Solving customer problems has been critical to Newmarket, ON-based Palcam Technologies Ltd.’s rapid growth since it began operations in 1996.

The desire to serve its customers has led the company to install recently three new machining centers.

“Palcam has grown because of our approach to solving our customers’ problems,” says Greg Hart, sales manager with Palcam.

Continues Hart, “For example, one of our customers needed parts manufactured for half the price that we were quoting and we were already one-third below our competitor’s prices. This job demanded a new approach that included five-axis simultaneous machining capability.

“Consequently, we bought a five-axis simultaneous DMU 50 eVolution machine to solve that problem for the customer.”

In addition to the DMU 50 machine, Palcam has installed two other new machines in the last year including another five-axis DMG machine-a DMU 70 eVolution and a five-axis Hermle C1200U machining center.

Palcam, which began operations in 1996, has 28 employees at its 6,000 sq. ft. facility. “We provide an outsource machining service to the tool, die and mold making industry. We’ve evolved into a company that also produces many other complex machined components such as automotive prototypes,” he points out.

Adds Hart, “We specialize in low-run production. Typically, we deal with anything up to approximately 100 pieces at a time. However, we do handle jobs with much higher levels of production.”

Today, approximately 65% of Palcam’s sales are related to the automotive market. In addition, Palcam also does work for the resource industry, general industrial and more.

Palcam works with a variety of materials including mild steel, tool steels, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, Inconel, Stellite, Hastelloy, various composites and other materials.

When Palcam began considering introducing five-axis machining to its operation, the company evaluated several different machines before selecting the DMU machines.

“When we looked at our different options, we felt that the DMG machines, on specs alone, looked most favourable to suit the applications we required.

“Another reason why we considered DMG for our first five-axis machine was their reputation for quality of service and responsiveness.

“We also did research with other customers on various machines,” he says.

Prior to installing the DMU 50 eVolution machine, Palcam had experience with four-axis machining but hadn’t done any five-axis simultaneous work.

According to Hart, moving into five-axis machining has provided many benefits for Palcam and its customers.

“Using a new approach to manufacturing, we have been able to lower our prices, cut setup times, increase accuracies and finishes, and help our customers compete in their markets. We have also been successful when penetrating new markets.

“We’ve been able to significantly cut down the overall time that it takes to make a part. However, this success is not just a result of five-axis machining alone.

“With the five-axis machining centers, combined with tooling, fixturing, software and other processes, we were able to solve a lot more customer problems and flow more work through the shop. How you approach the work is what is important,” he says.

The DMU 70eVolution and Hermle C1200U machines, says Hart, were installed to meet Palcam’s rapidly growing volume of work,” adds Hart.

“Having the five-axis machines has definitely impacted on our present customer base. Five-axis machining has allowed us to solve customers problems that we wouldn’t have been able to before.”

The Hermle C1200U machine features an NC swivelling rotary table which provides optimum utilization and no limitation of the working area.

The C1200U is capable of machining in five simultaneous axes by means of bilateral drive for the swivelling of the table.

The machine offers 30 m/min rapid movement for all axes and 6.5 sec. chip-to-chip time.

Other features of the Hermle machine include 1200mm X traverse, 800mm Y traverse and 500mm Z traverse. The machine offers spindle speeds of 10,000 rpm with 16,000 rpm and 24,000 rpm available as options.

According to Hart, Palcam has also focused on exporting into the United States market.

“We have been able to penetrate the US market and we have begun to export components into that market,” he says.

The DMU machines were supplied by DMG Canada Inc., Mississauga, ON. Telephone 905-795-2891.

The Hermle machine was supplied by Swiss Instruments Ltd., Mississauga, ON. Telephone: 905-279-1275.