Feature:
Probing Beyond Prismatic — April 2009
This manufacturer has used on-machine probing to help automate setups and maintain process control for prismatic parts produced on VMCs for years. The metrology products maker recently implemented probing strategies that let it achieve similar results on its turn-mills and Swiss-types. The smaller, more economical batch sizes these machines now produce are better aligned with true production requirements.
Feature:
It Begins With Belief — January 2008
This shop’s approach to unattended machining focuses on the big picture.
Feature:
CAM Software As A Creativity Tool — November 2006
This job shop relies on its CNC programming software to unlock the productivity of its multi-axis, multi-tasking machine tools and CNC Swiss-type machines.
Feature:
Serving the Human Machine — April 2003
Producing medical parts is a demanding business that requires strict control of machining processes and a substantial amount of outsourcing. To support their continually evolving processes in the shop, manufacturers of medical components must forge strong partnerships with machine tool suppliers and distributors.
Feature:
Sizing up the Management Challenge — January 2001
This company, which has a half dozen machining plants in the greater Minneapolis area, excels in numerous metalworking activities and is considered one of the country’s best and most diverse job shops.
Feature:
Banking on a Swiss-Type — September 1999
The CNC Swiss-type Lathe, Part I
To shops used to conventional turning, the CNC Swiss-type is a strange sort of lathe. But for the right jobs, the machine is worth both the price and the learning curve.
Feature:
Turning it Out — September 1999
This article is part II of an MMS series on the CNC Swiss-Type Lathe.
This northern Ohio job shop is very good at making parts on Swiss-type machines. It’s evolved the business from manual engine lathes to lights-out manufacturing. Success didn’t come easily, but it has indeed come to this shop.
Feature:
Better Production — July 1999
Company Improves Feed Time And Keeps Lathes Running Around The Clock.
Paul Villemaire, CEO, and Gene Fantozzi, general manager, C Machine Products Inc. (Willoughby, Ohio), share a notion that some technologies should begin paying for themselves immediately. This, they affirm, is not a radical notion but one based on research and experience.
Feature:
Beyond Swiss Precision — September 1995
This medical-industry job shop has staked its reputation on superior process expertise with multi-axis—and multifunction—CNC Swiss-style turning centers. The ability to cut small and complex parts completely in a single setup provides huge benefits to the shop and its customers.
Feature:
Trends in Swiss Machining — March 2010
This Florida medical manufacturer is an expert in the production of complex medical parts on CNC Swiss machines. Their job shop has evolved from 18 to 135 employees by efficient production of small, difficult parts for the demanding medical industry. And moving forward, the shop’s co-founder only sees better things ahead.
Case In Point:
One-Part Solution With Huge Payoff — September 2009
Machine shops prioritize different challenges daily, but some challenges are more critical than others. Precise Products Corporation (Minneapolis) was faced with a challenge when one of its original customers asked the company to reduce the cost of a family of parts or risk losing the job.
Feature:
Shop Finds Success With Swiss Machine And Tooling Technology — March 2009
Tooling a Swiss-type machine is the second biggest decision a shop makes when installing a new machine. With the help of two OEM's, the New Jersey shop got it right out of the gate.
Feature:
Software Bridges Gap For Dental Implant Manufacturer — October 2008
This dental implant manufacturer has found the right combination of technology and personnel to help implement its changing philosophy rooted in the control of its manufacturing processes.
Feature:
The New American Night Shift — January 2007
Strong customer service is what has made this company successful. However, while keeping the customer happy is a primary goal for American Eagle, it is the customer service it has received that has made the biggest difference. Now, increased lights-out operations are allowing the company to be even more competitive by providing lower shop rates for the customer.
The Last Word:
Dos And Don’ts Of Machine Tool Purchasing — February 2006
by John Antignani, Senior VP and General Manager
Marubeni Citizen-Cincom, Inc.
Tech Briefs:
Thread Whirling—One of the Oldest New Products in Town — January 2002
There’s not much new about whirling. It’s been used in Europe to machine helical parts for more than 50 years. It’s time-tested, and it’s proven to machine screws and thread forms at speeds often as much as four times faster than traditional thread milling or hobbing, and typically without the need for secondary finishing operations. But that’s in Europe.
Case In Point:
Getting The Most From A CNC Swiss-Type — January 2002
When Amphenol Inc. (Danbury, Connecticut) was looking to cut cycle times and increase precision by eliminating costly secondary operations, it decided to invest in complex CNC Swiss machines from Marubeni Citizen-Cincom (Allendale, New Jersey). It didn’t take long for Amphenol to realize how important an efficient programming scheme was in the pursuit of achieving the potential productivity enhancements its new Swiss machines offered.
Feature:
Courses Teach Solution For Swiss Machining — January 2002
FeatureClose confines found in Swiss-type machines make tool changes time consuming. A new quick-change system is helping reduce this problem.
Feature:
Anchors Away! How a Creative Company Exploded Sales by Inventing a New-Style Dental Anchor — June/July 2008
Build a reasonably good mousetrap and you’re bound to sell some, but if you build a “better” mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door. So goes the old saying. But is that true?
Feature:
Precious Metal Job Shop — June/July 2002
A San Diego job shop specializes in machining gold, silver and platinum.
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Machine of the Month:
It’s small, fast, and precise — May 2002
Designed for machining small parts up to 0.16-in. diameter, the Cincom R04 Swiss turning machine tackles sub-micron production over long runs.
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Metalworking Showplace:
Marubeni Helps Precision Manufacturer Increase Productivity — June 2001
When your company is on a fast growth path, keeping up with product demand can be challenging. Paul Villemaire, President of C and M Machine Products, Hudson, NH, a manufacturer of precision screw machine parts is meeting and exceeding his company’s fast-paced product demand with the aid of Marubeni Citizen-CINCOM turning centers for the manufacture of tight tolerance precision screw machine parts.
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Cover Story:
Macro & Micromachining — The Big & Small of it All — October 1999
Imagine spending 45 minutes painstakingly machining complex features into a part — slots, grooves, angled holes, and the like — until it’s practically perfect. After all this work, someone sneezes, the part drops to the floor, and everyone gets down on hands and knees to look for it. But to no avail; it’s gone. Hard to picture? Not for those making parts with overall sizes as small as ten-thousandths of an inch.
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Feature:
Medical device manufacturers are going Swiss to find solutions — January/February 2006
Within the last three years, the medical industry has dominated the need and usage of accurate Swiss-turning machines to produce a variety of implantable medical parts used throughout the body.
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How it Works:
Why Swiss? — February 2009
Have parts 1.25" diameter or less? You can make them complete on one of these sliding-headstock CNC machines.
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Feature:
Programming Key To 7-Axis Swiss Productivity — February 2006
Multi-axis Swiss-style machines can mean huge savings for job shops producing complex parts. However, an Indiana shop shows that to get the most from these machine tools, efficient programming is essential.
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Feature:
Fire Fighters — July 2009
Because they produce chips at high operating temperatures, often with oil-based coolants present, machine tools can easily catch fire. However, if shops plan ahead for this possibility by installing fire suppression systems, they can avoid catastrophic damage to the machine and the shop itself.
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