TCI Precision Metals launched a program to provide customers with first article sample parts on request with accompanying production volume quotation. The program allows customers to verify production processes, fixturing and create first article finished parts, realizing the benefits of machine-ready blanks, before ordering the materials.
Founded in 1956, TCI Precision Metals is a family-owned precision manufacturer producing close tolerance machine-ready blanks from aluminum, stainless steel and other alloys.
Machine-ready blanks from TCI Precision Metals helps shops increase throughput up to 25% allowing them to ship finished parts faster and get paid quicker. With a single purchase order customers receive custom precision blanks ready to load directly into their CNC machining centers,” said Ben Belzer, president and COO of TCI Precision Metals. “And with our just-in-time program we can ship the materials all at once or deliver it in batches based on the customer’s production schedule.”
Near net size precision blanks eliminate the need for in-house sawing, grinding, flattening, squaring operations and outside processing. Each blank arrives deburred, clean and to customer specifications that are guaranteed to meet tolerances as close as ±0.0005” dimensionally and depending on size as close as 0.001” flatness, squareness, and parallelism. When flat blanks are specified, the TCI Precision Metals production process elevates residual stress in the material, consistently producing close tolerance flat blanks that resist part movement during finish machining, improving overall quality.
“Our goal is to help customers be more productive and increase their shops capacity and throughput without adding overhead. Starting production jobs with precision machine-ready blanks is an easy way to gain immediate results. Our Free First Article Blanks program gives customers the ability to see, touch and work with the actual machine-ready materials as part of their pre-production process,” said Belzer.
For more information on the ready-blanks program, phone 800-234-5613 or visit the company’s website by clicking here.
Related Glossary Terms
- alloys
alloys
Substances having metallic properties and being composed of two or more chemical elements of which at least one is a metal.
- centers
centers
Cone-shaped pins that support a workpiece by one or two ends during machining. The centers fit into holes drilled in the workpiece ends. Centers that turn with the workpiece are called “live” centers; those that do not are called “dead” centers.
- computer numerical control ( CNC)
computer numerical control ( CNC)
Microprocessor-based controller dedicated to a machine tool that permits the creation or modification of parts. Programmed numerical control activates the machine’s servos and spindle drives and controls the various machining operations. See DNC, direct numerical control; NC, numerical control.
- flat ( screw flat)
flat ( screw flat)
Flat surface machined into the shank of a cutting tool for enhanced holding of the tool.
- grinding
grinding
Machining operation in which material is removed from the workpiece by a powered abrasive wheel, stone, belt, paste, sheet, compound, slurry, etc. Takes various forms: surface grinding (creates flat and/or squared surfaces); cylindrical grinding (for external cylindrical and tapered shapes, fillets, undercuts, etc.); centerless grinding; chamfering; thread and form grinding; tool and cutter grinding; offhand grinding; lapping and polishing (grinding with extremely fine grits to create ultrasmooth surfaces); honing; and disc grinding.
- just-in-time ( JIT)
just-in-time ( JIT)
Philosophy based on identifying, then removing, impediments to productivity. Applies to machining processes, inventory control, rejects, changeover time and other elements affecting production.
- residual stress
residual stress
Stress present in a body that is free of external forces or thermal gradients.
- sawing
sawing
Machining operation in which a powered machine, usually equipped with a blade having milled or ground teeth, is used to part material (cutoff) or give it a new shape (contour bandsawing, band machining). Four basic types of sawing operations are: hacksawing (power or manual operation in which the blade moves back and forth through the work, cutting on one of the strokes); cold or circular sawing (a rotating, circular, toothed blade parts the material much as a workshop table saw or radial-arm saw cuts wood); bandsawing (a flexible, toothed blade rides on wheels under tension and is guided through the work); and abrasive sawing (abrasive points attached to a fiber or metal backing part stock, could be considered a grinding operation).
- tolerance
tolerance
Minimum and maximum amount a workpiece dimension is allowed to vary from a set standard and still be acceptable.
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