Key Benefits of Automation

Computer numerical control (CNC) machines are redefining the way that manufacturers create specialized components, finished products and everything in between. CNC lathes, drills, mills and other devices are disrupting virtually every industry, from aerospace to publishing. Today, tools from companies like Fastems are improving the way that automation in Louviers, CO can impact the efficiency, speed and productivity of your manufacturing operations.

There are a number of benefits associated with using CNC machining tools over conventional, manually operated machining systems. Increased automation improves accuracy, speed and efficiency, especially in large-batch production operations. Here are just some of the reasons CNC tools are now the preferred method of developing components and finished products:

• More precise: One of the most significant benefits of machining operations is its ability to increase the degree of precision with which components and products can be produced. Using a CNC production process, it’s capable to create products and components that perfectly mirror computer models and projections, ensuring greater accuracy.

• Better scalability: Another significant benefit of the CNC manufacturing process is its ability to rapidly scale up production. Using a single computer-based model, a single machine can rapidly reproduce a product or component virtually on its own. Increased automation tools are making scalability substantially more attainable for companies of all sizes.

• Improved capabilities: Even the most talented machinists and engineers simply can’t achieve what computer-based systems are capable of. Using a CNC manufacturing process, you can push your materials to do things that previously didn’t seem possible. These improved capabilities can do a lot for your business.

• Less labor: CNC machining systems require limited human staff to help them produce large amounts of products or components. Reduced labor levels lowers the cost of producing each product or component, and also leads to a safer and less crowded workspace.

• Improved safety: Today, CNC machines do all of the dangerous work that was previously performed by machinists and engineers. The presence of CNC machines in the modern workplace is making the risk of getting maimed in a machine shop substantially lower.

• Better uniformity: In the past, it was nearly impossible to perfectly replicate a single design over and over and over again. Today, however, precision automation technology is allowing machinists to create products and components that are perfect replicas of each other using a single computer-based model. CNC machines are going a long way toward improving manufacturing uniformity.

• Lower maintenance and operational costs: Compared with traditional production methods, CNC machines are exceptionally cost-effective to operate and maintain. CNC machines require less annual upkeep and maintenance than traditional machines. Additionally, because of the lack of labor associated with using a CNC machine, they’re much more cost-effective from an operational standpoint.

Since 2008, Focused on Machining has been leading the way toward better manufacturing outcomes. We’re proud of our advanced degree of automation in Louviers, CO. To learn more about our robust manufacturing processes, our highly advanced equipment sets and more, contact one of our friendly representatives today.

The Best Materials for the Best Parts from Your Metal Machine Shop in Louviers, CO

Your projects demand precision quality. Each component must deliver top-notch performance to ensure the success of your operations. For this to happen, each part must be made of quality materials. It’s essential that your metal machine shop in Louviers, CO use the only the best.

At Focused on Machining, that’s precisely what we do. Following is a quick guide to the materials we work with to produce excellent results for our customers.

Alloy Steels

• 4130 Chromium-Molybdenum Steel Bars and Plates: This versatile alloy offers good mechanical properties, excellent wear and abrasion resistance. It also provides greater weldability than other alloys. It is a useful and widely accepted alloy, present in hand tools, axles, gears, sprockets, fasteners, piston rods and well-head components.

• 4140/42/45/50 Chromium-Molybdenum Steel Bars and Plates: These oil-hardening steels offer high hardenability. They are widely used due to their wear resistance, toughness, ductility and stress resistance at high temperatures. They are particularly good for forging because of their self-scaling qualities.

• 4340 Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steel Bars and Plates: This is the best steel for parts that operate under sever conditions or that require a high margin of safety. It offers high hardenability, maintains strength and ductility at high temperatures and has great non-distorting properties.

Aluminum

• 2024 Aluminum: This metal offers a good strength-to-weight ratio. Its fatigue resistance and strength make it a top choice. It can be machined to a high finish. This aluminum is often used for truck wheels, transportation parts and aircraft fittings.

• 6061 Aluminum: This grade of aluminum can be welded by all methods as well as furnace brazed. It offers corrosion resistance and versatility. It is frequently used for structural components, truck bodies and screw machine parts.

• 7075 Aluminum: Offering an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, this metal is perfect for parts that experience high stress. It is good for spot or flash welding projects. It is often used when the greatest strength is needed.

Cold Finish Carbon Bars and Cold Rolled Strip

• 1018 Cold Finished Bars: This steel is better than other choices for carburized parts. It offers good machining characteristics and top mechanical properties. Its characteristics make it suitable for parts that require high surface hardness and a soft core, such as worms, chain pins and dogs.

• 1117 Cold Finished Bars: This low-carbon, high-manganese steel offers quality mechanical properties. It also possesses desirable carburizing properties. These properties make it the metal best for ratchets, king pins, gears and pinions.

