Global Titanium R&D Center is a Showcase for Makino

This OEM is focused on machining titanium inside a new facility that includes state-of-the-art machine tools, specialized titanium machining and tooling experts, CMM equipment, and all the necessary tools and talent to further titanium machining technologies.

The Mason, OH facility of Makino, Inc. is the Global Titanium Research and Development Center, where a specialized group of engineers further the development of titanium milling technologies. The facility includes state-of-the-art machine tools, specialized titanium machining and tooling experts, CMM equipment, and all the necessary tools and talent to further titanium machining technologies.

“Titanium machining is very process driven, meaning the machine tool, cutting tools, machining process, and coolants must all be developed and integrated specific to titanium’s material properties,” says Tom Clark, the vice president of Makino. “Our mission at the Global Titanium R&D Center is to provide manufacturers with the best in titanium application expertise by combining Makino’s titanium machining capabilities with the world’s leading process technologies. This is an ideal opportunity to work with vendors, suppliers, and partners to develop improved metal removal rates and longer tool life in titanium milling.

“The Mason facility was chosen based on the increasing importance of titanium in the aerospace industry which is centralized here in North America,” noted Clark. “Our past experience in aluminum aerospace applications and grinding of hard metals will serve as an advantage to the continued development of titanium aerospace processing techniques.”

This facility is managed by a select group of engineers with knowledge and experience around titanium in both academic and industrial backgrounds. The group works with tooling and consumable vendors from around the world for a wide knowledge base in all types of titanium applications.

The Global Titanium R&D Center features a variety of machining platforms, including horizontal machining centers, vertical machining centers, 5-axis machining centers, and wire and Ram EDMs.

Currently installed equipment includes an a81M horizontal machining center, D500 5-axis vertical machining center, EDGE3 Ram EDM with Titanium Booster technology, and the latest T2 and T4 5-axis horizontal machining centers. T-series machines are built specifically for titanium aerospace parts and are the first to include ADVANTiGE technologies.

The first machines in the T-series include the T4 and T2 five-axis horizontal machining centers. The larger T4 provides X, Y, and Z axis travels of 4,200 mm, 2,000 mm, and 1,000 mm respectively, and can hold workpieces up to 5,000 kg. For smaller aerospace components, the T2 provides X, Y, and Z axis travels of 2,000 mm, 2,000 mm, and 1,800 mm respectively, and can hold workpieces up to 5,000 kg.

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