Case Study: F. Zimmermann GmbH achieves high-precision aerospace milling with Hexagon machine tool measurement

Machine tool measurement helps portal milling machine fly

F. Zimmermann GmbH, a German manufacturer of high-performance milling machines, was tasked by an aerospace industry customer to build a bespoke portal milling machine for producing complex titanium aircraft parts. The challenge was to ensure extreme precision on difficult-to-machine titanium, with specific requirements for bore concentricity and perpendicularity, while also integrating programming, milling, and on-machine inspection into a single, automated process. To achieve this, Zimmermann chose to implement measurement solutions from vendor Hexagon.

The solution involved integrating Hexagon's radio-wave touch probes and HxGN NC Server software with PC-DMIS. This allowed for fully automated in-process and final quality inspections to be performed directly on the milling machine while the part remained clamped, preventing measurement errors. The system successfully detected tool issues and tolerance violations early, preventing costly scrap. The customer benefited from a unified and easy-to-use measurement experience from the shop floor to their quality lab, boosting productivity and providing a turnkey solution that met their high-precision demands.

F. Zimmermann GmbH

Steffen Nüssle

Sales Director Export