Category Archive: Uncategorized

CNC Turning: Improving Speed & Quality While Reducing Costs

Computer numerical control (CNC) turning is a subtractive machining process that shapes bars of raw material into cylindrical components with precision. The technique controls equipment like lathes through computer-aided design (CAD) programs and digital instructions, applying a stationary tool to a rotating workpiece to remove material with rotational symmetry. CNC turning achieves tighter tolerances for a level of precision that isn’t possible through manual machining, all while increasing speed and throughput and decreasing labor costs.

CNC Turning Process

For CNC turning, the initial setup and programming stage involves prepping a lathe with the necessary tooling and placing raw material into the machine’s rotating chuck. An operator will program the machine by inputting the design specifications into the computer program and initiating production. The computer controls the movement of the cutting tools with a high degree of accuracy, removing material until the resulting part takes the desired shape.

However, turning operations can use multiple machining techniques and cutting tools to generate precision components with complex shapes and intricate detailing. For example, modern multi-axis CNC turning machines like dual-spindle twin-turret lathes are available with a milling component or live tooling. Unlike conventional turning, CNC mill-turning utilizes an end mill or similar style tool within a lathe capable of independent movement, making thread and cross-milling, grooving, slotting, tapping, and other milled features possible. Such equipment can also be paired with bar loaders or machine-tending robots for enhanced efficiency and productivity.

Despite the automated nature of CNC turning, it’s still important to incorporate continuous monitoring in manufacturing operations to maintain optimal product quality. Devices such as feedback systems and sensors can alert operators to product deviations so that they can address these quality issues quickly. Such quality control is critical to achieving maximum accuracy in end products and reducing waste.

How CNC Turning Improves Speed & Quality While Reducing Costs

What is CNC turning’s value from a business standpoint? The process reduces cycle times and accelerates production rates, even for more complex and intricate product designs. Compared to manual alternatives, CNC turning is faster and more accurate, with its capacity for automation minimizing the need for human labor for increased cost savings. Once in process, automated CNC turning operations are capable of lights-out manufacturing for greater throughput and revenue potential. CNC turning equipment also reduces material waste, allowing manufacturers to derive maximum value from available material resources.

By automating the turning process, manufacturers achieve greater part consistency and precision. CNC turning eliminates the risk of human error, reducing part variability and providing customers with repeatable, uniform production. Automated CNC turning offers the additional benefits of:

  • Maximum production efficiency
  • Stringent quality controls
  • Scalable production compared to manual processing
  • Faster turn times with pre-programmed CNC equipment
  • Optimal versatility, with a wide range of material options and design capabilities
  • Improved worker safety through reduced human-machine interaction

CNC Turning by Hogge Precision

Precision CNC turning is essential in fulfilling manufacturing needs across numerous industries, including military and defense, aerospace, energy, medical, and more. Manual processes are not only less precise and efficient but also less cost-effective. Automated CNC turning makes more complex designs possible, even while boosting speed and repeatable accuracy.

With a long-standing reputation for client-focused contract manufacturing, Hogge Precision Parts Co., Inc. is dedicated to optimizing quality and efficiency in our CNC turning services. Utilizing advanced equipment like our hybrid twin-turret, dual-spindle SC-100X2 machine and our 7- and 8-axis turning centers, we can achieve tolerances of ±0.0005 inches in our state-of-the-art facility for turned products ranging from valves and plumbing components to motion control devices. Our automated and lights-out operations follow our ISO 9001:2015-registered quality management system, and the Hogge Precision team uses CMM, optical comparators, quality planning software, ERP, and other methods to ensure 100% customer satisfaction.

In addition to CNC turning and milling, we also offer screw machining, Swiss machining, and Inventory Management programs to provide comprehensive service to our customers. Contact us to learn more about our capabilities, or request a quote today.

Eight Tips on Finding the Right Precision CNC Machining Company

Precision computer numerical control (CNC) machining is a subtractive manufacturing method that removes material from a workpiece to achieve a final part using computer-guided tooling and equipment. A pivotal process in virtually any modern manufacturing operation, it meets numerous industries’ needs for quality and accuracy, tight tolerances, complex shapes, repeatable products, rapid production, and competitive pricing.

Choosing the right provider for precision CNC machining services, however, can be a challenge as there are numerous factors to consider. Here, we’ve outlined eight tips for what to look for when selecting a CNC machining partner to carry out or support your manufacturing operations.

