Tag : cnc machinist

cnc machine shop

Top 10 Qualities Manufacturing Companies Look for in New Employees

The usual strong back, a robust pair of hands, and committed work ethic used to be the most desirable qualities of a new hire in manufacturing. While these attributes are important, there has been a transition from assembly-line manufacturing to technology-based manufacturing, thus impacting the way a CNC Machine Shop hires prospective talent. Today’s workers require a wider scope of skills for success including,

One: Ability to be Cross-Trained

Whether you are applying for a position as a CNC machinist in a CNC machine shop, line worker, quality engineer or other Denver manufacturing function, you must be flexible enough to cross-train in other areas. There are so many job tasks required to keep manufacturing running smoothly so those employees who have been cross-trained are highly valuable to the company.

Life happens – employees go on vacation, get sick, or don’t show up for work. If you can be cross-trained in a variety of functions, supervisors can add you to fill in the gaps. Also, those who showcase the ability to be cross-trained in a variety of functions make excellent supervisors and trainers in the future.

Two: Ambition

Although you may start in an entry-level position as a CNC machine shop Denver-based employee, that does not mean you cannot rise through the ranks. Companies want employees who are driven and motivated, who will go beyond the normal scope of their position when requested.

Ambitious employees are hard-working individuals who are regularly searching for ways to become more efficient and effective. These types of workers always have a higher chance of being considered for more challenging jobs when the opportunity presents itself.

Alongside ambition, hiring managers search for integrity and honesty during the interviewing process. For instance, when recognized for an achievement, the ambitious worker commends their colleagues who helped them succeed. Appreciating co-workers shows you are a team player who may be right for a leadership position in the future.

Three: Attention to Detail

Whether you are working for an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), in a custom machine shop or some other type of production, attention to detail is of the utmost importance. There are few positions where attention to detail is not important.

In manufacturing and when designing custom machined parts in a CNC machine shop, speed and precision are critical. Most manufacturing plants require the operation or interaction with heavy machinery so a lack of attention to detail can result in danger for you and your colleagues.

Four: Critical Thinking

The modern manufacturing employee must be able to think fast and quickly troubleshoot even the smallest of issues before they become major problems. Supervisors cannot individually solve every little issue throughout the day. Therefore, hiring managers seek those who can make accurate, rational, and quick decisions when unforeseen circumstances arise.

Five: Dependability

Although this is a required trait for any position, it is especially true in precision manufacturing and other areas of production. Manufacturing plants are large spaces with many employees so supervisors must be able to account for their staff with little oversight. Employees who excel with little supervisor involvement will create a successful career.

In addition to being dependable daily, arriving on time and ready to work is related. The best rule of thumb is to target arriving 15-minutes early so that you are not rushing to your station or work area. Rushing can also lead to a safety issue in an industrial environment.

Six: Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm runs together with the ability to be cross-trained and ambition but is slightly different. Manufacturers want candidates who are passionate about the job with which they are seeking. The passion and enthusiasm for a position should be glaringly obvious during the interview process.

Those who love their job tend to stay with companies longer than those who are only seeking a paycheck. Enthusiasm and passion are excellent traits for new employees to possess because they become useful to the company when leadership opportunities arise in the future. Enthusiasm from younger employees is especially key as management can help mold them into the perfect employee for that organization.

Seven: Interest in Technology

All US manufacturers love those who are genuinely interested in technology since it is a regularly evolving field that changes manufacturing operations. As soon as five years ago, the smartphone revolutionized manufacturing, and today, it is drones. In a few more years, production could be driven by artificial intelligence.

By showing a learning interest in technology, you are sending a message that you want to be part of their organization for the long-haul. When submitting your resume, make sure to highlight this desire to learn and succeed.

Eight: Positive Attitude

Possessing a positive attitude is essential for all positions. However, in manufacturing, there are many difficult tasks and positions that need to be fulfilled to ensure smooth and efficient manufacturing. Therefore, when asked to do an unfavorable task, those employees who do it with a smile on their face will always shine above those who complain and grumble.

Having a positive attitude during an interview process speaks volumes about the character of the candidate. For instance, all employees have dealt with difficult work situations in the past and when this question arises, those candidates who positively explain the problem and their solution, are a much larger asset to the organization.

Nine: Strong Communication

Communication is a top skill to possess in all industries but is especially essential for CNC manufacturing. If you can successfully communicate with your co-workers and superiors to achieve greater goals for the company, this shows you are a team player who is committed to the success of the organization. This makes you a highly valuable and well-respected employee.

Ten: Team Player

All types of manufacturing cannot be successful unless all employees work as a team. From assembly line production to technology-based manufacturing, all employees must do their part in the process to ensure the next worker can do theirs. Even at the management level, all departments must work together to meet the goals of the organization.

While all these skills are critical to being successful in manufacturing, it is rare to find an employee who possesses them all. However, through continuous personal development of manufacturing employees, supervisors, and upper management, skills can be refined, and new traits can be learned to better foster and improve these traits.

If you feel you embody these traits, contact Tag Team Manufacturing and apply for a position in their Colorado CNC Machine Shop.

Safety procedures in a cnc manufacturing facility. Work Safety concept.

How to Stay Safe in a Manufacturing Facility

Safety in the workplace is important no matter what line of work someone is in, but in the cnc manufacturing industry, it’s one of the most important factors. Manufacturing, with its heavy-duty equipment, long hours, and endlessly tight deadlines supporting other industries around the world, can be extremely dangerous if the necessary safety precautions aren’t taken by staff and the managers.

Here’s what manufacturers and CNC manufacturing employees should keep in mind to ensure safety in the workplace.

Ensure Everyone Gets the Same Safety Training

One of the most common causes of injury in the workplace is not adhering to safety procedures designed to keep workers safe. Workers may disregard the rules, forget them after a period of work without being reminded of them, or may never even have been taught them in the first place.

To ensure workers are following safety regulations that will keep them safe, hold regular training courses on how to safely use and handle different machines and hazardous materials in the company and have supervisors watch to ensure workers are following the facility’s protocols.

Wear Safety Gear

Stories of gruesome injuries, disfigurement, and even death from lack of safety equipment have cropped up in countless stories over the years. Sometimes a pair of safety goggles are the only thing standing between a manufacturing facility employee and permanent blindness, and the risk of injury from lack of safety equipment usage is one that can be remediated with minimal expense.

To minimize the risk of injury from improper safety gear usage, all employees should undergo basic safety training, and supervisors should perform routine checks to ensure employees are wearing their safety equipment as instructed. Any safety gear with replacement dates should have their expiration date cataloged so the cnc manufacturing facility can replace them.

