Metalmite - Machine Shop Service Blog

Machinability of 465 Stainless Steel

TomG — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:33:00 +0000

Stainless Steel is a difficult steel to machine in general. For those familier with the standard 302, 304 or 17-4 stainless series they should be warned that the 465 custom stainless in the condition A form must be machined 20-30% slower than these. It is a tougher series and must be examined for all the benefits.

Here is a great PDF that will show all the spec’s Click here

A Box That Says It All

TomG — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:13:21 +0000

We do our best to be a full-service machine shop. We keep up with the latest equipment, we move to the latest technology as soon as possible. We were one of first CNC machine shops in the Detroit area, as well as one of the first to move to 5 axis machining. We bought a wire EDM before it became popular and we added CNC grinding in order to increase productivity and accuracy. However, we have had the same stamp on our boxes since the 1970’s! I never even gave that a second thought. It is a nice stamp that many of you have probably seen a million times (see picture to right). One day, I was at a good customer’s and they took me into their lab. As I walked in I noticed many of our boxes lined all around the room. I was introduced to a lab technician as being “The guy from Metalmite.” The technician responded, “Oh, the company all these boxes come from?” And with a large smile I said yes. Then he asked me the strangest question. He said, “So what do you guys do there?” I was startled, and I said that we made all the gages, fixtures and machined parts for his company. And he responded, “Oh that clears it up. I have always seen your boxes and we use them all the time to store things, but I never knew what exactly you guys made or did!” So I went back to the plant and I studied a box, for my first time ever. He was right; when you look at our stamp it simply said “Metalmite” and had our address. There was nothing explaining who or what we were! So, recently I had a new stamp made up, as well as some rolls of packaging tape that tells all about us (See new picture to right). Now, if someone has never heard of Metalmite, but sees one of our boxes, they will know everything they need too in a matter of seconds. How can things so simple be overlooked so often?

CNC Machining A Name For Ourselves

TomG — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:13:13 +0000

Metalmite was started in 1968 with the goal and the idea that things could be done better. After years of working with and for other companies and seeing that the best option was not always the option chosen, Mike Gendich decided to branch out and start Metalmite. We have strived to maintain three basic goals- “Make quality parts on-time and at a reasonable price!” Henry Ford once said, “You cannot build a reputation on something you intend to do.” This philosophy of work trickled throughout the company from the top to the bottom. Mike was often heard walking around the shop saying, “We do it right at Metalmite.” These were more than cheap clichés and slogans to stick in our heads, this was the philosophy we would live and die by. One day about ten years ago I was at a customer’s and the buyer called me to his desk. He had a stern face and he asked me if I knew why the engineers at his company had been filling out their requisition slips and writing “Metalmite” on the line that said “Supplier”. I said I had no idea, I had never even seen an internal requisition slip before. He smiled and said, “I know why they are doing that, it’s because you deliver!” As I reflected on his comment I thought, is he talking about on-time delivery, or just the fact that we sometimes make parts that seem difficult or impossible to even make? So I asked him again later which one he meant. He responded, “All of the above!” I was glad to see that the philosophy my father started with had made its way through to the customers. We were doing it right and the reputation was born! This is not to say that we do not make mistakes, and that we do not have the occasional hiccup in our system. But as far as CNC machining parts that are on-time and reasonable- we are doing it right.

The Crisis in Japan Boosts Steel Prices

TomG — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:44:31 +0000

With the tsunami and earthquakes that Japan has sustained recently the country will need a complete overhaul. While Japan is known for making electronics and compact cars, it also will need all of its infrastructure replaced as well. The steel supply in the world is bound to be affected with higher prices over the next few years due to the demand. Lee Universal reports that “reconstruction should boost demand for steel with potential for significant increases in raw material imports. Whether the additional steel demand is met entirely by Japanese production or partially by China, Korea and/or Taiwan, the overall effect should be a boost to iron ore and coking coal imports into the region.”

Steel Prices on the Rise

TomG — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:43:07 +0000

We have been told by every supplier in the last month that steel prices are on the rise again. I tend to wonder why in the midst of the worse economy in my lifetime they feel it is necessary to raise prices. So we did a little research into what is behind the steel price hike. Turns out that “steel production declined about 5% in February from January. And it declined across the board in China, other developing countries and the developed world. The appearance of decline January to February is caused by the upward restatement of January’s data. The good news is that the growth from December to January is now much stronger than I stated in the last steel production bulletin – rising from 1.8% December to January to a restated 6.1%. And contrary to the developed world growing substantially faster than the developing world as I stated then, China grew 10% from December to January and the developing world as a whole grew at 6%.” (2010, www.nerdsofsteel.com) So, to sum up, they decreased the production of steel because less people were buying in January 2010, then more people started buying in Febraury and March, now there is a shortage and the prices will rise again. Seems simple enough, but somehow the prices never dip back down too much. We will work hard to keep the CNC Machining prices low, but you will have to fight like the rest of us about your alloy, stainless, and mild steel prices.

