In-house capabilities

Design, programming and manufacture under one roof

From PLC code to machined parts, everything that goes into an M5 machine is done by our own team in Langley Park.

Siemens TIA Portal PLC programming on screen

PLC Programming

Our three PLC programmers write, modify, debug and commission PLC software. We specialise in Siemens, and the team has over 30 years’ Step 7 experience between them.

  • TIA Portal Step 7 Professional V17
  • TIA Portal Step 7 Professional V20
  • Step 7 Classic V5.6

HMI Programming

The same team writes, modifies, debugs and commissions the HMI software, so the operator screens and the machine logic are designed together.

  • TIA Portal Step 7 Professional V14
  • TIA Portal Step 7 Professional V16
  • WinCC Flexible 2008
HMI screen development in Siemens software
Electrical schematics in EPLAN Electric P8

EPLAN Electrical Design

We use the latest versions of EPLAN Electric P8, so electrical documentation is produced quickly and accurately for every machine we build.

3D CAD Mechanical Design

With three Siemens Solid Edge licences in house, our mechanical designs are produced accurately and efficiently, and every part is modelled before anything is cut.

3D machine design in Siemens Solid Edge
CAM tool path programming for a machined part

3D CAM CNC Programming

CAM software lets us develop CNC programs and tool paths for complex parts directly from the 3D model.

  • OneCNC XR7 for simpler parts
  • Siemens Solid Edge CAM Pro for more complex parts

CNC Manufacture

Our machine shop is small but highly capable, built around two Hurco CNC vertical machining centres.

  • Hurco VM20i
  • Hurco VM30i
Hurco CNC vertical machining centre in the M5 machine shop
Formlabs resin 3D printer

3D Printing

We have an extensive 3D printing capability. Using the latest Cura software, prototype and production parts are made quickly and accurately. Some go from design to finished component in minutes.

  • Formlabs Form 4L resin printer
  • Ultimaker S5 professional 3D printer

Traditional Manufacture

Alongside CNC machining and 3D printing, we have traditional machines for the jobs they do best.

  • Colchester Triumph 2000 lathe with 2-axis DRO
  • Horizontal bandsaw
  • Vertical bandsaw
Colchester Triumph 2000 lathe

Got a process that needs automating?

Talk to us about your project. We’ll tell you straight away whether it’s a fit, and how we’d approach it.