Gear hobbing machine • Thread grinding machine • Diamond dresser • Loading / unloading robotic cell for CNC machine

Drake Manufacturing is a leading manufacturer of precision CNC machine tools. Our customer-driven team takes responsibility for machine performance and process capability.

Drake machines are designed and built to competitively produce quality parts out the door from Day One.

At Drake, advanced technology, innovative process development and unequaled product support combine to deliver profit-making solutions to our customers’ needs.

Process Design for Manufacturing
Drake not only takes responsibility for machine performance, but also for process capability. Drake machines are designed and built to the concept that a customer wants finished parts meeting the relevant specifications. We understand that customers don't want machines, they want parts out the door.

Productivity Focus
Achieving the goal of maximum productivity and lowest cost per part is the job of Drake System Engineers who are focused on optimizing the grinding process. Our machines are designed for outstanding performance running aluminum oxide, seeded gel and plated or dressable CBN wheels--as required to optimize the process.

Machine Innovation to Optimize Performance
There are no compromises in process, performance or quality. Maximum stiffness, rigidity and precision are designed in. High gain closed loop systems, sub-micron feedback, high resolution servo motors--plus these features that produce maximum performance:

• Microcentric wheelheads--locked down with scale feedback on the work table to control both dress and grind motions on one axis. Stiffness of 500,000 pounds per inch at the grind interface.
  
• Hydrostatic ways--under the wheel slide with a new hydrostatic quill for wheel infeed. Over 100,000,000 oscillations on individual quills in the field without failure. This allows a fixed, rigid mounting for the work head, and a stiffness of 250,000 pounds per inch at the spindle nose.
  
• Fixed rotary diamond dressers--with servo motorized drives and touch dressing capability. Mounted behind the wheel on external and internal grinders for optimum rigidity and process control at dress.
  
• High resolution servo encoders--for 0.000,001" velocity loop feedback to complement the Heidenhain scale feedback of 0.000,004" for the position loop.
  
• Effective gap elimination--to optimize floor-to-floor time as incoming product varies. Part and System Programming to Simplify Set-Ups

Drake takes responsibility for all programming. Programs are tested and confirmed electronically as the machine is being built. They are proven in run-offs before leaving our plant, and again on your floor at start-up. All aspects of the process are programmed in--grinding, dressing, loading/unloading, gaging--whatever is required for the entire family of parts.

Long-Term Support
With Drake, you have full software support throughout the life of the machine. If your part requirements change, Drake System Engineers are available to develop and install new menu-driven programs at modest cost. We send you the update overnight, on a PC card for simple installation by your people.

Operator Education
Process, program and machine are designed so the operator can maximize parts production. Operator is not a machine trouble shooter, he's a parts maker. Full on-site training is given on operation of control, use of menu-drive software, process understanding and parts production. Operator comfort and confidence in the machine are maximized.