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Videos

ZYCI Customer Spotlight

Friday, April 18, 2025

Hear why Mitch Free at ZYCI prefers Lyndex-Nikken toolholders, live tools, workholding, and machine tool accessories for manufacturing their aerospace parts.

ZYCI is known for taking on complex geometries and exotic materials that other shops avoid. However, as production volumes increased, the team identified a need to optimize their tool-holding strategy to ensure maximum spindle utilization and part repeatability.

  • The Goal: Reduce harmonic vibration in long-reach milling applications and standardize their tool room for faster setups.

  • The Solution: A comprehensive integration of Lyndex-Nikken high-performance collet chucks and rotary table technology.

Technical Deep-Dive: Vibration Control in Thin-Walled Parts

One of the standout successes in the ZYCI spotlight is the implementation of VC (Vibration Control) Collet Chucks.

  • Eliminating Chatter: When machining thin-walled aerospace components, harmonic chatter can lead to scrapped parts and shortened tool life. The VC system’s unique dampening properties allowed ZYCI to push their feed rates further while maintaining a mirror-like surface finish.

  • Consistency Across Shifts: By utilizing the precision-ground tapers of the Lyndex-Nikken system, ZYCI ensured that every tool change resulted in identical runout accuracy, regardless of which operator was at the machine.

Driving Efficiency Through Automation

The collaboration extended beyond simple tool holding. By incorporating Lyndex-Nikken rotary tables into their workflow, ZYCI was able to:

  1. Reduce Setups: Transitioning from 3-axis to 4- and 5-axis work allowed ZYCI to machine multiple faces of a part in a single clamping.

  2. Unattended Machining: The reliability of the Nikken gear system provided the confidence needed to run “lights-out” operations, significantly increasing their annual capacity without adding headcount.

A Shared Vision for American Manufacturing

What makes the ZYCI spotlight unique is the shared philosophy between the two companies. Both organizations prioritize technical education, lean manufacturing principles, and the pursuit of “perfect” parts. As ZYCI continues to expand its footprint in the defense sector, Lyndex-Nikken remains a core component of its technological roadmap.