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Kaseman Machine, Inc. specializes in precision machining services, and we’re familiar with a variety of CNC technologies for milling and related operations. Over the years, we’ve acquired several different CNC mills and machining centers in order to handle a wider variety of parts for our customers. When it comes to determining which type of milling machine will work best for a customer’s design, we’ve got plenty of experience balancing the precision and cost requirements of the project with its deadline and production volume. 

When Conventional CNC Milling is the Right Choice

Conventional CNC milling typically refers to any CNC mill that operates solely on three axes (x, y, and z). CNC milling is an accurate and effective technique for a variety of different projects, able to accommodate several different materials and a variety of geometries and part sizes. 

However, conventional CNC milling is not as versatile or as flexible as other milling technologies. The more complex the design, the more the operator will have to perform adjustments and tool changes, which increases downtime and lead times. However, for parts with simpler designs, so long as the right tooling is equipped, traditional CNC mills can be a quick and efficient way to manufacture high-precision components. 

High-Speed CNC Milling for Faster Turnaround

‘High-speed’ machining can mean a lot of different things, such as high cutting speed, fast spindle rotation, or even high material feed rate. However, the process still requires certain considerations, such as specialized tooling that won’t break down so easily, and machines that provide more control over the tools in order to ensure accuracy. 

High-speed machining is excellent for parts with lighter cuts and micro-scale precision, as well as for projects requiring reduced cycle times, but it may be more expensive due to the need for specialized tooling. It’s not as effective for hard materials or designs requiring deeper cuts, but works well with metals like aluminum that are easier to cut. At Kaseman, most of our CNC mills are equipped with high-speed spindles and coolant systems to handle any of our customers’ needs in high-speed milling.

Vertical or Horizontal CNC Milling?

CNC milling machines can also be categorized by the orientation of the spindle compared to the machine’s work table–vertical and perpendicular to the table, or horizontal and parallel to the table. 

Vertical CNC mills tend to use long, thin cylindrical tooling, and offer better visibility for operators–meaning much simpler oversight for in-process inspections. While not suited to deeper cuts or large part sizes, vertical mills are a cost-effective method for producing lower volumes of smaller, simpler components. 

On the other hand, horizontal CNC mills have much more control over the workpiece itself, reducing vibration and allowing the shorter, more robust tooling to achieve deeper cuts. This type of CNC mill tends to operate much faster, even on more complex part geometries and bigger parts, than its vertical counterpart, so it’s an excellent choice for projects with higher production volumes. 

About Kaseman Machine, Inc. 

Kaseman Machine is an expert in precision milling and turning services for a wide range of applications. Head over to our website to learn more about our capabilities and request a quote on your next project. 

Live tooling is a unique and useful part of some CNC turning centers that offers better versatility than traditional tooling. Live tooling, or driven tooling integrates the functionality of milling machines with that of lathes, meaning that the tools within a CNC lathe have their own mechanism that allows them to rotate like milling tools. That means they can perform a much wider range of operations than regular tooling, and accommodate much more complicated part designs as well. But is it worth the investment?

At Kaseman, we believe that it is, both for ourselves and the level of service we can offer our customers. We have multiple lathes with integrated live tooling as part of our fleet of CNC machines, some of which are equipped for lights-out operations. By integrating live tooling into our CNC turning operations, we’re able to offer several benefits to our customers as a machine shop. 

Reduced Lead Times

Traditional CNC lathes can accommodate a variety of part designs and features, but they often require downtime in between certain operations in order to readjust the tooling or the workpiece, or to move the workpiece from one machine to another. CNC lathes equipped with live tooling greatly reduce that downtime, since the tooling can perform far more operations without the need for that transfer. This improves lead times, reduces labor costs, and enhances productivity across the facility, which in turn lets machine shops like Kaseman provide faster turnaround times on projects, especially ones that have very tight deadlines, even with higher production volumes. 

Improved Design Flexibility

As mentioned briefly above, live tooling combines the capabilities of CNC turning and milling machines into one piece of equipment. Custom and standard live tooling has far more flexibility with part designs and features than traditional tooling, while still meeting extremely tight tolerances and demanding quality standards. Industries like Aerospace and Medical equipment manufacturing often rely on intricate parts and tight-tolerance components, and live tooling allows Kaseman to meet their needs without sacrificing time or quality. 

Looking for an expert in advanced CNC turning and milling services?

Kaseman Machine, Inc. is a family owned and operated precision machining company offering end-to-end manufacturing solutions for a variety of industries. Head over to our website to request a quote and learn more about what we can do for you. 

