Nu-Tech Industries was formed in Grandview, Missouri, in 1972 on the basis of teamwork. Teamwork in solving problems, conquering challenges and improving processes for their aviation-based customers is what makes them a success. Nu-Tech Manufacturing Manager Ron Horner says the company focus on teamwork led to the development of a revolutionary process for milling titanium. "We first took on the development of an aircraft component part from Boeing, and ran it conventionally in approximately 12 hours. We realized this was too slow. We now run that same part in only one and one-half hours with various methods our team developed using the horizontal milling capabilities of the Makino A77. We have a process improvement of 700 percent."

Horner noted that Nu-Tech has developed an expertise in high-speed titanium milling for global customers in the aerospace marketplace. "A family of three titanium parts for Boeing was chosen to develop our high speed methods. They all look very similar, but have specific features that test the capabilities of the process."

According to Horner, the current fast process for manufacturing these titanium parts would be impossible without the versatile and high-speed operation of the Makino. Though he is quick to add, "The success of the process is not strictly related to pure high-speed operation. It is a mix between conventional and high-speed milling. We save a lot of time through this approach and improve production quality. Deviations, which were approximately 11 or 12 percent initially, were reduced to less than one percent. And, they are even less now. The method our team developed with the Makino A77 does not distort and warp the parts like conventional methods."

"The feedrates that we use for roughing approaches 100 IPM on the titanium 6-2-4-2 alloy," says Horner. "Titanium alloys with a good machinability rating, such as titanium 6-4, will have higher feedrates and surface speeds. We are machining titanium at approximately 600 SFPM on the 10,000-RPM standard spindle. At these surface speeds, cutter life is shortened, so it is imperative that maximum work be done while in the cut, prior to cutter replacement."

Horner adds that this speed, along with the quality improvement of the new milling process on the Makino A77, cuts down on time as well as cost. The deviation rate is improved, and the cycle times slashed according to Nu-Tech data.

Nu-Tech Industries, Inc., a Triumph Group Company, at 4020 East 138th Street in Grandview, Missouri, 64030, can be reached at 816-763-8600 or at www.ntihc.com.

Copyright © 2001 - 2010 by Makino, Inc. All rights reserved.