical components and essential equipment locally, rather than relying on off-shore supply chains. UKMfgUnite essentially works as a collaboration between UK manufacturers to work domestically and minimise supply chain risk.

One of manufacturing’s biggest priorities is shortening existing and future supply chains, on-shoring rather than off-shoring, and essentially smoothing out the manufacturing-distribution process. This focus on developing local supply chains will speed up the work of many essential industries and set a great production standard for years to come.

The website itself acts as a directory listing projects and suppliers, as well as offering best practice guides and problem solving. It provides an interactive forum and learning resources for manufacturers across the country.

Achievements And Goals

In their opening few weeks UKMfgUnite have already won £625,000 worth of orders, which is an incredible start. One of the first things this amazing group have done is to help support the Ventilator Challenge by bringing ventilator manufacturing enquiries directly to able manufacturers.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, UK company PP Control & Automation successfully bid and are now manufacturing ventilators for emergency use.

It is examples like this that make us so proud to be part of a group that puts the emphasis on teamwork and collaboration!

Looking To The Future

UKMfgUnite’s efforts are intended bring us together, to slowly but surely rebuild our economy. They are aiming to reach 250 members by the end of June, and we’re delighted to be helping them towards reaching their goal.

You can learn more about UK MFG United by visiting their website here www.ukmfgunite.co.uk

Join us and sign up today and become one of our Collaborationeers in supporting and shouting about the strengths and diversity of our UK supply chain.

To discuss how Hone-All are helping the UK supply chain remain competitive and deliver precision machined components quickly to ensure orders can be won by UK companies, with UK supply chains, contact us today by clicking here or calling us on 01525 370666.

The last few months have been a time of seismic change for manufacturing industries across the globe. Despite the dark days of uncertainty, beams of hope have illuminated a future filled with potential. Here are some stand-out moments that show how companies have adapted to change.

Collaboration, Not Competition

Despite social distancing and lockdown, 2020 will be remembered as the year communities and companies came together like never before.

From ensuring that the vulnerable are cared for, to helping each other through the practical challenges of a new way of life, individuals and businesses have all been doing their bit to ensure that life is as normal as possible.

This has given companies the chance to build new networks and reach out into unexplored avenues. With more time to think, create, and innovate, organisations are uniting to problem-solve, adapt, and evolve, generating a catalogue of benefits.

New networks mean new opportunities for everybody, especially while the manufacturing industry rallies to respond to the reality of the post-Covid landscape.

Whether it’s manufacturing ventilators, designing new PPE or implementing innovative solutions to social distancing requirements, companies are working hard, and working together to adapt, respond and restructure to overcome the challenges of Covid-19.

Never have we seen such collaboration within the Manufacturing Industry, and we congratulate and celebrate the tremendous efforts and successes achieved by so many during the most challenging of times.

A Greener Future

Ushered in almost silently, the Covid-19 era has coincided with a landmark in British energy. For the past decade, finance has been channelled into a large number of sustainable developments, including the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

The exotically named Walney Extension 659MW in the Irish Sea has helped Britain to achieve two uninterrupted months of carbon-neutral energy usage. Deep hole boring has played a major role in the construction of increasingly advanced wind turbines, which require precise tolerances to operate safely and efficiently.

Manufacturing industries have been central to this life-changing ecological development, and are set to reap the rewards of a greener, more planet-friendly future.

Going Digital

Faced with the new reality of lockdown, engineering companies around the world have turned to the Internet to stay in contact with valued clients. From Zoom conferences to increased social media traffic, businesses are finding new ways to come together.

The opportunity to reposition in a shifting market has created more opportunities than barriers, and customers and suppliers have been connected in new and innovative ways.

The use of advanced digital technology has enabled data to be shared, drawings to be discussed and designs to be finalised without the need for face-to-face contact. As such, for many, it has been a case of business as usual, albeit in a very different landscape.

What Next?

Times of crisis usher us all into times of change. It doesn’t always have to be negative.

To learn more about how you can work remotely with specialists such as Hone-All, please give us a call today.

Are you concerned about the practicalities of re-opening or continuing to trade safely after lockdown? If you’re feeling bewildered about the dates, the regulations, and the potential impact that everything will have on your business, you’re not alone.

Here’s a quick guide to what is likely to happen next.

It’s Life (Jim), But Not As We Know It

The Government is anxious to enable as many businesses as possible to re-open. As vital links in the chain, ensuring that the manufacturing and construction industries are fully operational is crucial.

However, social distancing means that workplaces must look and feel very different, at least for the next few months. It also means headaches for anyone working with machines that require more than one operator, as well as practical challenges for training and development.

Delineating working areas, clearly marked walking lanes, and scheduled time-slots for refreshment breaks are just some of the basic strategies that can be implemented. Some companies are also turning digital to make things even easier.

For instance, Apps are now available that vibrate if two people pass each other too closely. These proactive strategies mean that companies can ease themselves back into their once-familiar routines.

A New Consumer Dynamic

The psychological fallout of Covid-19 has yet to be fully understood. However, what is clear is that the way that consumers feel about the public arena has changed. There have been reports of increased stress, fear, and worry, which has altered the dynamic of the retail and working space.

However, it’s not all gloomy. The locked-down world has seen companies and consumers interact like never before, primarily through social media.

