When you look at the evolution of products like electronic devices, automobiles, and medical devices, there is a growing trend of products getting smaller and more complex. As companies create more and more products with complex geometries or even tiny components that are difficult to assemble by hand, many are turning to the capabilities and benefits of precision manufacturing.
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Precision manufacturing is one of the most sought-after and most significant advancements in industrial manufacturing. Not only has precision manufacturing contributed almost $10 billion to the U.S. economy in the last 10 years, but by , the precision parts market is expected to continue growing by at least 12 percent.
So, what is precision manufacturing, and what benefits does it offer to improve your productions? Below, we explain why precision manufacturing may be important for your products.
Precision manufacturing allows for the production of versatile parts with tight or rigid specifications. This is especially attractive in industries that are under strict regulations and tight tolerance requirements. Without precision manufacturing, many of the leading industries that drive the economy and improve quality of life would be unable to keep up with the demand or innovation needed to produce competitive, quality, and safe products.
As manufacturers consider how to increase automation capabilities while enhancing production output and minimizing error and avoidable costs, precision manufacturing is often a viable solution. Below, we outlined some of the many benefits that precision manufacturing can provide.
Unlike manual production, where even the most experienced employee can make a critical error that slows down production, precision machining allows manufacturers to accomplish tasks at a much more accelerated pace. This is partly due to the advanced engineering capabilities that contemporary precision manufacturers use in their automated precision machines. What used to take months to complete can now be accomplished in mere weeks with the help of precision manufacturing. This, essentially, means fewer disruptions to the supply chain and faster time to market as companies scale with the increasingly high demand for parts and products.
Because flawless precision is expected by many highly regulated industries, it can become costly if parts are produced inaccurately, especially considering that some tight-tolerance parts can be incredibly expensive. If, for example, a part&#;s tolerance is off by just one decimal point, it can increase the cost by two or three-fold.
Many industries, especially those already experiencing operational and financial disruption due to the pandemic, cannot afford to waste time or product due to inaccurate manufacturing. The good news is, by using precision manufacturing that allows for accurate and rapid production, costs can be dramatically saved when considering the cost of wasted materials and labor due to errors.
A product is only as good as the machine that made it. If the machine cannot consistently reproduce the part or product&#;s design, time to market goes up, quality decreases, and waste and cost increases. It&#;s imperative that even with high-volume manufacturing, the output can be executed quickly and consistently. With precision manufacturing, companies are able to create consistent quality, which helps them avoid the risks of throwing away incorrectly designed parts, repeating processes, or buying more material.
In certain industries, such as with the medical device industry, when you are manufacturing life-saving equipment, ensuring accuracy could mean the difference between life and death. Whether you are producing PPE, respirators, radiation equipment, or endoscopies, even the slightest error in the smallest part&#;s design could result in a devastating outcome. Fortunately, precision manufacturing is just that &#; precise. It can be custom-built to fit the manufacturer&#;s needs to ensure that all quality control measures are in place to produce a simple or complex part, time and time again.
Take, for example, Mecademic&#;s Meca500, a 6-axis robotic arm that has been able to replace an incredible amount of manual and repetitive tasks. One example of its capabilities features an automated solution that was custom-built by the experts at Steven Douglas Corp. (SDC) for a client who produces endoscopies. The work cell, integrated with the Meca500, was equipped with the ability to precisely change tools, apply adhesive, and pick up a wiping mechanism using a vision-guided system. Because of the improved precision and efficiency of the Meca500, the client achieved a 500 percent increase in production throughput, higher consistency, lower costs, and operational optimization.
Due to the many benefits of precision manufacturing, including accuracy, versatility, and repeatability, manufacturers are quickly looking for ways to improve precision within their operations. When it comes to precision manufacturing, the experts at SDC have extensive experience creating ultra-precise automated solutions across industries. Contact SDC today to see how we can automate your processes with precision manufacturing.
High-precision parts are projected to reach a market size of $71 billion by , enabling a wide range of industries to maintain safety and quality standards while meeting demand and maintaining a competitive edge. With precision parts manufacturing, you can produce versatile parts that meet precise specifications and enjoy multiple benefits.
Choosing to partner with a precision parts manufacturer and incorporating it into your workflow can result in a smooth transition, allowing you to realize significant benefits.
Top 10 Benefits of Using Precision Parts Manufacturing
Precision manufacturing is an ideal way to save time, money and materials when looking to increase production output and automation capabilities. Learn about the benefits of using precision parts manufacturing for your operation.
1. Improved Accuracy and Tighter Tolerances
Precision CNC machining centers and similar tools guarantee tight tolerances. Once precise specifications are entered, automated processes take over, ensuring fewer opportunities for error, especially when compared to manual machining. Demand for complex precision industrial parts is expected to remain strong, and even slight deviations from tolerances can cause serious production problems for end customers and lead to increased costs for manufacturers.
