Success Stories

Achates Power

Complex Machining Replaces Casting for Two-Piece Components in Piston Prototypes

The production pistons will be two-piece components that are cast and then welded together. Their prototypes are machined using Mastercam. Sergio Ramirez, shop manager at Achates, explained that casting prototypes is inefficient; each prototype piston is tested thoroughly, and then the design is slightly modified. With so many small design changes, casting prototypes is simply cost-prohibitive. Unfortunately, rapid prototyping material will not stand up to the heating and cooling cycles associated with this process, so Ramirez uses 4140 and 4340 steel billet.

Jacobs Grey

Job Shop Start-Up Breaks into First Tier Aerospace

When the start-up job shop Jacob Grey opened its doors in Columbia, SC in 2012, the owner, Jake Brackett, had already set his sights on breaking into the aerospace market as a first tier supplier. While his company was cutting its teeth making tooling for a wide spectrum of companies in South Carolina, Brackett was working under the guidance of his Mastercam reseller to develop robust manufacturing processes capable of a much higher level of manufacturing complexity within his CAM software.

Mallory Industries

Verifying the Impossible

The folks at Mallory Industries took a calculated risk a few years ago when they decided to invest heavily in multiple CNC machining centers and a wire EDM machine. Their ability to verify the elimination or reduction of clashing, tool breakage, and damage to the machines themselves prior to running the job played a significant role in their decision. Since then, they have been able to manufacture large, more complex parts for the aerospace industry and take on jobs never before imaginable.

Monsees Group

Fast Turns at Precision Job Shop

No matter what the assignment — from a fast-turn replacement part to a long-term prototyping project, Monsees Group focuses on providing customers with a highly manufacturable part that meets expectations, while doing everything possible to drive down manufacturing costs and reduce lead times. The company’s CAM capabilities play a pivotal role in these efforts.

Precision Manufacturing

A Unique Team for a Unique Problem

Precision Manufacturing Solutions, Inc. generated a post working collaboratively with their local Reseller and Mastercam for the dual-toolhead Mazak Integrex III Series 11-axis milling and contouring CNC machine. The new post uses both toolheads to allow simultaneous cutting.

Progressive Tool and Manufacturing

Uncompromising Quality for Custom Parts

Since 1984, Greensboro, NC-based Progressive Tool & Manufacturing, Inc., has made custom tooling and gauges for the medical industry, defense contractors, and aerospace companies that conduct prototype testing. The company’s ability to make parts with extremely tight tolerances has kept one customer in particular – a contract manufacturer of over-the-counter nutritional and pharmaceutical soft-gel products – coming back for over a decade to help design and make parts for their metering pumps and other production equipment.