Practical notes on designing parts that are cheaper to make, written for engineers rather than beginners.
Machining guides
These are the questions that come up again and again at quotation stage. Written for people who already know what a datum is — not an introduction to CNC machining.
Where wall thickness stops being a machining problem and becomes a drawing problem — and what to change before you send the file.
In production
Depth-to-diameter ratio decides the process long before price does. How to tell which one your part actually needs.
In production
What each gear-cutting process is genuinely for, where they overlap, and how the choice affects cost.
In production
Tolerances and finishes that get specified by habit and paid for on every unit. How to spot them in your own drawings.
In production
Distortion is predictable. Sequencing grinding after hardening is usually cheaper than tightening the specification.
In production
A practical comparison based on cost, machinability, corrosion and what happens after heat treatment.
In production
Status. These guides are being written. If there is a specific question you want answered first — about your part, your material or your tolerance — send it with your drawing and we will answer it directly rather than waiting for the article.
The parts behind the notes
A gear cluster that had to be hobbed after its bore was established. An adaptor whose wall was thin enough to move under clamping. A shaft with a hex turned in the same setup. These are the actual parts the notes come from.
Tell us the part, the material and the quantity. An engineer reviews your drawing and replies within one working day — usually with a suggestion on how to make it cheaper.