Ensure There Are No Slip and Trip Hazards

Slick and otherwise hazardous floor conditions can be extremely dangerous for workers when they’re on the job. A fall can mean sprains, bruises, broken bones, and even muscular tears depending on the severity of the fall. If a worker is holding equipment when they fall, their injuries could be worsened. Because of this, it’s important for manufacturing companies to ensure there are protections in place to minimize the risk of falls in the facility.

To minimize the risk of falls, ensure that flooring in the necessary areas is equipped with non-slip mats. Non-slip sprays can also be applied to reduce the risk of falling, and workers can be outfitted with no-slip boots to further lower the risk. Any one of these would work well on its own, but a combination of the above can greatly reduce the number of falls in the cnc manufacturing facility.

Keep Emergency Exits Free and Clear

Because of the risk of fire and other incidents within a cnc manufacturing facility, it’s important for emergency exits to be free and clear, as well as explicitly labeled to ensure workers know where to go in the event of an emergency. Incidents in unregulated factories in the past have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of workers; these fatalities underscore the importance of having emergency evacuation routes and protocols in place should the worst ever happen.

To ensure clear and easy evacuations in the event of an emergency, clearly label emergency exits and consider marking the paths to them to ensure walkways remain clear at all times. Signs should be posted indicating that a hallway is part of an emergency route, and supervisors should regularly conduct checks to ensure those routes remain clear.

Eliminate Fire Hazards

There are a number of fire hazards present in any cnc manufacturing facility, and some are more subtle than an unspecialized eye could ever detect. Fires, which can destroy expensive equipment and injure or even kill workers, can come from a multitude of different places, so it’s important to prepare as needed to prevent and manage them. To prevent fires in your manufacturing facility, keep in mind these potential sources of fires:

  • Combustible dust.
  • Hot work.
  • Flammable chemicals.
  • Equipment and machinery malfunction.
  • Electrical hazards.

Because of the number of ways a fire can break out, it can be difficult to prevent or reduce the risk of fires in a facility. Follow a regular cleaning schedule to prevent dust buildup, and enforce strict training and adherence to chemical storage and usage policies, as well as safety guidelines for when hot work is necessary. Equipment, machinery, and wiring should be inspected regularly to ensure all parts are in good working condition and all wiring is still workable with no risk of overloading circuits.

Store Hazardous Materials Safely

Hazardous material use and storage can be an overwhelming set of rules to learn. Hundreds or even thousands of chemicals may be used by a manufacturing facility on a regular basis, and though workers may not need to use them all, a single mistake can result in severe chemical burns or toxic gases leaking into the facility.

To ensure safe hazardous material storage and safety, ensure workers are thoroughly trained in the use of materials they will come into contact with, and keep various forms of documentation on hand to assist with storage regulations for every chemical that will see use. Additionally, ensure goggles, chemical aprons, gloves, and eye rinse stations are located wherever necessary to prevent or mitigate accidents.

Report to Your Supervisor if you See Anything

This is perhaps one of the most important safety protocols to keep in mind when you work as a CNC machinist. Sometimes safety standards get overlooked, and the supervisors in the facility may not be aware of them. When you know a safety hazard is present in your area of work, report it to your supervisor immediately before it can become a threat that endangers you or the lives of your coworkers.

Your safety is important. By being mindful of the risks and safety hazards present in a cnc manufacturing company, you can play your part in making your machine shop a happier and safer place for everyone.

CNC Machinist

What you can Expect from a Career in CNC Machining

At some point in his or her life, everyone has to make a decision as to what they want to be when they grow up. It is not uncommon to continue to ask oneself that question into adulthood. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be a CNC machinist, we are here to lay it out for you.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are nearly half a million CNC machinists working in the U.S. That number is expected to stay level through at least 2026. If you’re someone who likes to get your hands dirty, to really get in there and find practical solutions to problems that perplex others, a career as a CNC machinist may be precisely what you’re looking for. If you’d rather be working outside or in a custom machine shop setting than sitting behind a desk, read on. There are a number of things about CNC machining that are likely to appeal to you.

This list represents some of what you can expect to experience as a CNC machinist:

You can expect to learn on the job. Although some CNC machinists are trained at vocational schools, community colleges, technical colleges, or through an apprenticeship program, it is still common for companies to create their own training program for the CNC machinists who will be working for them. That’s because most corporations have a very specific manner of doing things, operational procedures that are not taught in other settings. If you’re someone who gets a thrill out of learning new things, the ability to learn on the job may be of benefit to you.

You can expect to be creative. Anyone who has ever worked in manufacturing, whether they were making baseball bats or secret parts for the Pentagon, knows that things can turn a little frantic when anything goes wrong. Every company is beholden to their customers and must follow strict guidelines and delivery dates. If a part is so much as a thousandth of a centimeter off, it can spell peril for the manufacturer. That’s where you come in. CNC machinists are commonly called upon to get to the root of a problem and come up with a creative way to solve it. If you’re a person who has always enjoyed puzzles, or someone who simply likes a good mystery, this job will offer you plenty of opportunities to think creatively.

You can expect to be part of a team. Teamwork is what it’s all about in this job. People count on you and you count on them to make the most of your workday. Whether operations are running smooth as silk or the sky is falling, and upper management is losing their collective minds, CNC machinists work as a team with every other employee in the company. As a CNC machinist, you can expect people to come to you on a regular basis to ask for your opinion and expertise. In turn, you can ask someone else for help when you need it. For some, it’s the camaraderie that makes the job so enjoyable.

You can expect to be know your value. What you do as a CNC machinist is so foundational to your company’s ability to operate that your absence would present a problem. At some point in their live, most people have had a job in which they felt invisible and unimportant. Nothing could be further from the truth for a CNC machinist. Without them, a business would have no way to control quality, and would be far less likely to come up with new innovations.

You can expect to channel your inner Nikola Tesla. As a CNC machinist, you will be part problem solver and part innovator. What commonly happens in the midst of a manufacturing snafu is that innovations are born that can prevent the problem from arising again. You would be the person expected to come up with innovations that work. Everyone has to start somewhere, but the more you innovate, the more confident you become. CNC machining is a job that allows you to try new things until you come across the one that works. And really, that’s how all great inventors got their start.

You can expect to change.  Not everyone is adaptable, not everyone can shift the way they operate. Because of the nature of their jobs, CNC machinists become supremely adaptable, able to veer from the task in front of them to another when it suddenly becomes a priority. If you aren’t especially adaptable going into the job, you can expect to learn the skill out of necessity.  Adaptability is a trait that carries over into every other area of your life and will stay with you into retirement. In an ever-changing world, the ability to adapt is priceless.

