Engineers at PBC Linear are continually interested in utilizing the principles of lean manufacturing and SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Dies) which looks to reduce changeover times, thereby increasing efficiency within their manufacturing facility. One such case involved the boring machines for their bearings. These machines utilize semi-adjustable ramps and magazines for loading and distributing the bearings to be bored. The challenge that ramp fixtures posed was in their tedious set-up and break-down times (changeovers). With the magazine fixtures, their solid aluminum construction meant they were heavy and cumbersome to handle, and costly to replace via the CNC process.
