CNC Turning
Precision Cylindrical Machining Services
Wyken Engineering delivers advanced CNC turning and multi-axis turning capabilities for carbon brake discs and carbon clutch plates, and high-precision shafts. Our facility combines specialist knowledge with live tooling and turn-mill expertise—serving defence aerospace, and racing sectors nationwide.
Cylindrical component manufacturing demands precision across multiple parameters simultaneously: concentricity, roundness, surface finish, and dimensional accuracy must all be achieved while managing challenging materials and complex geometries. Our investment in advanced turn-mill centres and decades of process development enable us to deliver these demanding requirements consistently.
Turn-Mill Capability for Complex Components
Traditional CNC turning excels at cylindrical components with rotational symmetry, but modern engineering increasingly demands features that transcend simple rotation—off-centre holes, cross-drilling, milled flats, and complex end features. Multi-axis turning through turn-mill technology addresses these requirements comprehensively.
Advanced Turn-Mill Centres
Our multi-spindle turn-mill centres with live tooling enable complete component production in single setups:
Live Tooling
Powered tools rotate independently while the workpiece spins, enabling milling, drilling, and tapping operations on turned components. This eliminates manual repositioning and maintains precision for aerospace shaft assemblies and defence transmission components.
Y-Axis Capability
Off-centre features including cross-holes, slots, and eccentric geometries can be machined accurately, supporting power generation clutch plates with complex cooling patterns and transmission shafts with off-centre bolt patterns.
Continuous Operations
Components can be turned, milled, drilled, and finished in one setup, reducing touches and improving geometric relationships between features—critical for racing transmissions where tolerance stack-up determines reliability.
This turn-mill capability transforms manufacturing economics for complex cylindrical components. What previously required multiple setups, fixtures, and operations can now be completed in single automated cycles, improving accuracy while reducing lead times.
Applications Across Sectors
Our multi-axis turning supports diverse applications:
Carbon Carbon Brake Discs: offer extreme temperature performance with friction properties that improve at elevated temperatures for motor sport, defence vehicles, and motorsport transmissions.
Aerospace Shafts: Landing gear components, actuator shafts, and precision rotating assemblies where concentricity and surface finish determine component performance.
Materials Processed – Carbon, Alloys & Composites
Advanced cylindrical components demand advanced materials—and successful turning of advanced materials demands specialist process knowledge. Wyken Engineering routinely machines materials that challenge conventional turning facilities.
Carbon Composite Turning
Carbon brake discs present unique turning challenges: cutting forces can cause delamination, conventional tooling wears rapidly, and achieving precision spline geometries requires specialist approaches. Our capabilities include:
Carbon-Carbon Materials: Aerospace and motorsport applications where extreme temperatures demand carbon-carbon performance, requiring turning processes that preserve fibre orientation.
Spline Precision: Complex internal and external splines milled to tight tolerances, ensuring proper engagement in transmission systems where spline failure causes catastrophic damage.
Hardened Steels: Bearing journals, transmission components, and wear-resistant shafts requiring finish-grinding after turning to achieve final dimensions and surface characteristics.
Need complex cylindrical components manufactured?
Discuss your requirements with our turning specialists.
Stainless & Tool Steels
For applications where exotic materials aren’t required, we provide efficient turning of:
- 15-5PH and 17-4PH precipitation-hardening stainless for aerospace
- 316 stainless for marine and corrosive environments
- Tool steels for tooling and wear-resistant applications
- Alloy steels for structural and transmission components
Strict process control and understanding of material behaviour ensure dimensional accuracy and surface finish regardless of material complexity, from landing gear components to racing transmissions.
Automated Inspection & Process Control
Maintaining tight tolerances on cylindrical components requires continuous monitoring:
In-Process Verification: Automated probing systems measure critical dimensions during turning operations, catching deviation before components are completed.
Concentricity Measurement: Precision verification of runout and coaxiality, critical for shaft assemblies and rotating components.
Roundness Analysis: Geometric measurement systems document out-of-roundness and lobing, ensuring cylindrical form meets functional requirements.
Surface Finish Documentation: Profilometer measurements verify Ra, Rz, and texture parameters specified for bearing surfaces, seal interfaces, and friction surfaces.
Statistical Process Control: Control charts monitor process capability, enabling proactive adjustment before components drift outside tolerance.
Complete certification packages accompany every delivery, supporting manufacturing audits, operational compliance, and regulatory requirements across aerospace, defence, and other sectors.
Rapid Turnaround & Emergency Response
Some cylindrical component requirements cannot wait for standard lead times. Wyken Engineering maintains priority manufacturing capacity for urgent situations.
Priority Manufacturing Slots
Defence Emergencies: Express shaft replacements for tank transmission failures and military equipment requiring urgent operational restoration.
Aerospace AOG: Emergency turning support for aircraft component failures grounding valuable assets.
Racing Emergencies: Weekend turnaround for motorsport transmission components damaged during practice or qualifying.
Flexible Capacity Management
Our production planning accommodates urgent requirements alongside planned programmes:
- Flexible and extended hours for critical requirements available
- Rapid material sourcing through established supply networks
- Flexible machining schedules prioritising urgent work
- Express certification and documentation when components need shipping immediately
This responsive approach has made Wyken Engineering a trusted partner for industries where component availability determines operational success. When other suppliers quote weeks, we deliver days.
Facing an urgent turning requirement?
Contact our emergency response team for immediate assistance.
Why Choose Wyken Engineering for CNC Turning?
Over seven decades of precision turning have refined our approach to cylindrical component challenges. We combine advanced turn-mill technology with material expertise and quality systems satisfying the most demanding industries.
Whether you need multi-axis turning for complex shaft assemblies, carbon clutch plate manufacturing for defence vehicles, or exotic alloy turning for power generation, Wyken Engineering delivers precision, reliability, and responsive service.
Our Warwickshire facility provides rapid access across the UK, with engineering support extending beyond simply turning to specification—we’re partners in successful component development and production.
Ready to discuss your CNC turning requirements?
Contact Wyken Engineering for technical consultation and quotation.