You can expect your skills to be sharpened. Just as a prize fighter become stronger through sparring, your work as a CNC machinist will hone your mental skills. Each day, you will learn something new. Each frustration (and there are frustrations) will bring with it a chance to problem solve. Every level of company hierarchy that you interact with will teach you more about how a corporation works. Through this one job, you will grow intellectually and socially. If, at some point, you find yourself moving to a new company, you will find that you can use what you learned through your first experience as a CNC machinist.

You can expect to be on the cutting edge of technology. Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines are a blend of digital and physical technologies. In this field it is computers that provide instructions to tools of the trade, such as lathes. For example, it is a CNC machine that allows for the precise shaping of raw materials like plastics or metals. Computers are used in every step of CNC machining, and as a CNC machinist you are the person who is counted upon to understand what’s going on with each step and to troubleshoot in order to keep operations running smoothly. Your computer skills and the desire to learn more are essential for success.

You can expect every day to be different. There is no typical workday for a CNC machinist, primarily because it’s impossible to predict when troubleshooting will be needed or when engineering will change plans midstream. There is very little risk of boredom in this job, a benefit for anyone with a curious mind.

Each person on this planet has a different skill set and different goals that drive them. What most have in common is a desire to spend their workdays doing something that has purpose and offers a sense of fulfillment. If you find that CNC machining sounds like something that would fulfill you, why not take a deeper dive and learn more?

Energy efficiency as car speedometer. 3d illustration

Energy Efficiency – The Key to Success in Manufacturing

In today’s world there is a great deal of focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.  It seems everything, from cars to buildings, is measured by its carbon footprint, or environmental impact.  Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, have strict energy regulations in place for manufacturing industries and for machine shops.  The United States currently does not have any formal regulations regarding energy usage, but that should not stop the CNC machinist from doing everything in his or her power to limit energy consumption in their machine shop.

Limiting the amount of energy used within the machine shop has several benefits.  Of course, limited energy expenditure is more environmentally friendly, reducing the amount of electricity pulled from the power grid.  Reducing energy also has a trickle down benefit to the machine shop owner, OEMs, clients, and customers alike.  Less energy usage can reduce the amount of money spent on electricity, replacement parts and tools, and waste material.  Saving money in the manufacturing process is the key to success by allowing the shop to create an environmentally conscious product for less money.

Mindful Process Changes

One way a CNC machine shop is able to become more energy efficient is by making mindful and impactful process changes.  There has been a great deal of research conducted regarding the amount of energy consumed within the manufacturing process.  By making strategic and thoughtful decisions related to the process of creating components, it is possible to create a more energy efficient process.

Cycle Time

Selecting tools that can both increase a faster feed rate, while reducing feed time, is an excellent way to impact the cycle time between completed components.  In one study, simply selecting the right tool for the job made all the difference.  Consider the advantage to using multi-fluted tools.  This is a great way to deliver instant energy savings over the course of the manufacturing process.  The higher amount of flutes allows for a shorter cycle time, creating more parts per minute.

There is some trade off though, so the CNC machinist must be strategic in their selection.  More flutes, and thus more components, is not always better.  In some cases, while more flutes can certainly increase production, wear on the component can become a challenge.  Multi-fluted tools, or specialty tools, can be expensive to replace.  Further, more fluting can often result in irregular wear patterns which means the tool has an overall shorter lifespan.  Understanding the broader reaching purpose for the job, and selecting the right tool, will ultimately find a happy medium.  The key to cycle time energy efficiency is being able to balance the cycle time increases with the life expectancy of the tool.

Coolant Process

Another area machine shops are able to find energy saving changes is within the coolant process.  Often, coolant delivered to the tools via through-tool delivery help to prolong the life of the tool.  This method can increase how long a tool can be used, thus saving money and resources on replacement parts.  Further, using through-tool coolant can make the wear on the various tool components more uniform.  If the wear is uniform, it helps the CNC machinist predict the wear pattern, thus increasing the usability of the tool.

Further, there are methods to use coolant recycling systems.  These systems can easily be connected to the machine plant cell.  They work by combining a combination of recycled coolant with new coolant.  Studies have shown that by mixing recycled and new coolant there are no noticeable differences in performance.  Not only does this recycling method help to reduce coolant costs, but it has also shown to cut water usage by upwards of 10%.

Software Programming

Using various available software programs to better aid in the manufacturing process, particularly for custom machined parts,  helps to save energy.  Specialized programing is available to help create a custom tool path.  This allows the user to maintain uniform stress on the tool, keeping constant and even pressure, to create a curving, circular path.   Using this continuous, smooth motion allows the machinist to create the component with faster cutting speeds, without risk of tool damage with sudden, sharp turns, thus reducing energy costs.

Another software element indispensable in precision manufacturing is specialized programming that allows the tool to cut with uniform force.  Having a steady cutting force results in energy reduction without varying forces and additional electric input to adjust for changing pressures.

Machine Tool Selections

Aside from making logical and strategic processing decisions, the tools within the machine shop itself can be energy efficient.  There are several tools designed for energy efficiency, especially with the eco-friendly mindset of several companies and customers alike.

Limit Base Load

There are many energy-sapping functions within a tool that can go unnoticed, aside from the immediate energy load required to operate the tool during active phases.  Many auxiliary parts continue to run, even while the tool is in between phases.  The tool’s base load still consumes energy even while the tool is resting.  Luckily, there are many new tools that can be switched off during these non-productive phases which can help save on energy costs.

Tool Selection

Addressed earlier while mentioning the practice of selecting the right tool to increase cycle times, tool selection can also impact the amount of energy consumed.  Of the many components, a spindle can greatly impact the tool’s efficiency.  If the spindle drive is run too slowly, below it’s intended operating speed, it can eat up a tremendous amount of unnecessary energy.  Further, throttling the tool to reduce the speed only increases the time it takes to manufacture a component.  Increased manufacture time leads to an increased use of electricity.  It is recommended that spindle motor efficiency is considered for the component in question.  Sometimes energy efficiency can be improved by using synchronous motors as opposed to asynchronous motors.

Regenerative Supply Usage

Lastly, tools are now made in precision manufacturing that have a regenerative energy supply.  Traditionally, fast moving tools require an internal braking system to slow down the acceleration.  In a non-regenerative system the power used to brake the tool is converted to heat, from friction, which is then lost in the overall process.  Regenerative tools are now available that redirect that lost energy into useable kinetic energy, sent right back to the power grid.

This regenerative supply can help save energy in several ways.  Not only can regenerative power help maintain consistent power to the tool, foregoing the momentary power loss sometimes exhibited when the tool starts and stops, but it can also help in processes that require multiple tool changes.  In systems that require one, or multiple tool changes within 100 seconds regenerative power supplies are able to keep constant energy to the system.  In a non-regenerative tool, the power it takes to restart the machine after a tool change spikes, drawing an excess amount of power from the grid.  This can be avoided with a regenerative tooling system.

