When a customer brought us a new 13.6-liter diesel engine design for high-horsepower agricultural and construction equipment, they didn’t just need a machining vendor — they needed a partner who could help them bring it to the finish line. This was a critical engine platform, and at the heart of it was a complex ladder frame housing.
When a CNC project seems too complex, that’s when OEMs and parts designers know to call on Stecker Machine. And it’s not just because our team can figure out how to get it done, but because we know how to get it done in collaboration with the customer.
When designing a machined part, one of the main considerations is its material. Aluminum alloys are commonly used in CNC machining for a variety of industries and applications. However, before it can be shaped into precision parts, it must first undergo one of several casting processes.
Design changes. They are an inevitable part of manufacturing, yet they can aggravate even the most experienced parts manufacturer.
Design changes are notorious for adding time, headaches, and unplanned dollars to a project. They’ve also been known to sabotage solid business relationships. But, with the right approach, you can implement manufacturing design changes smoothly and cost-effectively.
Every CNC machine shop is different. No surprise, right? Yet, what telltale signs distinguish one from another? Here’s a pro tip …
Study how they approach new work — from acquiring it to delivering it — throughout the organization.
Some CNC machine shops are content with machining what they know and handling familiar project types and quantities. Their work is solid, and they’ve built a fine, safe business.
Designing a new part is one thing. Manufacturing it is a different story.
Talk with any customer of a CNC machine shop and you’ll likely hear an example of a part design being altered, refined, and/or improved thanks to CNC precision engineering. Of all the CNC engineering services provided by a shop, having an influence on the design itself may not be what you think of first.
Imagine this: a manufacturing technique that’s lasted for more than 6,000 years AND is still highly valued today. That’s metal casting.
These are demanding times.
For a new product design to be considered successful today, the manufacturing process used to build it must be scrutinized as much as the product itself. Modern designers look to design for manufacturing (DFM) to reduce costs, simplify how a product is produced, reduce design rework, and maintain overall quality.
