It’s undeniable that the coolant-driven speeder delivered much-improved efficiency when it was fully engaged, but even those results were improved upon. With RPMs up to 80,000, feed rates almost double to 110 IPM without any increase in tool wear. The same sets of molds that took 25-30 hours, now take 12-16. When the primary machining process of an operation is reduced from 75 hours down to 15, it can be transformational. Flurry put it simply, “It’s a huge savings in man hours
Two lollipop molds cut using the same parameters and depths of cut. The top was machined at 50,000 and the bottom at 80,000, showing a clear difference in finish.
and we’re able to produce more molds each year than before. It’s been a big eyeopener for our company. If you can increase reliability, something as impactful as the RBX7 is a no brainer for a production facility.” The midnight checkups have become a thing of the past. “The uneasiness has faded,” Flurry said. “With the RBX7 consuming so few CFMs, I can tailor my machines to kick on and off at different set points. I can leave here whenever, lock the building up and not have to come back until the next morning. We turn on the machine and run it for 20-plus hours with no hiccups.” CONTRIBUTOR Ladd Flurry is the Warehouse Lead Manager at American Baitworks. Justin Saegert is the Machinist at American Baitworks. Neal Wilson is the Regional Sales Manager at BIG DAISHOWA. neal.wilson@us.bigdaishowa.com Alan Miller is the Senior Manager Engineering at BIG DAISHOWA. alan.miller@us.bigdaishowa.com
The visit also put the team at ease when it came to CFM consumption. Where other air-driven products needed upwards of 20 CFM, the RBX7 only needed six. “I was not comfortable taking 20 CFMs away from my manufacturing area to put on a small speeder,” Flurry explained. “But six or seven, that’s nothing. We can do that all day long.” Flurry agreed the RBX7 was the call. While reliable throughput was the ultimate goal of the change, Saegart experienced other exciting improvements as a result of the air-powered spindle firsthand at the machine. “With the RBX, you don’t have the atomization of the coolant escaping from the machine shell itself and fogging up the workspace,” Saegart said. “There’s a big noise difference too. Since we aren’t running the high-pressure pumps for the speeder, the decibel level is a lot lower.”
With the RBX7 consuming so few CFMs, I can tailor my machines to kick on and off at different set points. I can leave here whenever, lock the building up and not have to come back until the next morning. We turn on the machine and run it for 20-plus hours with no hiccups.
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