A machining parts manufacturer uses a variety of cutting, grinding and other machinist processes to create precise components that have very tight tolerances. Many of these components are used in products that require highly specific and accurate measurements for optimal function, such as auto parts, aircraft engines and marine equipment. The manufacturers of machined parts typically use metals, but may work with other materials as well. These companies often make precision machined parts for other companies, product designers and R&D departments.
These companies may provide a range of machining services, including CNC turning, CNC milling, traditional lathe machining and grinding. They can also provide welding and a variety of finishing processes, such as plating, etching and silk screening. They can also help with design and prototype development, reducing the time and expense of producing new parts in-house. They can handle both low and high volume production orders.
Machining parts manufacturer can offer a wide variety of secondary services, such as deburring, drilling, knurling, tapping, reaming and countersinking. They can also provide welding, heat treating, passivating and powder coating. They can also do a variety of other fabrications, such as bending, forming and shear forming. They can also offer assembly and packaging.
Using a machining parts manufacturer can save an organization time and money by eliminating the need to purchase specialized machinery in-house. These companies can also work with an organization to develop a prototype, which can be used for testing and development purposes before starting full-scale production. This can reduce the overall cost of the project and ensure that all necessary components are available when the final product is ready for market.
The main advantage of working with a machining parts manufacturer is that they can handle a wider variety of materials than in-house manufacturing processes. They can work with a broad spectrum of metals, including steel, stainless steel (17-4 and 316), aluminum, titanium and tool steels. They can also work with various plastics and other materials, as long as the material is machinable.
Machined parts are more durable than molded parts, and they are much less likely to deform. This makes them ideal for applications in which a part must perform a highly specific task, such as holding screws or performing a mechanical function. They can also be more affordable than molded parts, making them an option for low-volume production.
Unlike molded parts, which are limited by their thin wall thicknesses, machined parts can be made with very thick walls. However, the wall thickness should be a minimum of 0.8 mm (metal) or 1.5 mm (plastic), to avoid vibrations and other damage when cutting. Tall protruding sections can also be difficult to cut, as they can cause the machining tools to vibrate and produce inaccurate results. For this reason, it is usually best to design these sections into the part before submitting it for machining. If this is not possible, a different manufacturing process should be used.