Machines

Get Better Before You Get Bigger

Rather than making a major new machine tool purchase just yet, this shop is finding additional capacity on the equipment it already has. What once was a vertical machining center will become a flexible automated production center for unattended 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.

Flexible Grinder Streamlines Drive Shaft Production

When a bottleneck arose from an application involving multiple setups, this shop invested in a new grinding machine with a full B-axis. Since then, it has consolidated the troublesome operation from three machines to one.

Fabricator Produces Parts Complete With VTC

Meeting customer demand for both quality components and consistent, on-time delivery is essential for any shop’s competitiveness. However, having to subcontract work that can’t be done in-house can add weeks or months to delivery times and compromise quality standards.

It Begins With Belief

This shop’s approach to unattended machining focuses on the big picture. 

Continuous Turning On Turn-Mills

A new CAM feature continuously manages B-axis head rotation to allow turn-mills to completely turn inner and outer workpiece profiles using a single tool.

HMC Equipped With Pallet Pool For Unattended Operation

Two-Axis CNC Lathes Built For Stability

Lathe Designed For Accurate Large-Part Production

Multitasking Machine For Medium-Sized Bar Work