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About NS CNC

NS - New Solution

CNC - Computer Numerical Control

The old proverb “necessity is the mother of invention” could never have rung more true than for the story of NS CNC. Through ingenuity, experimentation, and vision, NS CNC has raised the bar for jewelers around the world.

Coming from humble beginnings, this innovative, industry-leading manufacturing firm understands the necessity behind every new feature and every new machine we make.

From the start, NS CNC’s founder – a talented artist with an extensive engineering background – needed to find new and better ways to craft his works of art. Always wanting to provide the best quality above all else, it became quickly apparent that the entire process of crafting jewelry needed to be rethought. In the 90s, making high quality, custom jewelry meant careful, tedious hand carving.

But as new computer technology developed and the possibilities for new jewelry designs exploded, innovative approaches had to be sought to fulfill an artist’s vision. Combining this vision with the craft required to make it whole meant looking at the problem from a new angle.

As with most innovations, early steps are a bit simpler. NS CNC’s first mills were 3 and 4 axis versions. While these mills allowed designers to work in much greater detail than ever before, there was a degree of depth missing from the artwork. For the genuinely inspired trendsetters, those willing to experiment and eager to adopt new technologies, the 5-axis MIRA-1 was released.

These designers continued to push the limits of what our mills could accomplish, working closely with NS CNC in the development process. There’s always a new and compelling challenge: elaborate designs, new materials, and of course, entirely new applications.

Under this close cooperation, the MIRA line has grown in function and versatility, while becoming more comfortable to use. Feedback from our clients has helped us develop new processes for milling all kinds of materials for applications far beyond the jewelry industry.

The relationship between NS CNC and our clients has allowed us to innovate in ways we could never have imagined. What started as one man’s solution to his artistic dreams had spread across industries, with NS CNC mills appearing around the world and in places we never expected when we started.

Our mills are now our business, our one focus, and our true passion. Each mill is built with our indisputable attention to detail in our expanded facilities in the Vancouver area, where we are rooted. We love what we do and welcome you to experience New Solutions for yourself.

Why is the name of the machine “Mira”?

Our first five-axis NS CNC machine was created in 2009. There was, of course, the question of how to name it. Some days we were tormented by the challenge of creating a name. We had an excellent example of the name of our competitor’s machine, “REVO”. This was the first part of the word “Revolution”.

Yes, many years ago, this machine made a revolution in the jewelry business. But what are we getting out of our new machine? Would we all want a new revolution? No, we weren’t going to make more revolutions or give the industry a shock. We just wanted to produce a pleasant and convenient machine for jewelers.

To find the right name, we first had to think about what kind of machine we wanted our customers to have. Should it be revolutionary, high-tech, suicidal, one-of-a-kind or irresistible? Or maybe just a little magic or a miracle? Miracle? Mira-cle! Bingo! Our machine will be called MIRA!

Connoisseurs immediately pointed out that Mira is a very famous star in the constellation of Cetus. This is also a great reason for the name “MIRA”! But, let the user of the machine decide for himself whether he is a star or a miracle machine.

After several years of producing and selling hundreds of machines, we began to learn that our customers sometimes change the name of the machine themselves a little. The machine became a jeweler’s friend, a family member, or a business partner, so they gave it a nickname.

The first such dialogue was with one client from Australia:

– “Miranda has worked the last two weeks without stopping at all…”

– “We are very pleased, but who is Miranda?”

– “This is your Mira! But in my family, her name is Miranda.”

– “Ok!”

Then we learned that the machine was given some of the most unusual names in different cities and countries, such as Myra, Mirochka, Miroslava, Maria, and Meir. We are not opposed to such variations of the name. To us, the main thing is that users love their MIRA !

In the first years of production, there was only one thing we had to do: change the color of the machine. Customers complained. “If your machine is a star, then why is it black?” So, at first, we changed it to light gray, and then to pure white, as it has been and is to this day.

 

NS CNC Milestones

Ahead lies a journey through the evolution of NS CNC milling machines. A voyage through blood, sweat, metal shavings and grease, all in the pursuit of that elusive vein of glittering gold

c.2000

PROTOTYPE X

An experiment went right and one of the first mills ever made by NS CNC’s founder, this breakthrough marked the beginning of our journey towards the MIRA series. This 4-axis + mill embodied the precision and detail needed to make beautiful jewelry using a manually adjustable 5th axis. With this framework in hand, development on more complex machines could begin.

2008

INGI 800

While most of our mills up to this point weren’t available for sale to the public, INGI marked a huge milestone for NS CNC. After more than two years in development, INGI was sold to a select few designers and served as a high precision mill in the early days. This machine began to incorporate better components, advancing technology that had barely even hit the market on a commercial level.

2009

MIRA 1

An experiment went right and one of the first mills ever made by NS CNC’s founder, this breakthrough marked the beginning of our journey towards the MIRA series. This 4-axis + mill embodied the precision and detail needed to make beautiful jewelry using a manually adjustable 5th axis. With this framework in hand, development on more complex machines could begin.

