Page 32 - MetalForming July 2017

Precision Machining Ensures Precision Fineblanking
times, decrease costs and gain more control over the tool-making process, Feintool decided to invest in internal machining capabilities.
“The PS95 machines are workhorses that do an exceptional job of heavy cutting, and in a pinch can even sup- port some of our finishing processes in hardened steel,” says Andres. “Through these acquisitions, we’ve been able to eliminate $500,000 each year in out-
sourcing, enabling us to pay off all three machines in just one year.”
Today, Feintool’s preheattreated- machining processes are performed faster and with better quality, according to company officials. This performance has enabled the company to not only reduce lead times for customers but also expedite prototyping processes to help customers get products into mar- ket faster.
Continuous-Improvement Culture Drives Successes
Considering the pursuit of continual improvement as essential to the com- pany’s long-term competitiveness, Feintool’s leadership and its engineer- ing team share a number of aggressive goals to further improve the quality, delivery and cost of its fineblanking- parts services.
One of Feintool’s short-term goals involves evaluating processing enhance- ments to reduce or eliminate long-run- time machine processes, such as jig grinding and EDM. The company believes that it can save a significant amount of time and investment by replacing these processes with preci- sion milling.
“At this time, there are still many types of processes that just can’t be milled; however, the precision of the Makino equipment allows us to mini- mize the requirements of these processes for shorter lead times and lower costs,” says Andres. “To date, we’ve been able to reduce sinker-EDM processes by approximately 30 percent and wire-EDM processes by roughly 10 percent. And there’s more opportu- nity for further improvement.”
Increased tooling output resulting from Feintool’s milling investments also have put a strain on the company’s existing jig-grinding capacity. Rather than invest in a second jig-grinding machine, the company is evaluating ways that it can use the V33i machines for some jig-grinding processes.
“To properly serve a high-volume, high-precision market such as auto- motive, flexible and reliable equipment is essential,” says Trachsler. “To not deliver is not an option. Our invest- ments in this precision vertical-machin- ing equipment have supported us in adapting to changes in part complexi- ties, tolerance requirements and deliv- ery times. No matter what challenge comes our way, Feintool is prepared to deliver parts faster, better and at a lower cost than the competition.” MF
Article supplied by Makino Inc., Mason, OH; 513/573-7200, www.maki- no.com.
Toledo Integrated Systems Toledo Transducers, Inc.
One Source, One Solution
• Tonnage Monitors • Press Controls
• Load Cells
Toledo Integrated Systems Toledo Transducers, Inc. www.ToledoIntegratedSystems.com 800-T-Toledo • 419-867-4170
SENSORS
for punching, forming & process monitoring
Vester Elektronik GmbH
www.vester.de / us on demand ! Sensor Technology I Process Monitoring
Free catalogue
30 MetalForming/July 2017
www.metalformingmagazine.com