Taking the opportunity to regularly reassure clients that all steps are being taken to ensure their safety is important, as is providing alternative methods for those who are not quite ready for face-to-face meetings when they resume.

Looking After Employees

After an extended, unplanned hiatus, returning to the manufacturing industry is going to feel strange for many. For a lucky few, lockdown will have been a blissful idyll and a chance to experience the reality of life without work.

For most, it will have meant losing the reassurance of routine, the vital social connections that come with employment, and the gratification of intrinsic motivation. The stress of adjusting to so much change so quickly has been felt by everyone.

Even the strongest and most reliable people can start to crack under the pressure, and this will be realised as the manufacturing and construction industries return to the “new normal”.

Employees are the most important asset in any company, and supporting them during these turbulent times is more crucial than ever before. From reminding people how valuable and appreciated they are through to having strategies in place to help when anxiety levels rise, constant communication and proactive thinking is the key to ensuring a smooth transition post-lockdown.

Next Steps

As British manufacturing continues to reawaken, it helps to remember that we are all in this together. Here at Hone-All, we are committed to ensuring that employees and customers feel safe and comfortable working with us and alongside us.

For more information on how we have safely traded throughout the pandemic, please get in touch with us.

And if you’re bewildered by the fluidity of the rules and regulations, contact Make UK who have been supporting and advising manufacturers on all aspects of safety, HR & Legal requirements so effectively both before and during this pandemic.

They are happy to help, as are we – always.

Contact us

Like most people in the UK, we breathed a sigh of relief last week. Although most restrictions are still in place, the atmosphere has changed. Businesses are becoming more optimistic and forward-looking, and are springing into action again across the country. It’s great to see. 

There’s no denying that the last eight weeks have been strange, and we’ve have had several calls from customers, checking if we are still open for business, and enquiring if our lead times have changed.

This article is, therefore, an opportunity to touch base, provide a service update, and reassure you that, yes – we’re still here, trading normally and happy to help as always!

Business as usual during lockdown

As a supplier to the manufacturing industry, there have never been restrictions on us working during lockdown, and projects have continued as usual. 

We’re lucky to have the space to implement social distancing without it affecting productivity, so we put in place a business continuity strategy in mid-March, as soon as it became clear that a UK lockdown was on the cards. Our Covid-secure measures include:

• Disposable gloves for all operatives
• Hand sanitiser in key areas
• Increased cleaning schedule
• Increased space between engineers operating machinery
• Social distancing and safety signage (If you need social distancing signs, don’t purchase them. They can be downloaded for free from the HSE website.)
• Limits on the number of people allowed in one area
• Flexible shift patterns to avoid overcrowding and sustain capacity
• Buddy system so workers can get lifts to work with colleagues and not use public transport
• Stocking up on masks and safety equipment (although these are not currently used, they will become standard should government advice change)

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming BBC Newsnight’s Business Editor Helen Thomas to our workshop to discuss our Covid strategy! The interview with Andrea can be viewed here, starting 5 mins, 49 seconds in.

Increased capacity and shorter lead times

Our late shift is still running, and in conjunction with our new Pinacho CNC Lathe, has increased our capacity, letting us offer greatly reduced lead times on deep hole boring and large turning sections.

We’ve recently assisted with urgent deliveries for customers in the hydraulics, food manufacturing and packaging equipment sectors, so get in touch if you need anything urgently. For the timebeing we’ve removed our Priority and Express charges, regardless of how quickly you need something. Simply put, if we can help, we will!

Collaboration and support

One of the positive take-aways from this crisis is the way businesses have collaborated to keep supply chains moving. Although we compete in some ways, we’ve all got a common desire to get things done. Much of the support we’ve had in making our business Covid-secure comes from knowledge sharing on LinkedIn, with colleagues posting tips, strategies and best practices to help people do the best they can. MAKE UK have also been extremely helpful in the support they have given to manufacturing businesses during this crisis.

Thanks for sticking with us!

We are very proud of how our team have adapted to these extraordinary circumstances and continued a flexible and responsive service – while remaining safe and protected while at work. We are also thankful to our customers for your continuing support and trust in us. We are doing all we can to sustain the quality of our products and our high level of customer service, and will continue to support you and our industry as always through these difficult times. Get in touch to discuss your requirements!

During a tough time for many businesses – ourselves included – it’s often the little things that help us see the bigger picture and sustain our optimism about the future.

Some of you may recall the new Pinacho STH 400 flatbed CNC lathe we announced on our blog back at the end of January? (Just three months past but it seems so much longer ago now!)

Well, the good news is we have recently had the brand-new Pinacho installed and calibrated at our workshop by the T W Ward CNC team. Despite us expecting delays due to the lockdown, the STH 400 Horizontal Turning Centre was delivered on schedule and assembled on site while maintaining full social distancing practices! It’s a great achievement for the T W Ward CNC team and we are extremely proud of our new investment.

The 3 metre CNC lathe is equipped with the latest Fanuc control systems, and we are already putting it through its paces in response to the increased demand from the food manufacturing industry. This latest acquisition is one of several capital investments we’ve made over the past year, aimed at increasing our capacity and project delivery speed, and allowing us to undertake a broader range of projects for our customers.

Working within the latest regulations, requirements and recommendations during the lockdown, we are still taking orders, providing our excellent service standards and maintaining our usual responsive delivery schedule despite the current challenges.

