Case Studies
See how innovative CNC machining solutions from Methods Machine Tools have been giving manufacturing organizations a competitive edge for over 60 years.
Medical Device Maker Cuts Cycle Times, Runs Unattended with Methods Plus K60
SpiTrex MDI had more orders on the way, but their floor set up was not ready to adapt. Rather than invest in more standalone 3-axis machines, the team sought a new solution that would reduce cycle times, enable unmanned machining, and have the power and reliability to cut harder materials like titanium. With the Methods Plus K60, built upon the FANUC RoboDrill, SpiTrex has the machine it needs for trusted, high-volume production.
Read Medical Device Maker Cuts Cycle Times, Runs Unattended with Methods Plus K60Case StudyAerospace Shop Triples Efficiency Rate with Methods Automation
TurboTech Machining, LLC has realized steady growth since opening its doors in 2015. However, upon maxing out on previously acquired vertical mills, the team reached new efficiency and quality heights upon install of their first FANUC RoboDrills and Methods Automation systems. Today, the aerospace shop is running longer, unmanned hours and leveraging robotics to grow their scale and strengthen the foundation of their business.
Read Aerospace Shop Triples Efficiency Rate with Methods AutomationCase StudyFive-Axis Machining Carves a Better Path for Mold Maker
Founded in 1985 with Finnie and one employee, M.R. Mold & Engineering Corporation is known for its unprecedented expertise in LSR as well as leaders in the education of the silicone industry.
Read Five-Axis Machining Carves a Better Path for Mold MakerCase StudyAerospace Job Shop Spreads Its Wings with 5-Axis Methods Machine
Grey Rose Manufacturing may be new to the Texas manufacturing scene, but a long family legacy of aerospace manufacturing embodies the spirit of this Texas-based job shop. Specializing in tight tolerance aluminum, titanium and stainless-steel components, President Douglas Farrish desired a larger machine to produce the larger aerospace components that will help his company grow. Turning to the 5-axis Methods MB650U, Grey Rose Manufacturing is spreading its wings.
Read Aerospace Job Shop Spreads Its Wings with 5-Axis Methods MachineCase StudyAerospace manufacturer builds new, reliable processes with fewer setups and partially automated inspection
Custom Machine sought new processes to accelerate machining of its large, highly-precision aerospace components. Losing too much cycle time and operators hours to multiple setups, changeovers, and errors, the Custom team required a new path. Turning to Yasda, they gained the right platform to deliver the tolerances, gearing, and quality that made up for lost time.
Read Yasda Delivers Higher Quality, Efficiency for Aerospace ManufacturerCase Study24/7 machining achieved with Nakamura-Tome
The convergence of rapid growth and the COVID pandemic drove ingenuity to new heights for BG Automation. Needing a way to regain control of their aerosol portfolio of products, the BG team used Nakamura-Tome machines to scale production of their newly competitive, patent pending, Universal Spray Applicator (USA) Tool as a strategic alternative to traditional aerosol cans.
Read Leading Automotive Product Supplier Achieves 24/7 Machining with Nakamura-TomeCase StudyOilfield Service Company Expands Capacity, Eliminates Third-Party Processing with Weiler Lathes
TAM International, an oil and gas shop that manufactures various down-hole products, upgraded from manual lathes to programmable CNC machines. The company realized increased productivity, greater machining capacity, and superior performance – all without spending the time or money typically associated with upskilling machinists or learning new equipment.
Read Oilfield Service Company Expands Capacity, Eliminates Third-Party Processing with Weiler LathesCase StudyMethods Automation Boosts Throughput, Market Share for Small-Batch Medical CNC Shop
Methods implemented CNC automation for a small-batch medical manufacturer to meet the rising market demand for complex curing light housings.
Read Small-Batch Medical Shop Embraces Automation to Capture Market Share, Triples ThroughputCase StudyKIWA/CAV Manufacturing
In machining, contracts come and go. Job shops know this better than anyone. But when CAV Manufacturing (Salisbury, MD) had a contract fall through, founder Benito Calderon wasn’t going to let his new KIWA KH4500kai machines go to waste. With the help of MTA Company Inc., Methods Machine Tools, and the KIWA’s six-pallet automatic pallet changer, Calderon used the KIWAs and lights-out machining to lower costs on one job by 70%.
Read Job Shop Utilizes KIWA Machine Tool with Automation to Reduce Per-Part Cost by 70%Case StudyOKK's Slim Profile Allows Machine Shop to Add More Machines, Improve Capabilities
Link to Case Study One of the most critical aspects of stable growth is a machine’s footprint. Fitting a machine in your shop is one thing, but finding the best platform for the best space is another challenge. You have to consider how many machines you can fit in your shop while making sure you have room to grow in the future. The company needs to utilize every inch of floor space, and every platform needs to demonstrate its value. The company knew there were many good options with those prerequisites in mind, but only one machine was the best fit for his shop: OKK’s VM53R.
Read OKK’s Slim Profile Allows Machine Shop to Add More Machines, Improve CapabilitiesCase StudyMethods’ JobShop Cell Resolves Production Hiccups for Third Generation Machinist
A sporting goods manufacturer wanted to increase his throughput, but the shop was hamstrung by the amount of time talented personnel spent loading and unloading machines. Learn how Methods' JobShop Cell Pro helped the shop reduce its scrap rate and increase uptime.
Read Methods’ JobShop Cell Resolves Production Hiccups for Third Generation MachinistCase StudyMold Maker Relies on Stability, Repeatability of OKK Machines for 20+ Years
Learn how OKK machines helped keep a mold and die shop running for decades.
