Making parts for Saturn-bound probes and the International Space Station may sound like science fiction, but for Dave Hamilton, CEO of Mindrum Precision, it’s just another challenge to solve. What is the key to staying competitive in space-grade manufacturing? Not just precision – but productivity. And for that Hamilton turned to a different kind of advanced technology: collaborative robots (cobots). Mindrum Precision of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., specializes in machining complex, ultra-high-tolerance components for critical aerospace missions. After years of becoming a trusted partner for industry leaders such as NASA and Northrop Grumman, Mindrum has grown to more than 60,000 square feet of floor space across three facilities with more than 100 CNC machines (lathes, mills, lappers, polishers, and grinders). Hamilton’s biggest challenge was finding the most efficient ways to be cost-competitive on complex parts to win larger contracts. The company was running two 10-hour shifts, five days a week. Hamilton knew that automation would be the only way to run 24/7, so he asked his machinery distributor, Machinery Sales Co. (MASCO), about robot machine tending. In response, Marco Guerrero general manager at MASCO, asked Hamilton to attend IMTS 2024 for a demonstration of a ProCobots machine-tending system inHands-on demo of a ProCobots Profeeder Tray system in the Hurco booth at IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show.the Hurco booth (ProCobots is Hurco’s automation division). Hamilton brought six members of his staff to the show, and each one got hands-on experience setting up and running a part on a ProCobots ProFeeder Tray robot machine tending system and Hurco machining center. After their experience, Hamilton and his team decided to buy two ProFeeder Tray systems right from the show floor. The ProFeeder Tray system includes a Universal Robots UR10e collaborative robot, a grid tray, dual grippers for unloading and unloading in one move, and an automatic door that's installed on the Hurco machine. To foster buy-in, Hamilton brought department leads to IMTS as part of a broader leadership approach focused on empowering team-driven decisions. “We brought three department leads to IMTS to show them the technology, get them on board, and get them psyched about the process,” he said. “We’d been looking at the ProCobots units prior to IMTS, but from a cultural perspective, we wanted them to have buy-in. They saw the machine in the booth, liked it, and made the decision easily.” Just weeks later, Mindrum integrated the ProFeeders onto the company’s Hurco five-axis mills, and, following a short period for operator training, the systems were in high-volume production. After seeing early higher production results, the company bought a third ProFeeder to add to its three-axis Hurco mill, with intentions to buy more in the future. Machine uptime jumped to 160+ hours per week – a 41% production boost and lowered cost-per-part by up to 55%. By integrating macros for automated tool adjustments, Mindrum started running the cobot-tended machines overnight, including unmanned lights-out and weekend shifts. With the higher profits, ROI on the ProFeeders was under a year. With further growth in mind, Hamilton is already looking forward to bringing a larger group to IMTS 2026. For Hamilton, the real value of IMTS goes beyond the machines. “My favorite thing about bringing people to IMTS is that it lets them see the bigger picture,” he says. “The more they can see the manufacturing industry as a whole, the easier it is for them to get motivated to be as on top of all of this new advanced technology as they possibly can. IMTS is great place for the team to talk with other people tackling similar problems and see technologies that can help make their jobs easier. It’s an experience they’ll never get from looking at websites.” By empowering his team, investing in automation, and staying open to what’s next, Hamilton is helping Mindrum Precision reach new frontiers — on Earth and far beyond. See what’s next in automation, plan to attend IMTS 2026, September 14-19, at McCormick Place, Chicago, Ill.
Mindrum Precision turned to cobot automation after visiting IMTS, boosting uptime by 160+ hours per week and cutting part costs up to 55% for its high-tolerance aerospace work.
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