Precision Milling
Makino S56 — what we run on it.
Makino S56 precision milling center with probing — the machine the rest of the shop refers in for tight-tolerance work. 0.0001″-class positional, glass-scale feedback, thermal stability for long-cycle precision parts.
Class
Precision
Positional
0.0001″
Probing
Yes
Surface Ra
8 µin
01 · Sweet spot
When 0.0005″ isn’t enough.
The Makino is reserved for parts where the rest of the shop’s general-purpose mills can’t hold the spec. Glass scales, thermal isolation, and the inherent rigidity of the Makino frame let us hold 0.0001″ positional class work that conventional vertical mills can’t reliably produce.
- Optical mounting fixtures — MIC-6 plate. Parallelism callouts <0.0002″ over 18″.
- Mold & die inserts — A2, D2, H13 tool steel. Pre-hardened or post-hardened.
- Metrology & inspection masters — gauge blocks, profile gauges, pin reference plates.
- Aerospace fitting masters — finish operations on parts roughed elsewhere, 0.0001″ final.
- Quantum / cryo flexure assemblies — flexure pivots, precision sliders for low-temperature instruments.
02 · When NOT to pick this
Wrong-fit jobs.
- Tolerance 0.0005″ or looser → DNM-4500-S or DVF 5000. Makino time is reserved for work that needs the precision.
- Volume production → DVF 5000 with pallet pool. Makino is single-fixture.
- Sharp inside corners (<0.005″ radius) → Wire EDM (Fanuc Alpha 1iD). Mill cutter geometry has minimum radius.
- Through-hardened workpiece (>55 HRC) → Wire EDM. Mill cutting force compromises surface finish in hard material.
Have a part that needs to be made right?
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