Hokkai M.I.C’s automatic EDM cell achieves 680 spindle-hours a month. But that’s not enough. Now they’re now upgrading the cell to a double cell – one WorkMaster and two Mitsubishi die-sinking EDM machines.
Hokkai M.I.C (Man, Infinity, Challenge) is a mould tool manufacturer in Saitama, about 25 km north of Tokyo. Their speciality is press tools for sintered goods. In other words, typical one-piece production of precision parts in the form of punches, cores and dies.
Jun Abe, Chief Engineer – “The automatic double cell will give us a boost”
As the name implies, the company attaches great importance to its relationship with its customers. This is why they have developed a Customer Service Team that works very close to the customers.
35 production employees are currently dived up between three units, one of which is five kilometres from the others. Each unit concentrates on a specific product segment. But early in 2007 the company will bring all the units together in the same place at a new factory in Saitama.
Hokkai M.I.C was established in 1968, when the company started selling cemented carbide. Three years later they were already developing their press tool production. System 3R’s reference system has always been an essential feature of their production. To start with, they used the Mini system, but in 2001 they changed to Macro. This applies both to metal-cutting machining and to wire and die-sinking EDM.
Efficient EDM cell delivers nearly 700 hours of production every month
80% of the tools are supplied to sintered goods sub-contractors for the giants of the Japanese automotive industry. As a result of the prevailing high pressure in the Japanese automobile industry, Hokkai M.I.C invested heavily in recent years to meet the demand. Among other things they have acquired a Mazak Integrex 300-IIIs multi-operation lathe which is used for turning and rough milling.
More efficient than ever before
In 2004 the company took a major step when it began to automate electrode manufacture and die-sinking EDM. A Makino V33 was upgraded with a 24-position WorkMatic for more efficient electrode production. And in the EDM department a Mitsubishi MA2000 and a WorkMaster with ID system were installed. The magazine holds 50 positions for electrodes on Macro, and 25 positions for workpieces, also on Macro pallets.
A typical Hokkai product – a punch for sintered metal
Chief Engineer Abe says – “We are fully satisfied with the automatic production cell, which is now delivering 680 machining hours a month, more than exceeding our expectations. In fact, there is such pressure on our order book that we’re now upgrading the cell to a double cell by adding a Mitsubishi EA12V to it. So two die-sinking EDM machines will be served by one WorkMaster. This will be an extremely powerful production cell.”
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