Read Mold Maker Relies on Stability, Repeatability of OKK Machines for 20+ YearsCase StudyOperose Manufacturing
Learn how a job shop utilized 5-axis technology, a multitasking machine, and an automation system to scale-up capacity, become more productive, tackle medium-sized production runs, and realize an 85% utilization rate on its RoboDrill Plus-K.
Read Job Shop Implements 5-Axis Technology, Automation Systems, to Achieve Strategic GrowthCase StudyFirearm, Aerospace Job Shop Finds the Perfect Fit with KIWAs and RoboDrills
Learn why a job shop with limited floor space and long load/unload times chose a KIWA HMC machine and several FANUC RoboDrills to increase capacity and throughput.
Read Firearm, Aerospace Job Shop Finds the Perfect Fit with KIWAs and RoboDrillsCase StudyFirearm Shop Fires on All Cylinders and Boosts Throughput with KIWA Machines
A father and son entrepreneur team began their relationship with Methods purchasing RoboDrills. Later, when then opened up a firearm component factory, they looked to Methods and KIWA to reduce downtime and increase throughput.
Read Entrepreneurs Load Firearm, Medical Shops with Compact FANUC, KIWA, and OKK CNC MachinesCase StudyMedical Mold Manufacturer Realizes Surgical Precision with the YASDA YMC 430
When a medical device manufacturer wanted to bring plastic injection and silicone mold manufacturing in-house, tool and die manager David Gwaltney conducted meticulous research. He read facilities lists. He read machine reviews. He visited a machine shop in Pennsylvania. One brand of machine kept coming up again, again and again - YASDA. Gwaltney even saw the high-precision machining centers at a machine tool builder in Korea. "They had YASDAs doing all of their spindles and five-axis trunnion work, so all of their really high tolerance stuff they were building on YASDA machines, which I thought was pretty interesting," Gwaltney said. "Doing a little bit more research, I found out pretty much every machine tool builder has YASDAs in their factory building machine tools, that tells you something."
Read Medical Mold Manufacturer Realizes Surgical Precision with the YASDA YMC 430Case StudyOKKs Provide Perfect Balance of Capacity, Roughing, and Finishing for Precision Mold Manufacturer
Read how a mold manufacturer found the perfect mix of work envelope size and roughing and finishing capabilities, with two OKK machine tools.
Read OKKs Provide Perfect Balance of Capacity, Roughing, and Finishing for Precision Mold ManufacturerCase StudyEstablishing and Maintaining Supply Throughout the Pandemic
Learn how the FANUC RoboDrill helped Global-Tek meet firm deadlins amid a pandemic without compromising product quality.
Read Establishing and Maintaining Supply Throughout the PandemicCase StudyPrecision Mold Manufacturer Finishes the Job with the MV 1100H
Learn how Sullivan Tool And Repair, a custom-injection mold shop, produced more tight-tolerance molds in less time with the MV 1100H.
Read Precision Mold Manufacturer Finishes the Job with the MV 1100HCase StudyCobot Gives Wire EDM Shop More Jobs, More Shifts, and More Throughput
CDP Diamond Products, headquartered in Livonia, Mich., is a diamond tool manufacturer that specializes in wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) for a variety of industries. Polycrystalline diamonds (PCD) and polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) are some of the hardest materials on earth. Cutting them is even harder. Read how one diamond tool manufacturer in Michigan utilized a collaborative robot and FANUC RoboCuts to boost throughput, run unattended, and add more shifts.
Read CDP Diamond Products, Inc.Case StudyPlastic Injection Mold Manufacturer Achieves Closer Tolerances and Lowers Cycle time with Five-Axis Machining
Learn how a plastic injection mold manufacturer implemented automation and precise five-axis CNC machine tools to fulfill a contract for ventilator components during the pandemic.
Read X-Cell Tool & Mold, Inc.Case StudyInnovator Gets the Machine and Support that Meet his High Standards
"I knew I could design something better," he said. He designed something much better, and soon Acratech was producing ball heads, tripod accessories, and photographic equipment. Today, Acratech's products are used by professionals all over the globe, from National Geographic photographers to U.S. Navy SEALs.
Read Acratech, Inc.Case Study60% Increase in Productivity and Profitability for Aerospace & Defense Manufacturer
We reduced time and cost per assembly by adding 2nd, 3rd, and weekend shifts so that all assembly components are machined simultaneously in just one machine cycle.
Read Alicat ScientificCase StudyAutomation Solves Lead Time Challenges, Helps World Class Automotive Manufacturer Grow
Vertical machines on the floor weren’t able to keep up with high demands of the automotive industry, so we installed Kiwa horizontal machining centers to completely remove production delays and cut stainless steel more efficiently, reducing time-per-part by 50%.
Read Automation Exemplified Gil-MarCase StudyAerospace & Defense Manufacturer Reduced Time and Assembly Cost by 60%
We reduced time and cost per assembly while adding second, third, and weekend shifts by manufacturing and assembling all aerospace components simultaneously in one machine cycle.
Read Command TechnologyCase StudyMaking Advanced Wire EDM Automation a Reality
We helped Diamond Innovations introduce the Fanuc RobCut Wire EDM solution, which achieved consistent quality while increasing production 40% with the same staff.
Read Diamond Innovations Adds Wire EDM AutomationCase StudyInstalling Yasda CNC Machines for Extreme Performance
We reduced time and cost per assembly by adding 24-hour and weekend shifts so that all assembly components are machined simultaneously in just one machine cycle.
Read Extreme Tool and EngineeringCase Study