Estes Design & Manufacturing, a provider of precision sheet metal fabrication and manufacturing services based in Indianapolis, IN, 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.
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 accuracy of 0.00055" in the X-axis, 0.00047" in the Y-axis, and 0.00039" in the Z-axis, making it well-suited for precision-critical applications.
To ensure dimensional accuracy and verification, Estes has also invested in a Sheffield RS-150 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.
For more information contact:
Tim Estes, President
Estes Design and Manufacturing Inc.
470 S Mitthoeffer Road
Indianapolis, IN 46229
317-899-2203
sales@estesdm.com
www.estesdm.com