Tool
Designs and Manufacturing Co.
| COMPANY/LOCATION: |
Tool Designs and Manufacturing Co., Sparta, Tennessee |
| PRODUCT: |
Machine, tool, and die shop |
| YEARS IN BUSINESS: |
10 |
| EMPLOYEES: |
5 |
| SITUATION: |
Tool Designs and Manufacturing wanted technical assistance with producing
a bronze tone ring for a five-string banjo for a musical instrument manufacturer.
The tone ring secures the sound head across the frame of the banjo, creating
the sound chamber and producing a distinctive sound. Working on a project
to manufacture a tone ring that would produce a "pre-World War II" sound,
the company contacted Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology through
the Manufacturing Technology Information Service's toll-free number, requesting
technical assistance. |
| PROJECT: |
The pre-World War II tone rings were made from naval bronze in Newport
News, Virginia. Because no machinable supplies of that particular bronze
were available, Tool Designs bought a sample of bronze that was a near
match for the pre-War II formula. They sent the brass to ORCMT. Tool Designs
requested ORCMT to determine the exact geometry in which the rings have
to be cut in order to prototype the tone ring. ORCMT machined the rings
and top tension band for the banjo and conducted ultrasound analyses of
samples of both pre-War bronze and the new material. They then compared
the two tests to determine how closely the materials matched. |
| RESULTS: |
Troy Young, owner and president of Tool Designs, said that the banjo
manufacturer is trying to consolidate its source of suppliers and wants
to work only with suppliers located in Tennessee. He said that very few
companies have the capability to manufacture the tone ring and that in
the recent past the rings have been machined in California. Obtaining
the contract to manufacture the tone rings could mean up to $50,000 per
month in additional sales and additional jobs at Tool Designs. "I had
100 percent cooperation from the Oak Ridge people. I knew about some of
the capabilities at the centers. Everyone there has done all they could
to help me with the project. They were great. Through ORCMT's assistance
we got the prototypes and ultrasounds, and we are in the process of putting
the banjos out for field testing. So far it looks good," Young said. |
Technical assistances provided to the private sector by the Oak Ridge
Centers for Manufacturing Technology (ORCMT) and its manufacturing extension
partners throughout the United States.
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