Taking it to the next level with ESPRIT

Valley Machine located in North Plains, Oregon, specializes in providing precision machined components as well as full integration of their customer’s entire product life cycle; from precision manufacturing to technical mechanical assembly. They primarily manufacture components for the semiconductor, medical, photonics, optics, and aerospace industries. Having to support multiple industries, Valley Machine uses a wide range of various CNC mills and lathes, including five Mori NH4000 horizontal mills, some supporting 40 taper vertical mills, four lathes, two Miyano BNJ42S, twin turret, twin spindle machines, and an INDEX C200 three turret, twin spindle lathe. 

With Valley Machine’s dynamic shop floor environment, being able to post and go, and having edit-free code was extremely important to manufacture the high precision components their customers demanded, and to deliver them on time. Valley Machine made the decision to implement a CAM software system that could immediately run their complex mill/turn machines, as well as their standard mills and lathes. After evaluating the top CAM companies on the market, Valley Machine chose ESPRIT CAD/CAM software for its multi-channel synching ability, post processors that could produce accurate G-code the first time, and their world-class customer technical support.

"Support prior to even purchasing the product was superior, and immediately getting the help I need is something the ESPRIT support team excels at. There was never a hesitation when I asked to borrow a machine setup or post for evaluation," says Jeremiah Archer, Lead Programmer, Valley Machine. After purchasing ESPRIT CAM and attending a short week long training program, Valley machine was immediately able to start re-programming existing projects, as well as begin new projects on their two Miyano BNJ42S, twin turret, twin spindles machines. In addition, ESPRIT gave them the opportunity to create more complex parts on their three turret, twin spindle INDEX C200 lathe machine, improving process planning, and in turn, decreasing part cycle time and increasing productivity. "After just a week of basic ESPRIT training I could post edit-free code, and quickly program one of the most complex lathes in the industry," continues Jeremiah Archer.

Final machined 303 stainless steel medical interconnect

Complex Machining Made Easy

Once Valley Machine was confident ESPRIT CAM could handle their shop’s complex programming needs, they began to optimize the machining capabilities of their new INDEX C200 three turret, twin spindle lathe to manufacture an important component for one of their customers in the medical industry. The project involved making 2,000 medical interconnects from 303 stainless steel. In the past, Valley Machine faced many challenges when trying to manufacture these medical interconnects, such as problematic handwritten programs and needing to machine the parts first on a twin spindle lathe and then on a separate vertical mill to machine the face holes and milled profiles. This cost them valuable production time and money.

With ESPRIT CAM software seamlessly running their new complex three turret, twin spindle lathe, programming the part was easy. Exact, realistic machine simulations and syncing capabilities allowed Valley Machine to quickly re-sequence cutting operations, reducing cycle time and holding tight tolerances as well. 

"When the customer was switching materials around, we could adjust speeds, feeds, and cutter passes accordingly," says Jeremiah. Valley Machine is now able to produce solid, edit-free lathe programs that helped reduce setup times and significantly reduce the cycle time, while also improving part quality using ESPRIT.

Machining of medical interconnect on an INDEX C200 lathe