Ajax Machine Tools International

07/04/2026

End of an era! 🛠️ With the Siemens 808D officially out of production, we have a big decision to make for our Mini CNC lathes and mills. We’re narrowing it down to four contenders, and we want to know which one YOU would rather see on your next machine.

The Shortlist:
1️⃣ Fanuc: The legendary "Gold Standard." Unbeatable reliability and resale value.
2️⃣ Fagor: The high-tech European choice. Sleek touchscreens and powerful conversational programming.
3️⃣ GSK: The budget-friendly workhorse. Industrial power without the "Big Name" price tag.
4️⃣ Masso: The modern disruptor. No PC needed, WiFi-ready, and ultra-user-friendly.
5️⃣Siemens 828D: The logical step up. Better performance, more axes, and that familiar Sinumerik feel.

If you were buying a new Mini CNC tomorrow, which control would get your vote? 🗳️ Drop your choice in the comments and tell us why!

02/03/2026

A Quick Video On The AJHY370 Touch Screen Lathe

23/02/2026

A little Monday Morning Machining On The AJDTC400XL with Fanuc 0i-MF CNC Control

20/02/2026

Doing a bit of Friday Turning on The AJSB210 HP Fanuc 0i-TF Slant Bed Lathe

19/02/2026

A great build completed today. We decided to install a Masso G3 Touch CNC controller on our Semco RG400 rotary grinder, and it’s now finished and in testing. Once everything checks out, it’ll be heading off to its new home with one of our customers. Take a look at it in action in the video below.

18/02/2026

🛤️ Linear Guide Rails vs 🧱 Box Ways (Solid Ways)
Linear Guide Rails (rolling-element guides)

These use recirculating balls or rollers on hardened rails.

✅ Pros

1. High speed & acceleration
Very low friction → fast rapids and snappy acceleration/deceleration.
Ideal for high-speed machining and short cycle times.

2. Excellent positioning accuracy
Minimal stick-slip.
Great for contouring, 3D surfacing, and light finishing work.

3. Energy efficient
Servo motors don’t fight much friction.

4. Lower manufacturing cost
Rails are precision off-the-shelf components → usually cheaper machines.

5. Compact design
Allows smaller, lighter machine structures.

❌ Cons

1. Lower damping
Rolling contact = poor vibration absorption.
Can chatter more in heavy cuts or tough materials.

2. Less rigid under shock loads
Heavy interrupted cuts (castings, forgings) can reduce bearing life.

3. Wear tends to be sudden
When rails go, they often go fast rather than gradually.

Box Ways (Solid/Sliding Ways)

These are large ground or scraped surfaces, often cast iron on cast iron (sometimes Turcite-lined).

✅ Pros

1. Massive rigidity
Huge contact area → excellent resistance to cutting forces.
Preferred for heavy roughing.

2. Superior vibration damping
Cast iron + sliding friction absorbs chatter very well.
Better surface finish in demanding cuts.

3. Excellent for hard materials
Steel, Inconel, titanium, large hogging passes.

4. Long-term durability
Wear is slow and predictable.

Can be rescraped/rebuilt decades later.

❌ Cons

1. Slower motion

Higher friction → lower rapids and acceleration.

2. Stick-slip at low feedrates

Can slightly hurt ultra-fine contouring unless well maintained.

3. Higher power requirements

Servos must overcome constant sliding friction.

4. More expensive to build

Precision scraping and large castings cost money → machines are usually pricier.

🧭 Simple Rule of Thumb
Choose Linear Rails if you mainly do:

Aluminum or light steel
High-speed machining
3D surfacing / mold finishing
Production work with lots of rapid moves
Smaller parts and lighter cuts

Choose Box Ways if you mainly do:

Heavy steel or exotic alloys
Large parts
Aggressive roughing
Interrupted cuts
Work where rigidity and finish matter more than speed

⚖️ Real-world summary

Think of it like this:

Linear rails = sports car
Fast, precise, efficient
Doesn’t love potholes

Box ways = dump truck
Slow but unstoppable
Eats vibration and heavy cuts all day

Call now to connect with business.

18/02/2026

Slant Bed vs. Flat Bed CNC: Which One Wins? ⚙️
If you’re looking to invest in a CNC turning centre, the "Bed Type" is one of the most critical decisions you'll make. While Flat Bed lathes are common for simple or manual-style operations, the Slant Bed has become the industry favourite for production.
Here is why the Slant Bed is pulling ahead:
1. Superior Rigidity & Stability 🏗️
The bed of a slant bed lathe is shaped like a right-angled triangle. This allows for a larger cross-sectional area compared to a flat bed of the same size.
• The Result: Better resistance to bending and torsion. Because the cutting force acts downward (aligned with gravity), the machine runs smoother with significantly less vibration.
2. Built-in Accuracy (Goodbye Backlash!) 🎯
In a slant bed, gravity acts directly on the X-axis ball screw. This naturally pulls out the "play" or backlash in the screw.
• The Result: Higher repeatability and tighter tolerances. On a flat bed, gravity doesn't help you eliminate that gap, making precision harder to maintain over time.
3. Effortless Chip Management 🌪️
This is the biggest "quality of life" upgrade. On a slant bed, gravity pulls the hot metal chips away from the workpiece and straight down into the tray or conveyor.
• The Result: No more "chip nesting" or stopping the machine to clear out the bed. It’s built for continuous, automatic production.
4. More Tooling Space 🛠️
Because the X-axis carriage is longer on an inclined plane, you can often arrange more tools in the turret. More tools = fewer setups and faster cycle times.
________________________________________
⚠️ Pro-Tip: Operator Safety First
Regardless of the machine, remember these Golden Rules:
• ✅ Never change speeds while the spindle is engaged.
• ✅ Always keep the full enclosure door closed during operation.
• ✅ Stop immediately if you hear abnormal vibrations or "parking" sounds.
• ✅ Never hit the precision parts with hammers when loading workpieces.
Which do you prefer for your shop? Are you a fan of the classic Flat Bed for its simplicity, or have you made the switch to a Slant Bed? Let’s talk shop in the comments! 👇