Our team has been amazing in their commitment, their reliability and in working with us to ensure everyone is safe at all times and yet still allowing the business to respond to the urgent requests we are satisfying daily for medical and hand sanitiser production equipment.

If you’d like to discuss an ongoing project or find out more about the Pinacho STH 400, please send us a message through LinkedIn, e-mail us on sales@hone-all.co.uk or call us on 01525 370666. We hope to hear from you soon but until then, please stay safe and well!

There are some occasions in life when you need absolute confidence in the equipment around you. Whether you’re boarding an aircraft for a sunshine destination or being wheeled into an operating theatre in hospital, the equipment you rely on needs to be nothing short of excellent in every respect. In the aerospace industry, tubes, which are generally used in airframes, engines and instrumentation, must be sturdy yet light and able to withstand the most challenging of conditions. In medicine, tubes must offer the utmost reliability, ready to support the most complex of medical procedures without causing additional risks to patient safety.

Every Project Needs Customisation

In aerospace and medicine, reliability and accuracy are probably the two most important facets that professionals within the industry need from tubular equipment. Not only must components be light, they must be robust, and precision machined to extremely tight tolerances to maximise their accuracy. By comparison, some industries require hydraulic components that are able to withstand much greater pressures. Understanding the nature of the industry and the project is, therefore, key to achieving the required standards to ensure the components offer optimal performance where passenger or patient safety is at stake.

Meeting Exacting Standards

If you’re searching for an aerospace tube manufacturer or have precision machining requirements for medical components, it’s vital that your contractor understands the unique processes that must be followed during manufacturing. Accountability in medical and aerospace tubing is, understandably, much more intense and subject to scrutiny than some sectors, in several areas:

• Manufacturing procedures are strict and must be observed systematically, with no margin for errors or shortcuts to quicken the process or cut costs.
• Traceability is compulsory at every stage of the manufacturing process, to ensure that each action is fully documented and identifiable at a later stage if required.
• Quality assessment follows a plan that must be executed precisely according to schedule, to guarantee standards are met at every stage.
• Documentation is essential to ensure strict adherence to plans, quality checks, and the correct use of machinery, tools, and techniques.

Hone-All: Leading Tube Manufacturer UK

The aerospace and medical industries are evolving as demands for sustainable alternatives soar and technological advancements allow for ground-breaking changes. At Hone-All we have extensive experience working alongside partners from the aerospace and medical fields and are continually investing in cutting edge technology to deliver precision tubes, pitched towards the requirements of the individual project. For more information about our services, please e-mail us at sales@hone-all.co.uk to get in touch with one of our highly skilled engineers.

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Trepanning is a machining technique for drilling large diameter holes in materials, particularly where there is a requirement to retain the solid core or when tolerances are not particularly tied up. 

Instead of drilling the whole diameter, trepanning only drills an annulus (a ring) around the outside, leaving a core in the centre of the hole that can be reclaimed; solid core drilling, by comparison, would destroy all of the material inside the hole by creating swarf chippings and preventing it from being reused.

Trepanning Vs Drilling: The Advantages Of Trepanning

Trepanning offers several advantages over solid core drilling:

•  Trepanning requires less energy compared to using other types of boring operations. Drilling through hard metals, for example, consumes considerable power and tooling whereas a trepanning tool cuts an annulus, which is quicker and more energy-efficient.
• When working with valuable raw materials, such as titanium, the cylinder that is removed after trepanning can be used in other projects or recycled, meaning less waste and higher cost-efficiency.
• A trepanning tool can be used to part off an outer sleeve of material. For example, it would take numerous passes to remove 200mm from the majority of the length of a ø400mm bar. So, rather than turning for hours to create a flange, and removing a huge amount of material as swarf, it is possible to use one machine process to produce a solid sleeve that can potentially be used again or resold for a higher value than swarf chippings.
•  Trepanning cuts out a cylinder from the area that is drilled, reducing the time taken to clean as there are fewer shavings and debris which drilling tends to produce.

Our Services

At Hone All, our trepanning service is an excellent alternative to conventional drilling or deep hole boring and as with all our Hone-All’s services, uses only the highest quality tools and equipment. To get a fast and free quote for your project, please complete our online form.

Outsourcing – already a familiar concept in IT and payroll – became a popular option in manufacturing following the 2008/9 recession, and the trend has persisted since, with many engineering companies recognising that outsourcing can bridge the skills gap as well as keeping costs low, improving turnaround times and boosting profit margins.

If you’re considering outsourcing your business’s precision engineering needs, here’s a summary of the advantages of entrusting your project to our team of skilled specialists:

1) Plugging Gaps In Skills By Sharing Expertise

There are a great many faces to engineering, so the most successful and profitable companies shape their reputation based on their specialist skills in a limited number of areas. Rather than trying to be experts and doing everything competently instead of proficiently, manufacturers can focus on ensuring they have the talented and qualified personnel to carry out a more focused range of tasks – meaning that gaps in the service provision can be easily overcome by outsourcing work to a partner instead.

Drawing on the expertise of other businesses also eliminates the need for an expensive training programme for colleagues and reduces the need to call in temporary staff to plug the gap in knowledge.

