Be clear about how the absence of a model can negatively impact cost, lead time, and even quality. If you’re in this situation, it’s worth having a conversation with your engineering team. We realize that some buyers have difficulty convincing engineers to grant them access to models. We’re even happy to connect you with a freelance engineer who will develop a model for you at a fair rate! Our Advice: Always Include a 3D Modelįor these reasons, we always encourage customers to provide models when requesting a quote for our precision machining services. In these cases, we charge for our engineering time, which includes going back and forth with the customer over the course of a few days to make sure we’re interpreting the information on the blueprint accurately. We don’t machine parts without a model at Focused on Machining, so when a customer can’t provide a model, we need to create one in-house. For example, when it’s time to program a machine for a manufacturing operation, we can upload the model, click the features, add the tool paths, and get the operation started quickly. Our CNC machines and CMM inspection software use models to achieve auto-programming. Lathes have been around for hundreds of years in their. A key feature of a lathe is that unlike a drill, for instance, it is the workpiece that turns not the tool. This allows the craftsman to sand, deform, carve, or otherwise shape the piece as he desires.

The software analyzes the model and automatically tells us important information about a part so that we can provide an accurate quote and get your project moving. A lathe is a machine which holds a piece to be worked and rotates it along an axis. Quick quotingģD models empower us to turn around fast quotes using our digital quoting software.

But it actually streamlines manufacturing significantly, which is vital to many prototype machining customers seeking quick-turn manufacturing services. Providing precision machine shops with a model in addition to a blueprint may feel needlessly cumbersome. 3D Models Streamline Manufacturing to Improve Lead Times In contrast, programming edge breaks into the model eliminates guesswork, giving machinists a clear 3D visual to add context to the specification from the blueprint.

As a result, the engineer might not get precisely what they wanted. For example, an engineer might leave a note in the blueprint to “break all sharp edges.” However, the machinist’s interpretation of an edge break may differ slightly from the engineer’s.

Machining blueprint