Importance of Choosing the Right CNC Machining Supplier

Selecting the wrong CNC machining partner for your project can result in poor-quality products, disappointed customers, a damaged reputation, and lost business. At best, things may not run smoothly, and your company may suffer missed cost and time savings opportunities.

Alternatively, finding the ideal CNC supplier will enhance many aspects of a project. In addition to ensuring high quality and repeatable accuracy, the right service provider will help you streamline operations and reach your goals for project scale, scheduling, operational and per-unit costs, and product performance.

Finding the Right Precision CNC Machining Service Provider

Selecting the ideal service provider from the many CNC machining suppliers in the industry to meet your manufacturing needs can be daunting. The following eight tips will help you choose the right partner to fulfill your specific requirements and expectations:

  1. Start by identifying the needs of your project. Before you can pick the ideal machining partner, you must first understand your own needs. Begin by evaluating and then documenting your requirements for materials, production volume, design complexity, turn times, and budget.
  2. Pinpoint the specific or unique precision CNC machining capabilities and equipment you require. Learn about the services that prospective CNC machining companies provide and the machinery they use to do their work to ensure their offerings align with your needs. Depending on your product, you may require a partner that offers a particular service like CNC milling or turning or one that utilizes multi-axis machining equipment.
  3. Evaluate the company’s capacity for flexibility and custom work. Similarly, determine a company’s ability and willingness to adapt to design alterations, project modifications, and shifting deadlines, as this can make the difference between smooth and rocky work progression. Also, a company’s capability to accommodate customization in parts and components may be essential to your project.
  4. Research the company’s background and expertise in the industry. See how long a potential company has been in business and if they have a strong background in working with companies in your industry. Discovering that a business has had success with similar work is one way to get a feel for how it can handle your own.
  5. Read company case studies and customer reviews. Another worthwhile option is to browse potential partners’ websites for case studies, where you can learn about projects they’ve worked on in the past. Testimonials and reviews from former or current clients are also a great way to gauge the company’s reputation and capabilities.
  6. Establish what the service partner’s QC practices are. Ensure your partner complies with all necessary industry standards and has strict quality control measures to give you the peace of mind that they’ll deliver tight-tolerance products to specification with reliable consistency. Also, companies will often list any quality certifications they’ve achieved on their website.
  7. Find out how their team handles customer service and communication. Discover how the company communicates and collaborates with customers to see if that fits your expectations. This can include how they deal with problems when they arise. To that end, also look for companies prioritizing transparency in their dealings.
  8. Ask multiple businesses for detailed quotes. When you have found several CNC machining companies that you think could be ideal partners, request quotes from each. Compare not just the bottom line, but also the services you’ll receive for your budget and the value they provide.

Precision CNC Machining Services by Hogge Precision

Finding a precision CNC machining services partner with capabilities that align with your goals is essential to meeting your business needs for quality and customer satisfaction. At Hogge Precision Parts Co., Inc., we aim to offer comprehensive and versatile machining options for standard, custom, and Mil-Spec precision parts.

Established in 1989, we’re an ISO 9001:2015-certified contract manufacturer. Our company offers in-house CNC milling and turning, Swiss machining, and screw machining, as well as inventory management to customers in industries ranging from aerospace and defense to medical and electrical. Dedicated to quality assurance and customer satisfaction, we met 99.8% of clients’ quality requirements and delivered 94% of shipments on time out of the 9,300 orders we filled for our customers in 2022.

To learn more about the Hogge Precision difference, request a quote today or review our portfolio gallery displaying our capabilities for high-quality parts.

An Introduction to Precision CNC Milling: Understanding the Basics

When you look at a complex and finely detailed metal or plastic part, have you ever wondered how it was created with such precision? The answer lies in CNC milling, a remarkable process that’s at the heart of modern precision manufacturing. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll take you on a journey into the world of CNC milling, explaining what it is, how it works, its advantages, and where you can find its applications.

What is Precision CNC Milling? The Art of Subtraction

At its core, CNC milling is a subtractive manufacturing process by which material is removed from raw stock whereas the workpiece is fixed, and cutting tools move and rotate in conjunction to yield the desired finished part. Imagine starting with a block of raw material, and you want to shape it into a specific part with intricate details. CNC milling is the tool that brings your imagination to life.

How Does Precision CNC Milling Work?