Just because the United States has not fully regulated energy consumption by machine shops nationwide, does not mean manufacturers are not interested in the valuable savings associated with energy efficiency.  Conserving energy is a key factor for an original equipment manufacturer in the Denver manufacturing market.  Between prolonging the life expectancy of tools, saving money on energy costs, and making environmentally friendly choices it is clear that energy efficiency is the path for a successful manufacturing process.

Check out another article on renewable energy in Manufacturing.

CNC machines at the plant for the production of valves. Factory workspace

10 Amazing Benefits of One-Stop Machine Shop Employment

Have you ever thought about pursuing a career in manufacturing? Whether you realize it or not, there are lots of hidden benefits for working in a CNC Shop. Like buried treasure in a forgotten hill, machinists and manufacturers have lots of career perks that most people overlook. Let’s review the Top Ten benefits of working at a machine shop that can do just about anything!

1. An Easy Educational Foundation

Many jobs in the medical, educational, and legal industries require at the minimum a bachelor’s degree, but you only need a degree from a technical college as a foundation for a great machining career. From there, you can enroll in a state sponsored apprenticeship at a machine shop. This combined time is about the same as getting a master’s degree, but it’s a lot more affordable and you’ll already be working by the time you become a journeyman and the apprenticeship ends.

2. Creative Problem Solving

Machines are anything but boring! Smart career machinists look at manufacturing problems that pop up as career opportunities. If you love to tinker with parts and find new creative ways to engineer things and solve intricate problems, a machine shop career is the perfect fit. You just might solve a production issue that other machinists won’t have to encounter again in the history of manufacturing!

3. Lasting Relationships

One of the most important things about a manufacturing career is building lasting relationships with your customers and those who work in your environment. With this in mind, you’ll enjoy new opportunities that open for you if you carefully cultivate these relationships.

4. Opportunities with Innovation

What an exciting time to be in the manufacturing industry! Each year, new technologies are implemented in manufacturing plants that produce more products faster and make workers safer. From tool and die to robotics, young career mechanics and machinists have awesome things to look forward to at a precision machine shop as products in many industries are becoming more automated for the Internet of Things, a not-so-distant future where many common household items like cars, appliances, and even clothing will be connected to the internet. And as a machinist, you know what that means – more things to fix!

At Tag Team, automation is coming alive through the CMM and Smartscope.

Meanwhile, Tag Team Manufacturing has innovation right inside the CNC Shop. The Smartscope and the Coordinate Measuring Machine offers remarkable precision and ensures quality for checking thousands of parts in a single day. This helps ensure that the high demands of delivery schedules are met for each client we work with. These innovations and more are what make the manufacturing industry all the more exciting!

5. A Steady Income

Dedicated machinists who have completed their apprenticeships and become nationally certified enjoy good and dependable wages. Depending on where they work, they may also have good health insurance and vacation time benefits too. These factors help secure a steady income and a good retirement down the road. For more information about Tag Team Manufacturing’s competitive benefits package, contact our CNC Shop for more information.

6. Consistent Work

Thanks to an increasing interest in American made products, demand for skilled manufacturing has gone up, and that’s not diminishing anytime soon. In fact, manufacturing companies are seeking to fill more job openings now than ever before. In some cases there are more spots to fill up than they can keep up with! That’s good news for the career machinist. Work certainly won’t run out for a very long time.

7. An Active Lifestyle

Can’t stand the thought of being chained to a desk job? Do you like to get your ‘hands dirty?’ Manufacturing just might be your thing. Work life on the plant floor and job sites connected to manufacturing is as different from an office like night is to day. It can be very physical and hands-on. You’re very much a part of the action, so to speak. There’s a lot of strategy and critical thinking involved. And machine grease. Lots and lots of machine grease.

8. Made in America – by You!

Whether it be a old school metal machine shop or a modern CNC shop, there’s something wonderful that happens inside the first time you make something all on your own with your hands. A spark ignites, and you feel satisfied that you made it. Right here in America. And your customer will use it to suit their purposes. No matter how long you’re in the business, that feeling never gets old. That alone is a great reason to start a manufacturing career!

9. Making a Difference

It’s one thing to do a job well, but it’s completely another matter when it’s a job that makes a difference in society. A one-stop metal machine shop can make parts for many industries, from hospital cardiac devices to aerospace plane parts to decorative ironwork that makes a homeowner feel good about where they live. A machinist’s valuable skills can do a lot of good in American society, in many ways. And that’s what makes this industry a rewarding experience.

10. Work with a ‘Smart Robot!’

Who says you can’t have fun with manufacturing? Meet Sawyer, the Smart Robot at Tag Team Manufacturing. With his state of the art technology, Sawyer directly communicates with the machine at the CNC shop to perform multiple tasks at metal fabrication, procedure testing, box assembly, and more with his robotic arm. With Sawyer’s help, Tag Team Manufacturing has multiplied annual productivity and workers are safer. Plus, it’s just plain fascinating to watch Sawyer work on his own!

As mentioned before, now is a great time to begin a rewarding career in manufacturing! Did you know that Tag Team Manufacturing is hiring? Check out our positions here to see if we’re a good fit together. You can also contact us directly. We’d love to get in touch with you!

If you’re a potential client interested in Tag Team’s manufacturing services, you can find out more of what we do here. Thanks for visiting! We look forward to meeting you soon.

Engineer Showing Apprentice How To Measure CAD Drawings

Why Engineers Choose Tag Team Manufacturing

Experience and longevity have traditionally been hallmarks of successful businesses. The same is true of CNC machine shops. Tag Team Manufacturing has taken the qualities that have allowed us to be in business since 1987 and created the top CNC machine shop in Denver and the surrounding area. Great precision manufacturing shops continually search for the best ways to improve to ensure that we can meet the needs of our customers. Just like the Post Office wouldn’t use outdated technology to deliver mail, Tag Team Manufacturing doesn’t use the equivalent of horse-drawn wagons to manufacture parts and products for our customers.

What You Get

With Tag Team Manufacturing, you get over 30 years of experience and service in our community. We also give our customers over 30 years of continuously improving machines, so we can create the precision parts our customers need. Each year, we determine how we should invest and reinvest to make certain that we meet the needs of our customers as they require ever-more precision.

Our focus in precision manufacturing is to use our expensive equipment and our experienced team to give our customers the support they need to have the final product they want. Whether our customers need something made from aluminum, brass, copper, carbon steel, alloys, stainless steel plastic, our team will create just what you need. Over thirty years-experience also means we have great relationships with our vendors as they will help to ensure your final product is exactly what you want and need.

