Building Success with TaeguTec

When three experienced machinists decided to turn their shared dream into reality, they knew success would depend on making the right technology choices from day one. For Will Casey, James Lewington, and Ryan King, the founding partners of Billet Precision Ltd—those choices included investing in premium DMG MORI machines and partnering with TaeguTec for cutting tools that could deliver exceptional performance across diverse applications.

"TaeguTec has been brilliant from day one. Daily, we probably use 90% of their stuff. They're always our first port of call for any questions, and they often have a solution to any problems or questions that we have," Will emphasises.

The Genesis of Billet Precision
The story begins with a chance meeting through a mutual love of cars, leading to a partnership built on shared engineering excellence. Will explains: "We met through a mutual hobby, we're all massively into our cars. James and Ryan are cousins, have worked together at the same subcontract manufacturing facility. I’ve known them both for over 7 years, so we knew how we’d all fit perfectly into our own business"

Strategic Location and Market Analysis
The team's decision to base the business in Swindon proved strategically sound. Will's analysis of the local market was thorough: "There are many science and research companies around the area, as well as the F1 teams. This has paid dividends, as we now serve diverse sectors including aerospace, oil and gas, energy, science and research, motorsport and Formula 1.”

Billet Precision's approach to equipment selection reflected their commitment to hitting the ground running. Rather than starting small and building up gradually, they invested in three DMG MORI machines: two CMX 1100 mills and a CLX lathe with Y-axis and driven tooling capability. "We knew that to achieve what we wanted to do, to make the parts we wanted to make for the customers we wanted to work with, we really had to hit it ‘out of the park’ from the first go. I know how brilliant my fellow directors are, we just needed the equipment and tooling to show that to the rest of the world"

TaeguTec - A Foundation for Success
While DMG MORI provided the machine platform, the choice of cutting tools proved equally critical. The relationship with TaeguTec wasn't new; James and Ryan had been using TaeguTec products for years and had built a strong relationship with their technical representative, Tony Wilkes.

"TaeguTec is very good at a lot of things that we like. The guys really like all of the tools, to be honest. They have tested a lot of tools from rival suppliers, and TaeguTec has always come out on top for quality and performance."

The decision to work with TaeguTec wasn't just about familiarity; it was about proven performance. "Even if a cutter from someone else can come close to the TaeguTec performance level, the level of service, support and even the price point will make it a non-starter. TaeguTec will tell you where their cutting parameters or performance ceiling is, but actually, we've gone way beyond and got a lot more out of the tools. We'll push it and see what we can get out of it, whereas with other companies, we've run at their recommended feeds and speeds, and at the limits, the tools just give up."

Technical Performance
The real value of TaeguTec's proposition comes through specific applications where the tools have delivered measurable improvements in performance and efficiency.
Fellow director Ryan alludes to his experience of applying TaeguTec’s CNMG inserts: “For machining 316 stainless steel, I consistently used the TaeguTec TT9215 grade with impressive results. However, when encountering a particularly abrasive bar of material that was burning through tools, the TaeguTec engineer Tony recommended switching to the new TT5080 grade that is typically used for forged stainless steels or inconel.”

“The results were awe-inspiring, and the performance and longevity of the new grade improved significantly. Furthermore, we now have the TT5080 grade held in larger stock quantities, so I don't need to worry when we get an exotic job that requires a fast turnaround."

This performance extends throughout the fledgling business. After trying various brands of straight parting-off systems with limited success, Ryan tested TaeguTec's SFC triangular-bladed parting-off system. The improvement was dramatic: "The TaeguTec parting system comes with through coolant with a flow rate that seems to be twice as strong as a standard flat blade tool. This is a credit to the design of the holder. The results are that I can run at double the feed rate with a much higher speed, all while having a much straighter cut with an amazing finish. So not only has this improved run times, it's improved the quality of any job that needs parting off."

Drilling Excellence with Drill Rush Range
When Ryan needed to improve drilling performance on exotic materials while achieving better dimensional accuracy, TaeguTec’s Tony Wilkes recommended the Drill Rush range. "The P+ insert was fantastic and exceeded any expectations I had. On Inconel, the cutting performance was lovely; it was shooting chips back out of the hole and drilling very fast but also very straight. I was also getting more than double the tool life from it than the previous U-drill," Ryan reports. The drilling performance included running at double the feed rate with slightly higher speeds while maintaining holes within 0.07mm tolerance.

Fellow Director James has also witnessed impressive results with TaeguTec products. Applying the TaeguTec SFEEDTEC 4N TF90-650-22R-09 face mill with 4NHT 090408R-AL K10 inserts for high-performance milling applications, James recalls: “This tool has enabled dramatic productivity improvements. We have managed to cut cycle times by 50% by running this tool at 0.2mm per tooth, which is close to the rapid feed rates of the machine. At the same time, it is taking depths of cut up to 7mm in some cases."

“The versatility of the face mill extends across multiple operations. For facing, it achieves a near-mirror finish with an 80% stepover, and for wall milling, we can maintain a 7mm depth of cut while preserving surface finishes and tolerances. For slotting and pocket milling, we can use a more aggressive ramp angle and the high pressure through coolant ensures excellent swarf evacuation.”

As a company continually seeking to improve productivity and quality, Billet has also installed the TaeguTec Typhoon on one of its DMG MORI machines. Driven by high-pressure coolant, the Typhoon high-speed spindle unit is compatible with most machine tools, increasing spindle speeds to over 30,000rpm for small diameter tools. By drastically increasing spindle speed, small diameter tools can operate at optimal performance parameters, improving cycle times and productivity by at least 65% whilst improving surface finishes and tool life.

Service Excellence
Beyond product performance, Will emphasises TaeguTec's exceptional service: "They've been brilliant. The turnaround times are impressive. Tony is always on hand with technical support, and he’s always keen to take a look at our upcoming jobs to ensure we always have the right tools for the job.”

Will particularly appreciates TaeguTec's proactive approach to improvement: "Rather than just being comfortable with what we've used for such a long time, TaeguTec are always making suggestions and saying things like ‘we've just improved the angle on this tool, so the chip clearance is better - try this tool’. They're always benchmarking against their own products to improve our performance.”

Future Growth and Automation
Looking ahead, Billet Precision is planning strategic expansion with additional DMG MORI equipment planned for an imminent order. As Will summarises: "TaeguTec are always our first port of call for any technical questions and support. They are always happy to help out and always have a solution to any problems or questions that we have. With the help of TaeguTec and DMG MORI, we can’t wait to see what the future holds" For a young company competing in demanding markets, this level of technical partnership provides a competitive advantage that extends far beyond the cutting edge.