The Role of Computers

To maintain the high level of precision demanded in today’s manufacturing, we turn to Computer Numerical Control (CNC) equipment. Instead of relying on manual labor, CNC machining relies on computers and software to control the entire process.

Here’s the basic workflow:

  1. Design: First, a skilled engineer creates a digital design of the part using specialized software like CAD (Computer-Aided Design).
  2. Programming: The digital design is then translated into a set of instructions for the CNC machine. This is done using CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software.
  3. Execution: The CNC machine takes these instructions and gets to work. It moves the cutting tools with incredible precision, shaping the raw material into the desired part.

The beauty of CNC milling lies in its ability to replicate this process consistently, producing identical parts with remarkable accuracy.

Benefits of Precision CNC Milling

CNC milling brings a plethora of benefits to the table, making it a preferred choice in modern manufacturing:

  • Complexity. CNC milling can handle intricate and highly detailed parts with ease.
  • Tight tolerances. It achieves tolerances as fine as ±0.0002” (±0.00508 mm) to ±0.0005” (±0.0127 mm), ensuring precision in every detail.
  • Smooth finishes. The process delivers exceptionally smooth surface finishes, even allowing for custom finishes.
  • Consistency. Whether you need one part or a thousand, CNC milling maintains consistency across production runs.

Applications of Precision CNC Milling

You’ll find precision CNC milling at work in a wide range of industries, including:

Your Partner in Milling Precision

CNC milling is the magic behind the precision and intricacy of many of the parts and components we encounter in our daily lives. Whether it’s the precise gears in a watch or the complex components in a spacecraft, CNC milling is at work, turning raw materials into works of art.

To explore the possibilities of CNC milling for your projects or manufacturing needs, reach out to us today.

What You Need to Know About Cleaning Precision Machined Parts

Manufacturing precision machined parts requires a high-level view of the total machining process, from raw materials to finished, ready-to-ship products. Only then can you refine each step for maximum efficiency. While making the parts are often what most people think of, adequate cleaning can often be just as significant a challenge. The secret to cleaning machined parts quickly and effectively is selecting the right cleaning equipment and process most compatible with the parts’ shape and materials.

Why Cleaning CNC Machined Parts is Important

Cleaning machined parts of dust, chips, swarf, oil, abrasives, and any other contaminants is necessary to ensure effective assembly and longer product lifecycles. Practically every part ejected from a turning or machining center is coated with the residue of aqueous- or oil-based cutting fluids, and some degree of swarf. These residues and particulates can interfere with the next step of assembly, tarnish or corrode the part, and harm customer relationships.

Swiss Machined vs. Turned Parts

Turning and Swiss machining are manufacturing processes used to produce a wide range of precision parts and components. While both methods are popular for use across various industries, Swiss machined parts and turned parts each offer their own unique set of advantages. By understanding their differences and considering the particular needs of your application, you can determine which option is best for your needs.

Swiss Parts

The Difference Between Swiss Machined Parts vs. Turned Parts

The differences between turned and Swiss machined parts come down to how they are made.

Swiss Machined Parts

During the Swiss machining process, the workpiece is fed through a guide bushing to allow it to be cut near the point of support regardless of its length. This significantly reduces deflection to produce parts with extremely high precision. Typically, Swiss machining is used to produce slender, delicate, or complex components in high volumes that meet tight tolerance requirements.

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Swiss Machined vs. Turned Parts

Common examples of Swiss machined parts include:

  • Valve components
  • Instrument components
  • Custom fittings
  • Electrical components
  • Medical devices
  • Watch components
  • Optical equipment

To produce these components, Swiss machines use processes such as boring, drilling, milling, threading, turning, and more.

Recent Swiss Machining Project

In a past project, we worked with a customer to Swiss machine a specialty valve stem with rolled threads. This customer’s previous supplier made these in two operations, but we were able to complete them in one with lights-out production. This improved overall quality while maintaining cost-effectiveness for the customer.

Using milling, grooving, thread rolling, and rough & finish turning processes, we produced 5,000 pieces using 303 stainless steel. They measured 1.5’’ in length with a .312’’ OD and tight tolerances of +/- .0004’’.

Turned Parts
In standard turning, the workpiece is securely held at one or both ends. As the workpiece spins, it is cut by tools based on computerized instructions. Turning processes can work with a wide range of materials to produce larger-diameter parts in short, medium, and high production volumes with great precision.