2) Access To Cutting Edge Technology

Specialist machining equipment, used for deep hole boring or gundrilling for example, can be a costly investment, especially if they only receive occasional use. New, sophisticated equipment means having to train personnel in its use and, unless regularly utilised, represents questionable return on investment. Combined with this is the immense volume of tooling required in order to cover a full range of sizes. Outsourcing the work to a specialist can be a more affordable option, plus you have the reassurance that the engineering is being carried out by experts who are always going to ensure the task is completed to a professional standard, using only cutting edge technology.

3) Increased Productivity, Lower Costs

A smooth, free-flowing production line is essential in engineering to ensure your business meets its deadlines. Workflow operates most efficiently when personnel are designated specific tasks, rather than being expected to switch between jobs, enabling them to remain focused and productive.

Outsourcing specialist tasks is an effective way to streamline your business, reducing the need for colleagues to multitask and struggle to meet deadlines.

Choose Hone-All For Outsourced Precision Machining

At Hone-All we offer outsourced precision drilling, honing, CNC turning and deep boring for any manufacturer that seeks high standards of expertise and professionalism, without the need to purchase prohibitively expensive equipment. Our in-house services guarantee complete control over the quality, cost, and timescale for any job, no matter how small! Give us a call on 0845 5555 111 to find out how we can support you and your clients’ requirements.

Honing is the precision machining process in which a very fine surface on a workpiece is produced using an abrasive tool. High quality honing of hydraulic cylinders is essential, as the effective operation of the pistons depends on the cylinder having a very fine surface finish, which can also prevent premature wear of moving components. Honing also creates a secure seal around a hydraulic cylinder, providing extended life and preventing costly leaks.

How Hydraulic Cylinders Work

In hydraulic systems, cylinders usually come in pairs, each of which houses a piston, one smaller than the other. The cylinders are partially filled with a suitable hydraulic fluid, such as oil, which can be transmitted between them via a connecting pipe that sits perpendicularly between the two. When the system is in operation, the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder with the smaller piston will be forced under pressure through the pipe into the other cylinder, driving the larger of the pistons with a magnified force. Using cylinders of different sizes, the system can exert enough force to lift, push, or pull heavy weights.

Why Honing Is Important In Hydraulics

Honing is an important part of surface preparation for hydraulic systems and offers numerous benefits that will improve its efficiency, lifespan, and precision:

1) Efficient, robust pistons: pistons in hydraulic systems are subjected to considerable strain, being in constant operation, so protecting them from friction, premature wear, and fluid resistance is vital if they are to work efficiently. Surface honing of the cylinder and carefully matched pistons can significantly increase their lifespan and improve tolerances, ensuring a more precise push when operating.

2) Reduced chance of component failure: hydraulic failures are expensive, inconvenient, and, in some industries, such as aerospace manufacturing, can be critical to the safety of consumers. Honing can ensure the surface of crucial components is free from inconsistencies that could cause the metal to wear unevenly. Honed pistons also wear more slowly, as honing facilitates smoother movements within the hydraulic cylinders.

3) Improved Transmission Of Fluids: efficient transmission of the hydraulic fluid between cylinders is essential for the system to operate effectively. A honed tube for the hydraulic cylinder will ensure that inconsistencies are eliminated, leaving a machined surface that is smooth to facilitate the fast and consistent transmission of fluid through the system.

4) Accurate metalwork inspections: hydraulic cylinder honing can also facilitate a more accurate, informed inspection of the hydraulic system, highlighting flaws and deficiencies such as scratches or dents that could render it prone to failure. With a full view of the problems, personnel can determine the most appropriate action, such as carrying out additional honing, refurbishing or replacing the affected section.
Hone All: For Decades Of Honing Expertise

With decades of experience in honing, coupled with investment in the latest CNC technology, Hone-All is committed to maintaining outstanding quality standards of surface finishing and geometry. For your free guide to honing, please click here.

If you’re considering outsourcing your business’s precision engineering needs, here’s a summary of the advantages of entrusting your project to our team of skilled specialists:

1) Plugging Gaps In Skills By Sharing Expertise

There are a great many faces to engineering, so the most successful and profitable companies shape their reputation based on their specialist skills in a limited number of areas. Rather than trying to be experts and doing everything competently instead of proficiently, manufacturers can focus on ensuring they have the talented and qualified personnel to carry out a more focused range of tasks – meaning that gaps in the service provision can be easily overcome by outsourcing work to a partner instead.

Drawing on the expertise of other businesses also eliminates the need for an expensive training programme for colleagues and reduces the need to call in temporary staff to plug the gap in knowledge.

2) Access To Cutting Edge Technology

Specialist machining equipment, used for deep hole boring or gundrilling for example, can be a costly investment, especially if they only receive occasional use. New, sophisticated equipment means having to train personnel in its use and, unless regularly utilised, represents questionable return on investment. Combined with this is the immense volume of tooling required in order to cover a full range of sizes. Outsourcing the work to a specialist can be a more affordable option, plus you have the reassurance that the engineering is being carried out by experts who are always going to ensure the task is completed to a professional standard, using only cutting edge technology.

3) Increased Productivity, Lower Costs

A smooth, free-flowing production line is essential in engineering to ensure your business meets its deadlines. Workflow operates most efficiently when personnel are designated specific tasks, rather than being expected to switch between jobs, enabling them to remain focused and productive.

Outsourcing specialist tasks is an effective way to streamline your business, reducing the need for colleagues to multitask and struggle to meet deadlines.