• 1141 Cold Finished Bars: These medium-carbon steels offer free machining properties and greater mechanical properties than other metals in their class. They are ideal for bolts, studs, pins, axles and machinery parts that need close finish tolerances.

Choose the Best

When you want the best materials for the best parts, partner with the pros. Focused on Machining is your go-to metal machine shop in Louviers, CO. We build the perfect custom pieces for our customers. Our experienced team gets your order right the first time and takes care of all post-machining processes and special deliveries. Contact us today to get started on your next project.

Tips from Your CNC Machine Shop in Louviers, CO: How to Choose the Right Pecking Cycle

You’re ready to dive into your next machining project. You have the space, the tools and the materials. But, do you have a plan? More importantly, do you have the right plan in place?

Many drilling jobs require pecking cycles. To get the best results, you must choose the right pecking cycle for the job at hand. Your CNC machine shop in Louviers, CO offers the following guide to help you with your project.

What is a Pecking Cycle?

Pecking cycles are a method of drilling that involve drilling a little at a time. Rather than one long, deep plunge into the material, the drill goes through a cycle of passes, “pecking” away at the material. You can think of it as a woodpecker chipping away at a tree.

Why are Pecking Cycles Used?

Pecking cycles help prevent chip packing and breakage, aids the evacuation process, improves tool accuracy and minimizes walking. The final result is a better completed component.

When Should Peck Drilling be Used?

Peck drilling is typically used at CNC machines shops in Louviers, CO when the project requires drilling holes that are deeper than three and one-half drill diameters.

Why is the right pecking cycle important?

Not all pecking cycles are the same. Various cycles are used based on the materials being drilled, the type of drill being used and the product that is being created. By using the best pecking cycle, you will extend the life of your tools and improve their performance. Your machining will also result in a higher-quality final product.

Which Pecking Cycle is Best?

There are at least five different common pecking cycles to choose from. Different cycles should be used for miniature drills and high-performance drills. For high performance drills use, there are different pecking cycles for use on aluminum and aluminum alloys, hardened steels and pre-hardened steels. A good rule of thumb when choosing a pecking cycle is to base your choice on the hardness of the material. The harder the material, the shorter the pecking depths should be.

What Should be Avoided When Peck Drilling?

It’s important that chips not fall back into the drill hole as the drilling is completed. You should avoid letting the coolant or mist wash the chips back inside the hole. A good method to avoid this is to not pull the drill completely free of the hole as it undergoes the peck cycle.

Another thing to keep in mind is that peck drilling is not recommended when using carbide drills. The brittle carbide can be easily chipped during this process.

Find Out More

Would you like to learn more about peck drilling and its uses? Before you start on your next project, contact your local CNC machine shop in Louviers, CO. The experts at Focused on Machining can answer any questions you have and help you choose the best pecking cycle for your drilling. We bring more than a decade of experience to every project and are committed to making your endeavor a success. Reach our professionals today at 303-922-3076.

What Exactly Is Anodizing in Louviers, CO?

Anodizing is one process used to increase a metal part’s resistance to corrosion through the formation of a new layer of oxide on its surface. The treated part then forms the anode electrode of an electrical circuit. The process improves corrosion resistance, enhances the part’s resistance to general wear and tear and creates better adhesion for glues and paint primers than would otherwise be experienced in using just bare metal.

Anodizing can also be performed for strictly cosmetic purposes. For example, it can create thick, porous coatings that easily absorb dyes, or can be used for films that make thick, transparent coatings that reflect light through the use of various interference effects. If you’ve ever seen cyclists wearing reflective clothing at night, that’s one common example of anodizing.

How does the process work?

Creating the protective oxide coating characteristic of the anodizing process is achieved electrolytically. The metal that will be treated, usually aluminum, is fully submerged in an electrolytic solution with a cathode. The next step involves passing a current through the acid solution, causing hydrogen to be released from the cathode and resulting then in the formation of oxygen on the surface of an anode. Once this process occurs, a metal oxide film begins to form on the surface of the treated part.

Depending on the application the part will be used for, the oxide layer can be expanded significantly. In fact, you could grow the layer up to 100 times as thick as an oxide layer that would exist in a natural state on an aluminum part that had only been exposed to oxygen.

The term “anodizing” comes from the fact that the metal part being treated forms an anode.

Parts made with anodized aluminum and aluminum alloys are significantly more durable than non-treated parts, holding up to general wear and tear and corrosion. The anodizing process also helps to protect the part against galling, a specific type of wear caused by the friction of two different parts of threaded components rubbing up against each other repeatedly.

Overall, this added durability means an anodized part can be expected to last much longer than a part that has not been anodized.

Benefits of anodizing

Beyond the additional durability and corrosion resistance offered by the anodizing process, what are some of its other biggest benefits? Here are just a few examples:

• The anodizing process results in a much thinner coating compared to powder coating and painting, which can be helpful for parts that need to be smaller and thinner while maintaining a certain level of durability.

