Horizontal milling is a brand-new manufacturing approach for PPM. Horizontal machining centers will allow us to make larger parts faster and more efficiently. One of the benefits of the machine’s horizontal orientation is how much better it is at chip evacuation, extending tool life, and its ability to hold more parts on its tombstones than a vertical machine.

The tombstone system uses up to four faces with a larger machining envelope that holds a greater number of parts and can produce multiple-part setups all at once. It also gives us the option of redundant tooling that can run for long periods of time without human intervention with a 133 tool capacity. This new system is an ideal solution for large higher, volume production parts.

In short, horizontal machines yield high output, cut faster than vertical mills, and can run lights out without sacrificing precision. In addition, since horizontal machines are designed to cut bulkier materials, faster speeds and feeds are common and reduce cycle times.

Our engineering team and talented in-house fixture manufacturing department have outdone themselves in designing and manufacturing the complex tooling and fixtures necessary to maximize the capacity and unattended capabilities of our Makino A51.

In just eight weeks, our team has the system fully operational, running unattended, and manufacturing multiple products, all with great precision and accuracy. This is a true testament to our team’s talent, experience, passion, and dedication.