Okuma teams up with Gosiger 3D to take die and mold to a whole new level. Okuma continually looks for ways to improve the performance of its machines, refining production machining techniques to help customers become more competitive and more profitable.

In the die and mold machining market, two techniques that offer significant improvements in productivity and throughput over traditional machining and EDM processes are high speed machining and hard milling. High speed machining uses many closely spaced light cuts to create an as-machined surface that reduces the need for secondary operations. Spindle speed and feed rates are higher than those of traditional machining operations so that the cutting tool can achieve an effective chip load. Hard milling, or hard mill finishing, is a type of high speed machining technique that combines light cuts at high feed rates to remove material in the hardened state. The result is the ability to hold very tight tolerances with the added benefit of superior surface finish. The improved surface finish eliminates the need for grinding and hand polishing.

At Okuma’s Advanced Technical Center, located in the Gosiger 3D facility in Michigan, these techniques and others are tested and evaluated with the goal of finding the keys to unlocking the benefits of continuous process improvement.