Leadership is taught by Example!

TomG — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:20:16 +0000

Recently Amazon.com had removed all of the books from their Kindle store in order to fix a problem they had, the problem was that they did not tell anyone or warn them. This was the response by the CEO after they were trashed by the media and their customers.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO:

This is an apology for the way we previously handled illegally sold copies of 1984 and other novels on Kindle. Our “solution” to the problem was stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles. It is wholly self-inflicted, and we deserve the criticism we’ve received. We will use the scar tissue from this painful mistake to help make better decisions going forward, ones that match our mission.

That is the leadership we should see in more companies and in Government today! Take the heat and expect your employee’s to do the same thing when it is there fault. Metalmite has always run on this principle and I wish more companies were as well.

Family Warfighter

TomG — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:06:06 +0000

In 2008 our President and Founder, Michael Gendich Sr, found out that his oldest grandson, Roland Gendich, had enlisted in the US Army and serve in the war effort in the Middle East. Roland returned safely after a one year tour in Iraq. We all had the pleasure of attending his wedding to his high school sweetheart in October of 2009. Roland is currently on active duty in Alaska. He is awaiting word to find out if he will be needed again in the effort against Afghanistan. Please join Metalmite in our prayers for him and all our troops as they bravely protect our country and each of us everyday!

Medical Machining and Metalmite

TomG — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:01:06 +0000

Metalmite has been looking into the medical machining field for some time now. CNC machining is the process used to manufacture different types of medical tools such as scissors, clamps, surgical knives, syringes, and others. Medical instruments manufacturing uses advanced machining processes that help in producing precision medical tools and equipment required in the medical industry.

Medical machining involves the machining of metal parts, which are extremely intricate and are mainly made from special alloys, stainless, or titanium. Different techniques used in medical machining include 5 axis milling, 6 axis machining, wire edm, and electro etching. Chemical etching machining process is mainly used for producing typical precision medical parts. The medical industry has very strict guidelines and regulations for how clean the environment must be as well as quality documentation. Many of the medical products must first be proven out with a working prototype and then followed up with the small volume production run. This is where Metalmite is able to excel on both sides of the spectrum.

The need for medical machining ranges from contract precision manufacturing of implants and surgical instruments
to cardio/neuro stimulation, orthopedic, interventional, and drug delivery. As well as Prototyping leading to volume production and cleanroom, packaging, and labeling requirements. The minimum quality rating are ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 registered firms.

Windmill Power and CNC Machining

TomG — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:53:37 +0000

Metalmite has been looking into opportunities to machine alternative energy devices. The most popular device today appears to be the windmill. Recently a large manufacturing house discussed the need for more precision CNC machining houses to get involved.
The advanced CNC Machining procedures and 5 axis milling reduces the machining and finishing time spent on large parts, such as turbine blades. The modern machine shop must support a variety of tasks such as scanning, measuring and inspection, and cutting. Tools include spray heads, water-jet cutters, chopper guns, and finishing tools. Metalmite has the ability to get these processes done either in house or at approved sources.

The real question is where is this alternative energy push taking us? We’re constantly hearing reports of plans to build mammoth solar, wind, and geothermal installations. But in the end, will our increasing reliance on alternative energy even put a dent in overall power use? That’s the question consulting firm Black & Veatch endeavored to answer recently. What the firm found is not all that surprising: the United States’ primary source of electricity in 2034 will be natural gas–the least polluting fossil fuel, but a fossil fuel nonetheless.

There is some good news, however. Coal-fired plants will make up just 23% of the mix, and renewables will grow from 54,000 megawatts to 165,000 megawatts, or 13% of overall power production. The switch to increased renewables won’t be enough to reach Obama’s goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, but the President’s growing focus on nuclear power could help bridge the gap. But do we have enough natural gas to keep our power pumping? (Fast Company, 2010)

CNC Screw Machine

TomG — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:56:36 +0000

Complex part made by 6 axis CNC lathe

Through the years the term “screw machine” and “CNC machine” or “CNC lathe” have been interchangeable. In recent years however the term CNC machining has become much more relevant to the end user. Our small prototype machine shop has even gone as far as to use 6 axis CNC turning centers made by Mori Seiki, the NL-2500 is our flagship multi-tool lathe. These new CNC lathes can not only turn in two chuck’s, but they can mill and drill from all sides as well! If you look at the picture on the left you will see how a part could be made from solid at one time. This is a tremendous cost savings and time savings for the customer. What typically took 3-4 weeks and 3 or 4 operations is now done in two weeks and in one operation. So when someone calls us and asks if we are a screw machining shop we always repond with a firmative and ask to see the part they want made. Keep in mind the terms CNC machine shop, CNC machining, and 6 axis machining can all be interchangeable these days. It is far better to descibe the part you would like completed rather than ask what kind of equipment the supplier has.