Blanchard Grinding

Blanchard grinding machines are used for standard surface grinding of large and small plates, with heavy stock removal rates for all magnetic materials

DIX Metals blanchard grinding advantage:
• Dimensional tolerances can be held to +/-.001”
• Flatness and parallelism guaranteed to .001”
• Work piece capacity up to 60 inches square

6061 Aluminum Plate

DIX works extensively with 6061 aluminum plate. We purchase 6061 aluminum plate in huge quantities and pass the savings to you, helping ensure that using DIX Metals will always be cost-effective.

6061 aluminum plate is known for its superior formability, weldability and corrosion resistance. These qualities give 6061 aluminum plate its excellent machinability and high strength (40-42 ksi yield), making it versatile for a wide range of applications and end uses.

Double-Disc Grinding

Double-disc grinding’s primary advantage is that metal blanks can be machined at twice the efficiency rate of conventional methods. Additionally, closer tolerances can be guaranteed than are attainable with either vertical or horizontal milling processes. Thinner and larger metal blanks are more likely to flex, thus the greater need for double-disc grinding.

Double-disc grinders use two opposed abrasive disc wheels, each mounted on a horizontal spindle, to efficiently remove stock and meet tolerance requirements on two opposite and parallel sides of a material blank.

The DIX Metals advantage:

• Flatness and parallel tolerances to .001
• Smaller parts can actually be guaranteed within tenths
• Work piece capacity up to 24 inches square

Duplex Milling

This process, also referred to as twin milling, is used in applications requiring six-sided flat, square and parallel tolerances to .001.

Duplex mills use twin opposed shell mills, mounted on a pair of horizontal spindles, to efficiently remove stock to meet tolerance requirements on opposing planes. This machining process offers you a cost-effective alternative to in-house fly cutting and face milling. It is the procedure of choice for applications requiring flat, square, and parallel tolerances. Using state-of-the-art Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) technology, DIX Metals efficiently achieves tolerances to .001 on a consistent level, thereby adding value to the end product.

The DIX Metals advantage:

• Flat, square and parallel tolerances to .001
• Process capability to mill virtually any material including exotics
• Stock removal to precision tolerances on all six sides
• Finish tolerances to 16Ra
• Precision, machine-ready blanks at the lowest cost

Precision Sawing

DIX Metals offers several methods of precision sawing, each intended for specific types of materials and configurations. DIX Metals provides anything from precision sawing of aluminum plate up to 12 inches thick to cut-off services of aluminum extrusions, bar, and round stock up to 6 inches in diameter.

Precision Plate Sawing

DIX Metals can cut sheet and plate up to 12 inches thick. The resulting cut will hold parallel to .005 over a 6-inch long strip.

• Precision sawing to +/-.005
• Squareness tolerances to .0005 per linear inch
• Material capacity of 12" x 144" X 144"
• Superior edge finish
• Need for secondary processing radically reduced

Horizontal Band Sawing

Flat and round stock up to 16 inches in diameter can be precision cut in horizontal band saws. Tolerances vary with the size of the piece, however, DIX Metals can hold consistent tolerances of +/-.015 with consistent parallel of .005.

Vertical Band Sawing

DIX Metals is capable of cutting aluminum circles and rings up to 6 inches thick and 60 inches in diameter.

Precision Cut-Off Sawing
Automatic cut-off saws make precision cuts in extrusion, flat bar and round rod stock up to 6 inches in diameter.

• Precision sawing tolerances to +/-.005
• Squareness tolerances to .0005 per linear inch
• Superior edge finish

Flattening and Surface Improvement

DIX Metals offers flattening services for stock aluminum plate up to 1 inch in thickness. For surface improvement, technicians use timesavers to apply a brush finish on materials to 16Ra.

Waterjet Cutting

Dynamic Waterjet with Active Tolerance Control produces more accurate parts at significantly higher cutting speeds than parts cut with a conventional waterjet. This patent-pending system utilizes a newly-developed advanced motion system that incorporates unique mathematical cutting models, which control a small, articulated wrist that is attached to the cutting head. The wrist allows the cutting head to tilt in any direction, compensating for the stream lag and taper experienced with conventional waterjet cutting machines.

• Cut parts 25-400% faster than conventional flat stock waterjet cutting machines
• Improve cut part tolerances and geometry at significantly higher speeds
• Virtually eliminate taper; taper is < 1 degree in straight-line geometry
• Reduce part cost
• True part stacking ability with consistent tolerance layer to layer
• No secondary finishing required
• Cut a variety of materials, such as metal, stone, glass, and composites
• Easy to program; no specialized training or knowledge required
• Cut parts using virtually any CAD file, or scan a drawing directly into FlowMaster®