Cost savings aren’t the only thing a company must consider when searching for the right precision machining company to work with. After all, said projects require extreme attention to detail, and the experience to match. Making decisions based purely on the pocketbook could end up harming your bottom line in ways you didn’t expect.

To choose the right precision machining company, one needs to look beyond the cost of a run, and deep into their history. Company culture, team, longevity and other criteria play a vital role in the selection process. Here’s how to choose a precision machining company based on the right criteria so you can be sure you’ll get the job done right, the first time.

EXPERIENCE IS KEY

This is perhaps the most important part of choosing the right precision machining company. This is a highly detailed and demanding field that requires a know-how of multiple industries in order to succeed. The right company will have cut their teeth on all of them, and grown throughout the years to better themselves as technologies and techniques evolve. This experience helps companies adapt on a year-by-year basis so they are always ready for the next big thing. Better yet, an experienced company can take on a brand new project run with full confidence by implementing the strategies and techniques they’ve amassed over the years. Never underestimate experience – it’s the single-most important thing to look for a great precision machining company.

CERTIFICATIONS

Precision machining companies come in different sizes, each with their own unique set of specialties. However, it’s important to make sure that your company of choice is certified to handle jobs required by particular industries such as those B.C. Instruments are involved with. These include aerospace, nuclear, plastic injection molding, electro-optic and medical. None of these industries should be taken lightly, and precision machining companies need to be fully certified in order to make sure that their project runs are up to standard, and beyond. Make sure to inquire about ISO and similar certifications to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable entity.

INTERACTION

The best companies are the ones who are easy to work with, and precision machining is no different. It’s difficult to start out on a negative note with companies who are rude, impatient or indifferent to your needs. Similarly, keep tabs on how a company communicates with you when it comes to information and requests. If they’re taking a day or two to get back to you, this could spell trouble down the road. Conversely, if they’re responding to inquiries within an hour or two, they’ve definitely got your best interests at heart. None of this is a guarantee of quality, but it’s a step in the right direction, and a good signal that you’re dealing with a company that is used to making clients happy.

LEAD TIMES

Precision machining companies need to be on the ball when it comes to lead time evaluation. Missing dates is unacceptable, and the right companies know that they have to set a mark, and work within it. This does not mean that complications won’t arise during the production run, but the best companies will utilize their experience and commitment to customer satisfaction in order to pull double duty, re-evaluate a process, or re-think the run while still committing to the original date. The best precision machining companies are the ones who sometimes deliver before the delivery date. At B.C. Instruments, we’re proud to have such a track record when committing to client satisfaction.

ASK ABOUT EQUIPMENT

Your particular production run might be dependent on particular tools and machinery, which is why it’s a good idea to do a deep dive into a company’s offerings. The latest technologies are nice to have, but they’re worthless if your project requires CNC machining with a particular axis, or a laser engraver that the company does not possess. Knowing what a company is using is just as important as knowing their level of experience.

Second, it’s wise to inquire about the quantity of particular machines, as well. This can make or break a deadline. When speaking to a precision machining company, analyze the projected delivery date and measure it against the amount of machines they use. If something feels sketchy, inquire further rather than signing on the dotted line.

With a little know-how, you can locate the right precision machining company to trust with your next production run. B.C. Instruments prides itself on 40+ years of top-notch surface across the most prolific industries on Earth, and we continue to grow with the times. We’re trusted by our clients for good reason, and we invite you to contact us to discuss your next project with us.

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The term “Precision Machining�is a reference to the process that produces many of the objects we use both in our daily lives, and in high-tech industries. The world’s most complex engineering feats require a multitude of precise parts that work together to create a final product. This is as true with medical devices as it is with nuclear reactors that provide us energy.

One would be hard pressed to find a tool used in our modern world that did not require precision-machined parts. Therefore, it remains one of the most vital cogs of the world’s major industries. For some, this field can be hard to understand, which is why we recommend reading on to learn more about the process.

Precision Machining requires the ability to work within a set of drawings and models, either hard copy or electronic down to the finest detail. Even the most minor deviations are not acceptable and can ruin a project. Therefore, it’s especially important to work with a company that knows the business inside and out, and has the experience necessary to tackle the most demanding jobs. These skilled individuals often take 2-dimensional data, produce 3-dimensional models, generate required toolpaths and produce an actual part from a solid billet or bar to the designer’s original concept using the Precision Machining process. How does this work, one might ask?