17/02/2026

The AJHY370 – A Modern Take on Turning
Experience an all-new style of lathe that bridges the gap between manual and CNC turning. The AJHY370 puts control at your fingertips with a touchscreen interface for simple turning cycles, including:
External Turning
External Threading
Internal Turning
Internal Threading
All operations are managed by HMI-PLC control—no G-codes or complicated setups. Simply set your tool, enter your dimensions and cut data, and press Go.
This is a truly modern alternative to manual turning—but with the flexibility to use it as a manual machine as well. The digital readout is built directly into the touchscreen, allowing you to:
Enter your feedrate directly on the screen instead of adjusting the gearbox and wasting time looking up feed rates on tables
Use the joystick to feed manually in either axis, or jog around
Run parts as automated cycles

Full-width swing-down cover guard
Chuck Guard
2 Emergency Stops
Built-in work light
Key Specifications
Centre height: 185mm
Distance between centres: 950mm
Swing over bed: 370mm
Spindle bore: 55mm
2.2 KW variable-speed servo spindle motor with encoder feedback
200mm 3-jaw chuck
Quick change tool post with 4 holders
Coolant System
230V single-phase — plugs into a standard 3-pin socket

The AJHY370 is designed to make your work faster, safer, and more precise—without sacrificing the hands-on feel of manual turning.
Change the way you Turn for as little as £12,950

15/02/2026

How to Choose the Right Lathe: A Quick Guide 🛠️

Whether you’re turning a custom ink pen or machining heavy-duty spindles, selecting the right lathe is the difference between a "clean cut" and a "rough vibrated mess."

Don't just buy the first machine you see! Here are the 7 specs you must check before pulling the trigger:

📍 1. Swing Over Bed This is the max diameter you can turn. Think of it as: "How thick can my workpiece be before it hits the machine?"

📍 2. Distance Between Centers
The max length of your workpiece. If you're making table legs or handrails, you'll need the extra reach.

📍 3. Motor Power & Torque
The more "grunt" the motor has, the heavier the cuts you can take without the machine bogging down.

📍 4. Spindle Taper (Morse Taper)
Look for MT2, MT3 or MT4. Pro Tip: Avoid machines that only use screw-on fittings; they’ll severely limit your tooling options later!

📍 5. Spindle Speed Range

Low Speeds: Essential for starting odd-shaped, unbalanced stock safely. High Speeds: Essential for that "mirror-like" smooth finish.

📍 6. Weight & Mass
In the world of lathes, heavier is almost always better. Mass absorbs vibration. If you want precision, don’t be afraid of a little extra cast iron.

📍 7. Price vs. Quality
There are plenty of "budget" lathes that look great in photos, but you get what you pay for. Buy the best quality your budget allows—it’s an investment in your craft.

What are you currently turning? If you have a favorite lathe brand or a tip we missed, drop it in the comments below! 👇

13/02/2026

Is it hot in this workshop, or is it just the AJHY370? 🔥

They say you can’t have it all, but they clearly haven’t met the AJHY370 Hybrid Turn.

Why settle for a one-dimensional relationship when you can have a Hybrid? We know the struggle: you’ve got big machines that take up the whole floor and small machines that just can't keep up. But the AJHY370 is different.

Why we’re falling head-over-heels for the AJHY370:

The Perfect Size: It doesn’t demand all your space, just all your precision.

Versatile & Talented: It’s a Hybrid—it adapts to your needs, turning small-form parts with the power of a much larger machine.

Always Reliable: It won’t ghost you on a deadline. It’s here to make your production faster, easier, and a lot more profitable.

Low Commitment, High Reward: Why spend £100k+ on a "big name" machine when the AJHY370 treats your floor plan (and your budget) so much better?

Stop over-complicating your workshop life. Whether you want to increase your capabilities or you're just looking for a machine that makes part production feel like a honeymoon, the AJHY370 is ready to commit.

P.S. Our machines don't want chocolates—they just want a steady supply of coolant and some challenging parts to turn. Is that too much to ask?

The Perfect Match for just £12,950

(Standard equipment included—no expensive dinner required.)

Let’s Set a Date! 🌹

Not sure if we’re a match? Let’s spend some quality time together before you commit. We’d love to show you exactly what the AJHY370 Hybrid Turn can do for your workshop.

Choose your preferred "date" style:

A Private Viewing: Visit our showroom for a full, hands-on demonstration.

A Virtual Meet-up: Can’t make it in person? No problem. We’ll jump on a live video call and put the machine through its paces while you watch from the comfort of your office.

No pressure, no strings attached—just a chance to see if the chemistry is there.

15/12/2025

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the team here at Ajax Machine Tools! 🎄

We hope your holidays are filled with joy, and your New Year is one of productivity and success!

(P.S. We gave two of our machines a festive makeover! What do you think of our Christmas spirit?)

26/11/2025

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR BLACK FRIDAY SALE - A MASSIVE 20% DISCOUNT ON STOCK MACHINES - 5% ON NON STOCK MACHINES