Choose Hone-All For Outsourced Precision Machining

At Hone-All we offer outsourced precision drilling, honing, CNC turning and deep boring for any manufacturer that seeks high standards of expertise and professionalism, without the need to purchase prohibitively expensive equipment. Our in-house services guarantee complete control over the quality, cost, and timescale for any job, no matter how small!

Give us a call on 0845 5555 111  to find out how we can support you and your clients’ requirements.

One of the achievements we were most proud of in 2019 was our accreditation as a BAE Systems Approved Supplier. BAE set stringent criteria for their suppliers, and approved status is recognised as a benchmark for quality throughout the aerospace manufacturing industry. This marks a very special benchmark for the team at Hone All, and a celebration of the way in which we work; measured, with complete care and absolute precision (no pun intended!).

What This Means: For BAE Suppliers And Contractors

For us, approved status means that all businesses within the BAE Systems - Air supply chain can approach us for deep hole boring, deep hole drilling, honing and machining, with complete confidence in the quality of our service – and without having to seek approval on a project by project basis. This reduces hassle and delivery time for BAE suppliers when working with us and allows us to provide a smoother service.

What This Means: For Other Aerospace Businesses

Even if you’re not a BAE Air Systems supplier, the accreditation is a testament to our robust engineering procedures and excellent quality control systems, which support and strengthen our manufacturing activities. As one of the world’s leading aerospace manufacturers, BAE’s safety and quality criteria are the strictest in the industry. Due to the safety-critical nature of their designs and components, the traceability and controls required by BAE suppliers are of the highest possible standards.

Market-leading Quality

Our formal BAE Systems Approved Supplier status that we’ve now held for almost a year signifies that all our products meet or exceed their requirements and are fit for use in the BAE supply chain. We have recently expanded our customer base within the aerospace industry here in the UK, and are available to take on a variety of projects over the coming year. If you are looking for a BAE Systems Approved Supplier for your project, or have another requirement within aerospace manufacturing, please call us today on  0845 5555 111

We are very much looking forward to our first major event of 2020 – the Make UK National Manufacturing Conference on 25th February.

What’s Happening On The Day?

For active manufacturing businesses, the National Conference is a unique opportunity to engage in organised networking activities and connect with experts, new suppliers and potential new customers. Attendees will have the chance to increase their business profile within the industry, connect with prospects on a one-to-one basis, and increase their skills through a range of practical workshops. It is also an extremely enjoyable event!

We’ll be joining representatives from over 800 UK manufacturing businesses for the full conference, which takes place at the QE2 Conference Centre in London. 2019 was an exciting year for UK manufacturing and, with Brexit just around the corner, 2020 has the potential to see the UK really push ahead in terms of expertise, product innovation and workplace diversity.

‘Tackling The Talent Pipeline’ Skills Workshop

Our Director Andrea Rodney will be hosting a skills workshop focused on manufacturing apprenticeships for young people under 24. Tackling the Talent Pipeline will present practical ways of increasing output from apprentices in your sector, and how modern apprenticeships can be used to upskill the next generation of engineering professionals AND provide a source of skills and innovations for your business.

Your conference ticket gives you access to this and many other workshops, as well as all the plenary sessions and special events organised to support the conference itself. Members of Make UK can secure admittance for just £299 + VAT, while non-members can attend for £399 +VAT.

See You In London?

If you’re planning on attending the conference, please let us know. We enjoy the opportunity to link up with friends, colleagues, customers and suppliers at events like this, and also to discuss new projects and ways in which we can help. We hope to see some of you at what promises to be an interesting and enjoyable conference next month!

Investing in new equipment is always an exciting and busy process. As part of our planned expansion and improvement plan in 2020, we are delighted to announce the arrival of our next Pinacho 3 metre CNC lathe, which is scheduled to arrive in our workshop within the next few weeks.

The new lathe will increase our project capacity and delivery speed, and also allow us to take on a more diverse range of assignments – especially within the aerospace sector.

Market-Leading Quality

In 2018 we invested in a heavy-duty 2 metre Pinacho STH parallel lathe and since then we have collaborated closely with Pinacho and T W Ward to include additional features and improved capabilities on the machine and we’ve been blown away by its reliability, accuracy and throughput. As a result, we have been able to include and expand upon these features on our new 3 metre machine ensuring this machine will further enhance and expand our quality offering to our clients.

Each lathe is engineered from the highest quality materials, with durable cast iron castings, and F155 grade carbon steel used for the bearings, spindles, gears, and ground beds. Like all Pinacho lathes, our new unit was manufactured at the Pinacho workshop in Spain and is CE marked to show compliance with all EU safety and engineering standards.

The FANUC 0iTF CNC operating system gives us a level of control that is hard to match with other software. The control systems we have chosen for our new lathe include the latest drivers, control software and servomotors – providing our team with unparalleled accuracy, repeatability and automation options.

