Since founding Chasco Machine & Manufacturing in 2000, Owner Jeff Roth has continuously looked for ways to differentiate his CNC shop from the competition. In large measure this means applying automation technologies, including lights out manufacturing, to improve performance.
It also means removing potential obstacles to employee well-being and productivity. For example, when Roth observed that each afternoon when all 25+ CNC machine tools were pumping out complex parts for aerospace, defense and other customers, an oily mist settled over the shop.
Worker Health and Safety
"I saw that, with increased production, we were generating a lot more coolant mist that covered the floor and equipment with an oily film," Roth explained, "I did not want my people slipping on a slick spot, so I looked into various oil mist filtering equipment.
"I had heard that LNS makes an oil mist collector and since we have LNS bar feeders - some 10-12 years old - on almost all of our Swiss machines, I decided to look into them. Our experience is that the LNS bar feeders are bulletproof. They just keep working shift after shift with no problems. So I was hoping the oil mist collectors would be just as reliable - and they are. We installed them easily on all of our CNC machines and after a year and a half they continue to keep the air perfectly clear. That means we no longer have all of that oily film on the shop floor or on our machines. I was also surprised at how quiet they are. I have been in facilities with other brands of oil mist collectors that made a constant, annoying noise."
The LNS Fox oil mist collectors Chasco installed exceed OSHA and NIOSH clean air requirements. They have a patented three-stage filtration system and an optional 4th stage modular HEPA filter that removes 99.97% of cutting oil smoke particles. These long-lasting filters can be changed in five minutes. CNC shops can match one of the five models of oil mist collectors with capacities from 170 - 1,250 CFM to the specific needs of any machine type that uses water-soluble, synthetic or neat oil coolants.
Chasco, which is ISO 9001:2000 and AS9100:2004 certified, manufactures high tolerance complex parts for industries that include aerospace, defense and more, and is a key component supplier for the Boeing 737.
"I am proud to be in the precision machining business and to have highly skilled individuals on our team," said Roth. "For shops like ours to succeed in the future, we will need a new generation of machinists with the right blend of skills, aptitude and work ethic. That is why I am pleased that our state and local governments are investing in a manufacturing apprenticeship program to provide on-the-job training for students as young as 16.
"Our responsibility is not just to train them in CNC machine operations, but also to provide a clean, safe workplace so they can enjoy long, productive and healthy careers."
For more information contact:
Chasco Machine & Manufacturing
6736 Commerce Ave.
Port Richey, FL 34668
800-815-3510 / 727-815-3510
www.chascomachine.com
LNS America, Inc.
4621 East Tech Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45245
513-528-5674
sales@lnsamerica.com
www.lns-america.com