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Kytech moves into larger parts with Haas VMC |
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by Jerry Cook
 Installing a new Haas vertical machining center has enabled Kytech Machine Works Ltd., Mt. Albert, ON to open up new areas of business.
“We wanted to go into a different element and start doing larger components,” says Chris Birker with Kytech.
Continues Birker, “We wanted to break out of the really competitive (smaller component segment of the marketplace) that we had cast ourselves into.”
As a result, Kytech recently installed its fourth Haas machine a 50 taper VF-7 vertical machining center.
In the past, Kytech primarily machined small to medium size parts. That changed with the installation of the VF-7 which also includes an optional fourth-axis rotary table.
“For example, right now we are running a part that is 65 in. in length,” he says.
Adds Birker, “We’ve been pleasantly surprised that since we purchased the machine we’ve been able to keep it relatively busy.”
One of the last things you would expect to find in the pastoral setting of Mt. Albert, ON is a high technology job shop that specializes in precision machining.
However, visiting Kytech’s plant quickly makes you realize that you’ve been mistaken in that assumption.
Kytech, which began operations in 1993, has 11 employees at two facilities covering 10,000 sq. ft. in Mt. Albert.
The company moved into its current location in Mt. Albert approximately a year ago. According to Birker, the facility was previously a lumber yard.
“We still have people coming in to buy quarter-round,” he jokes.
Kytech is a job shop that does work for a variety of different customers in various markets including construction, logging, automotive, general industrial, and more.
In addition, the company manufactures its own proprietary line of off-road/dual sport motorcycle components.
The firm provides a range of services including CNC milling, CNC turning, drilling, CNC sawing, tube shearing, stamping, MIG welding, TIG welding, and more.
Typically, the company is working with a wide variety of materials including tool steels, aluminum, bronze, and stainless steel.
Kytech is capable of working to close tolerances of plus or minus 0.0005 in. The firm is ISO 9001: 2000 certified.
According to Birker, Kytech’s part runs range from 10 up to 1,000 pieces.
“It’s funny. We used to do part runs of up to 10,000 pieces but now it has changed dramatically.
“A decent part run today would be about 1,000 parts. I believe a lot of this low tolerance work has gone offshore,” says Birker.
Approximately 80% of the company’s sales are domestic with 10% comprising exports sales, primarily to the United States.
Kytech has four Haas vertical machining centers including two VF-4 machines, a VF-5, and the VF-7 machine.
The Haas machines were supplied by Haas Factory Outlet, a division of Sirco Machinery Co. Ltd. The VF-7 vertical machining center offers travels of 84 in. (X) x 32 in. (Y) x 30 in. (Z).
Standard on all Haas 50 taper vertical machining centers is a side-mount tool changer that holds 30 tools.
A quick-change double-arm gripper provides fast tool changes, and tool are stored out of the enclosure to free up work space. The VF-7 offers 7,500 rpm spindle speed and 30 hp.
The VF-7 features a number of options that Kytech wanted including a fourth-axis rotary table, tool and part probing, and through the spindle coolant.
Birker has been impressed with Haas equipment since 2000 when the first two machines-the VF-4s-were installed. At the time, Birker says that he looked at a number of different machines before selecting the Haas vertical machining centers.
“We had got a contract to machine an aluminum skate blade and we needed two new VMCs. We had considered a number of different machines at the time and we kept coming back to the ease of operation of the Haas machines.”
HaasCNC.com |
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