Now that manufacturing is rebounding from the economic difficulties of the past few years, manufacturing managers should take a hard look at your best employees. Presumably you eliminated any marginal people during the downturn, and your remaining people may have endured pay cuts, furloughs or reduced benefits.
The traditional approach to die/mold machining typically involves a number of steps that require multiple CNC machines and 5 to 7 part handlings. This labor-intensive process builds substantial cost into each job. The good news is that you can reduce these costs by using a high speed CNC machining center that can often handle the entire operation in one place.
It’s a constant challenge to make high-quality parts while reducing cycle time, material waste and operator involvement. That’s why Okuma engineers design machines that use the latest technologies to help manufacturers reduce the time an operator spends adjusting for temperature-related issues, avoiding costly collisions and determining optimum cutting conditions.
These built-in functions on many Okuma CNC lathes, turning centers, multitasking machines and machining centers are part of the company’s Intelligent Technology initiative to make machining faster, easier and more profitable.
There are now three models in the Okuma MB-H Series of Horizontal Machining Centers, and all three provide manufacturers the opportunity to reduce non-cutting time, maintain tight tolerances and maximize floor space. All of which adds up to enhanced productivity.
The Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is certainly an admirable way to go through life. However it may not be the best way to motivate your employees. The fact is, what makes us uniquely “us” is encoded in our DNA, and the way you like being treated may be very different for those who work for you.
McConnelsburg PA-based Fulton Precision Industries, Inc. makes transmission shafts for Caterpillar and rock drill bits for Atlas Copco. The 94 separate Caterpillar parts range in diameter from 2” to 5.5” and in length from 27” to 42”, with individual shafts weighing up to 235 pounds. Lot sizes are relatively small, and each shaft has complex geometry that must be machined to tolerances of +/- .0007 of an inch.
According to Fulton’s President, Walt Barmont: “When we considered adding two new L 470 Okuma CNC lathes to our shop, Gosiger Factory Automation proposed automating our process by adding a Fanuc 165F robot to load and unload parts. Gosiger Factory Automation worked with us to make sure the system would not only increase productivity, but would deliver the accuracy and repeatability we require.”
Energy Dynamics, Inc. (EDI) is a nearly 30-year-old Illinois precision CNC machine shop that specializes in making hydraulic components and assemblies for a variety of major OEMs. The cylinders, pistons, electro control shafts and other items EDI produces find their way into heavy equipment, assembly machinery, aerospace applications and more.
Conceived as a personal gadget for Internet access, e-reading, playing games, and managing music, photos and more, iPads are now finding their way into the business world. But do they belong in a manufacturing setting? They just might. In addition to tens of thousands of apps, the iPad’s size, lightness and instant-on capability make it more convenient than a typical laptop, and easier to protect from harsh environments. There are several ways machine shops can use iPads to improve productivity. Here are three:
Accurate Grinding and Manufacturing Corporation and its Accurate Fishing Products division is a family business run by Jack Nilsen and his twin sons David and Douglas, Accurate began as a small CNC machine shop in 1950 and developed into a successful precision operation catering to the aerospace industry. In 1990, David and Douglas parleyed their passion for saltwater fishing into a line of high-end fishing gear that use the same close-tolerance manufacturing techniques they apply to their aerospace work.
DGP, Inc. is a medium-volume Tulsa, Oklahoma CNC machine shop with key customers in the oil exploration and production industry. Among other products, the company makes a family of three control valve components for one customer at the rate of 900 – 1200 pieces per month. Owner Jay Taylor surmised that he could reduce his cost-per-part by automating the process. But what was the best approach, and how could it be accomplished most cost-effectively? For the answers he turned to Gosiger Factory Automation.