David Vega, one of the members of Okuma’s Partners in Technology team, noted, “Okuma has a wide variety of spindles and RPM options to support a variety of cutting applications. When paired with Air Turbine Tools® high speed technology, the cycle time and wear and tear on Okuma spindles is greatly reduced, and installation is quick and easy.”

This partnership is a direct response to growing demand among manufacturers and distributors for governed, constant high-RPM solutions. These tools maintain constant speed and torque even under load thanks to Air Turbine Technology Inc.’s patented direct-drive turbine and built-in governor system, which automatically increase airflow to maintain constant RPM and torque under load with up to 1.4 Hp.

Air Turbine Spindles®, Air Turbine Live Tools® and Air Turbine Motors® will now be available as seamless additions to Okuma CNC machines and lathes. Air Turbine Spindles® integration process is simple operate using a standard 90 PSI air supply and can be installed three ways: via direct air-through-spindle capability, a patented Tool Changer Mounting Assembly (TMA), or manual airline connection. Live Tools and Motors are also easy to install without added wiring or control boxes, supporting Swiss and lathe applications.

Joe Grigg, application engineer explained “One of the key benefits of Air Turbine Tools® is the ability to add 25,000 up to 90,000 RPM directly to your Okuma CAT40 15,000 RPM spindle”. As part of this collaboration, a demonstration part and video were produced, showcasing a 330% reduction in cycle time. By automatically loading 50,000 and 65,000 RPM Air Turbine Spindles into the 15,000 RPM Okuma Genos MB-46, identical surface finish and 2-micron precision was achieved but at three times the speed.

Gemma Shane, Director of Air Turbine Tools®, added, “Okuma machines are ideal for heavy-duty milling. With our spindles, users can now perform both roughing and high-speed finishing seamlessly on one platform.”. This partnership benefits high-precision industries such as medical device manufacturing, aerospace, and defense, where micro-tool performance and accuracy are critical. Okuma users can now rough with their machine’s main spindle and instantly auto too change to an Air Turbine Spindle® for fine finishing or drilling, achieving superior results and longer machine life.

For programs using tools up to ¼” capacity, Air Turbine Tools® reduce cycle time up to 10 times, delivering greater throughput and extending the life of both cutting tools and the primary machine spindle. With no thermal growth maintaining 2-micron TIR at the cutting tool, no duty cycle and no need for oil or maintenance, Air Turbine Tools® run reliably 24/7, perfect for lights-out production.

Simon Shane, Chairman of Air Turbine Tools®, states: “Okuma builds some of the finest, most durable CNC machines available. Now, with the addition of Air Turbine Tools®, every Okuma machine becomes a high-speed machine. We are proud to partner with Okuma and bring this solution to manufacturers who can now add high speed on Okuma machines.”

Air Turbine Tools® will serve as Okuma’s trusted provider for high-speed solutions, offering technical support and product access through Okuma’s purchasing system and distributor network. Together, the companies aim to redefine high-speed machining by integrating high power and high speed.

About Air Turbine Technology Inc.

Air Turbine Technology Inc. since 1988 has invented, patented and proven a range of revolutionary high-speed spindles, live tools, motor mounts and hand tools.

Air Turbine Tools, Motors, and Spindles® are high-speed pneumatic tools used by manufacturers for cutting, grinding, engraving, drilling, or finishing materials in industrial processes, delivering superior performance in applications that demand high-speed, precision and reliability at 25,000 to 90,000 RPM with power to 1.4HP.

This new generation of products increases airflow volume to the turbine to match cutting load, ensuring consistent high speed without sacrificing power. Air Turbine Spindles and Motors® operate reliably without generating heat to affect precision at 2 micron and have no duty cycle limitations.

The powerful 650 Series is rigid in cut with power rated at 0.8HP. This spindle is called the “Workhorse” for its robust construction, and it can mill while maintaining high speed with tools up to ¼”/ 6 mm capacity. For those requiring even greater power, the 650X Series within the 650 family features a patented double turbine design, delivering up to 1.4 HP (1.04 kW) and maintaining constant high speed and torque for demanding operations such as trochoidal milling in hard materials.

The 650’s unique patented governor developed by Air Turbine Tools® increases air flow to match the cutting load, maintaining rated speed on your tool path. This is a major difference from nominal high-speed technologies that drop speed as soon as your tool engages. The 650’s governor-controlled turbine maintains a high speed rating of up to 40,000 RPM throughout the cut, optimizing both tool performance and lifespan. Now, power is not sacrificed for speed.

Adding the 650 Series to the magazine enables machinists to dramatically increase cutting rates and reduce cycle times, significantly increasing productivity and optimizing small tool performance. Since CNC spindles quickly wear out when operated at their maximum speed, machinists can save substantial amounts on spindle repairs and avoid costly machine downtime by keeping Air Turbine Tools in their magazines for detail work.

There is another significant difference between the 650 Series and tools with gears, high frequency brushes or vanes: the latter often overheat or burn out, resulting in downtime and costly repairs. In contrast, the 650 Series operates at 40,000 RPM with just two moving parts, generating no heat and eliminating thermal growth, a key cause of inaccurate milling. As a result, consistent 24/7 operation without duty cycle limitations is now possible.

The 650’s grease-packed ceramic bearings are cooled by turbine air, ensuring exceptional reliability. This spindle certifies a 2 micron TIR and uses ultra-precision ER11 collet systems as standard, ensuring great accuracy. This turbine’s design results in ultra-low vibration of less than 0.4 mm/s², which enhances accuracy, and its quiet operation at under 78dBA is appreciated.

The 650 Series adds high speed to any CNC machine and is available with all popular shank configurations, including JS, HSK, CAT, BT and DIN, and options for fully automated loading on any CNC.

With the 650 Series, Air Turbine Tools® delivers a solution for higher productivity, providing non-stop power, precision and reliability for continuous production. The 650 Series stands out as a proven innovative high-speed spindle, enabling manufacturers to achieve superior surface finishes, 6 – 10 x reduced cycle times and increased productivity across a wide range of machining applications.

About Air Turbine Technology Inc.

Air Turbine Technology Inc. since 1988 has invented, patented and proven a range of revolutionary high-speed spindles, live tools, motor mounts and hand tools. Air Turbine Tools, Motors and Spindles® are high-speed pneumatic tools used by manufacturers for cutting, grinding, engraving, drilling or finishing materials in industrial processes, delivering superior performance in applications that demand high-speed, precision and reliability at 25,000 to 90,000 RPM with power to 1.4HP. This new generation of products increase airflow volume to the turbine to match cutting load, ensuring consistent high-speed without sacrificing power.

Air Turbine Spindles and Motors® operate reliably without generating heat to affect precision at 2 micron and have no duty cycle limitations. Equally revolutionary for hand tools user safety and comfort are light powerful Air Turbine Tools® operating under 67 DBA with the lowest vibration of any tools, eliminating stress and reducing injury risk.