When you order repeat parts from a CNC machine shop, you can’t be fully confident the parts will be consistent from one order to the next until you understand the shop’s approach to documentation.
Is the shop using file folders to store physical copies of blueprints with hand-scribbled notes? That’s not exactly an ideal system. Scanning the blueprints into a digital database? That’s a slightly better way to do it, but even so, it’s not scalable.
At Focused on Machining, we have a fully digitized solution that allows us to offer unbeatable consistency and efficiency when it comes to repeat orders. Like many of our other solutions to manufacturing challenges, it all ties back to our ERP system.
Determining the Level of Detail Required
Any time our Colorado CNC machine shop receives a work order in our ProShop ERP system, one of our team members selects a work order type. The work order type helps us determine the level of detail required when documenting information about the part.
Prototypes require the lowest level of documentation because, in most cases, we’re making a single part to get out the door to the customer as quickly as possible. These parts typically don’t return to us, so minimal documentation is sufficient. (If we know we’ll be transitioning from prototype to production, we’ll document information in greater detail.)
Pre-production indicates that this is our first time making a part we know will become a repeat part, so a specific level of documentation is required.
1st run/new rev tells us it’s a part we’ve made before that has recently undergone a revision change. It suggests we should use as much of the existing documentation as possible and update any procedures that have changed.
Repeat production indicates we’ve made the part before, will make the part again, and should add images with clear descriptions outlining the process in detail.
Documenting the Machining Process for Repeat Parts
Regarding repeat parts, the goal is to provide highly detailed instructions so that any machinist has the necessary information to make an identical part.
The written description contains the most basic information and is often a one-line sentence. The run description contains images and instructions on how to set up the machine. As you can see, the level of detail is high.
Step 1: Set chuck pressure to 8KG/CM2
Step 2: Set tool 1 sticking out between 7.2 and 7.4 inches
Step 3: (Tool 1 in pocket 1) Make sure coolant flow hits each tool being used
Step 4: (Tools 4 & 5 in pockets 4 & 5)
… and so on until the last step.
The joke at our Colorado CNC machine shop is that the run description should be so detailed that even the owner of the company, who is NOT a machinist, could set up the machines.
Adding special notes
Our machinists often add special notes that are important for the next machinists to see. For instance, if they’re working on a part with a tight tolerance that must be hard anodized, they’ll note that the part must be machined to a specific tolerance pre-plating to account for anodize buildup.
Details Matter in Precision Machining
Using our ERP to document information not only allows us to deliver consistent parts with incredible efficiency but also reinforces to our team that details matter in precision machining. This mentality is a significant aspect of what sets our Colorado CNC machine shop apart.