SALISBURY, NC – August 27, 2024 – Advanced Machining & Tooling, a Compass Precision operating company, has added equipment to its shop floor.
Advanced Machining announced Tuesday the purchase of a Mikron HPM 450U. The machine is identical to another unit the operating company already has, but the newest Mikron HPM 450U has an expanded capacity tool changer.
The new machine can hold 120 tools whereas the older one holds 60 tools.
“If you can hold more tools, you can support more complex jobs that might require a lot of tools,” Advanced Machining President Keith Felt said. “Or you could support running a mix of jobs on the machine.
“I could set the machine up to run three jobs overnight with each job using 30 tools, let’s say. I can’t do that on the older machine.”
Keith added that the unit will be particularly advantageous for the company’s repeat customers.
“It’s nice to leave all those tools, for the repeat work, loaded into the tool changer ready to go to minimize the setup times. With a high capacity machine, I can afford to do that. With a lower capacity machine, I’d be forced to remove those tools, maybe even tear them down every time, then I’d have to set them back up every time.”
In addition to offering an expanded tool changer, the newer 5-axis machine will guarantee Advanced continues to meet customer demands.
Advanced purchased the Mikron HPM to replace one of their old 3-plus-2 machines. Keith described the new arrival at Advanced as a “faster machine that will offer better accuracy, superior surface finish and quicker cycle times.”
Advanced’s new machine arrived in early July. It became fully operational this month.
“All of Compass’s shops have added equipment since being acquired,” explained Jim Miller, Compass’s VP of Sales. “Keith and his gang needed this additional machine to keep up with demand. And trust me, we will be buying more.”
Founded in 1985, Advanced Machining specializes in prototype and short to intermediate run production for customers requiring demanding, mission-critical components. The company’s capacities include 5-axis milling and turning, wire and sinker EDM, CAD/CAM, Zeiss CMM and grinding.
Advanced is experienced with a wide variety of materials, including all steel alloys, fully hardened steels, high-nickel alloys, titanium, aluminum, ultra-hard ceramic composites, non-ferrous alloys and polymers.
Advanced Machining was one of the original members of Compass Precision when the latter was founded in October 2019. Compass now has eight precision machine shops across the United States. Advanced and three of its fellow operating companies are located in the greater Charlotte, NC area, where Compass also maintains its headquarters.
The other four operating companies are situated in Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Oregon.