Choosing the right size of raw material is the first step. The idea is to subtract away superfluous materials to form a shape. This is accomplished via machining tools such as sophisticated computer-controlled lathes, milling machines and grinders that whittle an item down to its exact print specifications. It’s an extremely technical procedure requiring strict adherence to guidelines. Some popular and common materials used in Precision Machining include carbon steels, stainless steels, engineered plastics, ceramics, glass, to name but a few. As substrate material is removed, these various materials are shaped to produce their end product. Once completed, these components are cleaned, sharp edges removed, cleaned again, dimensionally inspected. They offer require subsequent non-destructive testing to ensure base material integrity and protective coating to prevent unwanted oxidation. Then inspected once again and finally shipped to the client to be used in the assembly of larger-scale projects.

The process goes far beyond just these steps, however. The right producer needs to understand prototyping and volume manufacturing in order to service client’s needs correctly. For instance, B.C. Instruments employs a system which allows us to rapidly prototype a client’s required project and quickly work out a timetable for completion and delivery. This system has allowed us to stay robust as we service clients across a huge span of industries.

The types of tools used in Precision Machining are varied and highly complex pieces of machinery requiring the use of a skilled operator. These include the following:

• MILLING MACHINES – These machines are used to shape materials to their exact size using moving parts that subtract from the base material. These are some of the most common forms of Precision Machining.

• LATHES – These rotating tools are controlled by a CNC computer which is designed to carve intricate designs out of base materials. Some are customized depending on the project in question.

• LASER ENGRAVING – High powered lasers are able to make cuts into specific materials in order to further shape the final product. They may also be used to mark particular materials with pertinent info such as instructions, trademarks or product codes.

There’s so much that goes into Precision Machining that it’s impossible to go over every aspect, and that’s to be expected of a field so closely linked with everything that makes our world function as one would expect. For more information on the process of Precision Machining, we invite you to contact us today so we can discuss your next project.

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Understanding how the CNC Turning process is achieved can help one better understand the applications for industry. Typically the process involves taking a bar of metal material and securing it in a chuck which is rotated. While this is happening, a tool is inserted into the piece in order to shave off material and create a shape that will be used for the final product. This can be accomplished with a machine that creates one shape, or multiple shapes.

The base materials are typically round in shape, but this is not a hard requirement. What’s more important is the length of the material bar. Certain feeders can only handle particular lengths which affects the handling process. To determine the feasibility of a part before it is worked on, there are a few factors to consider.

1. CNC Turners tend to focus primarily on prototyping and smaller volume runs, so consider how many are needed for your particular application.
2. Check the maximum OD on the part to determine if it’s appropriate for the machine in question. Certain turning centers have particular maximum ODs and will not work beyond that size.
3. Lead time and projected volume are good requirements to work out beforehand, so the appropriate machines can be used.

CNC Turning is different from CNC Milling in a few ways. While both allow for patterns and details to be added to the material, the process is quite different. CNC Milling uses computer-controlled codes and commands that tell the mill how to drill and turn in order to cut materials to specification. By contrast, CNC Turning uses a single-point cutting tool system that is computer-controlled for a specific purpose. Materials are rotated and cut at varying speeds in order to perform the task.

The key takeaway from CNC Turning is volume, which is perhaps the most important factor to consider. The bigger the run, the more problematic the job will become. Make sure to double-check before proceeding so you can receive a proper estimate on the timeline and feasibility of using CNC Turning for your job.

For more information on the CNC Turning process and how you can get started, please contact us today so we can help.

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Laser Engravers come in a variety of different formats that are best suited for particular industries and product materials. CO2-based lasers work well for items such as woods and plastics, while ND:YAG and Fiber-based lasers work best on materials such as steel, nickel and aluminum. Typically, Laser Engraving machines operate based on a mixture of frequency, speed and focus in order to work properly. The machine fires laser energy at the desired material which creates heat at the point of focus, while the beam itself has no temperature. As such, it’s important to achieve a proper focus, or the laser simply cannot mark the material.

The lenses in Laser Engraving machines typically operate in one of two ways – fixed lens radius or track size. The latter is relegated mainly to CO2 and certain Fiber-based laser systems and involves the use of a bed-style laser where products can be set up single, or multiple at a time. A track mechanism marks products by moving the laser back and forth across the bed at high speeds to draw out the final design. Fixed lens radius lasers are typically stationery and involve the use of galvo-driven mirrors that adjust at blinding speeds to properly mark the material. Both types of lasers have their advantages and disadvantages. Fixed lens lasers do not need to physically move back and forth as a track-based laser needs to, but tend to offer smaller marking sizes in comparison.

