Complete Engineering Services’ recent investment in a DN Solutions’ extra long-bed DNM 6700XL vertical machining centre from Mills CNC earns its spurs machining large, complex and high-precision components.
Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of DN Solutions and Zayer machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has recently supplied Complete Engineering Services, a leading precision subcontract specialist based in Carlisle, with a new DN Solutions’ large-capacity DNM 6700XL vertical machining centre equipped with a Detron 4th-axis rotary table and the advanced Siemens 828D control with ShopMill conversational programming software.
The machine was installed at Complete Engineering Services’ 12,000sq. ft. machine shop facility in June 2026 and is being put through its paces machining a range large, complex and high-precision components for the company’s motorsport, timber processing, power generation, renewables, fluid sealing systems, packaging and rail customers.
These components, that can include prototypes and one-offs through to pre-production parts and small-to-medium size batches, are made from a range of materials that include stainless steels, aluminium, mild steel, titanium, exotics etc., and are machined to tight geometric tolerances and high surface finishes.
Complete Engineering Services – machining and manufacturing overview
In addition to providing customers with high-quality and ‘right first-time’ 3- and 4-axis milling and multi-axis turning, Complete Engineering Services, in order to create clear market differentiation and acquire higher value machining contracts and projects, has invested in (two) simultaneous 5-axis machining centres and (two) advanced wire EDM machines to augment its in-house machining operations.
These, in addition to 3D printing and light fabrication equipment as well as in-house inspection and a range of secondary services i.e., heat treatment, anodising, plating etc., both help to substantiate and reinforce Complete Engineering Services’ purpose, vision and ambitions i.e., to provide its customers with a complete and comprehensive range of integrated, high-quality and proven design (including design for manufacture DfM), machining, finishing and assembly services, all accessed and managed from a single source.
“We provide customers with a one-stop engineering service that, through a range of integrated advanced technologies and the skill and experience of our staff, can deliver high-quality prototypes, pre-production and production parts from concept through to completion.”
Andrew Monkhouse, Managing Director at Complete Engineering Services
Compete Engineering Services is a company committed to continuous improvement and, as a consequence, regularly invests in its people, in its plant and equipment, and in its systems and processes.
To maintain its competitive edge, the company regularly upgrades its in-house machining capacity and capabilities, replacing or trading-in previously-acquired older and less sophisticated machine tools with newer, more efficient multi-axis and multi-tasking models.
The new DNM 6700XL is a case in point and is the second CNC machine tool that Complete Engineering Services has acquired from Mills CNC in its 28-year history – the first being a Lynx 2600Y multi-tasking lathe that was delivered and installed in June 2024.
Lynx 2600Y – a closer look
The Lynx 2600Y is a high-performance, multi-tasking 10” chuck/81mm bar capacity lathe designed to machine complex, high-precision parts in one hit.
The Siemens 828D-controlled machine is equipped with an 18.5kW/3500rpm high-torque spindle (403N-m), a servo-driven 12-station BMT-65 turret with 24-position indexing, a Y-axis (+/-52.5mm) and 5,000rpm driven tooling capabilities that enable all turning, milling, drilling and tapping operations to be performed in a single set up.
To increase the lathe’s productivity and to improve process efficiencies, Complete Engineering Services’ Lynx 2600Y has been equipped with a bar puller – a versatile mechanical gripper mounted on the lathe’s turret that grabs raw bar stock and pulls it forward through the spindle to set, prescribed lengths enabling front- and back-end operations to be completed in one set up.
“The Lynx 2600M lathe was the first machine we acquired from Mills CNC.
“Back in 2024, we were in the market for a new multi-tasking lathe to help improve and streamline our small part processing (turning) operations.
“Having done our homework on the different manufacturers and the types of machines that were available, we attended the MACH Show in April 2024 to help narrow down our choice.
“It was here on Mills’ stand that we were introduced to the Lynx 2600 series and met the company’s sales and technical staff.”
Andrew Monkhouse, Managing Director at Complete Engineering Services
Having discussed its requirements in more detail, Complete Engineering Services made the decision to invest in a new multi-tasking Lynx 2660Y.
Owing to floorspace limitations, which prevented an investment in a bar feeder, and in order to get the most out of its new investment, the company decided to equip its new Lynx 2600Y with a bar puller to enable it to not only machine high-precision components in one-hit but to also automate its part processing operations by enabling the machine to run unattended.
