motorsport manufacturing When a drag bike comes off the line, its engine puts out
extreme levels of power and torque that make its other com- ponents want to twist and fl ex out of shape. So Sentry parts must be strong to withstand such deformation and prevent failure, yet lightweight for speed.
Manufacturing where Others Fear to Tread “We manufacture our drag bike parts to the highest quality
standards—as we do for all our other non-racing jobs,” said Scott Yates, president of Sentry Industries. “Our parts and assemblies are the tough ones that other shops are unable to make cost-effectively, if at all. Our jobs require talented ma- chinists and advanced machine tool technology that provides performance and versatility. And for us, that technology has always come from Mazak [Florence, KY].”
Yates pointed out that opting for the rotary axis was easily justifi ed because it’s programmable and allows them to handle parts on one machine that would have otherwise required two separate ones. In most instances, Sentry uses the rotary unit in a horizontal machining fashion, meaning it rotates parts on center to access all sides and machine angles and contours all in one clamping. “For a simple, basic machine, the VCU 500C provides a lot of capabilities and incredible machining precision for every part we run on it,” said Yates. “And with the QTN 250-II MY, we get fl exibility and processing versatility because it lets us turn and mill on the same machine. The performance of our Mazaks is second to none, but what we like best are their controls. I’m a huge believer in Mazak’s Mazatrol controls, and I have yet to fi nd another control that is more user-friendly or allows for faster programming—two control features that are critical for our multitude of one-off part jobs.” Coincidentally, Yates’ fi rst experi- ence with Mazak machines was 25 years ago when he attended a Mazatrol part programming class at the Mazak Midwest Technology Center in Schaumburg, IL. At the time, he was working for Rabbit Tool, and its owner, OJ Birkestrand (now a close friend and business associate of Sentry). Rabbit Tool had all Mazaks and Birkestrand insisted Yates attend the class.
Sentry’s triple clamp sets make it possible to mount a complete IQ3 race pack digital dashboard without the use of bulky custom brackets.
Currently, Sentry has a Quick Turn Nexus (QTN) 250-II MY multitasking machine and a Vertical Center Universal (VCU) 500C vertical machining center. As an MY confi guration, the QTN 250-II MY features milling capability and Y-axis func- tionality along with a standard through-hole chuck package and integral turning spindle motor to process a wide range of parts in single setups. Sentry’s VCU 500C features a three-axis table that
provides exceptional production value and versatility. With an added fourth-axis rotary unit, the machine lets the shop machine any billet-type part that would go on a racing bike.
“I had zero experience with Mazaks, and since that fi rst program- ming class, I’ve been a diehard fan of
the machines due to their ease of use and amazing reliabil- ity,” said Yates. At Sentry, jobs don’t run for weeks. At any given time, the shop can have as many as 15 different one-piece orders that it must quickly set up, program and run—completing all of them within a day or two.
Low Volume, High Mix
Sentry is a low-volume, high-mix production shop. Be- sides drag bike parts it does quite a bit of contract machining jobs. The majority of parts at Sentry are made from aluminum
68 — Motorized Vehicle Manufacturing 2015
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