Our automation not only ensures precision, but it also allows us to use our labor more intelligently to create finished products faster and to maximize our cost efficiency. New technology has also added to our shop safety, made our products even more precise, and allowed us to complete work that would not have been possible in the past.

Sawyer

One of our best new helpers is Sawyer. Sawyer is a robot that takes up the same amount of space as a drill press, but with more accuracy and with less human input and manipulation required. Sawyer is an amazing machine that can lift nearly nine pounds at once, and can be programmed to do literally thousands of tasks with incredible precision to allow his human co-workers to take care of tasks that require thought and variability.

Some of the specific things we ask Sawyer to do include communicating directly with the CNC machine—you might say they talk the same language—Sawyer can also be used for tending products in development, testing procedures, and precision. Sawyer can do everything from a test, to CNC tend, to fabricate and mold, and a dozen things in between. Sawyer is a one-armed marvel who works 24 hours without breaks!

DMG Mori NHX 5000 Machines

The DMG Mori horizontal machines at Tag Team enable high-efficiency, continuous machining and mass production machining. We have two machines, one with 2 pallets and one with 21 pallets. This DMG has a full 4th axis capability and allows us to run multiple operations, using up to 180 tools. The speed, accuracy, and efficiencies of this machine can reduce normal production times up to 75%. With 21 pallets, the “lights out” capability is perfect for the OEM that requires high quality, larger quantities and quick turn around as this machine can run 24 hours. With this new technology, we are able to complete jobs quicker and more efficiently, allowing the customer to receive their parts quicker then expected.

CMM and Smartscope

Tag Team’s CMM, which stands for Coordinate Measuring Machine, allows us to print the dimensional reports which accompany parts when they are delivered to clients. This saves our clients time and money because they know exactly how specific each part has been manufactured. Our Smartscope is able to take a series of photographs and create a product that is within .0005. The Smartscope is used to ensure the precision that our clients need in the production of many small parts, and it makes those evaluations quickly and efficiently. This means you get the parts that you need with the confidence they are accurately fabricated, and we complete them faster than others can deliver them. Most of our customers like that combination of accuracy and speed.

Quality at Tag Team Manufacturing

Our CNC manufacturing shop production works with a Quality Management Program in place to help ensure that the products and the services we provide are top of the line. Quality isn’t something that happens by accident, and it isn’t something that will only be provided for big customers. No matter what project our customers need—big or small—quality is something we do as we make the best products available; and we strive to ensure that our processes and procedures are observed, repeatable, and controlled. These are the things that make us recognized for our quality outcomes.

At Tag Team Manufacturing, we use the E2 manufacturing system which is software that allows us to track historical data which will tell us how efficient machine operators are, machine production, revision changes, and even more information. E2 also allows us to search, reuse, and adapt to other development efforts. This allows us to help customers get products that are made faster, more accurately, and less expensively than if that data was not available.

We also use an automated coordinate measuring machine, or CMM, which lets us determine if a component we have produced is within the accepted tolerance range. We have other automated quality control machines to help us ensure that what we are making for you is exactly what you want and need from us.

Over Thirty Years of Quality Service

Tag Team Manufacturing, rated a top machine shop in Denver, provides the kind of customer service that people expect when they walk into a retail store with high quality parts. We strive to help our entire team understand the importance of staying in communication with customers and potential customers. This communication does not just occur when we need questions answered, but we also want to talk about progress on your project or other questions you may have.

Part of ensuring quality is making certain that files you give us or that we create for your project remain safe. Gone are the days when security meant putting paper plans away when not in use. We use the best software and hardware protections available. We ensure that everything we work on with our machines has real-time backups to protect intellectual property from outside intruders, or from system crashes. Hard copies are protected by security cameras 24 hours a day, and hard copies are stored in fire-proof cabinets.

Tag Team Manufacturing, with top CNC machinists, makes our own product line and we have been named a top CNC shop in Denver. When we work this hard for ourselves, you can count on us working even harder for you. We stand behind our products as we produce the best ball racks in the world.

Consider the pool accessories we build ourselves. Our products have been called the best in the world by professional pool players. The precision that these professionals require keeps us focused on quality and perfection. We strive to be the top original equipment manufacturer in the area.

Find out why Tag Team Manufacturing has been a leader in CNC manufacturing for decades, and why we will continue to chase perfection.

CNC Machinist

Machine Shop Presents: Top 10 Ways to Keep Machinists over 10 Years

It’s never easy for manufacturers to attract, recruit and retain machinists. The problem isn’t going away any time soon. By 2025, the manufacturing industry will have approximately 3.5 million positions., but only 1.5 million getting filled according to study by the Manufacturing Institute in Partnership with Deloitte.

Numerous industry leaders suggest that quick advancement in manufacturing technology may alienate seasoned workers. Some think that robotics, programming skills and automation is the solution. Other players believe that lack of female presence on machine shop floors could be untapped labour source. Is it?

We spoke with top players in manufacturing and recruitment in a bid to unravel ways to retain CNC machinists for many years. Here is what we gathered.

1. Pay well

Paying competitive salaries with a tight budget and low funds can be difficult. But if you calculate the cost of replacing your machinist, it can help. It can cost between 30% and 50% of an entry level machinist annual salary to replace an experienced one. Most machinists in the manufacturing industry find they can get about 30% salary increase by moving to another company.

2. Make manufacturing jobs secure

Manufacturers struggle with the negative image of closing plants, driving down labour costs and offshore jobs. That perception has to change to attract and retain top machinists. You must show that manufacturing sector offers employment security.

3. Run newer fleet

Assuming you had to choose between operating a brand-new energy efficient machine or something built in the Reagan era, which one would you prefer? Most machinists would prefer working in a more pleasant environment. It’s more attractive to work in a clean, safe and comfortable environment. And when it comes to performance, new tech can make a big difference. If you’re having trouble retaining your machinists, think about their “office” and equipment.

4. Invest in training

Career growth is quite challenging especially for start-ups and young companies. Creating an organizational structure that allows for career-development is key. It is essential to help your machinists grow. Today, technology changes at breakneck speeds and machinists have to keep up.

Find innovative ways to generate resources for professional development. Provision of growth and learning opportunities is an ideal way to retain top machinists in your company.

Training is one of the best strategies to improve retention and increase employee loyalty. It’s also an incredible way to enhance productivity and manage costs, especially energy costs, which is achievable when a skilled machinist is in the cab.

The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) recommends at least 40 hours of training annually for every employee. While that may sound daunting, keep in mind that training includes low cost activities like on the job mentoring and lunch time coaching.