Domestic manufacturing has become more important than ever in the U.S. over the past several years. Recently, contracting domestic suppliers for things like CNC mill machining and turning has become a major topic of discussion with the recent tariffs that have been applied or are in negotiations by the current U.S. administration. 

But are domestic manufacturing suppliers worth it compared to the significantly lower labor costs from overseas suppliers?

A Hard Look at Global Supply Chains

While the recent changes in tariffs and trade negotiations have brought to light just how fragile global supply chains can be, their fragility has been called into question more and more over the past decades. The global pandemic entirely shut down certain industries, and other unexpected geopolitical events have caused major disruptions–and thus major cost increases–for many other manufacturing sectors. Raw material shortages and rising shipping costs have only exacerbated these problems. 

Lower upfront costs are all well and good, but they don’t take into account additional costs like shipping delays due to unexpected weather, quality inconsistencies, potential product damage during shipping, and the increasing pace of the market as it jumps from one innovation to the next. Add to that that labor costs all over the world are rising–not just in the U.S.–and global suppliers may not be as secure or economically beneficial as they first seem. 

Real Benefits of Domestic Manufacturing Services

Though initial costs are higher, domestic manufacturers offer several benefits that offer long-term value and even cost savings. Shorter delivery times and lower shipping costs may be the most obvious advantage, but those shorter distances come with another advantage too. Your products will be less likely to experience damage during transit, compared to the much longer, and likely varied modes of transportation required for contracting overseas. 

Domestic suppliers are also much more versatile thanks to those shorter transportation and communication distances. For example, Kaseman Machine serves a lot of fast-paced sectors of the manufacturing industry in the U.S., and we can respond to design changes and shorter timelines with much more ease and flexibility, even in those markets. We keep our clients’ assembly lines running, scale production to meet client demand as needed, and offer reliable quality even under strict time constraints. Several aspects of our CNC mill machining and turning processes are entirely automated, which significantly improves our production capacity and efficiency as well. 

Quality is another major advantage that domestic suppliers have over their overseas counterparts. If you contract a domestic manufacturer, you can be assured that they’re following the quality standards that you require, and won’t experience differences due to different international standards. Plus, having your products made in the U.S. is often a major selling point in today’s market, and a way to show superior quality. 

Kaseman Machine, Inc: Proudly Made in the U.S.A.

As global supply chains grow more complicated and fragmented, having a domestic partner for CNC mill machining and turning services is more important and valuable than ever. If you’re looking for a domestic manufacturer, consider partnering with us! Kaseman Machine is a family-owned and operated precision machining company located in the U.S. with decades of experience delivering high quality parts at competitive prices. Head over to our website to learn more. 

While current events and U.S. administration changes have brought onshoring and reshoring manufacturing capabilities to the forefront of everyone’s mind, utilizing domestic manufacturing companies has been a growing trend over the past decade. And though traditionally, offshore manufacturing was the cheaper option, concerns about quality, supply chain resilience, and recent policies have made onshoring and working with a domestic precision machine shop a much more attractive practice. 

Improved Quality and Quality Control

Standardized quality control has significantly improved over the years, especially in recent decades, but quality regulations still vary widely from country to country. Getting your manufacturing needs from a domestic precision machine shop helps to guarantee a certain level of quality and improves quality monitoring–you’ll have a much easier time visiting your partner’s facility and seeing their quality management system in action yourself. 

A Simplified Supply Chain

Recent global events have shown just how fragile worldwide supply chains are, and how easily they can break down due to a variety of geopolitical events that are completely out of anyone’s control. Working with domestic suppliers means shorter lead times due to simpler shipping, a much simpler supply chain that won’t be as subject to major worldwide events, and even lower transportation costs. 

Changing Policies

International policies and institutions can pose a major risk to global supply chains as well. The recent U.S. tariffs are an example of that after all, as is all the reaction to the recent pandemic. Partnering with domestic suppliers reduces your risk of unexpected price increases, shipping complications, and other related problems due to new or unexpected trade policies.

Kaseman Machine: An American Precision Machine Shop

Kaseman Machine, Inc. is a family-owned and operated precision machine shop located in Minnesota, specializing in a variety of CNC machining operations for a wide range of industries. We are proud to be a high quality American-made manufacturing partner, delivering products that meet or exceed our customers’ expectations. If you’re looking for an American precision machine shop, consider partnering with us! Head over to our website to request a quote.