Case Study: Mathews, Inc. achieves production targets and boosts throughput with 3D Systems' GibbsCAM TMS

Bow Manufacturer Hits Production Targets with GibbsCAM TMS

Mathews, Inc., the world’s largest bow manufacturer in Sparta, Wisconsin, faced the challenge of machining the majority of its aluminum metal parts in-house while maximizing output from 45 CNC machines and a 325-person workforce. To meet frequent new-product demands they needed more complex, durable, modular tombstone fixtures that minimized clamping and kept cycle times long enough (about 20 minutes) so a single operator could run three to four machines.

The company uses SOLIDWORKS for fixture design and GibbsCAM with the TMS (Tombstone Management System) option to program multi-part fixtures. TMS lets programmers load the full assembly, tune one part and replicate it across up to 64-position tombstones, while enforcing clearance and retract planes for safety. The result: consistent, faster machining with reduced cycle time and higher throughput—about 75% of metal parts are produced on tombstones—and Mathews meets its production targets with fewer operators.

Mathews, Inc.

John Jerome

CNC Programmer