Transportation

Transportation manufacturers often need components that can be produced repeatedly according to established drawings and production requirements. Part dimensions, quantities and machining operations can vary significantly from one application to another, so manufacturing planning starts with understanding the requirements of the component.

We can manufacture machined components for transportation-related equipment and assemblies based on customer specifications. Our equipment includes machines with substantial work envelopes, giving us the ability to accommodate larger components as well as smaller production parts.

Our Mazak Flexible Manufacturing System includes six machining systems, a 38-pallet rail-guided vehicle system and 800 mm pallets. The system also includes two Mazak 5-axis machining centers with a 1,450 mm diameter capacity and 1,600 mm height capacity.

This equipment provides production options for parts that require multiple machining operations and repeat production. Our other horizontal and vertical machining centers provide additional capacity for different part sizes and manufacturing requirements.

Many transportation components include cylindrical surfaces, bores, shoulders, grooves or other turned features. Our turning equipment includes horizontal and vertical lathes as well as vertical spindle lathes and vertical turn centers.

Our equipment includes lathes capable of handling turning dimensions up to approximately 49.2 inches in diameter on certain machines. Actual part capacity depends on the machine selected and the specific dimensions and features of the component.

We also have a Doosan SMX2600 ST mill/turn machine with a tool changer. Mill/turn machining can be useful for components that require both rotational and milling operations. This allows multiple features to be produced within a coordinated manufacturing process.

Production requirements can make automation useful for transportation components manufactured in recurring quantities. At Blackhawk Engineering, we have experience integrating robotic equipment with CNC machining systems.

One example is our automated clutch drum processing cell, which combines a Fanuc R-1000 robot with a Doosan 9-axis dual-spindle lathe, a Doosan 400 mm horizontal mill, laser engraving and inbound, outbound and reject conveyors. The system was developed to process multiple part numbers with limited operator involvement.

We also use a Halter robot with a load assistant for applicable turning work. The system can hold up to 18 raw or completed parts depending upon part size, allowing machining to continue while reducing the amount of operator attention required at the machine.

For transportation manufacturing programs with recurring production requirements, this type of equipment provides another option for organizing machining and material handling.

Dimensional control is an important part of producing transportation components to customer specifications. Our quality system is registered to ISO 9001:2015 and our inspection capabilities include product-specific gauging and coordinate measuring machine inspection.

Our CMM equipment includes:

Our quality processes also incorporate APQP industry standards and PPAP or Production Part Approval Process, when applicable to customer and project requirements.

As a contract manufacturer, we work from customer-provided drawings, specifications and production requirements to manufacture machined components. The scope of a project can include individual machining operations or a broader production program involving multiple processes.

Our manufacturing resources allow us to work with different machining approaches within the same facility. A transportation component may require milling, turning, boring and drilling, for example, while another part may require a combination of turning and milling followed by inspection.

Our manufacturing and automation capabilities can also support repeat orders and established production schedules for recurring production. The appropriate approach depends on the part design, quantity, equipment requirements and inspection criteria.

Transportation equipment can require components across a broad range of sizes. Our equipment includes machining centers and lathes with different capacities that allow us to select machinery based on the dimensions and features of the part.

Our horizontal machining center inventory includes 400 mm, 630 mm and 800 mm machines. We also operate several vertical and horizontal turning machines with different diameter and length capacities.

For larger components, our equipment includes vertical spindle lathes with maximum turning diameters of approximately 39.37 and 43.3 inches, as well as vertical turn centers with capacities up to approximately 49.2 inches on certain machines.

This range of equipment gives us options when a transportation component requires substantial material removal, large machining envelopes or a combination of turning and other machining operations.

Every machining project starts with the requirements for the part. Drawings and specifications provide information about dimensions, features, tolerances and other requirements that guide the manufacturing process.

We use these requirements to determine the machining operations and equipment needed for the project. Depending on the component, that may involve horizontal machining, vertical machining, turning, boring, drilling or mill/turn operations.

Inspection requirements are considered as part of the manufacturing process as well. Product-specific gauging and CMM inspection can be used to evaluate dimensional features according to the requirements established for the part.