Manufacturing and quality assurance perfectly combined

Novo Modo Machining, founded by Joseph Alonso, is a highly specialized CNC machining company based in Mount Vernon, Washington. The company supplies precision machined components to the aerospace, satellite, defense,medical and energy industries, among others.

“We don't compete with the masses, but focus on products that demand the highest levels of accuracy and complexity,” emphasizes Alonso. Thanks to state-of-the-art 5-axis milling centers from Hermle and high-precision 5-axis coordinate measuring technology from WENZEL, components ranging from a few millimeters in size and a few grams in weight to workpieces of 550x300x250 mm and 90 kg are manufactured. In the aerospace industry inparticular, components are manufactured in such a way that they burn up completely after re-entry into the atmosphere.

Novo Modo is pursuing an innovative concept here: aseparate 5-axis coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is planned for each 5-axisCNC machine. The entire plant, which covers almost 400 square meters, is also climate-controlled to ensure an optimum production environment

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Novo Modo'scustomers include OEMs and engineers who require complex CNC components. “Many of our customers must deal with unreliable suppliers who don't meet deadlines or deliver poor quality parts. This causes stress and costs valuable time,”explains Alonso. Novo Modo addresses these problems with a comprehensive approach: high quality standards, fast quotations, flexible pricing and close customer support. “If we can't implement a request ourselves, we help our customers find an alternative solution.”

Special attention is paid to the automation of quality assurance. Instead of relying solely on classic production automation, the focus is on the combination of production and quality control: Each part is measured directly after machining to ensure that it meets the required specifications.

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High-precisionmeasurement technology as a guarantee of quality

Qualityassurance plays a central role at Novo Modo. The entire measuring process is based on the WENZEL LH 87 coordinate measuring machine (CMM) in combination with the PH20 or the REVO 5-axis touch probes from Renishaw. “We measure almost 100% of our parts directly after machining. If additional processes such as hardening or anodizing are required, we measure again,” says Alonso. The company also uses optical comparison systems and other measuring solutions. The precision requirements are high: diameters and linear dimensions must be accurate to within 10 micrometers, position tolerances are between 20 and 50micrometers.

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The CMMs are positioned directly on the CNC milling centers so that workpieces can be inspected immediately after machining. “ We often know that a component is OK even before the next workpiece starts rough machining. This saves time and ensures that we deliver the highest quality.”

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The decision in favor of WENZEL was not only based on the precision and quality of the measuring systems. “We didn't just want to buy a measuring machine, we wanted to find a partner who shared our philosophy and would support us on our way,” says Alonso.

WENZEL'sreputation, the accuracy of the systems and the corporate culture were ultimately the deciding factors. “Novo Modo stands for quality and trust. Our customers know that they can rely on us. And we know that we can rely on WENZEL.”

One particular aspect that convinced Novo Modo was WENZEL's approach: “Other suppliers wanted to sell us their machines because they call themselves the best. WENZEL, on the other hand, proved to us that they really do offer the best solutions. Their customer service is excellent, and they have met every challenge we have thrown at them so far.”

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