Silver Tool, Inc.: Technology Investment Results in Quality Parts

Set-up time is everything. Set-up time might be half of the actual job itself; the Hurcos have low set-up times due to their ease of programming. Hurco control technology is user-friendly. We can take guys who have not run a CNC machine before and they can learn quickly because of the conversational programming.

— James McCloskey, President, Silver Tool Inc.

About Silver Tool

Silver Tool, Inc. in Miamisburg, OH, specializes in machining fixtures, gauges, specialty machines, custom tooling and short run production. Founded in 1984 by Ed McCloskey, the company has grown from a small shop to a company with over 50 employees and 60 machines that are housed in a 30,000 sq. ft. facility.

Investing in Technology

Ed McCloskey recognized that the only way to consistently manufacture quality parts, especially with the skills gap leaving shops short-handed, was to invest in technology. He took a financial leap of faith and purchased his first Hurco CNC mill in 2005.

Since that initial purchase, the company has added 12 more Hurco CNC machines to its fleet and it is still running that very first Hurco VM1 3-axis mill.

Why Conversational Programming?

When Ed McCloskey first started looking at CNC machines, he knew he needed something that would make the transition from manual to CNC as easy as possible for his machinists. "Many of Silver Tool's employees at the time were used to running manual machines, but had not run CNC machines. With its intuitive conversational programming, Hurco was the answer."

AdaptiPath: A Game Changer

One of the newer Hurco control features called AdaptiPath was a game changer for Silver Tool. "Watching how quickly material is removed is amazing. The adaptive tool path with the proper tooling has been a game changer as far as time savings," said James.

AdaptiPath is a conversational feature that uses the same technology found in high-end CAM systems to improve metal removal rates, reduce cycle time and extend tool life. It creates smooth toolpath motion, controls chip load, provides constant tool engagement and also includes rest machining.

• 13 Hurco machines currently in operation
• First Hurco VM1 from 2005 still running strong
• 50+ employees in 30,000 sq. ft. facility

Hurco helps support our mission to produce quality workmanship while doing everything possible to please our customers.

Key Features

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• Advanced CNC technology
• User-friendly interface
• High precision machining

Hurco machines have transformed our manufacturing process.