(l-r) Maintenance Head Joe Halvorson, Setup/Programming Technician Tony Hoard and Tool and Die Manager Ben Hamrick.
Handlebar riser blocks for snowmobiles. Shown is the first operation, which is the drilling/tapping operation. The high pressure through tool coolant speeds up deep hole drilling.
The L.K. Machinery MV-1680 VMC is running with the pallet change feature set up. The spindle head moves from one side of the machine to the other. The operator can change out parts while the machine runs on the other side of the partition.
Ericco Tool & Manufacturing manufactures a variety of components, most being for Arctic Cat. As a dedicated supplier, most of the parts manufactured are for ATVs and snowmobiles. In order to increase machine capacity and keep up with customer needs and requirements, a new machine tool was required. High productivity and quality were key prerequisites.
The Ericco team required a larger vertical machining center (VMC) with plenty of travel in the X-axis. After careful assessment of a variety of both new and used machines, an MV-1680 VMC by L.K. Machinery was selected. "We selected this machine tool because it met our specification criteria and was competitively priced," said Ben Erickson, Production Manager, Ericco Tool & Manufacturing. "This machine came highly recommended by our dealer, Mike Widick, at MW Sales and Service, with whom we have had a long standing relationship."
According to Erickson, the machine accomplished the goal of high productivity and increased efficiency. "We are seeing cycle times decreased by at least 20% due to the high speed rapid travel, high pressure through tool coolant and the pallet changing feature," he said. "This particular machine is currently running snowmobile handlebar riser blocks. The machine is useful because the high speed through tool coolant enables us to drill the mounting holes at 4XD depth with no pecking at over 120 IPM."
The machine is used to manufacture a variety of parts, with the highest percentage being those for snowmobiles. Most of the components are made of aluminum. "This machine has helped us meet the high productivity and efficiency required by the customer," said Erickson. "The finished products produced by this machine are of the same quality or better than what has been produced by other machines at our facility. With it we are able to continue providing the high output and quality our customers have come to expect from Ericco."
The MV-1680 CNC VMC features XYZ travels of 25.6" (66.1")/19.7"/23", 15K direct drive spindle, coolant through spindle, 10/15 HP, CAT 40, 24+1 ATC, rapid travels 1,890 in/m and Mitsubishi M70 controller.
Ericco Tool & Manufacturing was founded in 1976 and is a family owned company. Additional capabilities include forming, stamping, manual and specialty machining.
For more information contact:
Ben Erickson, Production Manager
Ericco Tool & Manufacturing
21005 220th Ave. NW
Viking, MN 56760
218-523-5600
ben@ericcomfg.com
www.ericcomfg.com
L.K. Machinery, Inc.
4508 128th Avenue
Holland, MI 49424
616-796-0777
www.lkadvantage.com
MN
Mike Widick
MW Sales and Service
13625 96th Ave North
Maple Grove, MN 55369
763-494-0088