Okuma and partners reveal new solutions

Continuing its emphasis on partner collaboration, Okuma America’s year-end open house revealed its subtractive/additive manufacturing concept, along with Internet of Things connections and aerospace-specific machining practices.

“We’re here to show how technology can benefit manufacturing and show leading-edge thought leadership in how we are making manufacturing more productive and efficient in today’s industry,” said Jim King, president of Okuma America.

The Technology Showcase event, held December 9-12 in Charlotte, North Carolina, included a keynote by Robert Mudge of RPM Innovations in Rapid City, South Dakota, manufacturers of powder fed laser metal deposition technology—additive manufacturing systems.

Together with the machine tool manufacturer, Mudge illustrated a flexible manufacturing system incorporating an Okuma mill and multiple RPM systems. With the slow build speeds of additive manufacturing, he demonstrated the efficiency of keeping the processes separate, maintaining maximum spindle uptime on the machine tool.

Okuma’s Aerospace Center of Excellence hosted partners including Sandvik, 5ME, Predator Software, MP Systems and more. Predator and 5ME displayed real-time machine monitoring and data collection software for connected shops. 5ME also had its cryogenic system installed on an Okuma MU-8000V, machining a titanium blisk. According to Michael Judge, VP of business development with 5ME, the cryogenic system is greener, cleaner and more efficient for machining hard metals.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO0f_ertKfA]