We asked Naka Seiki Co., Ltd., who uses their advanced technical capabilities as a weapon to respond even to orders of high level of difficulty, about what prompted them to introduce measuring instruments made by Tokyo Seimitsu and about their feelings using the instruments.
Naka Seiki Co., Ltd.
Representative Director Masakazu Gotou
【Company Profile】
The company was founded in 1952 as Naka Seiki Workshop, and became Naka Seiki Co., Ltd. in 1967. Since then, we have always opened up new possibilities based on the keywords “flexible and original.”
In addition, as well as manufacturing precision mechanisms and parts through an OEM, we also expand creation of parts developed in-house, and conduct an integrated process for part prototypes.
The company credo is “sincerity, technology, execution, rationality.” Keeping up with the ever-advancing technology and trends, we execute with sincerity while being rational - we continue to grow with that as our ideal.
Headquarters
1-2-17, Kindacho, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka 570-0011, Japan
Fuji Factory
5629-1 Aza Kodaimochi, Minamitsurugun Narusawa-Mura, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0320, Japan
Fuji Exhibition Hall
5629-1 Aza Kodaimochi, Minamitsurugun Narusawa-Mura, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0320, Japan
To begin with please tell us the details of your business.
We are a general manufacturer that welcomes the milestone of the 70th anniversary since our founding this year. Our specialty is the manufacture of air chucks, hand presses, caulking machines, and so on.
As a specialist manufacturer, we try to make use of the advanced technological capabilities passed down from the initial founding in our products developed in-house.
Our characteristic is operating on the twin pillars of that kind of machine manufacturing business and a business for processing outsourced from customers.
What prompted you to introduce the roundness measuring machine?
In outsourced processing requests from high speed machine manufacturers, there is something known as spindle processing, and the requested precision for the spindle body is extremely high.
The spindle is a part that rotates at high speed, so high precision is required of course for the outer circumference roundness, and also for the concentricity of the support for the bearing, and for the squareness of the flange and spindle. Product quality is required to be stabilized at a precision of 1 micrometer or less, and if this is not achieved the bearing wears quickly due to the spindle’s vibrations, and eventually this also leads to malfunction of the spindle body.
We have to stabilize the geometric tolerance required in the spindle. To respond to this demand, we thought that the roundness measuring machine was necessary, and decided to introduce it this time.
In fact, we developed an intermediate shaft spindle for use in an EV motor test in 2021, but in inspections we used the Tokyo Seimitsu roundness measuring machine.
When you actually introduced the Tokyo Seimitsu roundness measuring machine, how was it?
The Tokyo Seimitsu roundness measuring machine, RONDCOM NEX, is extremely easy to use.
We introduced it to be able to handle even a long spindle with a column stroke of as much as 900 mm.
The roundness, the concentricity, and the squareness indicated in the drawings can be measured easily by anyone, so it helps with the management of the dress of heavy duty equipment, with the chuck holding method, the processing data compensation, and so on.
More impressive than that practical aspect was the high degree of trust of customers regarding the roundness measuring machine. By introducing the roundness measuring machine, the feeling of anxiety concerning the product quality was wiped away.
This was our feeling throughout last year when conducting sales with new customers.
Also, contracted customers expected us to produce excellent spindles.
We believe that the roundness measuring machine is indispensable in order to respond to customer needs.
Please let me know about the difficulties in making a precise measurement of the spindle, and your challenges going forward.
The spindle performs the final finish of the polishing in an environment in which the temperature and humidity were originally controlled.
However, our plant is old, so such control is difficult. In such an environment, finishing with a precision of “comma how many microns” is possible only with the skill of our employees, and is extremely hard.
For example, we created a table for use in a car, and we cut it from a single plate of aluminum to make it.
This cannot be done without advanced precision machining technology. We must teach that kind of technology to the young generation responsible for the next era. However, the problem is that we have deadlines, so you end up doing it yourself.
Of course, as the precision of the machine increases, even unskilled workers can make the product.
However, that little extra or secret ingredient added by the technician makes the product more highly accomplished.
How to pass down that little extra to the next generation is the challenge going forward.
Do you have any expectations of Tokyo Seimitsu going forward?
We have an involvement whereby we have been entrusted with some of the parts processing in the Tokyo Seimitsu Semiconductor Production Equipment Business.
In that sense, we have a feeling of togetherness in which we cooperate with each other.
In addition, going forward, we are also thinking of introducing machines such as the coordinate measuring machine, so we have great expectations of Tokyo Seimitsu as you make semiconductor production equipment and precise measuring devices.
By all means, we would like you to develop systems that enable easy measurement on-site of geometric tolerance and surface roughness, and systems that can be installed in heavy duty equipment and can make measurements from inside the equipment, and all easier to use than until now.
The interview having ended, here are the impressions of Tokyo Seimitsu...
The introduction of the roundness measuring machine answered the demands of their customers, and not only did it provide high precision products with reliable quality, but also it even helped improve their in-house skills. It was impressive to hear that.
He is never satisfied with the current situation, and never forgets his aspirations. We will continue to work together with Naka Seiki to ensure that Tokyo Seimitsu can continue to grow through friendly rivalry.
Other User's Voice - Interview