Some more costly training includes classroom instructions, simulator-based training, offsite seminars and online courses. Regardless of how you do your training, it’s imperative to understand today’s labour market. “Nice-to-have” option is now replaced with “must-do-list.”

5. Make your mission and purpose clear

In modern workplace, millennial employees are the majority. They always need to understand the ‘why’ behind everything that your custom machine shop does. They need to recognize the purpose behind their job detail and believe in the mission. The new generation of CNC machinists desire to know that their work matters.

Ensure that your machine shop has an excellent mission and purpose statement. It should always be genuine

6. Promote creative thinking

Jobs that encourage creative and critical thinking encourage top talents, more so machinists. Creative minds make your precision manufacturing employees to enjoy their work and feel connected.

At least half of today’s workforce is not wholly engaged at work. Some employees ‘show up’ to get a salary. A large number of the workforce is disgruntled with what they do. It is up to the top management and authorities in machine shops to set up creative opportunities.

If you can come up with these opportunities, you’ll not only attract top talent, but also retain machinists. Who wouldn’t enjoy working in a creative setting?

7. Encourage innovation and problem solving

Innovation is wildly popular and a high selling point to the current workforce. Top talents enjoy challenges and innovation. Through creation of an innovation lab or department within your company, machinists can create projects.

Encouraging innovation helps improve your company image, makes machinists appreciated and benefits your clients. Innovation also displays thought leadership in the precision manufacturing industry.

The autonomy to create fundamental and viable solutions to problems is a significant attraction to modern machinists. Similar to creative thinking, it fosters the feeling of connection and enhances collaboration within the company. When machinists feel acknowledged, they are more likely to stay for long.

8. Reward and recognize your machinists

All rewards and recognition must be extrinsic and intrinsic. External motivation such as public recognition and external rewards include praise, bonuses, among others. Inherent motivation enables your staff to feel connected without compromising their autonomy, freedom, and opportunity for personal growth. Monetary bonuses are a plus. Recognition enhances goodwill and loyalty.

Make top machinists feel respected, appreciated, and worthwhile. Custom machine shop clients need to feel that their contributions are significant. Sincere praise and feedback are vital. Top talents are smart enough to recognize platitudes and sincere appreciation.

9. Build a collaborative culture

Teambuilding is an excellent way to enhance performance in a company. Although teambuilding courses and outdoor bonding activities are necessary, ingrained it the culture of your CNC manufacturing custom machine shop. A team-oriented culture can be extensively created and nurtured in your company’s daily operations.

Culture may include the types of meetings you have, where your machinists sit, and how you interact with customers and partners. Bringing in people with a shared sense of belief and purpose in your mission and values may also attract and retain the best machinists.

10. Leadership

Research shows that most workers quit their bosses, not companies. They need to know the managers, senior executives, founders, among others. Machine shops need excellent leadership that exhibits integrity.

There’s no one size fits all when it comes to retaining machinists. Other options to consider include:

  • Start your apprentice program
  • Pay retention bonuses
  • Invite your retired machinists to come back on part time basis
  • Develop ties with family members
  • Interview departing machinists and take their feedbacks seriously

Improving machinist retention rates doesn’t have to be an uphill task. By being a positive role model and connecting with your team, you’ll have a better chance to understand what they need to remain. what do you think? Contact Tag Team Manufacturing for more information.

quality control

Deburring and Metal Finishing: Choosing the Right Process for Your Manufacturing Needs

As a metalworker, there is no doubt that you appreciate the importance of deburring and finishing different parts before they are either completed or processed further. Over the years, significant strides have been made in terms of advances in technology, a factor that has made it possible to refine metal parts in such a way that they will meet the needs of the market. Regardless of the size of your machine shop or the type of pieces you deal in, technology can help you to produce metal parts for a wide range of applications. Denver manufacturing relies on machine deburring and metal finishing as some of the ways to address the flaws that metal parts may have.

The Difference Between Deburring and Fnishing

Before metal parts can be used for different applications, they must be refined to get rid of most of the flaws. This is the stage at which machine deburring and metal finishing are done. However, even as you think about precision manufacturing, it is important to bear in mind that these two processes are a bit different. This will make it easy for you to choose the more appropriate one.

Once a workpiece has been modified, there may be raised edges or pieces of material that are attached to its surface. These edges and pieces of materials are usually removed through deburring. With finishing, scaling and pitting on the surface of a workpiece are removed to prepare it for the next step or to enhance its quality and physical appearance.

Advantages of Machine Deburring

The fact that machine deburring is among the most popular ways of getting rid of flaws during various CNC manufacturing processes is a clear indication that the process has certain advantages.

Compared to hand deburring, automated deburring will greatly help to save both time and energy. In the long run, using machines will ensure that you maximize efficiency.

Since the grinding media will be attached to the machine, employees will not have to be in the work zone. This will minimize the risk of injuries caused by repetitive motion, effectively increasing safety in the workplace.

Without automation, it will be impossible for employees to achieve the perfect consistency. With automated deburring, the processed metal parts will have consistent quality despite changing operators when one finishes their shift.

Machine deburring is also associated with a wide range of new products that feature high quality finishes. This can go a long way in helping you stand apart from your competitors.

Disadvantages of Machine Deburring

For all the benefits linked to machine deburring, it is not without its downsides. Here are some of the disadvantages you should be aware of.

Most modern deburring machines feature advanced technology. It is partly because of this that buying a deburring machine makes for a huge investment. The high price tags on the machines are beyond the reach of a good number of people. This has stood in the way of the machines becoming widely available to many individuals and businesses.

Depending on the metal you wish to debur, you will have to constantly change out parts such as belts to achieve the desired results.

Machines cannot debur everything as required. This may require the use of a finisher to touch those parts that the machine could not work on.

Advantages of Metal Finishing

Metal finishing makes for another popular way of getting rid of rough surfaces and sharp edges. Some of the pros of metal finishing include:

By using machines that comprise both brush heads and abrasive belts, metal finishing will make it possible to achieve a wide variety of finishes. This means that you will have more decorative opportunities to explore.

Finishing specialists can prepare metal parts for secondary processes such as painting. The technique will play an important role in ensuring the next step is easier and delivers the great results that any original equipment manufacturer expects.

By working on the surface of the workpiece, metal finishing helps to improve the appearance of metal parts. The process also works to lengthen the lifespan of the pieces by enhancing their resistance to corrosion.

Metal finishing produces extremely smooth surfaces, a factor that not only ensures ease of cleaning but also eliminates the need to use harmful chemicals to keep such surfaces clean.

Disadvantages of Metal Finishing

Just like with machine deburring, metal finishing has a number of downsides. Before seeking the services of a skilled worker, here are some disadvantages you should know about.

