How Customers Benefit from Our Lights-Out Manufacturing Capabilities
Focused on Machining offers lights-out machining as part of our CNC production machining services. These capabilities allow us to run orders around the clock so we can provide faster lead times, lower costs, and better flexibility.
We currently have significant capacity on our DN Solutions NHP 4000, a horizontal lights-out machining center equipped with a 275-tool matrix and 12-station linear pallet system. Keep reading to find out how this machine benefits customers and if your part is a good candidate for it.
Benefits of Our Horizontal Lights-Out Machining Center
The NHP 4000 is essentially a horizontal machining center attached to a 12-pallet system. There are 12 tombstones in the pallet pool, and each tombstone has four sides, giving us 48 machining tables in just one machine. Once loaded and programmed, the NHP 4000 will run unattended until it runs out of work.
Here are the top three benefits customers can expect:
1. Cost-effectiveness
Labor factors significantly into the cost of machined parts. Generally, the more labor required, the higher the price. Because the NHP 4000 is highly automated, labor is only necessary during the initial programming and setup and when it’s time to change out a part and add raw stock. This benefit lets us keep our internal costs low and pass savings on to customers.
Ultimately, you get work done on one of the most advanced and expensive machines in our CNC production machining services department for a highly competitive rate.
2. Just-in-time inventory
The NHP 4000 is ideal for long-term contracts involving repeat parts machined and delivered at planned intervals over a fixed period of time. Once the parts have been programmed, we can run them with the click of a button, allowing us to machine them as close to the delivery date as possible without having to hold inventory on our shelves.
Have a revision change? Just let us know, and we’ll update the programming before your next delivery.
3. Flexibility
The ability to run parts with the click of a button gives us the flexibility to accommodate schedule changes and last-minute requests for repeat parts.
Need a short run of parts we’ve already programmed? We can get you what you need right away without charging you expedite fees.
Is Your Part Right for Our Horizontal Lights-Out Machining Center?
The NHP 4000 allows us to quote highly competitive prices for complex parts, but there are some caveats. Generally, parts should check these boxes:
High-volume or repeat. The initial programming and setup costs must be spread across a high enough volume of parts for the cost per part to be competitive. A good way to think of it is the longer the repeatability period, the higher the volume. For instance, if you only need one order annually, the volume should be in the hundreds; if you need monthly orders over an annual period, as few as five parts per month is tenable.
Moderately complex. Regarding part complexity, the sweet spot for this machine is a moderately complex part with numerous features and/or features on all sides that do not require 5-axis machining services.
Aluminum. Because aluminum is easy to cut and causes minimal tool wear, running aluminum parts unattended is relatively low risk. A harder material like stainless steel presents more opportunities for error.
If your part doesn’t check all these boxes, it’s still worth having a conversation to determine whether the NHP 4000 could be the right fit. As of June 2024, we have 8,000 hours of open machining capacity for it that we are eager to fill with your parts!