Industries such as power, medical, defense, energy, and industrial often rely on CNC turning to produce parts such as:

  • Valve components
  • Motion control devices
  • Plumbing components
  • Custom fittings
  • Aerospace products
  • Power transmission
  • Various others

Recent Turning Project

A valve industry customer worked with us to manufacture an aluminum safety coupling. Using multi-axis CNC turning and milling processes, we ran lights out to produce 5,000 units per month. The finished product was made with 7075 aluminum and measured 2.425’’ in length with a .875’’ OD and a tolerance threshold of +/- .0005’’.

Advantages of Swiss Machined Parts vs. Turned Parts

One of the main advantages of Swiss machining is that the workpiece is supported very close to the cutting tools as the bar stock pushes through the guide bushing. Compared to conventional CNC turning, this prevents deflection to ensure higher accuracy for small-diameter parts. Additionally, Swiss machines utilize multiple tools and several axes, allowing them to produce parts with complex designs on one machine and in one cycle. Other benefits include high levels of part repeatability, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to achieve very high tolerances.

While Swiss machining is ideal for producing smaller-diameter parts, conventional turning is more suitable for creating short, large-diameter parts with tight tolerances. Turning is the better choice when working with difficult materials and bigger components. CNC turning machines also store multiple tools, which the machine can change based on the operation required. Other benefits of CNC turning include variable production sizes, quick turnaround, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced worker safety.

Hogge Precision Capabilities

Whether you need a precision-turned part made with difficult materials or a small and thin Swiss machined part, Hogge Precision has the capabilities and expertise to assist your needs. As an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, Hogge Precision can produce a variety of precision-machined components for industries such as automotive, medical, construction, aerospace & defense, plumbing, and many more.

To learn more about our capabilities, or for help determining whether conventional turning or Swiss machining is right for your project, contact us today. You can also request a quote to get started.

Lights Out Manufacturing

Hogge Precision Parts Co., Inc. provides contract manufacturing services using computer numerical control (CNC) and screw machining equipment. Our extensive portfolio of machining centers combined with our 42,000-square-foot manufacturing facility allows us to deliver custom components for a wide range of industries. For most applications, we are capable of providing what is known as “lights out” manufacturing services. 
Lights out manufacturing describes fully automated production that keeps running even after employees have gone home. Utilizing lights out manufacturing methodology, Hogge Precision Parts is able to deliver machined components on time and at highly competitive prices. Let’s take a closer look at lights out manufacturing, along with its benefits and challenges.

What is Lights Out Manufacturing?

Lights Out Manufacturing

Friday afternoon, everyone has gone home but our machines are still running.

Lights out manufacturing is a production method that requires minimal or no human interaction beyond initial programming and tooling setup. To create a lights out operation, significant portions of the manufacturing process must be automated so extensively that the equipment continues production even after all workers have left the building and turned and turned off the lights—hence the name. The automated machinery handles the physical production aspect, while human workers plan production schedules, manage the facility, maintain equipment, and program the automated machine tools and other assets. 

Benefits of Lights Out Production

There are many benefits to lights out production methods, with one of the most significant ones being cost reduction. Since the machines work continuously, a lights out facility’s manufacturing capacity increases greatly while total production costs diminish. Efficiency is also maximized in lights out manufacturing operations since fully automated machines can work without stopping. 

Additionally, the accuracy and precision of automated machine tools creates end products that are highly consistent, with little need for rework or secondary processing in many situations.

Challenges of Lights Out Production

Lights Out Manufacturing

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While lights out production comes with many significant benefits, there are also a number of challenges. Fully autonomous manufacturing environments need to address these key issues in order to deliver accurate and reliable services. 

  • Reliable off-site accessibility. Even with the most advanced automated manufacturing technology, unforeseen issues can always arise. When they do, human intervention is needed. Operators must be able to access production equipment remotely from an internet-connected device. Incorporating an effective manufacturing execution system (MES) and robust connectivity hardware infrastructure will ensure visibility into real-time production data even when no one is present in the production facility. 
  • Safety and reliability. Since no workers are present during lights out manufacturing, there is no one around to address potential failures or malfunctions during off-hours. By employing an MES solution, staff gets notified about the need for maintenance should the equipment fall below its expected Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).  The MES can also help to manage preventative maintenance schedules to proactively avoid issues. 
  • Technical challenges. Lights out manufacturing requires a high degree of technical proficiency. For example, connecting older machines to a new MES to run them in a lights out capacity may require overcoming a variety of glitches and obstacles. Getting set up for lights out may require bringing in a systems integrator that can make sure all relevant systems communicate with each other. 
  • Economy of scale. Developing a lights out production facility requires a significant financial investment and overcoming numerous operational hurdles to reach a point where everything functions optimally. As a result, a lights out setup might not be a worthwhile undertaking for small-scale production facilities. 

