Handles difficult machining with custom-made cutting tools and ingenuity
Machining & Processing
We accept orders from companies located in Japan.
Nakahashi Manufacturing specialises in machining metal products from materials such as brass and gunmetal.
Specialising in CNC lathe machining, it handles water supply components and marine parts, alongside processing castings and irregularly shaped items. Renowned for the flexible responsiveness and agility characteristic of a privately owned business under its representative, Nakahashi, the company also focuses on building networks, such as deepening ties with factories within its local area of Higashiōsaka City. Furthermore, it strives daily to expand the range of parts processing it can undertake.
Brass and gunmetal are types of copper alloy, with brass excelling in corrosion resistance and gunmetal in durability. Gunmetal is stronger than brass but is considered more difficult to machine. Representative Nakahashi employs his own handmade tools to address this. He even sharpens the cutting edges himself, a thorough approach that results in a longer-lasting cutting edge compared to commercial products. He shapes the cutting edges to match the contours of products, such as spherical surfaces, and presses them against the material to create complex shapes. This reduces machining time compared to commercial tools and produces a beautiful finish. For example, surface roughness ranges from Rz1.6s to Rz0.8s, while tolerances, roundness, parallelism, and perpendicularity are achieved to ±0.02mm – higher precision than competitors.
Furthermore, the company handles jig production in-house, enabling the machining of irregularly shaped items such as valves and L-shaped fittings. While three-jaw chucks are typically used in lathe machining, President Nakahashi employs two-jaw chucks with welded jaws to grip irregularly shaped workpieces. By attaching weights to the chuck, the balance of the workpiece is adjusted. This prevents the workpiece from shifting during machining and suppresses vibration, thereby achieving high precision.
‘We undertake numerous products that other factories have declined, stating they couldn't manage them,’ states Mr Nakahashi. ‘This method of attaching weights also incorporates our unique know-how,’ he adds, highlighting how such ingenuity underpins the support Nakahashi Manufacturing receives.
In 2017, the small business owners' group ‘SAW ~ Creation ~’ was established, with Representative Nakahashi serving as leader to coordinate members. Based primarily in Higashiōsaka City, around 150 business owners participate, holding regular study sessions and networking events. Members possess expertise in various fields, including metal and resin processing, mass production, and prototyping. They collaborate by pooling their respective strengths to create a single product, or by introducing work and clients to one another, thereby building cooperative relationships.
Nakahashi Manufacturing also crafts original products utilising offcuts generated during machining, and has commenced sales through platforms such as Mercari. Under the brand name “Sōju 1606”, they offer items including stamp stands for Shachihata name stamps, business card holders, and audio accessories. The professional finish characteristic of machining specialists has been well received, with total sales reaching 1,300 units and garnering 460 followers. The company promotes craftsmanship that showcases the beauty of brass.