Access Precision upgrades capabilities with new five-axis machine
by Jerry Cook Installing a new Mazak Variaxis 630 machining center has enabled Access Precision Machining Ltd., Salmon Arm, BC to expand its process capabilities and improve productivity significantly.
“The Variaxis 630 machining center has given us five-axis production
capacity and allowed us to make complex parts with one setup,” says
Mike Melin, owner and general manager of Access Precision. “The machine
has improved our productivity immensely on special parts and has racked
up the most hours of all our machines since we installed it.”
Access Precision, which began operations in 1997, has nine employees at
its 11,300 sq. ft. facility in Salmon Arm. The firm is a CNC job shop
specializing in highly complex, high precision parts. The firm machines
a variety of materials including mild and stainless steel, cast iron,
copper, brass, aluminum, Astralloy, plastics, tungsten, Inconel, high
nickel products, and more.
Access Precision’s part runs typically range from one-offs up to
several hundred pieces. “We stay away from the simple parts and shoot
for the more detailed or intricate parts-parts that not just anyone
with a lathe or milling machine in their backyard can do,” says Melin.
Typically, Access Precision works to tolerances on smaller parts of
plus or minus .001 in. or less and plus or minus .002 in. on larger
parts.
“All of our journeymen program and operate the CNC machines, which
means that we can do small production runs efficiently,” says Melin.
The firm does work primarily for the oil and gas sector but also serves
customers in other markets including transportation, forestry,
aviation, and research and development. Access Precision offers a
variety of services including CNC milling, CNC turning, welding,
sawing, and more. In addition, the company has an oven and offers
pre-welding and post-welding heat procedures. Access Precision can also
offer customers complete parts management programs including supplying
the material, providing machining services, and managing
sub-contractors for processes such as coating, heat treating, forming,
and fabricating.
The company also offers full measurement and inspection capabilities
including a Mitutoyo coordinate measuring machine, optical comparator,
hardness and surface testers, and related measuring instruments. The
company is ISO 9001-2000 certified.
Since Access Precision has essentially standardized on Mazak equipment
over the years, when Melin decided to move into five-axis CNC
machining, selecting the new machine was a relatively simple decision.
“Prior to launching Access Precision, I worked as a plant
superintendent at a large sawmill equipment manufacturer. At a certain
point when they needed to buy CNC equipment, I was involved in the
decision to buy a Mazak machine,” he says.
Continues Melin, “Eventually, I took over the CNC program (at the
sawmill equipment manufacturer) and purchased additional Mazak machines
for their shop. I was always impressed with the uptime and tolerances
we could maintain on the Mazak machines as well as the support offered
by Mazak. When it was time to start my own shop, it was an easy
decision to continue (purchasing) Mazak equipment.”
Today, Access Precision has nine Mazak machines including five lathes
(Nexus 350MY, Nexus 350M, Nexus 300M, a Nexus 250MY all with live
tooling, and a Quick Turn 20) and four machining centers (Variaxis 630,
Nexus 510 APC, VTC 200B, and VTC 30C). Access Precision’s total
investment in Mazak equipment amounts to $1.5 million.
The Mazak Variaxis 630 features simultaneous five-axis control and
offers spindle speeds of 12,000 rpm and 30 hp. The machine provides
storage for 80 tools and offers travels of 24 in. (X), 30.1 in. (Y),
and 20 in. (Z). The Mazak line of equipment is manufactured by Mazak
Corp., Florence, KY (mazakusa.com) and represented in Canada by Mazak
Canada, Cambridge, ON (mazak.com).
Melin’s positive opinion of Mazak equipment hasn’t changed during the
course of time. “In order to deliver high quality parts, you need high
quality CNC machines. We are happy with our Mazak CNC machines and
believe them to be one of the top suppliers.”
According to Melin, standardizing on Mazak equipment has provided
Access Precision with a variety of benefits including a reduction in
tooling inventory, programming consistency across all of the Mazak
machines, better uptime and the ability to achieve closer tolerances,
less operator training, and easier service.
Obviously, given the company’s experience and knowledge of Mazak
equipment, training on the new machine was simple and straightforward.
“However, it’s also important to recognize that our machinists are very
skilled so training on the Mazak equipment has been very quick and
efficient,” notes Melin.
The Mazak equipment is definitely meeting the company’s expectations in
terms of performance, he adds. “All of the Mazak machines have either
met or exceeded my expectations.” mazak.com
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