Unlocking New Possibilities with 5-Axis Machining Technology

At Focused on Machining, we’re committed to serving the needs of our customers, and that means we’re continually investing in new technology. In our projects as an aerospace machine shop, in particular, today’s parts often include more challenging features than ever before. To meet those requirements, we’ve expanded our capabilities into 5-axis machining with a major new addition to our shop. 

We are the proud new owners of a DVF 5000 with an eight-pallet auto work changer and 120-tool capacity. This full five-axis machine not only handles complex parts with speed and accuracy, it also enables more lights-out production, making us an even stronger manufacturing partner to our customers.

The Features That Define 5-Axis Parts

Our new machine is a full simultaneous 5-axis machining center, not a three-plus-two configuration. It can move the tool and workpiece along five different axes simultaneously. That allows us to tackle challenging features in fewer setups and with greater accuracy.

Some of the features that are simplified by our new machine include:

Complex Angles: Complex angles are a staple of 5-axis machining. For instance, consider a manifold with offset holes at different angles. This would require extensive fixturing in a vertical machine, adding to cost and lead time. With a 5-axis, we simply rotate to the correct angle and machine it.

3D Surfaces: Curved or contoured surfaces can be completed in far fewer setups with a 5-axis machine. In fact, because our machine moves in all 5 axes at the same time, we can machine some 3D surfaces for customers that weren't possible before. 

For instance, many aerospace parts must fit the skin of a rocket. A panel that bolts to a rocket with a 6-foot diameter would require customized setups and several operations in many machines, but can now be completed in only one or two.

A Closer Look at the Benefits to Our Customers

Beyond complex features, the new machine translates directly into several other benefits for our customers:

Faster production and shorter lead times: With a 20,000 RPM spindle, the DVF 5000 allows us to remove material at higher speeds without sacrificing accuracy. That means faster manufacturing so you get your delivery sooner.

Simultaneous machining: With 120 tools loaded, we can set up the machine to run a range of operations in the same cycle. The machine can switch between tools seamlessly even as it runs families of parts.

Greater lights-out capabilities: Even for complex jobs that require more than a dozen tools, we still have capacity in the tool magazine. Combined with our eight-pallet changer, the machine can be run 24/7 without interruption.

Efficient surface finishing: The high-speed spindle also results in smoother surface finishes. While we’ve always been known for delivering parts with quality surface finishes, this simplifies the process.

Enhancing Our Lights-Out Machining

While this five-axis machine is new to our shop, lights-out production is not. This new addition simply allows us to expand the types of parts we can run in a lights-out environment. Even parts with complex features requiring tight-tolerance machining can be produced lights-out, increasing our capacity without adding labor costs.

As part of our contract manufacturing services, we frequently machine multiple parts that integrate into a customer’s assembly. In the past, we may have delivered individual components piece by piece over months. Now, we can produce and ship all parts of the assembly at the same time. That allows your production team to begin the final assembly process earlier and improve your production timeline. 

See What Our 5-Axis Machining Can Do

If you have a complex design, we’re ready to help. Our new investment means that even the most challenging parts are achievable, often with our efficient lights-out production. 

Request a quote today and we’re confident we’ll soon become your go-to 5-axis machine shop!

Ensuring Stability for Your Project’s CNC Machining Materials

Over the past several years, CNC machining materials have faced a series of market shifts, from price volatility to supply uncertainty. What began with COVID-era supply chain disruptions continued through inflation and tariffs, and now many people are wondering what’s next.

At Focused on Machining, we’re optimistic that prices will stabilize in the coming years. But even if they do, it’s a safe prediction that some future event will lead to more disruption, whether that’s years or decades from now. So what can you do to prepare for these types of challenges? Learn our insights on the current situation and strategies to help you navigate it.

The Current Environment: Navigating Material Changes

This year has brought a range of uncertainty, with a stream of legislative and regulatory developments. Many analysts expect significant price increases, and some material suppliers are now imposing strict customer-based allocations in anticipation of potential shortages. 

Until recently, most suppliers for precision machine shops had access to as much material as they requested, but now supply levels (both internationally and domestically) seem to be in flux, leading to rising prices for materials like aluminum.

The specific causes are different, but the underlying message is the same as the problems resulting from the COVID crisis: the supply chain is complex, and that can lead to disruptions from unexpected events. If you’re seeking precision parts, partnering with a domestic supplier can help you avoid many of these challenges. But if you’re sourcing materials, the problem requires different strategies.

One Proven Option: Long-Term Agreements

In these situations, we’ve previously recommended a variety of strategies. The simplest, in many cases, is to choose a different material or select a different temper or grade of the same material. For example, if a project involved 6000-series aluminum during past material shortages, we sometimes suggested T651 as an alternative to 6061-T6. Whether for machinability or availability, we often help customers find comparable materials that meet their performance needs.

