Machine shops in cities such as Minneapolis have had a tendency to wrap themselves in tradition. Over the years, this has begun to change as more and more machine shops embrace technology that not only pushes them into the 21st century but also has a major impact on their bottom line. Today, a machine shop is no longer a place for strictly manual work. The computer revolution is reaching out and helping them improve their capabilities – in terms of production rates, labor costs and product quality.
The Technological Revolution
Machine shops are one of the few holdouts in the technological revolution. Initially, only screw-machine shops were to adopt CNC Swiss-type turners and lathes. These multifunction machines have proven to be adept at improving the shop’s ability to address a changing marketplace. By utilizing CNC and multifunctional machines, they were able to reduce setup times while increasing their machining capabilities.
Other types of machine shops are beginning to outlay the capital to purchase CNC equipment. They are branching into areas they would never before have considered. CNC usage is increasing as is the employment of horizontal machining centers (HMC) over the more traditional vertical machining centers (VMC). HMCs are more amenable to uninterrupted production. Such equipment also can increase production, utilizing its dual-pallet design effectively.
Today, a modern machine shop is more likely to have any or all of the following
- Multi (five)-axis machines
- Multiple-turret lathes
- CAM systems
- Smart tools e.g. damper boring bar
- 3D printers
These devices are capable of increasing various operations such as hard milling, hard turning and high-speed machining.
The Technologically Aware Machine Shop
Today, machine shops are adopting tooling, equipment, and strategies based on the latest technological advances. Modern shops in Minnesota work with both traditional and modern methods to provide their customers – more of them OEMs, with quality mass-produced and specialized products. For more information on what your local machine shop offers, contact one online or visit.