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The first CNC machining centre was developed back in the 1970s when it became apparent that CNC milling machines were too demanding on operators. Without an automatic tool changer, [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] a change in a machining operation meant a manual tool change which was time consuming but, more importantly, brought operator error into all machining processes.

Often overlooked, operator error is [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] responsible for over 80% of scrap component manufacture. And it's dead easy too! Just load the wrong tool, offset or parameter [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] and say goodbye [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] to precision, accurate parts. The introduction of the Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) immediately reduced the percentage of scrap components manufactured in machine shops across the UK. The ATC turns a CNC milling machine into a CNC [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] machining centre: just press cycle start and walk away, you return to be presented with a finished component ... the same as the last and almost certainly the next - thanks to CNC software and automated processes.

CNC Machining Centres became a fashion amongst engineers in the 1990s and often machine shops could play host to dozens of these productive tools. The need to employ engineers reduced and any investment often went on the plant. Some in the industry say this is partially responsible for the lack of skilled engineers in the country today?

Machine Tool manufacturers quickly realised that the revolution with the milling machine could be replicated into the world of turning. Traditionally a lathe was just a lathe. It turned parts, one after the other. Operated by a highly skilled individual, the need for concentration was critical; no walking away from a manual lathe. So the race [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] was [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] on as to who could be the first to develop the new CNC Turning Centre. A machine tool that could offer in turning what a machining centre did for milling.

There was of course one more potential leap that until the turn of the millennium was undiscovered by all machine tool builders. The question - can you combine a machining centre and a turning centre to provide the ultimate manufacturing solution? The answer was a resounding yes!

In the year 2000, a prototype machine was developed by a German machine tool builder that was : exhibited at Europe's leading machine tool fair. The aim was to create awareness and stamp their name on the industry as the first to develop what would become a machine tool world beater. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] Unsurprisingly, this initial prototype machine tool was far from the finished article. Bringing all these axes together to work in a synchronised fashion proved as difficult as it looked. To bring milling and turning together into one machine meant up to 9 axes moving at the same time. In fact during the aforementioned show, the prototype machine had more than one incident which resulted in all manufacturers going back to the drawing board.
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The race was well and truly on, machine tool builders all knew the pitfalls and they all knew that round the corner was a real head turner and potentially a business changer - but only if they could [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] get there first.

In 2001, three machine tool companies launched [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] a 'Mill/Turn' machine tool, all equipped with up to 9 axes, tool changers, milling spindles and turning heads. These machine tools were the ultimate. Designed to machine parts in one hit, the Mill/Turn solution was well and truly here. The biggest benefit was the reduction in labour and risk. Originally, once a CNC turning operation had been completed, the part would be removed from the CNC turning centre and manually placed on to [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] a CNC machining centre; this is where the risk [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] of scrappage and the cost of labour became expensive or, at least, more expensive than if you [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] used this new Mill/ Turn technology.

Now in 2011 things have moved on at a pace; Mill/Turn technology now features in most machine shops throughout the UK and the cost has significantly [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] reduced over time thanks to market demand. A machine in 2001 that would have cost around ?300k can today be bought from about ?160k.

Bringing the two operations together was inevitable; it was just a question of developing reliable technology.