ANDREW TOOL HISTORY

At Andrew Tool, we are proud of our history and accomplishments. We have a long history of excellence, trailing back to the seeds of our company that were planted in the 1960s.

1960s

Dave Dulebohn was employed by Dayon Rogers Company as an engineer on the Andrew Project, developing tracer milling machines.
1968

Dave Dulebohn purchased the tracer milling machine-building business rights and started his own company, Andrew Engineering.
Late 1960s

Andrew Engineering’s original product was a tracer milling machine that controlled the tool path with an optical tracer that followed a line on a specially created precision drawing.
Late 1960s: Innovation & Engineering
- Dave expanded the product line with a high-precision table assembly he designed to mount on a Moore jig grinder, adding the ability to drive an additional axis that kept the grinding wheel normal to the contour being ground.
- The creation of the precision drawing was a time-consuming task. Thus, the Andrew Engineering team developed the Linemaster 118 CNC Drawing Machine, controlled by a PDP 8 minicomputer.
- Dave attended a tool show in Europe and was fascinated by the new-fangled wire EDM process being shown by Swiss builders. However, the $150,000 price tag was out of reach for many shops. On the plane ride home, Dave sketched the original concept for an American-made wire EDM on a napkin.
- A prototype of the new American-made wire EDM system, based on technology from the Linemaster series of machines, was constructed utilizing a modified Eltee sinker power supply and presented at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS).
Early 1970s
- Dave improved the prototype and the Made in USA Andrew 123 and 125 Wire EDM machines were born, incorporating several groundbreaking technologies that leapfrogged ahead of the Swiss machines of the time, including CNC closed loop control vs. NC open loop control; moving column design with stationary workpiece mounted on a granite bed; patented parallelogram linkage computer-driven C-axis for one-pass taper cutting; 12” x 12” travel on the Andrew 123, and 24” x 12” travel on the Andrew 125; a $79,500 price tag.
- One-pass taper cutting revolutionized the tool & die industry, creating a segment that makes a complete die consisting of punch, die, stripper, and shedder in one cut.
Mid 1972

Andrew Engineering released a 2nd generation of the Made in USA Andrew 123 and 125 Wire EDMs incorporating an in-house designed power supply. Producing most components in-house required Andrew to acquire substantial grinding and tool-making capabilities and capacity.

The contract jobbing division, Andrew Tool, moved to another building.

Andrew Engineering became very successful with the building and marketing of the wire EDM system.
1972
- Norb Fischer was hired to start and manage a contract jobbing division of Andrew Engineering Company.
1975
- Randy Mattis was hired as an apprentice surface grinder from trade school.
1978

Charmilles purchased Andrew Engineering, and the company became Charmilles/Andrew.
Late 1970s: A New Generation of Ingenuity
- Charmilles/Andrew manufactured 3rd and 4th generations of the Andrew 123 and 125 Wire EDM machines, increasing travel up to 15” x 30”, producing four machines per month and employing as many as 260 people.
- Charmilles/Andrew released a lower-cost wire machine nicknamed the “sewing machine” as its 6” x 9” of travel was housed within a table.
Early 1980s
- Charmilles decided to close Minnesota operations and liquidate the assets, including the tool division, which employed 8 to 10 people.
1983

Norb Fischer formulated a plan to spin off the tool division from Charmilles with the financial help of Dave Dulebohn, Dave’s wife Eleanor Dulebohn, and Dr. Winston Lindberg as investors. The new company is named Andrew Tool Company.
- Dave Dulebohn served as engineer and advisor, Dr. Lindberg as an advisor, and Norb Fischer as managing partner. The company prospered through precision contract jobbing and, over the next few years, grew to 20 employees.
Mid 1980s

Utilizing Dr. Lindberg’s advice as an ophthalmologist and Dave’s engineering design skills, the company ventured into ophthalmic instrument building. The venture was successful enough to attract a contract with a large firm in Texas, Alcon Surgical.
Early 1990s
- Bruce Hanson was hired as a Shop Supervisor.
- Dave Dulebohn sold Andrew Tool to Bruce, Randy, and Norb.
Mid 1990s
- Andrew Tool purchased its first CNC machine, a 3-axis Hurco vertical milling machine. Within two years, the company owned 3 Hurcos.
- The company cut its teeth in the precision microelectronics arena by working for IBM, Hutchinson Technologies, and Seagate.
1999

Bruce Hanson and Randy Mattis bought out Norb. Norb subsequently retired.
2003
- Andrew Tool purchased Superior Tool (now the Maple Grove location).
Late 2000s
- The company purchased a building (now the Plymouth location) and added its first 5-axis CNC milling machine, a Hermle C600.
2010s
- The company purchased its first 5-axis CNC multi-tasking machine, an Okuma Multus B300-W.
- The company used its experience in design for manufacturability and machining to manufacture a new line of performance prosthetics for BioDapt.
- Andrew Tool purchased its first 5-axis CNC pallet milling machine, a Yasda PX30i.
2011

Andrew Tool had its first foray into manufacturing space components, machining 14 components for the actuators that drive the 7.5 ft arm of the NASA Mars Rover Curiosity. This successful project led to future involvement with NASA (Goddard & JPL) missions and instruments.
2020 & Beyond
- Andrew Tool added its first 3-axis CNC surface grinder, an Amada Techster 126.
- Andrew Tool continues to grow, adding relevant equipment and technology to provide customers with a full range of capabilities. We look forward to a future of challenges.