Yet substitutions aren’t always the long-term solution that customers are looking for. In those cases, we often recommend long-term contract manufacturing services. These agreements can stabilize both your part pricing and material costs. In the past, we’ve secured supplier agreements based on volume purchasing, and we can even buy material for your project upfront and store it in our facility.

In a manufacturing landscape that can change overnight, this type of stability can be a significant advantage. If you need 17-4 stainless for your parts, for instance, it may be easy to source today, but it’s hard to know what the future may hold. When we secure the material in advance, you don’t have to worry about availability or price hikes.

What’s Next for CNC Machining Materials?

Whatever happens in the short term, we feel confident that materials will stabilize in the coming years because, historically, they always have. This could come from expanded U.S. production or from smoother import processes.

But we also recognize that your business can’t wait for the long term. That’s why it’s critical to have a strategic manufacturing partner like Focused on Machining. We always aim to provide insightful guidance for the challenges you’re facing right now even as we keep an eye on what’s ahead.

Let’s Partner on Your Next Project

If you need high-volume machining services or long-term contract manufacturing, our team is ready to help. Request a quote today to collaborate with our Colorado machine shop and secure stable pricing on CNC machining materials!

Efficient Tight-Tolerance Machining With Our New In-Machine Probing

At Focused on Machining, we’re always looking for proactive investments in technology, both big and small, that allow us to be a better manufacturing partner to our customers. One recent upgrade was the integration of CIMCO probing technology, which has had a significant impact on our tight-tolerance machining.

In-machine probing may not be a part of the manufacturing process most customers think about, but improving our programming and automation capabilities has us performing more efficiently. Some projects that previously required active supervision are now even moving into lights-out production. Learn the basics of this technology and why it leads to better pricing and faster delivery for you.

What Is CIMCO Probing?

CIMCO probing is a Mastercam plugin that, essentially, allows us to include in-machine routines directly in our programming. We’ve made sure that every machine we’ve purchased in recent years is equipped with tool and spindle probes, but the actual probing process still had to be conducted manually by a machinist through the machine’s interface. 

With CIMCO, probing is now fully automated. During programming, we define the exact features and dimensions the machine should check with the probe. Once machining begins, the probe automatically takes measurements and updates offsets before continuing to machine, all without any human intervention.

How It Improves Our Process

This technology has changed our setup and in-process inspection in two major ways, both of which have significantly reduced production time. First, it enables faster and more precise setups. Instead of requiring stock to be placed perfectly in a machine, the probe can now detect the stock’s position and adjust the program.

Second, as we machined parts in the past, we often had to bring them to quality inspection mid-process. If an issue was found, we may have to restart the part entirely. Now, with CIMCO, the machine can automatically detect and correct small discrepancies.

How CIMCO Benefits Our Customers

Faster machining: This upgrade has drastically reduced the time required for precision machining through its improvements to manual setup and back-and-forth with the quality department. For some jobs, setup time alone can be reduced by several hours.

Better pricing: When parts require less operator activity, labor costs will decrease as a consequence. Those savings are passed onto customers, making tight-tolerance machining more economical.

Expanded lights-out capabilities: Some parts that previously required consistent supervision can now be produced unattended, increasing our shop’s capacity and speeding up delivery, a key advantage for customers who leverage our contract manufacturing services.

Real-World Example: Enabling Lights-Out for a Military Component

We recently employed CIMCO probing on a large, complex aluminum part for a defense partner. The part measured 25” x 22” x 6” and included multiple machined pockets with threaded holes and true position callouts. 

In the past, we simply could not have manufactured this part lights-out. The setup for the massive piece of aluminum stock was too demanding, and the threading required manual supervision to ensure accuracy. Now, we use the probe to check the pocket dimensions after machining and then use its XY coordinates as offsets to add related features, a process that previously had to be done manually. 

As a result, the part is now a straightforward lights-out job, with faster delivery and the same precision.

Let’s Revisit Your Toughest Parts

Have you ever sent us a part for tight-tolerance machining that wasn’t a good match for our lights-out capabilities? Let’s discuss that project again, because it may be well-suited to automated production with our new CIMCO capabilities. And with less operator supervision, you could see more cost-effective pricing.

Request a quote now or contact us today to see how the upgrades at our Colorado CNC machine shop can simplify your next part!

4 Signs You Need a Precision Machine Shop Instead of an Online Manufacturing Marketplace

In today’s world, customer expectations across nearly all industries have changed as a result of what many call the “Amazon model.” Buyers expect to easily find the lowest price, click a button, and receive their product with minimal friction. And this approach has, in part, led to the rise of online manufacturing marketplaces, which take your RFQ and connect your project with an available supplier in their network. 

