Dan Fechter, who is currently in charge of the operation of this system, explains the changes they have seen.  "We are able to leave repetitive jobs set up on the multiple pallets and shuttle them into the machine as orders come in."  Before the Palletech system, this would require a lengthy set-up that would cause the spindle to sit idle.  Dan continues, "this also allows us to squeeze in a rush job without having to tear down the existing job. We just shuttle the current job out to a pallet stand, and bring the rush job into the machine to run."  Before the Mazak Palletech System, this would have created a large amount of spindle down time, which has become more and more common on standard two pallet horizontal machining centers.

Dan also mentioned that "the multiple pallets have also allowed us to also run an unattended machining operation."  Dan has already been able to achieve ninety-two (92) hours of machining in one week.  Much of this was accomplished with the machine running unattended.  The next benchmark is to achieve one hundred twenty (120) hours of machining (much of it unattended) per week within the next few months.

They also expect to take their already high standards for quality even further.  This will happen because once the job is set-up and proven it will stay that way.  The set-up will not be broken! Also, if the part must go to inspection before running the job through, the machine will not have to sit idle. It can move to the next pallet in the queue.

Response to market changes is also an area where Carlson Tool & Manufacturing will have an advantage. With some of their tools they are able to begin the machining before the final drawing even hits the floor. If they have machined the tool to the point where the final print is necessary (and the final print is not available), they can shuttle the pallet out and utilize the machine for the next part in the queue without effecting the current set-up. This is just another example of the benefits in the Mazak Palletech System.

At this point Dan feels that they have just begun to see the true impact that this will bring to their process.  "As time goes on we will only get better."  From MSI’s vantage point Carlson Tool has firmly established their plant as a world class tool & die machining operation.