11/02/2024
At our facility, a certain two-letter word—'no'—is simply not in our vocabulary. When the IAMS pet food plant near Aurora, NE encountered a specialized plastic auger that had worn to the point of failure, they faced an estimated six-month delay from the original supplier for a replacement part. We saw this as an opportunity to put our capabilities to the test and create an in-house solution.
Initially, we attempted to machine the auger using our lathe; however, we could not slow the spindle rate enough to accommodate the pitch of the flighting. As a final alternative, we turned to our Haas VF2 Mill, though this required splitting the part into 12 sections due to the limitations of the machine. Each cycle called for a precise 180-degree rotation—an ambitious and complex process. It is no easy feat precisely machining 360degrees around a cylindrical object on a 3 axis machine.
After a few very late nights, the outcome exceeded our expectations, achieving the exact specifications needed. This project stands as a testament to our commitment to innovation and problem-solving for our clients.
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