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MSI has an Okuma Genos L400 and two Okuma LB15 turning centers.
to glaze cakes as it runs down a conveyor. Stuff like that is really interesting for me because it isn’t the standard style of parts we normally manufacture. New challenges like that keeps me wanting more. With government contracts the game is played by their rules. That’s fine, but 2020 my goal is to add a more commercial accounts like this to my customer base. I know our quality and customer first approach is an asset to anyone looking for job shop that is small enough to deliver personalized service, but big enough to handle complex parts with aerospace tight tolerances. The private sector can benefit a lot from our experience in aerospace.”
When Ed says small job shop, he means it. MSI is nearly a one-man operation. Ed’s staff fluctuates depending on the work in progress and right now every order is being sold, processed, machined, verified, and shipped by his one employee or himself. “I scaled back operations a little at the beginning of the year even before the pandemic hit us,” explains Ed. “So right now, it is just me and one other guy doing everything. Business is picking up again and hopefully that is a sign of things to come. Machining Solutions is a small shop on our biggest day, but we punch
MSI is AS9100 certified and their quality lab is home to the Mitutoyo CMM.
The Mazak 530C Smart Control boast indexing as well as full fourth axis positioning.
way outside our weight class with our ITAR and AS9100 certifications. Most job shops this size don’t invest the time and money required to be ITAR and AS9100. We are 100% committed to our customers, and the quality they require. Admittedly, it is a challenge sometimes to keep up with all of the necessary protocols when there are only a few of us, but we don’t sacrifice quality for convenience. Making parts with good equipment is easy, it is the traceability and paperwork that makes it feel like work sometimes.”
Good equipment is a key part of operations at MSI. Ed’s two mills are Mazak, his thee lathes are Okuma and his CMM is a Mitutoyo. Ed’s lifelong love for Okuma started in the early 90’s after going through training for one of his past employers. The build quality and easy to use OSP controls stood out to him even as an inexperienced machinist. “Okuma was the first CNC lathe I ever ran, and it just stuck with me all these years,” remembers Ed. “Even back then the controls were easy to learn and use. The control systems now are even smarter. Okuma is a brand I’ve known and trusted for a long time. It would take a lot for me to buy something else.”
MSI’s milling department consists of two Mazaks, both with a 4th axis.
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