Using a finisher to debur metal parts is bound to be a time consuming process. This is likely to undermine productivity.

To do high quality work that meets customer expectations, you will need a lot of high precision tools. You will not only have to invest in the wide range of tools but also learn how to use each one of them.

With a finisher, there is a chance that some parts will be deburred incorrectly. This will require that you spend more time on the parts to produce them in line with the specifications of your customers.

As a result of the disadvantages associated with using a finisher, this process can result in high production costs that may lower your profits.

Choosing a Deburring and Finishing Machine

When choosing the right machine for your needs, you must ensure that it will serve the intended purpose. In case your shop grinds similar materials consistently, you can choose to have dry machines. This means that shops that deal with different types of metals will benefit more from wet deburring and finishing machines. To get optimum performance from your machine, you should think about the type of abrasive as well as the specific characteristics and qualities of the workpiece you will be working on.

Consult the Experts

Choosing the most suitable deburring or finishing machine to handle your needs will not be a walk in the park. If you are not sure which machine will be appropriate, you can consult an expert in metal fabrication. Just like when looking for a CNC machinist, there are a few factors that you will have to keep in mind when selecting the expert to consult. These include whether they have the relevant industry experience if they have the right manufacturing partners, the kind of services they offer as well as relying on references from previous customers.

Since both machine deburring and metal finishing cost a significant amount of money, it is important to ensure that the process you choose will deliver the results you expect. Today, the opportunities available to you are limitless. In case you have unique needs, you can select a custom machine shop that offers quality and reliable services. At Tag Team Manufacturing, we specialize in machining CNC precision components for OEMs in different industries. Our skills and extensive experience make us the best machine shop Denver residents know.

GD&T

GD&T 101: Understanding Fundamentals of GD&T in a Machine Shop

In precision manufacturing, electrical specs are ideal for specifying electrical components appearing on a drawing. Mechanical components require unique spec system that are replicable.

Also, mechanical spec system should be clear, precise and not excessively restrictive. Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) is the new phase of precise designs.

What is GD&T?

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) is the primary international language that aims to offer clarity in most drawing interpretations and specifications. The ideal use of GD&T in CNC manufacturing helps in the elimination of vague drawings. Vague drawings give room for guesswork, controversy, and assumptions in manufacturing and inspection processes.

GD&T is a language of standards and symbols wholly designed and used by top CNC machinist, engineers, and manufacturers worldwide. They use this language to describe products and facilitate communication between entities working together to create products.

Through advanced knowledge on the best practices to create a well-structured GD&T, you can improve communication with your custom machine shop Denver. As a result, everyone in the workplace speaks the same language.

Why is GD&T Important?

GD&T may seem like a complex language. It requires correct interpretation and specification for efficient and effective communication. Improper implementation can cost your company a lot of money. Nonetheless, excellent training offers your employees sufficient comprehension of GD&T and its proper application on a particular job.

Constant measurement and effective communication across engineering processes and disciplines are vital for production of superior products. GD&T helps you achieve this goal. It’s primarily designed to address major challenges facing companies and organizations when describing product geometry.

GD&T symbol language allows for accurate communication of all geometry needs for any related components and assemblies. Designers, engineers, and manufacturers use the ‘language’ to understand detailed engineering drawings in commercial design, automotive, manufacturing, electronics, and aerospace industries.

Moreover, it assists in controlling and specifying forms, location, and orientation of the features. GD& T also characterizes machine shop components and manufactured parts.

GD&T symbols for every dimension on a manufactured part or component are defined in connection to a datum. Datum is a theoretically perfect plane, point, or line on a manufactured component perceived to be the reference point for all dimensional measurements and tolerance calculations.

All datum(s) on every manufactured or designed component is considered as the ‘zero point.’ Calculations get built from the reference point to every other dimension to guarantee consistency of particular parts. Therefore, manufacturing, design, and quality engineers get great manufacturing and measurement clarity. Furthermore, incorporation of a datum dramatically simplifies all specification and design processes.

ISO-certified GD&T languages have successfully replaced complex and long industrial descriptions with simple symbols. The symbols are clearly and unanimously understood by all precision manufacturing personnel required to read and interpret any engineering drawing.

Benefits of GD&T

GD&T offers many benefits to OEM manufacturers. The entire design philosophy implemented in GD&T is similar to that extensively featured in functional dimensioning. Every part gets defined based on how it functions in the end product.

The designer meticulously bases the required tolerance on part function instead of copying it from a previous drawing. This strategy enables the use of maximum tolerance in the production of parts.

When applied appropriately, functional dimensioning, often multiplies the total tolerance on most component dimensions twice or thrice. Dimensioning significantly lessens the overall manufacturing costs.

With the incorporation of accurate coordinate dimensioning, all tolerance zones are not associated or connected to any functional requirements. In case a designer assigns tight tolerances, problems can occur since they are not in any way resolute in the determination of a beneficial and functional tolerance.

So, why use GD& T?

Round tolerance zones

Round tolerance areas permit roughly 57% supplementary tolerance compared to square zones which result in additional functional parts. The manufacturing process gets enhanced in capabilities when more tolerance on the parts. This helps in significant reduction of manufacturing costs.

Bonus Tolerance

Under certain conditions, GD&T creates room for a bonus tolerance in addition to round tolerance. The bonus comes from the use of Maximum Material Condition (MMC) modifier. The MMC modifier increases tolerance in precision manufacturing.

Bonus tolerance is a practical example of a win-win situation for the involved OEM since manufacturing can get further tolerance when holes are bigger than their smallest functional size. On the other hand, clients get a guarantee parts will assemble without a hitch.

Tolerance zone in coordinate tolerancing is always constant with size irrespective of hole conditions. Several functional parts can be scrapped to create a more rigorous condition for CNC manufacturing. Bonus tolerance allows for additional tolerance in production which assists in lowering operational costs.

Reduces Assembly Problems

GD&T inspection process ensures that all parts assemble correctly. Assembly procedures don’t necessarily require a CNC machinist on the assembly line using a hammer and a two-by-four.

Moreover, GD&T inspection process ensures that OEMs can obtain multiple sources or use competitive souring for the same part. The reduction of assembly problems consequently increases your company’s profitability.

Clear Communications for Inspection

GD&T’s datum system enhances clear communications of a single set up feature for inspection. The assessment equipment mainly stimulates datums. The symbol that is universally used in the specification of any datum denotes the part surfaces that meticulously touch the gaging apparatus during inspection.

All datum features get chosen based on part function and assembly requirements. They are in most cases the features that comprehensively mount and precisely locate parts in its specific assembly. The datum(s) reference letters get specified within the statistical and geometric controls. They also symbolize the series in which specific part surfaces majorly contact the gaging equipment.