Specifications

Model: Pinacho STH 18 horizontal flatbed CNC lathe

• 2x Axis
• Centre distance: 3000 mm
• Spindle bore: 155 mm (upgraded from the standard 105 mm)
• Swing over bed: 402mm
• Control system: FANUC 0iTF
• 3x speed variable drive > 2800 rpm
• 2x speed Baruffaldi gearbox
• Three steel jaw chucks
• Boring bar support for cross slide
• Extended boring bar tool holder
• High chip removal rate

We are extremely proud to announce that Hone-All won the best sub-contract and machine, specialist 2019 at the Energy & Power Awards 2019. Read this article written by @SME__News  

To learn more about this fantastic achievement. - https://hubs.ly/H0lHsPh0 #machinespecialist

Complete Traceability

Traceability is a core requirement in all aerospace projects. Some providers have tried to circumvent the AS9100 quality approval rules, but this rarely ends well. Original mill certification is a vital part of the evidence chain log, and this certification is hard-won by precision engineers who can guarantee excellence. Rigorous third-party testing ensures a part can perform to the required standards.

Traceability is both insurance and a key component of good planning. When the material has a history, its behaviour can be fully anticipated.

Equipment

Creating a finely-honed part for the aerospace industry requires a careful mixture of expertise, experience, and equipment. Very few UK companies have machines that can offer the correct guarantees of perfect finish and tolerances. Achieving this requires the highest level of skills, fully maintained, modern equipment and inspection processes of the highest calibre.

In deep-hole boring, honing, and gundrilling, the quality of the equipment directly correlates to the quality of the finished product. Companies that invest in their machinery offer a more advanced service. 

Materials

Metals are complex materials, each having a particular temperament and pedigree. Trusting the source of the metal is crucial when making calculations regarding tensile strength, ductility, and fatigue. Fatigue is one of the primary causes of structural failure, and maintenance crews need an accurate understanding of aerospace material properties. The guarantee of authentically manufactured alloys within the supply chain is therefore vital.

Manufacturers who offer validated and approved sources for their materials can guarantee quality and reliability. 

Expertise

Expertise is invaluable in high-quality precision engineering. This is partly due to machining familiarity, but also means that orders are likely to be completed to schedule and with minimal wastage. Also, experienced specialists can help to improve the method and efficiency of machining and final results are then optimised.

When a company invests in training and development, this wealth and the associated benefits are passed on to clients.

Quality Checks and Testing

Underpinning every aerospace part is quality checking and testing. Both destructive and non-destructive testing is needed to ensure that manufactured parts meet the engineering requirements. Companies that carry out rigorous quality checks and testing to a high standard can offer the guarantees required by the aerospace industry.

What next?

Aerospace projects rely on meticulously machined, high-quality parts with unimpeachable traceability. For more information about how Hone All can meet and exceed these, and all your needs, send an email to sales@hone-all.co.uk or pick up the phone to our team today and call on 01525 370666

Aluminium

A very light metal, aluminium helps to reduce the overall weight of an aircraft. Aluminium is a naturally occurring metal, making up at least 8 per cent of the earth’s soil and rock. It is nonmagnetic and nontoxic, and has good malleability. It also retains its strength in very cold temperatures, which makes it ideal for aircraft skins.

Aluminium presents a few mechanical challenges. Its easy workability means that attempting to bore into it can create spaghetti-like threads that can damage machinery, tooling and also impact the quality of the bore. A careful, measured approach is therefore required for this useful metal. 

Steel

Steel is one of the best-known alloys of iron and carbon. As an alloy, it is both stronger and less reactive than iron, meaning that it does not rust. This makes it ideal for exposed plane parts such as landing gears. Over 3,500 different grades of steel are available, and these depend on the ratio of carbon to iron and the heat treatment used in the creative process.

Steels are valued for their high tensile strength. However, this can also pose an engineering challenge. Drilling through steel can create heat, which may affect tolerances achieved. As such, a comprehensive knowledge of achievable parameters is required and for extremely tight tolerances, time for normalisation of the material is necessary.

Titanium

Titanium is one of the strongest metals on earth and is also one of the least problematic in terms of reactivity. When exposed to O², titanium instantly forms a protective oxidised shield, meaning that it does not easily corrode. This makes it very useful for aerospace components, particularly within vacuum systems. Its high strength means that it is also widely applied in precision industries, such as medical equipment manufacturing. 

Its strong performance also makes titanium a fairly difficult metal in the workshop. It tends to overheat, so it must be honed very slowly and again, allowed to cool ater machining to guarantee closer tolerance parameters.

Nickel Alloys

Nickel is an important metal that alloys well with a variety of other metals. This offers high levels of control to manufacturers, who have a vast palette of combinations to choose from. Nickel is highly resistant to heat and corrosion, making nickel alloys the metal of choice for aircraft gas turbines and similarly demanding environments.

Due to their diversity, working with a nickel alloy requires machinists  who understand its chemical composition. The extent to which two metals are bonded is called their ‘solubility’. Solubility is very strong in nickel-copper alloys, while bonds with other metals such as chromium or iron are less robust. This affects factors such as heat transfer, malleability, and the speeds and feeds required for drilling.

Find Out More

Hone-All are the experts in machining all of these aerospace materials and a wide variety of others and are knowedgable and experienced in achieving the very best possible results in the most efficient manner. To learn more about Hone All’s quality approach to aerospace manufacturing, please call 0845 5555 111  today.

Quality: Does It Matter?

Quality is a key concern in precision engineering. The seminal crash of Partnair Flight 394 – a carrier fitted with substandard counterfeit parts – set the stage for quality control within the aerospace industry. Revealing that corner-cutting and crossed fingers do not work in high-risk precision engineering environments, Partnair Flight 394 serves as a reminder that quality really does matter.

