Testing and Validating a New Vertical Milling Machine

[JaxQC]

Validating = IQ, OQ, PQ
IQ – Install of the machine “power to the machine, install”
OQ – It may be in the details but since we’re talking aerospace I have to pull out the phrase “the capability of the machine, itself, is probably not in question”. While it might not be, without evidence proving contrary, it is in question. Regardless now is the time to get a baseline of the machine to use for PM of wear & comparing after crashes (which will happen eventually). More than one machine gets delivered with an unresolved issue.
· Low tech – Cut test (cut a Circle, Square, Diamond & see how much do they vary from perfect)
· Better – Ballbar test (looks at servo transition among other issues but only over small operating area at a time) (my personnal choice for the money)
· Better still – laser (volumetric ie.. over entire area)
PQ – FA – First Article on the specific part (includes program, speeds/feeds, fixturing, tooling etc)

[dsanabria]

In Reply to Parent Post by gmsqengineer

I am a newbie in the mechanical industry and am learning as I go. I have a supplier who is supplying a new shaft to us using aircraft quality material being in an automotive application. They have recently purchased a new Vertical mill cnc machine and I need to audit it. I am just not sure what to look for, besides capability studys. The machine will mill a slot and then add square features to the shaft. Any help or checklists i can refere to would be much appreciated.

OK - Aerospace Forum Thinking

Are you auditing the mechanics of the machine or the output of the machine

AS9100 C

7.5.1.3 Control of Production Equipment, Tools and Software Programs

Production equipment, tools and software programs used to automate and control/monitor product realization processes, shall be validated prior to release for production and shall be maintained.

Storage requirements, including periodic preservation/condition checks, shall be defined for production equipment or tooling in storage.


Let us know!

[Wes Bucey]

My point originally was the CUSTOMER does not validate machines (unless he owns them) - this would also hold true for tooling like dies, molds, and special fixtures.

If anyone has information of a Standard which cites CUSTOMER VERIFICATION OR VALIDATION of a machine, could that person please post the citation and a pertinent quote?