Indy Days launches at REGO-FIX Center for Machining Excellence

"Indy Days: Race Into Excellence," a two-day localized trade show, kicked off today at the Center for Machining Excellence (CME), a new 12,000 sq. ft. educational facility located at REGO-FIX USA's North American headquarters in Whitestown, Indiana.

Located just 30 minutes away from the roaring engines at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, CME is a new manufacturing education and innovation facility opened by REGO-FIX in 2024. Indy Days marks the CME's first official event, which offers attendees technology exhibits, machine demonstrations and a number of industry leader presentations.

Among the 30 or so vendor companies in attendance was Blum-Novotest Inc., a family-owned business located in Erlanger, Kentucky, that specializes in metrology solutions built specifically for CNC machine tools. Casey Walters, Blum's national sales manager, began the educational portion of the event with a presentation titled, “How Measuring Systems Greatly Improve Speed and Accuracy in Machining Automation.”

In his presentation, Walters delivered made the case for integrating in-machine metrology as a foundational element of modern manufacturing. While initially counterintuitive, Walters argued that using the machine tool to measure both parts and tools — slowing down the process slightly — can actually speed up overall throughput by reducing errors, stabilizing operations and preventing costly scrap.

“No one ever buys a CNC machine excited to measure parts on it,” Walters admitted, “but in today’s labor-scarce and cost-sensitive environment, it’s becoming a necessity.”

With robust IP68-rated systems, including their advanced LC50 Digilog laser and non-contact probing technologies, Blum enables shops to:

• Measure and verify tooling in real time
• Monitor spindle health via vibration and runout analysis
• Warm up machines based on actual thermal stability—not arbitrary timers
• Auto-align parts mid-process to compensate for fixture deviation
• Perform in-process checks on critical features to prevent scrap
• Track tool life, wear patterns, and enable predictive maintenance

Walters emphasized that adding metrology cycles to the machine doesn’t increase total process time—it shifts time from pre- and post-processing tasks into the active machining phase, improving consistency and reducing manual errors. For example, real-time inspection can prevent broken tools from continuing production, avoiding catastrophic downstream failures.

Importantly, Blum’s software presents data clearly and visually, helping users turn raw measurement logs into actionable insights. Features like FormControl X even enable automated tool compensation and process feedback, all without burdening the CNC’s processor thanks to its client-server architecture.

Walters concluded by encouraging attendees to adopt a “zero scrap” mindset. “We don’t just want you to trust your process—we want your machines to prove it.” While he acknowledged competitors also offer quality solutions, he emphasized that the only poor decision is doing nothing. “Smart manufacturing isn’t mythical—it’s measurable. And it starts with metrology.”