Safety and efficiency across machining operations are more important than ever. Setting best practices helps machinists more effectively leverage existing resources and meet precise design requirements. At N.J. McCutchen, we strive to help our clients maintain strong operations, product quality, and business security. That’s part of why we continue to refine our machining services in Stockton in line with best practices.
Machining Best Practices
As part of our optimized machining services, we prioritize several key machining principles to optimize machining and ensure reliable results.
Excessive Material Removal
Machining starts with larger substrate pieces, which undergo subtractive processes like cutting and drilling to shape the workpiece into its final form. Compared to additive processes like 3D printing, where the material costs are determined by the final amount or volume of material in each unit, material costs of subtractive manufacturing processes depend on the volume of the starting material.
At N.J. McCutchen, we use efficient removal processes to minimize the amount of material waste and lower related costs.
Machine Setups
Optimizing machining operations starts with efficient and simple machine setups. At N.J. McCutchen, we match the machine to the specific operational requirements. Streamlining the setup through standardization cuts down on setup time, reducing all the associated costs.
Optimization doesn’t just translate to visible efficiency. Some setup steps that can improve overall manufacturability include:
- Breaking up complex operations as needed
- Thinking through the sequence of operations to minimize waste and delays
- Training staff to adhere to standard processes without exceptions
Proper Conditions
Setting up proactive routine maintenance programs is critical to maintain optimal operating conditions and machining capabilities. Regularly scheduling maintenance can reduce the risk of catastrophic breakdowns, costly repairs, and unscheduled downtime.
It is also important to use the right machines for different operations. Rigid machining should be used for heavy-duty machining, while faster machines can handle light machining with multiple operations. At N.J. McCutchen, we make sure we have the right equipment on hand and ready to meet the physical requirements of the job.
Material Selection
Selecting the right materials at the start of a machining job can help ensure product success. Different materials provide specific material characteristics like strength, flexibility, and even cost-effectiveness. The team at N.J. McCutchen is here to support our clients in selecting the right materials based on the needs of the finished product and the material’s machinability. The following are some material selection practices to keep in mind:
- Hard metals like aluminum and low-carbon steel have a high machinability and low deformability, resulting in greater precision.
- Copper and soft metals can gum up tools quickly, bogging down production.
- Titanium and stainless steel become harder with more machining, which can lead to longer or more complex machining operations.
Our machining experts in Stockton can advise you on how different materials behave during machining to help you select the right option for your application.
Contact N.J. McCutchen for Machining Services in Stockton
Standardized, organized, and well-managed machining processes can give Stockton-area businesses the fabrication and machining services they’re looking for. At N.J. McCutchen, we offer a wide range of machining services to businesses in local manufacturing, construction, and industrial markets. We’ve specialized in fabrication and machining for over 50 years, and we operate in a 50,000-square-foot facility for comprehensive in-house machining.
Contact us today to learn more or start your machining order.