As Coastal Machine & Supply continues to grow, we have made significant investments in equipment and technology to better serve our customers in critical industries.
With the addition of an advanced turning center and a larger CMM, we are more efficiently producing and inspecting parts with tight tolerances and intricate features for space and defense customers.
Here’s how our latest investments are boosting throughput as our customers’ needs evolve.
Expanding CNC Turning Capacity
Our addition of the DMG MORI NLX 2500 CNC turning center has expanded CNC turning services at Coastal, so we are better equipped to support rocket companies and other partners in the space industry.
We purchased this turning center to hold the tight tolerances specified on our customers’ space part drawings more consistently. The machine is well-suited for smaller, precision-turned components, including fittings and bushings, as well as parts requiring both lathe and mill work.
Because space components can require materials selected for their strength and durability, they are often be difficult-to-machine, including nickel alloys, titanium, and stainless steel. The NLX 2500 is well equipped to efficiently machine these materials while maintaining precision.
The turning center is also set up for production and features bar-feeding capabilities, streamlining processes and improving throughput.
Increasing Inspection Capacity for Large Components
Coastal has long specialized in large-scale machining, but now we have more capacity to inspect these parts for our customers in the defense industry.
With the Hexagon Global S SCAN+ 12.22.10 CMM and its seven-foot table, we can inspect larger parts more efficiently.
This additional capacity helps us keep pace with production while maintaining the inspection processes our customers rely on.
This CMM is able to reach deeper into internal diameters, ideal for longer and larger components with critical features. Its probing capabilities allow us to verify internal features without changing the tooling, helping streamline the inspection process.
By utilizing this CMM for only three different defense parts, operations are more standardized and repeatable. This allows for quicker processing and more consistency across runs.
Improving Visibility Across the Shop
Our defense machine shop has been using Datanomix for years, and we recently added it to all machines at Coastal Machine & Supply, increasing visibility across departments.
With all machines being monitored, we have greater insight into utilization and downtime. This means we are able to plan production schedules better, increasing overall efficiency.
Our ability to make better-informed decisions about program scheduling is important as the needs of our customers continue to grow.
Investing in Capacity for What’s Next
Our latest equipment and technology additions are helping us improve throughput, but as we continue to grow alongside our customers and their demands, we are already looking ahead to the next investments we want to make in order to improve operations even further.
We have plans to add more modern equipment to the shop floor, and we are also preparing for an addition to our current facility to accommodate this growth.
By aligning our equipment and capabilities with the types of space and defense components we are producing today, we can continue building the capacity needed to support these programs as they scale.
A Machining Partner for Space and Defense Programs
For space and defense customers, manufacturing needs can change quickly as programs develop and production requirements increase. With our latest investments, we have greater flexibility on the shop floor to be able to optimize scheduling as our customers’ needs evolve.
As a long-term partner for space and defense components, we are excited to continue delivering reliable CNC machining solutions for our customers, but now more efficiently than ever before.
Looking for a precision machining partner equipped to support your critical programs? Request a quote from Coastal Machine & Supply today.