XXL measurement: CMM Inspection

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END USER: Milwaukee Machine Works Inc., (414) 476-3285, www.milwaukeemachineworks.com. CHALLENGE: More accurately measure and document extremely large parts. SOLUTION: An ultraprecise coordinate measuring machine with a capacity for large parts. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Hexagon Metrology Inc., (401) 886-2000, www.hexagonmetrology.com

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Milwaukee Machine Works Inc. specializes in machining large, tight-tolerance parts made of cast iron and steel for the wind-energy, off-highway, agricultural and oil and gas industries. Part sizes for the wind-energy market are in the 1m to 2m range, and sizes for other industries range from 0.5m to 1.6m.

“We are a Tier 2 supplier to the wind-energy market,” said Mike Manna, general manager of Milwaukee (Wis.) Machine Works. “We machine parts such as housings and torque arms for companies that sell gearboxes to the wind-turbine OEMs. We also machine parts for agricultural applications, such as gearboxes for hay balers and harvesters. In the oil and gas industry, we machine parts for fracturing pumps used to enhance efficient extraction of oil and natural gas.”

Courtesy of Hexagon Metrology

The Leitz PMM-G CMM has a measuring capacity of 3m wide × 4m long × 2.5m high for parts weighing up to 30,000 lbs. (Photo shows a CMM similar to the one MMW purchased.)

To measure these parts, MMW bought a Leitz PMM-G coordinate measuring machine from Hexagon Metrology Inc., North Kingstown, R.I. The primary reason for purchasing the PMM-G was to serve the wind-energy market, which requires tight tolerances (such as 0.022mm parallelism in a 1m distance between two bore axes) on large parts, according to Manna. “We also saw an opportunity to expand our capabilities for all of our customers,” he said.