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Founded in 1966, Stour Precision Tools Ltd has grown into a market-leading supplier of robust and reliable tooling solutions. They design and manufacture at their facilities in Droitwich, Worcestershire, and specialise in conformance workholding fabrication fixtures for manual and robotic welding, end-of-arm tooling for robotic handling solutions, positioning manipulators for manual and robotic applications, and work-holding machining fixtures.
The company primarily serves major automotive manufacturers and off-highway vehicle producers, where high-volume output and a high-quality finish are essential.
Stour Precision Ltd became a Tebis customer in 2023 after purchasing a Soraluce FS800 milling machine. Clive Chaplin, Managing Director, said: “Our new Soraluce required more advanced CAD/CAM than our existing setup, to improve CNC programming, consistency, toolpath simulation, and collision avoidance.”
After reviewing several options, Stour Precision Tools chose Tebis as their CAD/CAM system. Tebis stood out for its advanced simulation capabilities and its proven ability to reduce programming time while improving machining quality.
Paul Scally from Tebis UK explains that Tebis lets them build complete machine kinematics into the software, including rotational and linear limits, as well as head and tool change macros. These are integrated into the Tebis Virtual Machine for accurate, safe simulations.
Clive explains that Tebis software creates a full digital twin, enabling us to achieve complex features, run precise virtual machining simulations, and verify the manufacturing process. This ensures confidence when executing the job.
This digital twin capability has transformed their approach to manufacturing. By creating a complete virtual representation of machines, fixtures, tooling, and workholding, Stour Precision Ltd can simulate and verify every operation before it reaches the shop floor, eliminating costly collision risks.
For Stour Precision, collision checking is critical, and Tebis allows them to perform this in three distinct stages within the software. The first stage is the planning stage, where we set up the job on the machine. At this stage, Tebis Virtual Machine technology provides tools to ensure that a component planned for machining will fit on the designated machine tool. This can be checked alongside the optimum setup position, tool tilt directions and required cutting tool lengths.
The second stage is for programming. Tebis uses Virtual Machines for toolpath calculation and collision avoidance, taking into account cutting tools, tool holders and machine heads. Machine tool rotational axis limits are also included in the toolpath calculation.
At the final stage of toolpath verification, Tebis supports automated toolpath checking. This reduces the risk of collisions not only with cutting tools, tool holders, machine heads and components, but also with the whole machine tools, including shields, barriers, fixtures, clamping devices and any other components set up on the machine at the same time. If there is a problem, it is easy to modify and recheck everything, all within Tebis.
Paul also explains: “When we first met Stour Precision, they were already using another CAM software. What they really needed was reliable collision avoidance. Switching from one software system to another can be worrying for any company, and it is completely understandable that this stage can cause concern. But from our perspective, there is nothing to worry about. Tebis is here to support you throughout the entire process, and that is exactly what we did for Stour Precision. We provided a clear implementation plan and comprehensive training to ensure a smooth transition. For us, every customer becomes a partner. We build close, long-term relationships and work side-by-side with each company to help them get the most out of Tebis.”
Clive also explains that standardisation through the Tebis tool library enables the team to work effectively across the wide variation in their product range. The company’s products differ significantly in size and complexity, and the Tebis tool library provides the consistency needed to manage this variety.
Clive concludes: “The support has been excellent, and we see a very bright future with Tebis. The level of personal attention we received has been outstanding. The Tebis team has been fantastic, always reaching out, checking in after our first installation, and making sure we are getting the full utilisation of the Tebis software. That ongoing commitment has given us real confidence. It is clear that Tebis doesn’t just provide software; they are our partners. We also have a wide range of machines, and we are now looking at implementing Tebis across these machines as well.”