Costs: Is Off-Shoring Worth It?

Off-shoring sounded like a good idea 20 years ago. The economics are fairly straightforward. Overseas workers from emerging economies will produce parts for less money than those with higher GDP, such as the UK. Therefore, shipping out orders can make financial sense.

However, there are a few problems. Firstly, overseas wages in the 21^st century are not as low as they were during the 1990s, so the off-shoring option is not always an immediate saver. Secondly, this route does little for CSR and carbon footprints. Economically, long-haul transit often results in a much more expensive solution, due to extended lead times, as well as the overall cost of transport.

Most importantly, however, the quality controls can be lacking. Legislation, certification, reviews, and quality standards are a feature of the UK, US, and EU. Outside these borders, there is less control over basic expectations, such as manufacturing methods and material quality and traceability.

Avoiding Mistakes

One of the major problems with both off-shoring and low-cost avenues is the increased risk. Good management involves calculating and balancing risk and uncertainty. Risk is calculable, but uncertainty is a wildcard that nobody wants to grapple with. Working with legitimate companies that offer high levels of quality control is a valuable way of reducing risk and minimising uncertainty.  

Thinking About The Long-Term

In an environment where agility, change, and evolution are very much en vogue, long-term plans can seem counter-intuitive. In uncertain climates, making commitments can require nerves of steel.

However, research repeatedly shows that building businesses on strong foundations of quality is vital. Consumers demand it, and industry requires it. The case of the Boeing 737 Max scandal is a classic example of the unfortunate consequences of misjudging the quality-cost boundary. When it comes to precision engineering, corner-cutting quickly disintegrates – sometimes, quite literally.

What Next?

Hone All is dedicated to providing guaranteed, fully traceable precision engineering of the highest quality. If your project requires only the best, discuss your requirements with us today by calling 0845 5555 111

Better Quality Seals

Firm, interlocking components form the backbone of any decent hydraulic system. If you're using O-Ring or male to female connectors to connect hydraulic hose or pipes, the hydraulic fluid must have an airtight passage to flow through, unobstructed by any interior faults.

Bore and flat honing helps to finish metal connecting joints by making them flush, free of flakes and chips, and by creating a circular passageway for fluid to be transferred through. It's also easier to lubricate hydraulic parts that have been honed (while the machine isn't being used).

Increased Part Lifespan

Honing also helps to reduce the risk of a part failure. Some of the most common causes of hydraulic failure are internal disintegration of components, misaligned seals, and breaks in tubing or pipework. Finely honed metal eliminates internal inconsistencies in metalwork, and ensures that the metal wears down evenly over time, avoiding the problems that come with irregularly balanced, pressurised fluid. Honing cylinders and pistons also ensures smoother, identical repetitive movements, leading to longer (but not indefinite) part lifespans.

Piston Efficiency

Hydraulic pistons move back and forth rapidly in a set casing to pump liquid, move loads, and maintain tension. Keeping friction, wear, and fluid resistance at low levels is important to keep the hydraulics turning.

Honing down the machine housing, hydraulic cylinders, and pistons themselves with surface treatments can increase the performance of engines and drivers by allowing a tighter, more precise push to form. Honing also helps to keep piston enclosures and chamber connectors tightly sealed (as with hydraulic lines).

Precise Inspections

Did you know that honing is also used to improve metalwork inspection? Light honing strips surface metalwork and accumulated film away, to reveal the internal structure of the underlying material. Dents, scratches, and faults are revealed. The operator can then decide whether to scrap the piece, or perform further honing and cutting to repair the piece. Light honing is particularly useful as a method of inspection when restoring used hydraulic components to working order.

Reduced Costs With Hone-All

Creating honed hydraulic parts in one cut, at a dedicated workshop, is often cheaper than ordering off-the-shelf metal parts and modifying them to suit your system. At Hone-All, we specialise in CNC building, boring, and honing for hydraulic tubing, pistons, cylinders, and rams. 

Each aerospace engineering company contains specialist engineers and specialist equipment, to build the best possible interlocking, modular designs. The role, speed, complexity, and propulsion method of each craft determine what is outsourced to where. But why is aerospace set up to work in this way?

Dealing With Complexity

Aircraft contain fastenings, seatbelts, hydraulics, optical overlays, scientific instruments, fabric interiors, metalwork, polymers, exterior shells, interior architecture, pressurised systems, audio/visual equipment, and heavy doors. Unless the precision engineering company you have in mind is a major conglomerate, it simply isn't possible for one business to handle absolutely everything. Outsourced precision engineering allows for consistently excellent quality to be achieved across the production chain.

Accountability

Every part used in an aircraft has to be traceable to its point of origin. In the event of an accident, crash, or part failure, the manufactured part responsible has to be assessed for any flaws or errors that might have led to the problem. Time intensive quality control also has to be performed to in-depth, exacting standards on every component made. With life-and-death machinery in play, there's no margin for error. Design flaws as small as a millimetre misalignment of a sensor, can result in an entire production run being scrapped.

Outsourcing manufacturing makes the complicated process of checking and assessing aircraft parts easier and more effective. Through placing the construction of specialised components in the hands of the experts, the finished aircraft becomes stronger than the sum of its parts. It makes it easier to keep track of who made what, and when. Mass in-house data logging is expensive, time-consuming, and can prove difficult to collect together in one place.