“Our Lynx 2600Y is inherently flexible and delivers excellent cutting performance. The machine has been a great addition to our machine shop.
“Prior to acquiring the lathe we were, on numerous jobs, having to perform first operations on an older lathe and then transfer parts to a machining centre for milling, drilling and tapping operations. Such labour intensive processes were inefficient, created production bottlenecks and affected our productivity.
“We needed to change things, and with the arrival of the Lynx 2600Y, with its integrated Y-axis, C-axis and driven tooling, we were able to transform our small parts processing operations.”
Andrew Monkhouse, Managing Director at Complete Engineering Services
Complete Engineering Services’ positive experience with its Lynx 2600Y, and with Mills CNC, led it to invest in the new DNM 6700XL vertical machining centre.
DNM 6700XL: Investment catalyst
As part of its improvement programme, Complete Engineering Services made the decision, in late 2025, to replace a 15-year old heavy-duty machining centre used to process large complex parts with a new, faster and more powerful machine.
“The older machine was getting a bit long in the tooth, was more prone to breakdown and the operator dedicated to run it was about to retire.
“This set of circumstances provided the ideal opportunity to improve and increase our large machining capacity and capabilities by investing in a new machine.”
Andrew Monkhouse, Managing Director at Complete Engineering Services
Rather than going to market, the company made Mills CNC its first, and as it transpired, its only ‘port of call’ to discuss its new large machine requirements.
Requirements
Complete Engineering Services requirements for its new machine included the following:
Siemens control
A majority of machines in Complete Engineering Services’ machine shop are equipped with Siemens control and ShopMill/ShopTurn conversational software. For operator familiarity and the easy transfer of parts between machines, the decision was made that the new machine also needed to be equipped with a Siemens control.
Large worktable and X-Y-Z-axis travels
To be able to machine larger and longer parts than the machine it was going to replace, it was important that the new machine had a bigger worktable and larger X-, Y- and Z-axis travels.
A powerful and fast spindle with through-spindle-coolant capability
To reduce part cycle times and achieve higher material removal rates during roughing operations, the new machine would need to be equipped with a powerful and fast spindle with through-spindle-coolant capabilities.
A generous-sized ATC
For long machining runs and for jobs that required numerous different tools and/or sister tooling, the new machine would need to have a large-capacity automatic tool changer.
A 4th-axis unit
To increase machining flexibility, improve process efficiencies and machine parts in fewer set ups, the new machine would need to be supplied with a 4th-axis rotary table.
“The DN Solutions’ DNM 6700XL is an impressive machine and its technical specifications fitted the bill,”
Andrew Monkhouse, Managing Director at Complete Engineering Services
DNM 6700XL- a closer look
The DNM 6700XL is a large, rigidly-designed and built vertical machining centre from Mills’ best-selling DNM range of machines.
Equipped with a powerful 18.5kW/12,000rpm spindle (117.8N-m) with 20bar coolant capability, the DNM 6700XL has 2100mm x 670mm x 625mm (X/Y/Z) axis travels and a 2200mm x 670mm worktable with a 1300kg maximum table load.
With 30m/min rapid rates on its linear axes and a 40-tool position ATC, the machine supplied to Complete Engineering Services also featured the Siemens 828D control, a Detron GXA-255H rotary table with a 10” chuck, Renishaw tool and workpiece probing systems and a FilterMist extraction unit.
Since being installed, the DNM 6700XL has been used to machine a range of long, shaft-type components and is currently occupied machining 30 x stainless steel deadplates (i.e., flat, stable and stationary transfer plates used in industrial, food- and beverage processing and packaging lines).
These parts, approximately 1.5 metres long, are held in place by bespoke fixturing and are machined, incrementally, taking multi-pass cuts to produce a mirror finish across the plates. Other operations include the machining of high-accuracy chamfers, holes and counterbores.
Summary
Complete Engineering Services’ Lynx 2600Y multi-tasking lathe and its DNM 6700XL machining centre investments are paying dividends and are helping the company improve its productivity, process efficiencies and profitability.
The company’s commitment to continuous improvement and focus on upgrading its machine shop capacity and capabilities through acquiring advanced, high-performance and multi-tasking machine tools, have been instrumental in Complete Engineering Services building a strong partnership with Mills CNC.
It’s a partnership that looks set to continue well into the future.