2016-09-24 02:45:56
The College of DuPage needed to replace its existing manual turning machines with more reliable and accurate equipment. Jim Filipek, Manufacturing Technology Coordinator at College of Dupage, made the decision to improve the shop capabilities that would enhance their machining program. The goal was to be able to teach students how to produce accuracies in the +/-.0001” range. Manual machines are used by students as a prerequisite to enter the CNC program, and are also utilized by students in welding fabrication and engineering prototype design and manufacture.
“Several factors, including lab space and cost, had to be taken into consideration,” said Filipek. “Most manual equipment on the market proved to be impractical for our needs. We found the best solution was to purchase remanufactured Hardinge HLV toolroom lathes. After reviewing various companies, we found that Iverson & Company, a local company with an 84 - year history of working on Hardinge machine tools, had the capability to provide the machines with the required precision and durability.”
Iverson & Company has called on schools for decades. In the past, it sold new Hardinge toolroom lathes to the most advanced engineering labs. The University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin and Northwestern University have all purchased new Hardinge lathes from Iverson & Company.
For this project, Iverson & Company’s challenge was to find a way to fulfill an order for eight machines. This would normally take one and a half to two years. The first step was to acquire enough machine cores to provide the Hardinge base. This was quickly accomplished, although their conditions varied.
To shorten the remanufacturing time, Iverson & Company streamlined the process. The method involves sending out the carriage for new Teflon and new hardened wear strips, the bedplate for a regrind, and the headstock and tailstock for new spindles. “We have over 200 hours of labor content in each machine,” explained Terry Iverson, President and CEO of Iverson & Company.
The College of DuPage, with the installation of the eight remanufactured Hardinge lathes, now has a machining program that is capable of teaching its students precise tolerances they need to achieve.
“The rebuilt Hardinge lathes provide the reliability and precision needed so assigned projects are now completed in half the time,” said Filipek. “Tolerances that a beginning student can achieve in a short period of time have exceeded our expectations. Student learning has increased, along with the under - standing and mastery of precision machining. The students can now reach the course objectives and better prepare themselves to enter the industry as skilled workers.”
The Manufacturing Technology Program at DuPage provides training in a wide variety of skill areas of product manufacturing and services. The students learn in a hands-on environment on excellent equipment taught by industry professionals. The goal of the program is to prepare students for entry into the workforce or into a baccalaureate program. Individuals also attend College of DuPage for further training on new manufacturing technologies.
“Manufacturing companies throughout the Chicago area will benefit from these future advanced skilled machinists,” said Filipek. “This next generation will be well prepared to help enable those companies to be even more successful.”
Now that the College of DuPage installation is complete, Iverson has decided to employ this new business model going forward. At the end of last year the team took five machines and broke them all open at the same time. Presently they have finished one HLVEM, are about to finish an HLV-H and have three other machines in different stages of remanufacture. This allows them to be more responsive to customers and to have product readily available for shipment. A customer can retain its existing machine while a replacement is being remanufactured. Iverson can quote a trade-in on the old machine, if needed.
ChampionNow!
Terry Iverson has always had a desire to mentor young people. He frequently visits technical and community colleges in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Florida. As part of his commitment to youth and the manufacturing industry, Iverson founded an organization called ChampionNow! (an acronym for Change How Advanced Manufacturing’s Perceived In Our Nation). It is focused on changing the perception of manufacturing jobs in America and encouraging young people to pursue careers in engineering and manufacturing.
For more information contact: Iverson & Company 441 North Third Ave. Des Plaines, IL 60016 847-299-2461 www.iversonandco.com
Jim Filipek Manufacturing Technology Coordinator College of DuPage 425 Fawell Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 630-942-2038 filipek@cod.edu www.cod.edu
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