Outsourcing part production chains also means that a faulty component run can be quickly and successfully revised to the right CAD standards, while other modules are still being tested, assembled, and shipped.

Sealed Layouts

Aircraft design relies on a technique called a 'sealed layout' for repeatability and safety. Once the design specifications and method of manufacture have been finalised, the layout is 'locked in'.

This means that no further revisions can be made to the parts, materials, and architecture of the aircraft without a full overhaul of the main plan. Once locked, aerospace companies must continue to use the same external and internal suppliers to make each part listed to order.

Outsourcing is used with sealed layout designs to ensure a high level of repeatability in part manufacture. Dividing the work between a group of small-scale, professional engineering companies ensures that they have the time and expertise to concentrate on producing identical production runs. Of course, this ensures the aerospace engineering companies picked have a virtual monopoly on part supply until the model plan is revised again. For that reason alone, it's important to pick trustworthy, dedicated, and reliable manufacturers to outsource your precision engineering to.

Find Out More

At Hone-All, we manufacture a wide range of aerospace and defence components, specialising in CNC-tooled metals. Our manufactured parts include rotors, actuators, and landing gear components for all types of aircraft. Call or email us today for a dedicated quote.

Improved Productivity

Outsourcing the production of oil and gas extraction equipment means that companies have more time and money to spend on geological surveys and exploratory boring. When the time comes for deep boring equipment installed, the parts are ready-made and ready to roll. This two-step system allows for further exploration while the construction and implementation of a planned oil or gas extractor is ongoing.

Better Materials

We are fully equipped to work with the industrial-grade steel and super-alloys used to construct durable oil and gas pipelines. Through our application of drilling, boring and honing technologies, outsourced, machined pipelines last longer, withstand higher pressures, and can survive higher levels of geological stress.

Improved Productivity

Outsourcing the production of oil and gas extraction equipment means that companies have more time and money to spend on geological surveys and exploratory boring. When the time comes for deep boring equipment installed, the parts are ready-made and ready to roll. This two-step system allows for further exploration while the construction and implementation of a planned oil or gas extractor is ongoing.

Better Materials

We are fully equipped to work with the industrial-grade steel and super-alloys used to construct durable oil and gas pipelines. Through our application of drilling, boring and honing technologies, outsourced, machined pipelines last longer, withstand higher pressures, and can survive higher levels of geological stress.

Diverse Machining

Having parts custom-made is often more productive and cost-efficient while oil drilling than using off-the-shelf stock. Our CNC-controlled horizontal honing machines can perfectly bore pieces up to three metres in length. Tight tolerance criteria are easily met by our specialised boring equipment and high-durability raw materials. Outsourcing machining means that manufacturing flow-tubes, housing, rotors, and fittings for an oil or gas extractor is simplified. The completed order can be shipped as an all-in-one kit.

Trusted Experience

Oil and gas extraction is an extremely specialised industry. Not many engineers have experience in CAD designing, CNC building, and machine-tooling pipeline extraction systems. Outsourcing means that your plans will end up in the right hands. At Hone-All, we've got the right machines, engineers, and expertise to help complete any oil or gas pipeline. Get in touch today to find out more.

Diverse Machining

Having parts custom-made is often more productive and cost-efficient while oil drilling than using off-the-shelf stock. Our CNC-controlled horizontal honing machines can perfectly bore pieces up to three metres in length. Tight tolerance criteria are easily met by our specialised boring equipment and high-durability raw materials. Outsourcing machining means that manufacturing flow-tubes, housing, rotors, and fittings for an oil or gas extractor is simplified. The completed order can be shipped as an all-in-one kit.

Trusted Experience

Oil and gas extraction is an extremely specialised industry. Not many engineers have experience in CAD designing, CNC building, and machine-tooling pipeline extraction systems. Outsourcing means that your plans will end up in the right hands. At Hone-All, we've got the right machines, engineers, and expertise to help complete any oil or gas pipeline. Get in touch today to find out more.

Improved Productivity

Outsourcing the production of oil and gas extraction equipment means that companies have more time and money to spend on geological surveys and exploratory boring. When the time comes for deep boring equipment installed, the parts are ready-made and ready to roll. This two-step system allows for further exploration while the construction and implementation of a planned oil or gas extractor is ongoing.

Better Materials

We are fully equipped to work with the industrial-grade steel and super-alloys used to construct durable oil and gas pipelines. Through our application of drilling, boring and honing technologies, outsourced, machined pipelines last longer, withstand higher pressures, and can survive higher levels of geological stress.

Diverse Machining

Having parts custom-made is often more productive and cost-efficient while oil drilling than using off-the-shelf stock. Our CNC-controlled horizontal honing machines can perfectly bore pieces up to three metres in length. Tight tolerance criteria are easily met by our specialised boring equipment and high-durability raw materials. Outsourcing machining means that manufacturing flow-tubes, housing, rotors, and fittings for an oil or gas extractor is simplified. The completed order can be shipped as an all-in-one kit.

Trusted Experience

Oil and gas extraction is an extremely specialised industry. Not many engineers have experience in CAD designing, CNC building, and machine-tooling pipeline extraction systems. Outsourcing means that your plans will end up in the right hands. At Hone-All, we've got the right machines, engineers, and expertise to help complete any oil or gas pipeline. Get in touch today to find out more.