Precision manufacturing technology allows you to mass produce complex parts at an affordable price because there is less waste, lower labor costs, and greater part accuracy while maintaining quality and saving time.
2. Increased efficiency and faster production cycles
Machining tools provide precise solutions that are far faster than manual production. Another common benefit of choosing machine-made precision parts is the reduction of critical errors. While you may have experienced staff to operate manual workstations, the risk of error is greater because there is less automation to work with. CNC machining tools and other precision part manufacturing equipment provide better error-free results and are faster.
Contemporary precision manufacturers have automated precision machines with incredibly advanced engineering capabilities. Precision manufacturing speeds up work that may take workers months to complete, and you can get the job done in just a few weeks. Overall, production delays are reduced and time to market is shortened so you can meet demand with confidence.
3. Reduction of material waste
Producing precision parts means unavoidable material waste. Creating a component is a process of removing and subtracting pieces of material until all that's left is the finished product. cnc precision machining minimizes material costs due to occasional human error by maximizing the use of materials and minimizing waste.
Working with the right precision parts manufacturer, you can benefit from the cost savings of volume orders due to conservative material usage.
4. Cost-Effective Part Manufacturing
One of the main advantages of choosing to outsource precision parts manufacturing is that you don't have to invest in specialized machinery and tooling. Instead, the manufacturer you choose should be well equipped to handle your order. This allows you to save time and money and focus on developing new products and improving existing ones.
Precision parts manufacturing is extremely cost-effective because it allows you to produce components efficiently, with less physical labor, and to meet precise specifications quickly. It saves financial investments related to labor time, total materials and energy. With fewer errors and less wasted production time, you receive parts faster and don't have to stock additional parts due to potential defects and inaccuracies.
5. Improve Safety and Reduce Human Error
Safety and reduced human error are other significant benefits for you and your employees. Workplace accidents and injuries occur at a rate of 18,000 per year for those who operate and maintain machinery. You can replace manual labor with CNC machines to manufacture precision parts to ensure the process is as safe as possible.
Switching to CNC and other machines may reduce the chances of workplace accidents and injuries. Workers who operate precision parts manufacturing machines often work behind guards and clear safety doors. In addition to reducing the risk of personal injury, precision machining allows you to minimize staffing needs or reallocate human resources. Also, CNC machines can handle the repetitive tasks of producing precision parts.
6. Quality Parts
Automated precision manufacturing facilitates improved quality control of manually manufactured products, partly due to the rise of Industry 4.0 and technological advancements, which is expected to be a major growth factor for the precision parts market between and . Industrial use of computer-controlled machines such as CNC machining centers enables higher precision than traditional casting or manual manufacturing methods.
This method of manufacturing reduces potential defects in the product and increases the chances of cost savings due to precise measurements and accurate assembly of components due to fewer returns and repairs.
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7. Versatile and fully customizable
The ideal precision parts manufacturer can produce virtually any type of part you need to meet exact specifications at their manufacturing facility. Manufacturers can use different materials to create different parts with different applications. The ideal manufacturer can access and manufacture these products with micron-level precision through the required processes. Make sure you find a precision parts manufacturing company that has the equipment and expertise to make parts as needed.
With precision parts manufacturing, you have the freedom and flexibility to design custom parts (including prototypes) and efficiently produce them to your specific needs using advanced tools such as CNC centers, 3D printers, and laser cutters.
8. Accommodate a wide range of materials
In addition to a range of machining methods, another benefit of using precision parts is the ability to work with virtually any material. Whether it's metal or plastic, precision machining equipment can handle it with ease. You can talk to the manufacturer, submit your design, and then decide on your process and material, such as the following and more:
Alloys
Aluminum
Brass
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)
Polyacetal (POM)
Steel
Stainless Steel
Titanium
Regardless of the industry, a skilled manufacturer can match your material specifications so you can maintain quality. Due to the versatility of precision machining, it is suitable for a wide range of precision part end users and industries with different requirements and challenges, including:
Aerospace
Automotive
Commercial
Defense
Electronics
Vitality
Marine
Medical
9. Easy Prototyping and Part Testing
Precision machining is a viable and smart way to explore new market opportunities and design potential modifications and upgrades with minimal risk. All that is required is to modify the inputs of a CNC or similar machine, and the equipment can create new or modified designs in the shortest possible time. As a result, you can quickly develop prototypes that meet your specifications and test their viability before expanding production.
In addition, Precision Parts Manufacturing can help you create fully functional prototypes to demonstrate the performance of your product. After receiving feedback, you can easily change the design and retest the modified prototype parts without paying for molds or castings.
10. Mass Production and Repeatability
Two other major benefits of using CNCs and other machines to manufacture precision parts are that it is a reliable and efficient way to mass produce consistent, high-quality parts. With precision automated machinery, you can quickly and accurately produce complex parts that meet standards and specifications. By increasing scalability and repeatability, you can gain an edge in today's competitive marketplace.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Precision Processing Equipment. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.