D&S Manufacturing Adds New Bridge Mill

D&S Manufacturing (Black River Falls, WI) is proud to announce that its newest piece of fabrication equipment, an Okuma MCR-A5CII Bridge Mill, is up and running in their plant. A team of employee owners conducted the research that led to choosing the new machine tool after they determined that an existing vertical machining center needed to be replaced with a significantly larger unit. Their goal was to increase capacity and capabilities.

Through their research, the team polled current customers and other Okuma users who reported excellent experiences with their units. Furthermore, the Okuma control interface was preferred by D&S operators that were represented on the team. A major benefit of the new machine is its increased capabilities. It also offers a significantly larger part envelope with a table capacity of 200 in x 100 in and a maximum work piece height of 70 in. The plant will be able to offer additional services by machining taller parts. “This new machine is also paired with a 10 ton crane, allowing us to fully utilize its maximum work piece weight capacity,” explained John Gulso, the operations manager.

Along with the larger part envelope, the 5-side capable bridge mill is significantly faster, increasing capacity. “This is a heavier, more rigid machine, allowing us to remove more metal per pass, cutting at a faster rate without flexing or deflecting,” added Gulso. Efficiencies are also gained through the use of a multi-positioning right angle head attachment allowing for machining on five sides with only one set up.

The unit has been installed in the recently completed 9,300 sq ft building addition that was necessitated by the expansive new bridge mill, which is significantly larger that the VMC it replaced. A pit was integrated into design of the addition to make the table height level with the floor. This design enhances safety and allows for ease of access.

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