• The coating is even harder than powder coating.

• The process is environmentally friendly, and the finish can easily be recycled.

• It is a less expensive process than painting and powder coating, while providing more durable results.

To learn more about the process of anodizing in Louviers, CO and the various benefits associated with using anodized parts, we encourage you to contact Focused On Machining today with any questions you have.

Our “Just in Time” Inventory Services: A Benefit of Working with Our Metal Machine Shop in Louviers, CO

One of the many benefits of working with our metal machine shop in Louviers, CO is our “Just in Time” inventory service. This is a great way for companies we work with on a regular basis to stay fully stocked with all of the supplies they need to maintain smooth operations.

How it works is simple. Basically, we will over-order the parts you need, so if you need that same part again quickly, we’ll already have it ready to go for you. This is an ideal solution for parts that tend to wear down quickly or need to be replaced regularly for maintenance purposes.

This method of overstocking inventory that we use on a regular basis comes with a variety of extra benefits to our customers, including:

• Greater customer satisfaction: Perhaps the biggest benefit this service provides is that it makes your job so much easier. When a part breaks down, you don’t have to worry about whether we’ll have it in stock, because we will. We understand how important it is for you to be able to get these parts in a timely manner, and that other businesses risk alienating their customers by not having plenty of parts in stock. You’ll never have to worry about that being an issue when you work with us.

• Discounts: We’re able to get better prices on parts when we order them in bulk rather than ordering them individually. As a result, we’re able to pass these savings down to you, as we won’t have to charge as much to keep reasonable profit margins. Since we already know through our partnership that you’ll need the part again in the future, this is a deal that works out well for both of us, allowing each of us to save some cash in the long run.

• Fewer delays: There’s nothing that can hamper cash flow and productivity like work stoppages and delays. Even a small part can result in an entire operation being shut down for days at a time if the company is not able to get that part replaced quickly. But because you know you’ll always be able to trust that we have your parts in stock, you won’t have to worry about these horrifying delays and shutdowns ever becoming a reality for your company.

• Better ongoing business relationship: Our Just in Time inventory program is designed specifically for customers we’re already working with on a regular basis, but it goes the extra mile in giving our customers what they need to run their businesses more efficiently. This also results in a better ongoing business relationship between our company and yours, as we’ll regularly be in communication about the parts you need for your operation.

These are just a few of the main benefits associated with our Just in Time inventory service. To learn more about this and other special deals Focused On Machining offers our customers, contact our metal machine shop in Louviers, CO. We look forward to serving you!

What Is CNC Machining?

CNC machining in Louviers, CO is a type of manufacturing process in which computer software controls the movement of the tools used to cut out parts being machined. The process can be used with many different types of machines, including lathes, routers, mills and grinders.

CNC stands for “computer numerical control.” The whole idea is to increase the accuracy and repeatability of manufacturing specific parts and to eliminate human error in the manufacturing process. Manual control over these machines has many limitations, including the need to guide the commands of all of these machining tools with wheels, buttons and levers.

Manufacturers program their desired cuts into the software, then send the patterns to the corresponding machinery, which execute the cuts as desired in an almost robotic manner. A code generator within the numerical system assumes the mechanisms are flawless, though there are still chances for errors to occur, especially if the machine will cut in more than one direction at once.

All CNC programming gets retained in the computer’s memory. The code used for the machining gets written and edited by special CNC programmers, and pre-existing programs can be revised at any time to implement new code that either corrects any problems that arise or makes a brand new type of part.

Types of CNC machines

Here’s a quick overview of some of the most common types of CNC machines used in manufacturing settings:

• CNC mills: CNC mills can run programs with letter- or number-based prompts. The type of programming used for the mill will be either based on G-code or another unique language created by a team of manufacturers. Most basic mills have a three-axis system, though most new mills can accommodate up to six total axes.

• Lathes: Lathes cut pieces in a circular direction with great speed and precision. They are frequently used to produce more complex designs that are not possible on manual lathes. Most CNC lathes have just two axes.

• Plasma cutters: The material placed into a plasma cutter gets cut with a plasma torch. The process is typically used with metal materials, but can also be used with other types of materials. The machine generates plasma through a combination of electrical arcs and compressed-air gas, which produces the heat and speed necessary to slice through metal materials.

• Water jet cutters: Water jets cut very hard materials, such as metal and granite, by using very focused, high-pressure water streams. The water is often mixed with sand or another strong abrasive substance to increase its cutting power. Many factory machine parts are made using this process. The process also doesn’t generate nearly as much heat like other CNC machines, which is helpful for materials that would be unable to bear such heat exposure.

For more information about some of the most common types of CNC machines and what exactly CNC machining in Louviers, CO is used for, we encourage you to contact Focused on Machining with your questions. We look forward to assisting you soon!