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Quick Turn Precision Machining Adds 5-Axis Capabilities With Its Newest Mazak — An Integrex J-200S
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Christmas came early for Derrick Morton, Journeyman machinist at Quick Turn Precision Machining in Ogden, Utah. Derrick has been working for Quick Turn for the past 5 years, and he has seen the parts being manufactured at the shop getting increasingly more complex year after year.
“I enjoy machining very complex parts”, Derrick says, “yet it can be frustrating machining ‘5 axis complexity’ parts on a 3 or 4 axis machine.” Quick Turn has some of the best machine tools you can get (their lathes and mills are almost exclusively Mazak), and the team had been asking owners Nate and Adam Woods for a 5-axis machining center for more than a year. Derrick adds “We had a number of parts with holes at different angles –we had to spend too much time for tool change over, and we were going through expensive tools with our current machining capabilities. Now there is less tool change over and when we do change tools, it’s easier. We no longer have to dial in our live tools to achieve high accuracy on centerline. The Integrex tools are always in the same position.” The co-owners were waiting for a specific job that would easily justify the purchase of the Integrex 5 axis (4+1) machine for their business. In the end, there wasn’t a specific job; rather a number of complex jobs that the company was machining on 4-axis machines that would be machined so much more efficiently on a 5 axis machine, that made the brothers pull the trigger. In late November, Quick Turn took possession of their first 5 axis-machining center, a Mazak Integrex J-200S. This Multi-Tasking machine makes use of two turning spindles and a milling spindle (large true Y-axis design), and it also offers automatic tool changing. The main spindle chuck size is 8” with the main spindle speed being 5000 rpm. The milling spindle is a single spindle turret with an automatic tool changer system. The milling spindle speed is 12,000 rpm. “I love running the Integrex J-200S. It offers more of everything; more tools, and more capabilities - I couldn’t spin the tools fast enough on our other machines, I’ve gone from 280” per minute to 700” per minute feed. The Integrex is limited only by my imagination. It is such a cool machine.” Derrick He added, “The high pressure coolant on this machine is making a big difference for me; it provides up to 1000 psi of coolant to the cutting tool, allowing for heavier cuts, higher feed rates, deep-hole drilling, and better surface finishes.” Derrick says perhaps the best feature the Mazak Integrex offers is the Mazatrol SmoothG control; it makes it easy to generate CNC programs for processing complex parts through off-centerline machining as well as angled drilling, milling and tapping. Derrick says that |
he has run nearly every builders’ machines over his past decades in the industry. “I hadn’t operated a 5 axis machine, so when we brought the Integrex into our shop, Smith Machinery’s AJ Tucker came in for a week of training.”
Derrick says learning how to run the Mazak Integrex J-200S was relatively straightforward. “AJ is an awesome teacher, he is extremely knowledgeable, but I also found that the Mazatrol SmoothG control follows the general methods of the controls on our other Mazak machines, so it was easier to learn than I had anticipated.” “The Integrex J-200S is designed to replace traditional turret lathes with 12 station turrets, especially with repeat work. It can drill/mill at angles, each tool can work on both spindles and with the 72 tool magazine, set-up time between jobs is reduced up to 90%! We also see a dramatic reduction in mistakes and crashes! It’s the perfect job shop mill/turn center.” Smith Machinery Owner Clark Smith Derrick says, “The Mazatrol SmoothG Control offers an outstanding control, one that is so intuitive and user friendly. For many parts, I can do all of my programming right out on the machine, and when needed, the Mazatrol SmoothG software integrates with EIA (G & M code) programs as a subset of the Mazatrol program.” Today, Derrick is machining 3 very complex parts on the Integrex J-200S. He estimates that he is reducing the time needed to complete one of the jobs by 2 months, and by 2 operations. On another part, Derrick is using 1 tool that is, in essence, 6 tools, without one tool change out. “For all 3 of these parts, we would have still taken the jobs, but it would have taken longer and it would have cost us more time and |
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money to produce them.” Today, Derrick sets up the Integrex J 200S, and is able to machine parts on one of the Mazak Quick Turn Nexus machines simultaneously. Derrick says it would be nice to get another Integrex.
About Quick Turn Precision Quick Turn Precision Machining is a full service machine shop specializing in small to medium rapid turn-around precision machine work—from custom tooling and intricate molds to small specialized parts. In addition to state-of-the-art CNC milling, turning and water-jet cutting, Quick Turn Precision Machining also provides heat-treating, sandblasting, welding, fabrication, and technical drawing to meet all your needs. Nate Woods and his brother Adam Woods founded Quick Turn Precision Machining in 1997. The two love to make things—and make them well—and it shows in every facet of their business. Nate continues to direct and lead the company, and the experience and education of building Quick Turn has only increased his love for his trade, and the team he has put together. Nate says, “Our experienced team can tackle most jobs, and we constantly strive to improve our processes, to keep that high standard of quality we are known for. In addition to our skills, we are very processes centered, our CAP systems allow us stay organized and control inventory without having to ‘remember’ it all. This saves time, increases productivity, and integrates into our quality assurance programs. After all, less time spent being disorganized means more time focusing on what’s important—our customers.” Adam adds, “We pride ourselves on delivering high quality parts and getting them to our customers quickly. We can do this perhaps better than others for a few reasons:
Quick Turn Now Offers Engineering Nate and Adam are Journeyman machinists, and between the two, they have more than a half-century of experience in the industry. Brother Whit took a different path in his career – he is a degreed mechanical engineer, and he has worked for large companies in several industries, including aerospace, medical, and commercial. Whit is author or co-author to 5 patents, and he helped design components on the B2 Stealth bomber. Nate and Adam merged Whit’s engineering consulting firm into Quick Turn Precision Machining, and today, you can take a product concept (on a napkin), and bring it all the way to production, at the company. Why Smith Machinery and Mazak? Adam and Nate agree that Smith has been an outstanding supplier and partner for them over their years in business. When they first opened for business, 2 young men armed with a strong work ethic and superior mechanical aptitude, their budget only permitted entrée level Fryer machines. As business grew, and the complexity of the parts increased exponentially, the brothers made the decision to upgrade to Mazak machines through Smith Machinery. Today, they have a dozen Mazak machines in the shop. |
Nate says, “We knew that Mazak produced an outstanding product, and Smith Machinery, the local dealer, had a superior reputation for servicing its customers.” Over the years, Quick Turn has continued to purchase new Mazak machines, and in their shop, they are space constrained. The Woods appreciate Smith Machinery’s ability and willingness to take their older machines and get them sold on the resale market. David Soares, Sales Engineer for Smith Machinery supporting Quick Turn, says, “Together, we have been very creative in helping to increase the spindles that could fit into their compact shop and grow their business. Two Mazak VCN compact machines were installed in a hallway that previously housed a small welding department. The team at Quick Turn loves the compact footprint of these machines.”
Derrick says, “I’ve machined on many different brand machines in my career. Over the years, I would see the dealer’s technicians in our shop. I saw them; I didn’t speak to them or get to know them. With AJ, I have a relationship. I can call or text him with questions and when he is at our shop, he takes the time to give me suggestions.” To learn more about how Quick Turn Precision can support your complex machine needs, and now with full engineering design capabilities, call (801) 334-6800 or visit quickturnmach.com Smith Machinery is a 50+ year-old distributor of advanced manufacturing technologies. To learn more about how they can help you grow your business with new technologies, contact them at (801) 263-6403 or visit smithmachinetools.com Article courtesy of A2Z magazine
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