New machine tool department strengthens machining capabilities and expands precision manufacturing services
Estes Design & Manufacturing, a leading provider of precision sheet metal fabrication and manufacturing services based in Indianapolis, has launched a new machining department with 5-axis capability. The expansion will support customers with the machining of complex geometrical components for aerospace, defense and other tight-tolerance industries.
Precision Machine Technology Supports Tight-Tolerance Manufacturing Requirements
The new machining department is integrated into Estes’ AS9100D-compliant quality management system, reinforcing the company’s commitment to compliance, traceability, and consistent manufacturing excellence for regulated industries. The department is supported by a newly hired CNC machinist with extensive experience in precision, tight-tolerance manufacturing, ensuring the new addition is fully production-ready from day one.
At the heart of the new department is the company’s Okuma Genos M560-V Machining Center with 5-axis capability, which was acquired in 2025. The machine’s 30-HP/15,000-rpm spindle will allow Estes to quickly and efficiently process a wide range of part materials from titanium to aluminum and achieve extremely tight tolerances. Engineered to reduce thermal growth and distortion, the Okuma Genos M560-V delivers exceptional accuracy of 0.00055 inches in the X axis, 0.00047 inches in the Y axis, and 0.00039 inches in the Z axis, making it well-suited for precision-critical applications.
Integrated Inspection and Quality Systems Strengthen Aerospace Manufacturing Compliance
To ensure dimensional accuracy and verification, Estes has also invested in a Sheffield RS-150 Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) equipped with a Renishaw UCC controller and a Renishaw probing system. The CMM operates using CMM-Manager full-featured metrology software to perform high-precision dimensional inspections against customer drawings and CAD models. Each inspection generates detailed graphical reports documenting measured features, nominal dimensions, tolerances, and actual deviations.
This inspection capability plays a critical role in Estes’ quality system. The traceable, AS9100D-compliant certification reports generated by the CMM are required documentation for all aerospace and defense shipments, ensuring that components meet strict tolerance requirements before release.
Additionally, the new machining department complements Estes Design & Manufacturing’s established expertise in precision sheet metal fabrication, welding and assembly while positioning the company as a comprehensive manufacturing partner for complex, high-reliability components.