Lights Out Manufacturing With Hogge Precision

Lights out manufacturing is a highly beneficial process that can be used to produce a large selection of components. Experienced lights out facilities can deliver key benefits to customers, such as reduced production times, extreme production efficiency, and lower labor costs. 

Hogge Precision Parts Co., Inc. has been delivering reliable contract manufacturing services since 1989. Our lights out manufacturing capabilities allow us to deliver precision components at competitive prices for a wide range of industries. To learn more or get started on your manufacturing solution, contact us or request a quote today.

The Advantages of Reshoring

For the last few years, many manufacturing companies have been focused on reshoring their operations. This process of bringing manufacturing back to the United States and away from overseas facilities helps companies save time, money, and complications, and it’s a powerful way to strengthen the U.S. economy. It brings more jobs back to local communities, builds a skilled workforce, and helps to balance the country’s trade and budget deficit. 

The pandemic highlighted the weaknesses associated with offshore manufacturing, including delays and other supply chain disruptions, and many manufacturing companies accelerated their plans to reshore. They’re already experiencing the benefits:

Greater Control Over Production and Higher Quality Products

Offshore facilities are operating under the rules and regulations present in that country—which may not be as strict as the regulations in the United States. That could (and often does) mean lower production quality, poorer working conditions, and less environmental responsibility. 

By reshoring manufacturing, you bring your production process closer to home—and closer to your consumers. You can keep an eye on production, rather than trusting another team in another facility half a world away, to uphold your standards. If you have a problem with a product manufactured in an offshore facility, you may not realize it for months. By that time, you probably have another shipment on the way and another order nearing completion in the factory. That’s wasted time, wasted materials, and wasted money. With a local supplier, issues can be addressed more effectively due to proximity.  

Decrease Unemployment

Unemployment skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses shut down and many former employees had no other options. Reshoring manufacturing opens up a variety of skilled jobs right here at home, creating a positive butterfly effect that enhances the economy by strengthening households and entire communities. Supply chains are continuing to face disruptions, which is encouraging more companies to shorten their supply chains and keep their operations close to home—opening up more jobs for U.S. workers. 

Shorter Lead Times

The Advantages of Reshoring

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Products created overseas have to be transported from the facility, over the ocean, through a U.S. port for inspection and approval, and to the customer via trucks and planes. It’s a process that takes time even when it all goes smoothly: with even one disruption or mistake, the entire chain is slowed. 

If you manufacture that same product in the United States, you’ve eliminated an enormous part of the process. There’s no coordinating the transport of the products from the factory to the boat, no overseas shipping, no U.S. customs. You simply transport your finished product from your facility to the retail store or directly to the customer. You save time and money while reducing your carbon footprint and enabling yourself to fulfill orders more quickly. 

Reshoring has been trending for years, but the pandemic highlighted the need to bring manufacturing back to the United States. While offshoring can sometimes be a way for companies to save money on labor and materials costs, those savings, in general, no longer make up for the inconvenience and expense of the communications challenges, shipping, and the risk of delay and disruption.

Furthermore, consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental costs of overseas shipping, the poor working conditions in many overseas factories and the opportunities companies have to provide jobs within their communities. Demand for American-made products will continue to grow. 

Working with Hogge Precision

Located in South Carolina, Hogge Precision manufactures high-quality custom parts for a number of industries, including aerospace, automotive, construction, defense,  plumbing, medical, and more. Our extensive capabilities are housed in a 42,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, and we operate under an ISO 9001:2015 QMS registered system to ensure we meet or exceed your expectations. Contact us to learn more about our capabilities, skilled craftsmen, , and friendly, attentive customer service, or request a quote for your project. 

Brass Machined Components

Machining involves removing raw materials from a workpiece to shape it into a specific geometry. This highly versatile process can be used with a range of materials like plastic, rubber, or paper, but its most common application is in the manufacturing of parts and components from metal alloys like brass.