Laser Engraving machines are considered a Class IV laser device, and require the use of specially designed safety goggles with proper filtering material in order to prevent severe eye injury or even blindness. This pertains mostly to open units, while many of today’s models include a door or hatch mechanism with special shielding so operators can keep tabs on a job without succumbing to eye damage. Most laser machines are incapable of damaging human skin given the necessary focusing properties mentioned before. However, care should still be exercised to provide mild or severe burns, depending on the intensity and power output of the laser. In short, don’t place your skin in the direct path of a laser.

B.C. Instruments uses 2 FOBA G10 Laser Engraving units which provide state of the art advancements in laser marking technology. This incredible machine is capable of not only marking products in the 2-dimensional space, but 3D deep engraving as well. At 100 watts, this is one of the more powerful lasers on the market with a rotary axis and a 120 x 120mm2 engraving field. This allows for large sized products or multiple smaller items to be engraved at a moment’s notice. We also utilize a Fiber Tower marking system from PTG Industries which features a powerful fiber-based laser to create 2D symbologies, linear barcodes, OCR code marking, alphanumerics, logos and more. 

For more information on how B.C. Instruments can take care of your product marking needs, get in touch with us today. Our superior laser systems and skilled operators guarantee precise quality work with high cost-effectiveness and a quick turnaround time.

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The resulting heat produces the welding effect without distorting the material and causing potential damage or distress. Adjusting this heat allows the Electron Beam Welder to penetrate more deeply into the material if so required. This is advantageous given the variety of material thicknesses being used in today’s projects. One of the greatest advantages of this process is the fact that it maintains up to 95% of the strength of the original materials being used, which is paramount for demanding industries with particular requirements, such as Aerospace. Another advantage is the lack of impurities normally generated by other processes (such as Laser Welding) due to the vacuum environment. 

Electron Beam Welding is similar in many respects to Laser Welding, but the key difference between the two lies in power output. Laser technologies have still not been refined enough at the consumer level to allow for the kind of cutting power offered by Electron Beam systems. This means that lasers are largely ineffective at cutting thicker materials, or those with higher reflective properties. This is due to the focusing apparatus and technologies inherent in most laser machines. As such, Electron Beam Welders are more versatile, but the process is quite precise. 

Practical applications for Electron Beam Welding machines include ships, bridges, electronic components and aircraft parts. B.C Industries utilizes a state of the art CNC Electron Beam Welder with a 12 x 12 x 12 chamber and steel penetration from .025mm to 18.0mm. The machine is fully computerized with straightforward controls and the ability to trace each welded component via report logs.

Electron Beam Welding is a common technique used by engineers working on projects that require incredible precision and material strength. As always, we strive to keep customer costs low by identifying them at the beginning of a project and factoring them into the timeline. The result is a highly beneficial, cost-efficient design-for-manufacturing project cycle that we have perfected over the last decade.

For more information on Electron Beam Welding, our techniques, and the industries we have served, feel free to get in touch with us today.

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CNC Milling is largely an automated process thanks to the technology that goes into the machines, but they do require an operator to be on standby to set up and supervise the process. This can include attaching tools to the spindle that can be hot-swapped during the milling process if this option is supported by the machine in question. By automating most of the process, B.C. Instruments can output work much faster and with greater efficiency.

The milling process is similar to what many might have seen in high school shop class, but the technology involved is much more complex. A rotating tool continuously cuts away at the material in order to slice off chips that end up creating the product shape. Newer CNC Milling machines utilize a technique known as climb milling which reduces operational costs by preventing temperature buildup and other wear and tear on the tools.

CNC Milling machines come in several common forms starting with Bed-Type. This design is built with stability in mind due to the weight of the parts, and the long bed format allows multiple parts to be attached to reduce production time. Knee-Type mills are designed for medium or smaller part sizes due to their decreased stability, plus limits on part sizes. The nature of Knee-Type mills means they are well suited to prototypes, single-run projects or maintenance. Ram-Type mills offer back-and-forth motion on an X or Y axis with an optional swiveling cutting head, and Planer-Type mills are similar in many respects to Bed-Type mills, but feature multi-directional spindles and the ability to handle more milling tools during a single project.

When it comes to materials, CNC Milling machines are quite versatile depending on the project’s individual requirements. Much of this is decided during the concept phase in order to maintain an optimal balance between efficiency and cost-savings. These materials typically include brass, stainless steel, aluminum, nylon, polycarbonate, ABS and more.

B.C. Instruments uses an advanced Mori-Seiki 5-axis Vertical Mill-Turn machining system that mixes high speed with impeccable accuracy for today’s most demanding orders. It also helps guarantee that orders ship on time without any unnecessary holdups. From the very start of the project, we factor in as many upfront costs as possible to work out the right plan to save our customers money, simply by determining the right workflow. Add in our highly trained and skilled personnel, and B.C. Instruments is ready to tackle any project great or small.

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