Lathe Machining Cost Reduction

In Machining, a Lathe that changes tools is great but on small parts that have several quick operations there can be more tool change time than spindle-on machining time.  A great way to increase spindle-on time and reduce overall cycle time is to tie several tools together in a method known as "gang tooling." Gang tooling planning is very difficult as you need to anticipate the following operations while working on the current one.  At Lean Machine, we always go further than most with 3D design because it always pays off in the long run.  Since we already have our machines 3D modelled and we can download all tooling off our vendor's website, and every part is drawn in 3D, we can plan out a gang tool very quickly. 

The Brass bar hex stock is seen with the finished machined part just needing a part-off operation.  The orange block is the gang tool holder that we've designed.  You can also see the blue and grey Iscar tools and yellow inserts. 

Here is the Autodesk Inventor designed tool block with the HSM tool paths applied.

Our Haas VF4 milling the tool block.  This is a steel 3"x3" billet.   Iscar's endmills are the greatest!

Lots of internal features to machine but we've designed to be quick to machine.   

Here's a close-up of the Iscar tools that will be installed in the block. 

All tools installed and ready to machine. 

Top view of the block and tools.  Notice the dovetail cut on the backside to fit our tool post and the height setting attachment.