Page 18 - 3DMP Spring 2022

3D Teaming AM and Machining Drives Success for KAM
Strong competency in machining, boosted by recent additions of a Mazak five-axis vertical mill and horizontal machining center, along with close collaboration between inhouse AM and subtractive-manufacturing teams, makes KAM a one-stop shop for finished parts and components.
This bed of sample parts illustrates KAM’s metal-AM capabilities in servicing customers in the aerospace, automotive, defense and other sectors.
customer technical data.
And, KAM implemented ProShop
enterprise resource planning software last year to help reduce lead times while improving efficiency and increasing prod- uct quality control. Digital control stations at each point of production allow opera- tors to access drawings and prints to con- firm dimensional inspections, access machining simulations and sign off on digital routers.
“In order to continue expansion in 2022 and beyond we knew that we needed to work toward CMMC compliance, invest in cybersecurity and roll out a digital ERP to satisfy the rigorous quality standards that our customers expect,” says Keselows- ki. “Providing a fully integrated AM supply chain for space, aerospace, defense and other precision industries is more than standing up the manufacturing capital investment—it is the digital standards and quality compliance behind a strong machinery complement that speaks to KAM’s commitment to quality.”
Goal: Efficient Serialized Production
With a loaded additive and subtractive equipment roster, the company has been laser-focused on teaming the two process-
es to efficiently provide serialized hybrid production, according to Carolyn Allan, AM marketing and customer relations manager at KAM.
“The additive and subtractive teams work in alignment from the beginning of each project to create the manufacturing plan,” Allan explains. “And, after devel- opment, we work on scaling serialized production. The additive and subtractive units work in lockstep to create a unified plan and produce the same part success- fully and repeatedly. And, the electronic ERP system documents the entire process through each step of production—so there are no more paper routers.”
The teamwork and documentation become even more vital as production numbers increase for KAM, especially in its commercial-space and hypersonic- aerospace customer sectors, where part- run volumes number from 20 to 50 with serialized production taking hold.
KAM also machines additive cold plates, adding on thermal pads and ship- ping the finished assemblies to customers. In fact, the company has increasingly added assembly operations, and dedicates a room to assembly tasks.
“Instead of outsourcing, we created an
assembly team and added final assembly as an inhouse service,” says Allan. “This aligns with KAM’s value of offering cus- tomers a single-source delivery of com- plete products.”
Meeting higher part volumes, deliver- ing complete products as a single source and gearing for serialized production drove the recent equipment purchases detailed above, leaving little doubt that KAM can meet current customer order upticks as well as future orders.
“Positioning to meet current and future orders is always a balance because these markets can be volatile,” says Allan. “With our machine lineup in additive and sub- tractive, and our capabilities and expertise, we are agile enough to pivot and serve the hypersonic and commercial space sectors as needed with room to scale and take on larger projects.”
As for expertise, KAM can draw from the Carolinas manufacturing hot bed.
“Being Nascar country, there’s a lot of manufacturing talent available to us in the North Carolina technology hub,” Allan says.
That holds true especially in CNC machining, which has helped KAM solidify itself through subtractive capabilities.
16 | 3D METAL PRINTING • SPRING 2022
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