GD&T supports SPC use

GD&T datum system offers repeatable part dimensions essential for designing a reliable SPC chart. SPC data might comprise of assumptions with implementation of coordinate tolerancing which diminishes the accurateness of data obtained. Profile control use is an ideal example of how GD&T supports SPC.

Profile control helps in the establishment of a mathematically distinct tolerance zone. Moreover, it relates extensively the obtained measurement to datums. Precise tolerance zone description does not exist whenever coordinate tolerancing is used.

Profile control together with datum system enhances the accuracy of the obtained SPC data. Therefore, no unnecessary changes are made in the Original Equipment Manufacturer and Denver Manufacturing processes. It saves time and money for the company.

For original equipment manufacturers to realize the benefits of GD&T, correct utilization is key. When used incorrectly, it can result in costly errors. For example, if a manufacturer uses erroneous drawings to choose machines to use and production rates, it results it incorrect cost estimates. In the long run, manufacturers end up using wrong equipment and producing substandard products. Solution?

Customers want to work with companies who have successfully used this incredible technology. Call or visit Tag Team Manufacturing to speak with our experts.

cnc machining

How does different material impact CNC tooling?

CNC machining offers significant flexibility for the manufacturing industry. However, depending on your manufacturing needs, you need to consider what materials to work with to achieve efficiency and cost-savings. While various machine shops offer guides on material selection, you should be aware of the properties of various materials and their impact on CNC tooling.

With the right approach to material selection, CNC machining translates into an efficient manufacturing process with high-speed production rate and high precision for critical applications in areas such as the aerospace, photonics, environmental monitoring, computer storage, bike, oil and gas, drone, electro-mechanical, and robotics industry.

Understanding the impact of specific materials on CNC tooling improves your productivity since you’ll be able to match the materials with the right tooling style. For instance, wood, plastics, and composite machine are workable with most CNC machining styles, which are equipped with the HSK style tool holders or, ISO/SK/BT style.

However, specialized applications cannot be executed with standard CNC machining styles. Thus, you’ll need specialty tool holders such as the heat shrink and hydro tool holders. While CNC machining has a unique capability for cutting and forming various types of metals and polymer materials, it is impossible to reap maximum benefits from it without proper selection of materials.

Here is what you need to know about the impact of various materials in CNC tooling:

Hard materials

In most cases, machining hard materials, is hard work and demand a combination of high precision and rigid tooling system. Tooling hard materials requires more processing in contrast to normal materials. You need to apply the right strategy and tools at every stage of the manufacturing process. In fact, you have to master it to realize the desired output.

Tool Choices

CNC machinists have the choice of distinct tools; the square end mills, bull nose and ball-end. In some cases, hard materials require you to combine for different stages in the manufacturing process.

For roughing operations, hard materials require the use of the ball end mill. It also the ideal tool for finishing operations. The ball end mill is characterized by a large radius, which helps dissipate heat and force. As a result, it enables you to work at high speeds and to feed the material quickly for you to cut closer to the net shape.

As for large parts with flat floors, you need a bullnose tool. In contrast to the ball end mill, it has a small radius and limited capacity for dissipating heat and force. Thus, it is not ideal for parts that require sharp corners, especially where the floor and the wall meet since it results in chipping.

For such cases, it is best to use a square end mill. Alternatively, you can employ dry machining with air or oil to reduce the chipping since it provides higher spindle speeds.

Tool Geometry

Since hard materials cause rapid wear of tools, a custom machine shop in Denver may demote them to semi-finishing tools or re-sharpen them.

However, since CNC is meant for high-precision manufacturing, the need to cut varying angles and edges using a blunt tool will lead to losses since it has lost its tool geometry.

Tool geometry is critical to precision manufacturing, and a deformed tool should be replaced since it conflicts with the programming specifications for proper operations. CNC manufacturing relies on programming templates for quality control. For instance, CNC programming with a gibs feature is best addressed with a gibs template for the easy selection of tools and tool paths for your manufacturing project.

Such templates are applicable for speeds and feeds on various features and allow you to pick a specific feature and the tool to work with, which comes with predefined speeds and feeds.

The templating process is used for the standardized features of a mold, for example, base plates, gibs, and retainer plates. It is quite helpful when handling hard materials since the process positively impacts time value and tool wear.  With the knowledge of proven patterns and tools when working hard materials is invaluable since it helps you apply templates for fast and efficient cutting process, and, at a cost-effective price.

Since hard materials are dense, they’re full of tension and require soft machining to release the tension. Thus, you must begin by roughing the materials in their annealed state. The soft machining process informs the choice of the type of CNC tooling to apply since you need to optimal material removal.

To make the machining easier, roughing is followed by heat treatment. Since hard materials break into chips when heat-treated, you need inserted cutters to make the chips move fast. Also, they require tool path patterns that can support the fast movement of chips to hasten the process. As an original equipment manufacturer, it is critical to leverage toolpath concepts such as adaptive clearing for the heat treatment process.

With knowledge of how different materials react to heat treatment allows you to select the right tool for the job so you can monitor the twisting of the mold to the required shape.

As such, you need to balance the stock to create enough room to adjust the mold during the finishing process. Also, you should have the right amount of stock to avoid excesses, which would lead to hard machining to remove it.

Since the finishing process comes after the heat-treating process, you need a hard machining plan. Heat-treated materials are harder and create a stronger surface, but brittle, thus challenging to machine.  As a result, you need an assortment of specific tool sizes to achieve the desired stopovers for surface finish.

Part Geometry

In addition, you need to apply specific techniques such as raster passes to make the cutter intersect with the vertical planes made during the roughing process. Denver manufacturing services by Tag Team reference part geometry for the proper configuration of the machining tool to achieve precise surface finishes of high quality.

CNC tooling is flexible, but it is informed by choice of materials you use. While the focus here has been on hard materials, all types of materials have an impact on CNC machining since you have to consider part geometry and the desired designs.

For instance, in the design of complex and detailed parts, a mistake in the choice of CNC tooling could lead to the design of unnecessarily expensive parts in the design phase.

Design

For CNC machining to work properly, the programming of the tools has to map the desired design on the mold. Thus, it is critical to get the right drawings and feed the right tool to produce the right design. However, this should not be a challenge since you can leverage the expertise of Tag Team, a CNC machinist, and precision manufacturing company in Denver. Besides, they specialize in the manufacture of precision components for OEM’s in every industry.

At Tag Team, we have the skills and capacity to work with original equipment manufacturers in developing prototypes. With the capacity to generate over 50,000 components yearly, we can help you with your CNC manufacturing projects.