Why choosing the right engineering firm really matters
If you want to have a part precision engineered for your latest product, then it is important that you choose the right engineering team to make it for you. Complex machine parts need to fit together properly, and a small mistake with one part could have serious implications for the rest of your design, so finding an experienced precision engineering company is vital to the success of your project.
Getting the engineering right
Creating your part is about more than following simple instructions. To manufacture the engineered part, you need may first involve the creation of suitable jigs to allow the batch of parts to undergo cutting, milling or whatever else may be needed. Perhaps the team will be following drawings supplied by you, or you might need them to reverse engineer the part from a sample you supply. Whatever your situation, precision engineering requires a high level of skill and versatility, so careful selection of your engineering company is essential.
Start with the design
The first step in any engineering process must be the design. You can't start milling the part until you know how the finished item will look. You will need to find an engineering company with access to a CAD design team who will be able to help you take your project all the way from your basic idea through to prototyping and the final production run.
The right skills
Before committing to any manufacturing company, it makes sense to ask about their employees' experience. What similar jobs have they undertaken? What tolerances do they generally work to? With which materials are they most familiar? Do they work with metals such as brass and titanium, or are they more comfortable with plastics? Don't commit until you are sure you have found the right team for your project.
The right level of equipment
Having the right skills is not enough. You must be sure that your chosen engineering company is able to live up to their promises and actually manufacture your part to a high-enough specification. Ask any prospective company about how up-to-date their CAD software is. Find out what CNC turning and milling equipment they possess.
It is the combination of quality machinery and years of experience that can make the difference between milling a part that will fail quickly and a quality manufactured part that will meet your specifications and provide many years of service for your customers.