2010

MIRA 2

As with any new technology, the MIRA-1 left some room for improvement. So, we immediately began work on the next version. Very soon after the initial release of 5-axis technology to the market, MIRA-2 made its entry. The new design was slicker, waterproofing was added, and extra quality measures were taken to ensure precision in every cut.

2011

EVOKE

Whereas the MIRA-2 was designed for precision wax milling, some designers were looking for strength above all else. This, of course, led to the development of the EVOKE. A versatile little mill, it works as a 3-axis mill for reliefs, a 4-axis mill for jewelry (among other things), and as a solid lathe by simply switching out attachments. Soon, this mill became an industry staple that quickly grew in popularity.

2012

MIRA 2E

Once the EVOKE mill was ready, it was back to MIRA. This iteration, MIRA-2E, took the best of what MIRA-2 offered and added a few little tweaks that made a big difference. The enclosure kept milling debris contained while improvements to the rotary axis let the machine swing smoothly through operations. Perhaps most importantly, this version came with upgrades to the controls, improving the user interface and signal clarity. With this newly perfected model, designers were able to create some of the most ornate showpieces NS CNC has ever had the pleasure of facilitating.

2014

MIRA 3

With a continued focus on usability, MIRA-3 exhibited not only increased capacity and continued to improve quality, but it piloted our new CAM software. This software was brand new to the marketplace and opened doors to designers around the world. Whereas previous models required a higher level of technical knowledge, these advancements would make 5-axis milling accessible to a much broader audience.

2016

MIRA X5

With new markets came new challenges, and the MIRA-X5 was up to the task. This machine easily conquered new materials, from soft modeling wax to solid metal. With a completely enclosed work area to keep debris safely trapped, the machine utilizes a smart control system to deliver high precision models in almost any material.

2017

MIRA 6

Not to be slowed down, NS CNC continued work on jewelry focused mills. Now, with nearly a decade of experience making 5-axis mills, we were able to draw on past success (and some missteps) to create a machine that embodied simplicity, convenience, and aesthetics with an easy user interface and the enhanced automation of “Smart Rotary Heads” developed in MIRA-X5. The MIRA-6 indeed raised 5-axis milling to new heights.

2018

MIRA X7

Working always towards new heights and in the spirit of continuous innovation, NC CNC is excited to announce its latest creation on the way, MIRA-X7. This new mill can be used on the widest assortment of materials of any of our mills and boasts an Automatic Tool Changer. This new development has been in the works for a long time coming, and we’re genuinely proud of this latest advancement.

2020

2020 MIRA 6

The 2020 Mira 6 is very similar in appearance to our Mira 6 machines produced since 2017. But appearances can be deceiving. The new Mira 6 has undergone many improvements over the years. The body’s structural design has been enhanced, thereby making it more durable. 2020 Mira 6 has a new control system, new gears in the rotary tables, and much more.

2021

MIRA 8

Mira 8 is our heavy-duty successor to the Mira 6. We’ve added several new features that allow it to precisely mill medium and hard-density materials that its older sister previously couldn’t handle. You can also use the Mira 8 for micro-milling soft metals, various plastics, graphite, model wax, hardwood, and soft gemstones with ease.

ELARA

The Elara Mill is the continuation of the 3 and 4 axis milling machines which have been produced by NSCNC over the last 10 years. The Elara Mill improves in accuracy and strength over its predecessors with upgrades to its internal motor and motion systems.

2022

MIRA 6S

This machine has great strength, minimum vibration combined with the highest precision. It continues the family of Mira machines, with many improvements and new developments.

Our Manufacturing

NS CNC is very proud to say we manufacture our mills in our location near Vancouver, Canada. To achieve our high standards of precision and function, we keep close control over the manufacturing process, making many components in house. To do this, we use larger CNC mills to create uniform parts for our smaller, high precision mills. 

Our mills aren’t the only area where we’re continually improving. We continuously improve our manufacturing processes and technology to stay at the cutting-edge of new technology and continue to be a market leader.

As our counterparts in large CNC manufacturing improve, we utilize better tools to make smoother surfaces, meet strict tolerances, and maintain our reputation for excellence.

Attention to Detail

Creating high-quality parts is one thing, getting them to work together is another entirely. Before a mill is sent out to a customer, it goes through rigorous testing and calibrations, inside and out. These are a few of the tools we use to make sure our mills meet and exceed our clients’ expectations of precision and quality.

Being a leader in our field means continual improvement and innovation. This mantra is a core part of NS CNC from top to bottom. Every new model we release was painstakingly engineered and experimented on until we got the result we were looking for. However, we’re a fickle bunch. By working closely with our clients to obtain critical feedback, we’re always looking for the next challenge to conquer.

 

Family Matters

We may be very good at what we do, but we can’t do it alone. NS CNC is a proud ModuleWorks partner and part of a larger family of CNC experts. We are partnered to create the latest and greatest machining technologies with over 100 companies in all aspects of CAD / CAM / CNC business around the world

MJSA Journal September 2020
Stuller’s 50th Anniversary full-page advertisement with NS CNC Mira 6 milling wax mold