Makino

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This article is about the company Makino. For the taxonomist, see Tomitaro Makino.
Makino
Type Public
Founded May 1937
Headquarters Flag of Japan Tokyo
International Offices:
Flag of the United States Mason, Ohio; Auburn Hills, Michigan; Waukesha, Wisconsin; Elgin, Illinois ;Fountain Valley, California
Flag of Germany Hamburg
Flag of Singapore Singapore
Flag of India Bangalore
Flag of the People's Republic of China Shanghai
Key people Jiro Makino: President & CEO
Don Lane: President & CEO of Makino America
Industry Machine Tools
Aerospace
Automotive
Die Mold
General Production
Medical
Products Horizontal Machining Centers (HMC), Vertical Machining Centers (VMC), 5-Axis Machines, Graphite Machines, EDM Machines (Wire and Ram types), Automated Pallet Systems, Grinding Machines, and various services.
Employees 3,000
Website Makino America
Makino Japan
Makino Europe
Makino Asia

Contents

[edit] History

Makino is a global, premium machine tool manufacturer. It was established in 1937 by Tsunezo Makino in Japan, developing Japan’s first NC milling machine in 1958 and Japan’s first machining center in 1966.

Makino’s first milling machine
Makino’s first milling machine
The Makino America headquarters in Mason, Ohio.
The Makino America headquarters in Mason, Ohio.

The North American branch of Makino was formed through the 1981 merger of the R. K. LeBlond Machine Tool Company of Cincinnati and the Makino Milling Machine Company of Japan. Resulting from the merger was the formation of what was then called LeBlond Makino Machine Tool Company.

In 1996 LeBlond Makino became simply Makino, and in 1997 LeBlond Lathe Ltd. was formed as a parts and servicing subsidiary.

[edit] Innovations

The Makino A55 horizontal machining center.
The Makino A55 horizontal machining center.

Throughout Makino’s history, the company has developed innovations that have led the machine tool industry with new, high performance products. Makino developed the first NC Electrical Discharge Machine (EDM) in 1980. In 1984, Makino developed the industry’s first high-speed spindle.

In 1989, Makino became synonymous with Horizontal Machining Centers (HMC) with the release of their HMC, the A55. The flexibility, accuracy and speed of the machine turned heads in the industry and made Makino the leader in horizontal machining centers.

In 1990, Makino introduced Super Geometric Intelligence, the first servo-control software to provide higher machining speed with enhanced accuracy, and Flush Fine machining, a revolutionary method for cutting hardened materials. These developments, along with Makino’s reputation for accuracy and machine rigidity, quickly led to the company becoming the leader in the milling of hardened materials (hardmilling).

The company developed the first drop-tank design wire EDM in 1994, winning several industry awards for the innovation, and HQSF™(High-Quality Surface Finish) technology with patented uSc additive in 1996, dramatically increasing the ability to finish parts without hand polishing when using a Ram EDM. In 2003, Makino developed the world’s first conventional horizontal wire EDM that automatically threads and machines with a 0.02 mm diameter wire.

In 2003 Makino released the first of their MAG series, a 5-axis series of HMCs specifically designed for high productivity machining of complex aluminum monolithic parts for aerospace. The MAG series has revolutionized the production of aerospace parts.

In 2006, Makino successfully and efficiently machine Compacted Graphite Iron, a material destined to be the future of diesel and automotive engines, using its a81M with a high-torque spindle. In the same year, the company developed HEAT(High Energy Applied Technology) for wire EDMs, increasing machining speed by up to 40 percent, and released the EDAC1 micro EDM Ram machine, capable of producing corner radii of 0.00019 inches (0.005 mm) and surface finish quality of 0.000024 inches (0.6 micron). Makino is also the only manufacturer of a horizontal wire EDM, the UPJ-2.

Revolutionary products continued when Makino developed the SurfaceWIZARD™ wire EDM Technology in 2007, which allowed for the elimination of witness lines in stepped parts.

[edit] Today

Many aerospace manufacturers use Makino MAG machines to cut large, 5-axis parts, often made of aluminum.
Many aerospace manufacturers use Makino MAG machines to cut large, 5-axis parts, often made of aluminum.
The V33i, a vertical machining center from Makino designed for hardmilling applications.
The V33i, a vertical machining center from Makino designed for hardmilling applications.

Today, Makino is a leading manufacturer of advanced, high-speed and high-performance CNC machining centers and EDM technology, offering horizontal machining centers, vertical machining centers, 5-axis machining centers, Ram and Wire EDM machines, and specialty machines for applications such as aerospace machining, micromachining, hardmilling, and fine hole machining. In addition, Makino provides integration services such as turnkey engineering and application support, automation systems and capital financing of manufacturing equipment.

Makino offers both online training and classroom training at its many Tech Center locations, and also broadcasts free online seminars, also known as webinars, for machinists to continue their education and learn about new technologies and techniques

Makino machines feature patented technologies such as core-cooled spindles with under race lubrication, Super Geometric Intelligence (SGI), SurfaceWIZARD, High Energy Applied Technology (HEAT), HQSF, SuperSpark, and many other technologies that enhance productivity, reduce cycle times and lower costs.

Technology Centers for Makino are located in the United States (Mason, Ohio; Auburn Hills, Michigan; Waukesha, Wisconsin; Elgin, Illinois; Fountain Valley, California), Japan, Germany, Singapore, Italy, France, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, China, Mexico, Brazil, and India, and are supported by a worldwide distributor network. Makino's North America headquarters is located in Mason, Ohio.

[edit] Makino Product Categories and Trade Names

[edit] Product Categories of Makino

[edit] Trade Names of Makino

[edit] External links

[edit] References

A clip of a Makino Automatic Tool Changer in action.
A clip of a Makino Automatic Tool Changer in action.
A clip of compacted graphite iron being machined.
A clip of compacted graphite iron being machined.
A video of a MAG3 machining an aluminum aerospace part.
A video of a MAG3 machining an aluminum aerospace part.
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