Properties of Brass

Properties of BrassFormed primarily of copper and zinc, brass has many desirable properties that make it an ideal material for manufacturing a variety of parts and components. These properties include:

  • Easily machinable (at zinc levels <40%)
  • High ductility and malleability
  • Resistance to corrosion, wear, temperature variation, oxidation, and salt 
  • Good conductor of heat and electricity
  • Bright, golden appearance

The machinability of brass depends on its zinc content, meaning the percentage of zinc in brass alloys must not exceed 40% in order to undergo casting, melting, punching, or other machining methods. The addition of other alloying agents like lead, manganese, aluminum, arsenic, or tin help to differentiate brass alloys while improving upon the metal’s base properties. Selecting the appropriate brass grade is a critical step in properly addressing the requirements of a specific application.

Brass Machined Components

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Brass Machined Components

From industrial parts and components to musical instruments, brass is used in a breadth of applications spanning numerous industries. At Hogge Precision, we specialize in machining traditional and 693 lead-free, or Eco-Brass alloys.

Machined components made of brass can serve in a variety of applications, including:

  • Bearings
  • Bushings
  • Compression Fittings
  • Gears
  • Medical Transmissions Components
  • Pipe Fittings
  • Valves

Through the use of our in-house CNC milling and turning centers, as well as our Swiss and Screw Machines, we can manufacture products within tolerances of ±.001″ and finishes as fine as 16 RMS. In as little as three to six weeks, we can fulfill orders ranging in size from 100 to 100,000 parts. Our production capabilities include:

  • Turning
  • Milling
  • Slotting
  • Engraving
  • Drilling
  • Boring
  • Broaching
  • Reaming
  • Threading
  • Tapping
  • Knurling
  • ID burnishing

We have manufactured and delivered brass fittings, medical transmission components, and specialty valve components designed for use in the medical and plumbing industries, as well as electrical and instrument components. Additionally, we offer extensive custom machining capabilities designed to meet the specifications of any application that relies on brass machined parts or components. 

Machined Components from Hogge Precision

Since 1989, Hogge Precision has been a trusted manufacturer of precision machined components from materials including:

  • Aluminum
  • Brass
  • Bronze
  • Carbon and alloy steels
  • Copper
  • Lead-free or Eco-Brass
  • Stainless steels
  • Machinable plastics

Our team has served diverse industries from aerospace and defense to construction and medical. We rely on our ISO 9001:2015 QMS registered system and employ the most up-to-date CAD/CAM technologies available to ensure precision, accuracy, and adherence to strict quality standards.

Our highly skilled technicians, combined with our full portfolio of advanced 7- and 8-axis CNC turning centers, horizontal and vertical machining centers, Swiss-style CNC screw machines, and multi-spindle screw machines, allow us to machine custom solutions to address the requirements of any project. We work closely with a network of secondary processing suppliers and offer a range of value-added services to reduce customer costs and improve productivity.

To learn more about our portfolio of brass machined components or to discover how our custom machining capabilities can serve you, contact us today.

Aluminum Precision-Machined Components

Computer numerical control (CNC) machining is a computer-aided manufacturing process used to create a wide range of parts and components for volumes ranging from prototyping through full-scale production. CNC machining is often the preferred method for manufacturing precision parts from aluminum. Aluminum is one of the most commonly used materials for its many favorable physical properties.

Properties of Aluminum Machined Components

Aluminum is generally a soft, durable, nonmagnetic metal with unique thermal and mechanical capabilities. Some of the beneficial properties of this material that make it a great choice for machined components include:

  • Ductility and malleability. As a highly malleable metal, aluminum is easily machined and relatively easy to shape and drill. 
  • Versatility. There are a myriad of grades of aluminum and aluminum alloys, each designed with specific characteristics to meet differing needs.
  • Resistances. Aluminum features a variety of excellent resistances to corrosion and most chemicals. When exposed to air, a thin, protective layer of oxidation forms on the surface of the metal, protecting it from further oxidation. Aluminum is also highly resistant to harsh chemicals, including most acids.
  • Strength-to-weight ratio. Aluminum’s high strength-to-weight ratio makes it an ideal material for transportation applications. Aluminum alloys have the strength and durability needed for critical components, while the metal’s light weight reduces fuel consumption and emissions.
  • Conductivity. Aluminum has excellent thermal and electrical conductivity properties. Aluminum is commonly used for major power transmission lines and is an excellent material for heat sink applications, such as computers, that require heat to be drained away rapidly. Aluminum is also a good reflector of heat and visible light, making it useful in lighting applications.
  • Non-toxic. Aluminum is a non-toxic, odorless metal, which makes it popular for use in pharmaceutical and food production. 

