Bridge to higher productivity: General Industry Coverage

END USER: Natoma Corp., (785) 877-3529, www.natomacorp.com.
CHALLENGE: Reduce workload on Swiss-style and mill/turn machines.
SOLUTION: A machine tool that bridges the gap between Swiss-style and multitask machines.
SOLUTION PROVIDER: Eurotech, (352) 799-5223, www.eurotechelite.com.

Every parts manufacturer welcomes the addition of a major customer. Natoma Corp. is no exception, but that good news did require the company to invest in new machining equipment to reduce the excessive workload the new business put on its Swiss-style machines and mill/turn machines. “We picked up a new customer last fall that has basically doubled the workload in our lathe department,” said Brandon Peterson, shop manager for Natoma.

Located in Norton, Kan., about an hour’s drive from Lebanon, Kan., the geographic center of the U.S., Natoma was founded in 1982 and produces parts for numerous industries, including aerospace, defense, medical and environmental, in its 70,000-sq.-ft. (21,336-sq.-m) facility.

Eurotech video report offers a glimpse into the workings of its Polygim Zeit Model 42 SLY2-B CNC screw machine.

The contract manufacturer wanted to increase its capacity for completing parts in a single setup and initially considered buying two machines: one Swiss-style and one multitask. However, the search soon shifted to locating a machine that could bridge the gap between the two. “We started looking at machines that have the interchangeable spindle with guide bushing and standard chucking options,” Peterson said.

That would enable the shop to produce its shaft-oriented product line—such as those with long bearing diameters and fine surface finish requirements, and more complex parts that require a larger bar size—on one machine.

After considering several different machines, Natoma selected the Polygim Zeit Model 42 SLY2-B CNC screw machine from Eurotech, Brooksville, Fla. The major factors in the decision were the machine’s fully programmable B-axis on the main and sub spindles and its ability to produce a Swiss-style part with a bar capacity of 15⁄8 ” (41.275mm), according to Peterson. “We’re able to take parts from both worlds and make them work,” Peterson said. “With the addition of the proprietary B-axis feature, we greatly increased our capacity.” For instance, the company can produce parts with angled holes or milled features without a secondary setup. “The machine gives us an additional outlet for parts that we may not have quoted in the past.”