Large Part Machining
Large Wire EDM Unit Gives Shop Room to Grow
This wire EDM job shop in Wisconsin acquired a submerged cutting wire machine that lets it handle larger, taller workpieces than just about any other job shop in the country. The new machine has a “column-up” option that adds a riser block between the X-axis saddle and the Z-axis column casting to give it exceptionally tall cutting capacity. The machine was installed in November 2007.
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Vacuum Workholding Method Fits New Machining Strategy
Increased demand for armor plating components led this shop to completely revamp its machining technique. Rather than machining individual workpieces, the shop produces multiple components nested in an aluminum plate. A custom vacuum workholding system plays a significant role in this new strategy.
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Big Inspection With Little Difficulty
A portable laser tracker let this shop increase not only its machining range, but also the range of its services to customers.
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Under Pressure
Using an integrated, single-window solution can alleviate programming bottlenecks, making the transition from design to manufacturing smooth.
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Realizing Large-Scale Savings On Large-Scale Parts
Converting big square bars to largely round tie bars used to require 24 hours per piece at Oak Products. The Sturgis, Michigan, company can now complete the same job in 8 hours. How did the company slash its machining times and realize substantial cost savings? Oak attributes the turnaround to process re-engineering involving aggressive mill-turning and tooling geared to stand up to the challenge.
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Turning The Long And Difficult
This shop has made large turning work its specialty. In proving to its customers that it can perform this difficult work, it has started to win more "standard" machining jobs.
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Move The Program Instead Of The Part
A complex five-axis part with hard-to-reach datums is machined in two setups instead of eight, thanks to a process that rewrites the tool paths to match the part's position.
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Thinking Big
This shop specifies large machine tools for the machining possibilities of the future. To prepare for the feed rates the shop expects to use one day, the latest large gantry mills apply linear motors on all three linear axes.
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The Multi-Process Machine Mindset
Installing a machine tool that combines milling, turning, boring and other processes changed this job shop’s outlook.
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Tangential Milling Helps Foundry Speed Operations While Reducing Costs
There are always exceptions to those 'hard and fast' machining rules. A tripling of edge life and a 3-to-1 reduction in cutter count on a tough-cast steel milling job at Harrison Steel Castings Company (Attica, Indiana) proves this.
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