The ability to make parts in one machine, and to set up that machine quickly, allows PSC to significantly improve the throughput of any part that can be run through the Integrex.  Throughput is the time it takes to go from raw material to a saleable product.  That improved throughput gives Bill Stockwell ample rationale to spend more money per hour on the 400Y. And it gives PSC better cash flow: if a part can be shipped faster, PSC can collect money from their customer faster too!

Understand that PSC is a small-lot CNC job shop.  They are very competitive if their customer wants between 10 and 1,200 pieces at a time.  If a prospective customer wants 5,000-pieces, that’s not PSC’s forte. Furthermore, Bill likes to make larger parts – in excess of 30 lbs. and over 18" in diameter.   Bill knows what PSC is good at; he knows where PSC can compete.

In PSC’s experience, if it takes about 4-6 hours to set up a typical CNC machine – no matter how simple the operation.  But the Integrex turns this rule of thumb on its ear. According to PSC’s Integrex operator Ken Moreau, it takes less than 30 minutes to set up the part to run in the Integrex.*    Furthermore, since the Integrex turns and mills parts complete, there are no subsequent machining center set-ups.  The C-, Y-, and B-axes can mill virtually any geometry. Ken has the benefit of an 80-tool magazine, so he doesn’t have to spend time looking for tooling and loading it into the machine.  He can also program quickly in Mazatrol or access any program he’s ever created previously from the control memory.

Thirty minutes to set up the Integrex is much better than 4-6 hours on each of 2-3 machines!

So, any part run through the Integrex no longer has to be subjected to hours and days of multiple machine set-ups and "floor" time.  That makes Integrex parts less expensive, which defrays the costs of the Integrex itself. Recently, Bill said he was able to beat an international competitor by 20%, with is Integrex.