These platforms can serve a helpful purpose; for instance, simple, fast prototypes with loose tolerances are good use cases. However, opting for online marketplaces in complex or critical projects can lead to quality issues, unexpected delays, and higher costs.

At Focused on Machining, we always recommend partnering with a precision machine shop for challenging parts. Learn four clear indicators that your project requires a custom manufacturer.

Critical Parts Demanding Proven Reliability

Recently, a former customer reached out after moving to a new company. In her previous role, this buyer had always insisted on working with us for our reliability and consistent quality. However, her new company had insisted on using an online manufacturing marketplace to reduce costs.

While the marketplace parts were inexpensive, the quality reflected the price. These parts were challenging copper components with tight tolerances, and she told us they had to discard the vast majority of the parts after testing them. What appeared to be cost savings instead disappeared when she factored in waste and the burden of starting procurement from scratch.

Your Timeline Can’t Risk Unexpected Delays

Many customers opt for these platforms because of the rapid turnaround times they advertise. The promise is clear: choosing from an entire network of shops with open capacity will mean faster completion. However, busy shops are typically busy for good reasons: reliable shops have earned customer loyalty through consistent performance.

In contrast, with online manufacturing marketplaces, we regularly hear stories about scrapped parts. While some of these platforms do offer rework policies, we haven’t heard anyone who actually wanted to go back to the site and seek out a rework from their anonymous shop. Instead, they discarded those parts and restarted elsewhere.

This restart creates new delays that can significantly affect a project’s timeline. At Focused on Machining, we provide realistic timelines based on our capacity, then we deliver your quality parts on schedule. If we discover an error, it becomes our top priority to fix it for you as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Scaling Beyond Initial Prototypes

Online manufacturing marketplaces can be useful in certain applications. At Focused on Machining, we specialize in CNC production machining and contract manufacturing services. If you need a quick initial prototype with loose tolerances simply to test basic functionality, a marketplace would be a better match for your project.

However, as your project moves past initial prototyping and nears or enters production, requirements become more demanding. If you need tight tolerances, repeatability, and reliable quality control, a custom manufacturing partner is essential.

Your Industry Requires Certified Manufacturers

In industries like aerospace and defense, transparency is more than a preference. You need complete visibility into every aspect of your manufacturing process, from material traceability to detailed inspection results.

It’s essential to know who will manufacture your part so you can understand their certifications and communicate directly. However, most online manufacturing marketplaces do not provide that transparency, because it conflicts with their business model.

At Focused on Machining, we pride ourselves on our communication, service, and transparency. Our certifications are readily available, our team is responsive, and we can even arrange for you to visit our facility. As an AS9100 machine shop nearing CMMC 2.0 compliance, we’re built to serve aerospace and defense, easily providing the documentation you need for your project.

Partner With Us Today

Online manufacturing marketplaces fill a specific niche, but they’re not ideal for everything. If your project requires complex, precise, or high-quality parts, especially at high volumes, your project will be far more successful when you collaborate directly with a precision machine shop. 

We’re ready to handle your next challenge with transparency and precision. Request a quote today!

Locked-In Pricing: Why Blanket Orders Are a Great Tool in Uncertain Markets

Blanket orders are a critical tool for many buyers, ensuring predictable pricing, efficient volume, and guaranteed capacity. At Focused on Machining, we specialize in contract manufacturing services, including blanket orders in areas like aerospace machining.

This year’s regulatory uncertainty has made both buyers and machine shops hesitant about long-term commitments, but we think this moment presents an excellent opportunity for customers. If you’re concerned about the potential for rising costs, locking in pricing now through a well-structured blanket order could be a major win.

Learn how our collaborative approach to blanket orders and negotiations can help you secure the pricing stability and manufacturing capacity your business needs.

Collaborative, Open Negotiations Lead to Success

Negotiations aren’t always the most enjoyable aspect of manufacturing, but they’re essential to creating a win-win setup for everyone involved. We welcome open discussions about blanket orders, believing that every option is on the table to help find the best possible arrangement. That’s because we understand different factors matter most to different businesses.

If competitive pricing is your primary concern, blanket orders are an ideal solution. You’ll gain the cost advantages of large-scale production without the burden of large shipments. Getting the best possible pricing requires give-and-take on both sides, identifying areas where both sides can find beneficial terms. Ultimately, as a manufacturing partner focused on our customer experience, our goal is to understand your requirements and find the best path forward.

Strategic Approaches to Managing Material Costs

Material pricing is a significant challenge in today’s market, as pricing has risen at points during this year and uncertainty remains. As a result, some shops now shy away from blanket orders as they struggle to find vendors who will guarantee stable pricing.

