MacKinzie (Mack) Loughlin attended IMTS 2024 looking for answers, unsure exactly what he would find. He left with three meaningful solutions: a microscope capable of inspecting a recessed aerospace feature, a tap supplier with every variation he needed, and a vertical machining center tailored to JTM’s high-mix workflow. Each discovery addressed a real challenge inside his shop and delivered immediate value. Loughlin is general manager at Jacobs Tool & Manufacturing (JTM) in Hanover, Penn., an 18-person shop specializing in multi-axis CNC milling and turning. One customer’s aerospace part required verifying a 0.003-inch recessed knife edge, something a standard loupe couldn’t inspect. IMTS became the ideal place to evaluate tools hands-on and find a practical, affordable solution. A Microscope that Unlocked a Job Loughlin arrived at IMTS 2024 with one pressing need: a microscope capable of top-down inspection of the recessed knife edge. After comparing several models, he chose the InSize (IMTS booth #134374) model 5310-DL401-U 4K Digital Measuring Microscope featured in the Quality Assurance Sector. Adding this InSize 4K digital microscope enabled Jacobs Tool to confirm dimensions “and make a part that we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to make,” according to Mack Laughlin, general manager.“We needed a microscope to confirm the width of a 0.003-inch knife edge,” says Loughlin. “We weren’t sure we were going to have an application for it beyond this part, so it didn’t make sense to make a huge investment.” IMTS allowed him to compare features side by side, speak with engineers, and understand exactly how each capability impacted the cost. “The biggest thing for me was being able to get my hands on them and talk to the engineers and sales reps so I could understand what features were important to me. I could actually see what features were driving costs in different ways, such as auto shape detection in the software, which we didn’t need. I wanted a click-and-go interface where the operator could drop a part on the microscope, click a few points, and get the dimensions.” The InSize 5310-DL401 provided Loughlin with everything he wanted, including 32X-210X magnification and built-in, mouse-operated software that functions without a computer. It can take pictures, save them to a USB drive, and export results to Excel, all for a retail price of about $5,000. “The microscope gives us the confidence of removing human error from the process because of the simplicity of the interface,” says Loughlin. “It honestly gave us the ability to confirm dimensions and make a part that we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to make.” A Tap Supplier with Every Variation He Needed In addition to the microscope, Loughlin wanted to simplify JTM’s tap inventory. His goal: standardize on a manufacturer with a full range of variations—cut, form, bottoming, spiral point, coated, uncoated, and multiple size options. A conversation with YG-1 Tool Co. (IMTS booth #431400) in the Tooling & Workholding Sector, revealed that the company carried every permutation he needed. After discovering YG-1 Tool at IMTS 2024, Jacobs Tool will be ordering all future taps from them because of its broad selection.“It was another one of those things that is so convenient about being at the show,” says Loughin. “You can walk around IMTS and just look at manufacturers for things that you might otherwise forget about. I wouldn’t have thought about YG-1 had I not seen their booth. Now I realize they not only have a good catalog, but they also have a good website, good data, and a really good selection.” A Vertical Machining Center for High-Mix Work As high-volume jobs filled JTM’s machining capacity, Loughlin came to IMTS intending to acquire a vertical machining center for JTM’s low-volume, high-mix work. “I visited with two other exhibitors, but it came down to talking with the Mazak (IMTS booth #338300) salesmen at the show,” says Loughlin. “We figured out what options were important to us, such as spindle speed, coolant system, and tool probing, then selected a Mazak VC-Ez 16. That category of machine is compact, versatile, and easy to use because we’re familiar with the Mazatrol CNC control.” Jacobs Tool purchased a Mazak VC-Ez 16 vertical machining center at IMTS 2024 to meet its low-volume, high-mix needs.To alleviate the pressure of making a final decision during the week of IMTS, Mazak offered show pricing that was valid for 30 days, and JTM confirmed the order shortly after the show. “We try to buy a new machine every couple of years, so our fleet stays current. When it comes time to buy something new, IMTS makes it easy to comparison shop and discuss machine options with knowledgeable people,” says Loughlin. Looking Ahead to IMTS 2026: Seeking New Solutions and “Peopleware” After solving immediate needs in 2024, Loughlin is shifting his focus for IMTS 2026. “Sometimes I go to IMTS for hardware, sometimes I go for software,” he says. “At IMTS 2026, I’m going for ‘peopleware.’ Thus far in my career, I have worked on the stuff inside the walls of our business. Now I need to start branching out to learn what other leaders are doing outside the walls of their business, so I want to focus on networking.” IMTS helps connect the manufacturing community with a host of conferences, attractions, and networking events throughout all six days of the show. Why Mack Loves IMTS — and Why You’ll Want to Go For Loughlin, IMTS is where real problems get solved. It’s where you can compare tools hands-on, discover suppliers you didn’t know you needed, make confident machine purchases, and connect with people who influence how you think about your business. To find metrology equipment that you can trust to deliver the results your customers demand, start researching the exhibitors in the Quality Assurance Sector. For tooling, see exhibitors in the Tooling & Workholding Sector, and for machine tool solutions, check out the Metal Removal Sector. Register now for IMTS 2026, September 14-19, in Chicago to find the tools, connections, and ideas that will move your shop forward.
Practical, shop-ready answers to real machining challenges: inspection, tooling, and high-mix production, came together for Mack Loughlin and JTM during his visit to IMTS 2024.
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