Many manufacturing machines available today are marketed as "high-precision" equipment. Most of these have extremely tight tolerances that use microns as units to denote their margin of error. However, even these machines can be tripped up by human error. Therefore, it is important that your practices, approaches and materials remain at the highest level. Following are basic strategies to ensure your equipment is able to perform with precision and at peak efficiency.
Integrate Quality Control
Quality control is an aspect of the machining process that often isn’t considered until the end. While a spot check on a finished part is useful, it would be better to make quality control a multi-step process, since manufacturing moves from one step to another. Checking how the machines are forming parts during the process can help you avoid costly mistakes or scrapping entire lines later. Various regulators and scanners can be incorporated into this approach for a thorough inspection of parts and their compatibility as they are made.
Invest in the Latest Programs
Many high-precision machines have computer chips and programs to help them function and support efficient processes. Training programs can also enable personnel to meet the needs of precision work as well. Be on the lookout for new, inventive programs that can aid both your equipment and workers by making things more dynamic. Innovation is what drives the technology industry, which includes manufacturing. To stay on the cutting edge, your staff must be aware of and utilize the most advanced solutions available.
Check Available Circuit Technologies
Most modern manufacturing machines employ at least one type of integrated circuit board to process and execute daily tasks. Equipment with rigid-flex circuit boards usually are designed in a 3D environment to provide a greater view and development of spatial efficiency. These circuit boards can be molded to suit any shape required for the equipment in which they will be used. The combination of rigidity and flexibility allows the boards to be versatile enough to handle many complex applications in machines of different shapes or sizes, as often found in multi-step manufacturing.
Consider the Materials
Although most computer numerical control (CNC) machines can craft complex parts with tight tolerances, the steps surrounding the process can be just as important as the finished product. One thing to consider when dealing with high-precision work is the type and quality of the materials you are using. Some materials may allow for more complicated designs or tighter tolerances than others. As new alloys and plastics come into the market, be sure you are utilizing the best possible materials for your application needs.
If you oversee a team in an industry that requires extreme precision, you must make certain that your equipment consistently maintains high levels of accuracy. These four tips are just a few of the ways you can increase the tolerances of the machines in your plant.