At our Colorado machine shop, we take multiple approaches to this issue. First, our large network of trusted vendors often allows us to find suppliers for long-term commitments, even in today’s landscape. These partnerships give us leverage to secure competitive pricing that many shops or individual buyers can’t achieve.

Alternatively, some of our partners opt for upfront material purchasing in their blanket orders. This approach locks in current pricing, while we handle storage at our facility. An added benefit is that, with materials on hand, we can often accelerate your production schedule if your demand surges unexpectedly.

Flexible Payment Terms for Better Pricing

Risk directly influences our pricing structure, and that’s why customers who agree to more favorable payment terms will often see significant cost reductions. In a recent negotiation with a large space and defense contractor, for instance, our customer agreed to Net 15 payment terms. By reducing our financial risk, we were able to offer significantly lower prices per part.

The Benefits of Early Delivery

There are countless other areas that many of our customers often focus on to secure greater cost savings. Early delivery of contracted parts can benefit both our shop and the customer, depending on the situation.

Early delivery reduces your prices by allowing us to optimize scheduling, minimize setup costs, and reduce expenses from external processing and shipping.

Let’s Tailor a Blanket Order to Your Needs

Every aspect of our blanket order agreements is negotiable. If you’re seeking the stability and predictability that these structures offer in uncertain times, we’re committed to finding the terms that will work best for your business.

The strategies above represent just a small sample of how we can help customers achieve their goals. We’re always open to discussing any contract element where flexibility can help to create value for both our shop and our partner.

Ready to explore how a blanket order can benefit your business? Request a quote today to start the conversation with our Colorado contract manufacturing shop.

Focused on Machining Is the Perfect Tier One OEM Supplier

Every year, we conduct a customer survey to ensure we’re meeting customer expectations in areas like communication, quality, and delivery. In our most recent survey, the responses were positive across the board, with nearly every customer segment satisfied. One customer segment stood out with particularly strong feedback: tier-one OEMs.

Find out why so many aerospace and defense OEMs find Focused on Machining to be a reliable, nimble, and competitively priced partner for their precision machining needs.

Built to Act as a Tier-One OEM Supplier

Every customer in every industry values our precision machining capabilities and excellent quality—it’s the reason most first approach us. However, tier-one OEMs have specific requirements that we’ve built our operation to efficiently meet, including:

Quality Requirements

Our full quality department includes a dedicated quality manager and inspectors. We maintain tight tolerances and quickly verify accuracy, ensuring consistent results that meet strict OEM standards.

Lights-Out Machining

Our lights-out capabilities reduce OEM lead times by maximizing our production schedule. This automated approach allows us to maintain our competitive edge in both speed and pricing.

Critical Certifications

Our certifications make us an ideal tier-one OEM supplier. We are AS9100 certified, ITAR-registered, and nearing our final steps toward CMMC compliance. These credentials streamline audits by new customers and demonstrate our total commitment to quality.

Complex Documentation

With our suite of digital tools, we simplify the process of delivering complex paperwork required for tier-one OEM projects. Our ERP system generates all AS9102s, and every work order receives documented FAI in AS9102 format.

Supplier Diversity and Service-Disabled Veteran Status

Focused on Machining is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), helping tier-one manufacturers to meet the requirements of FAR regulation 19.201 and supporting their supplier diversity goals.

Cybersecurity

OEMs must protect sensitive data, and our CMMC efforts demonstrate our commitment to cybersecurity. We take every precaution to keep your data safe, because we know it’s critical to your operations.

Expertise in Exotic Materials

As an AS9100 machine shop, we’re experienced with a variety of challenging materials critical to the aerospace and defense industries, from titanium machining to Inconel and beyond.

The Benefits of a Small Shop as a Tier One OEM Supplier

Many OEMs may assume that partnering with a smaller shop means sacrificing certain capabilities, but it’s simply not the case. Our size is actually a strength when serving tier-one manufacturers. 

At our size, we can still be nimble and adaptable, keeping costs down without ever sacrificing quality. In contract negotiations, for instance, we have flexibility to meet OEMs halfway because of our streamlined structure. Our deep supplier relationships allow us to go through trusted vendors for the best possible prices. 

Many larger shops solve problems by adding layers of staff, but we leverage technology to stay lean. That allows for greater responsiveness and transparency both internally and externally, and ultimately lower costs that we pass on.

With this structure, we’re well-suited to partner with tier-one OEMs like:

• Lockheed Martin

• RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon)

• Northrop Grumman

• Boeing

• General Dynamics

• Blue Origin

• SpaceX

Your Next Project Starts Here

With our advanced capabilities, essential certifications, and efficient operations, we are an ideal manufacturing partner for tier-one OEMs who need quality parts at competitive prices. From tight tolerance machining to handling exotic materials, we’re ready to tackle your challenging projects.

Request a quote and experience how easy manufacturing can be with our Colorado machine shop!