Common Aluminum Components and Applications

At Hogge Precision, we specialize in precision CNC machining aluminum parts and components for use in an expansive range of industries. Some of the sectors we commonly work with include:

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Construction
  • Energy
  • Fluid, air, and motion control
  • Industrial
  • Manifolds
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Power distribution
  • Transportation 

Our aluminum CNC machining capabilities enable us to produce a diverse range of precision machined components and assemblies, including castings, manifolds, die castings, forgings, specialty valves, and transmission and switching components. 

With our precision capabilities, the team at Hogge Precision can custom manufacture aluminum CNC parts to meet any unique or complex project requirement. Learn more about our most recent projects and the solutions we created:

Aluminum Machined Parts from Hogge Precision

At Hogge Precision, we specialize in manufacturing standard and custom components from aluminum and many other materials. Alloys include 2011, 2024, 6061, 6262, 7075, as well as lead-free alloys 2033 and 6026. We have a wide range of capabilities, including CNC milling, CNC turning, Swiss machining, and screw machining.

 As a full-service supplier, we offer multiple secondary services as well, such as KANBAN inventory management, custom barcode labeling, electroplating, anodizing, dry film lube, paint, heat treating services, and more. Our manufacturing facility is ISO 9001:2015-certified for quality management, ensuring that we produce only the highest quality parts.

To see how our precision aluminum part capabilities can support your project, please contact us or request a quote today.

Conventional CNC Turning vs. Swiss CNC Turning

Swiss turning and traditional Computer Numerical Control (CNC) turning are two different ways used to machine parts made of metal or other raw materials. Specifically, machining is the process of removing material from a workpiece and shape it into its intended design. Both Swiss turning and CNC turning function by spinning materials at high speed and using cutting tools to shape the material into the desired part. This practice has been around for many years but has become more versatile with new technologies. These practices are crucial to many different industries for their ability to engineer metal and plastic parts efficiently and precisely.

In this post, we will give you information regarding:

  • Conventional CNC turning what it is, how it can be applied, and why it is useful
  • Swiss CNC turning what it is, how it can be applied, and why it is useful
  • Comparative advantages: what these processes have in common and how they are useful to your industry
  • Which type to use how the advantages of these practices apply to you

What Is Conventional CNC turning?

Conventional CNC Turning is a process in which the bar stock rotates in a fixed position and the cutting tool’s position is driven by servo-controlled motors, typically in the X and Z axes. The process allows for highly accurate movements. Commercial metalworking machines feature standard closed-loop controls that provide accuracy, speed, and durability. 

Advantages and Features of Conventional CNC Turning:

This type of conventional turning is better suited for shorter, large-diameter parts with tight tolerances or difficult materials. It is ideal for many applications including:

  • Forgings
  • Castings
  • Bar Stock
  • Sawed Slugs
  • Anything with a diameter larger than ¾ inch

What Is Swiss CNC turning?

Swiss CNC turning is a process that feeds rotating bar stock through a guide bushing. No matter how long the workpiece, the turning tool always cuts the stock near the bushing or the point of support. The machine then feeds this past the spindle and past the tool as it goes, making Swiss-type effective for long and slender turned parts.

Advantages and Features of Swiss CNC Turning

Swiss CNC turning has an advantage in that during the turning process, the material is supported close to the tools cutting it. Using a guide bushing, the workpiece is pushed through and into tools while preventing deflection of the workpiece. 

Some ideal applications for Swiss screw machining are:

  • Long parts and small-diameter parts under 0.750 in.
  • Connector components
  • Watch parts
  • Shafts
  • Metal devices and implants

Learn more about the benefits of CNC swiss screw machining to see if its the best process for your specific project.

Which Turning Process Should I Use?

If you need something with minimal bending or your project has high volumes of small, cylindrical pieces with extremely tight tolerances, then Swiss CNC turning would be the best process for you. On the other hand, Conventional CNC turning offers high repeatability, precision, versatility, and speed manufacturing. 

Hogge Precision can help you determine which process is best for your project. Contact us for a quote today.