Decoding Machinist Speak: Surface Finish vs. Finishing in Contract Machining
Do you know the difference between “finish” and “finishing” in precision machining? If you aren’t embedded in the world of contract machining like we are, it’s easy to confuse these two terms. However, engineers must understand the distinction so that they can communicate their precise needs and avoid issues regarding costs, lead time, and quality. […]
Complex CNC Machining Is Our Specialty
At Reata Engineering, we regularly make the kinds of complex parts that keep buyers, engineers, and other precision machine shops up at night. These so-called difficult parts—parts with compound angles, exceptionally tight tolerances, and/or many intricate features—are our specialty. We welcome the opportunity to provide complex CNC machining services for our customers. Although not every […]
5 Reasons to Grow Your Contract Manufacturing Career at Reata Engineering
Interested in a career in contract manufacturing? Reata Engineering is hiring! In our industry-leading precision machine shop, we prefer the word career over job because we take pride in helping our team members develop skills that will allow them to own their roles and grow in the manufacturing profession. We currently have open positions in […]
What to Know About Electroless Nickel Plating Services
In the first installment of our plating series, we covered the best methods for plating aluminum: chem film and anodize. Here, we’ll explore electroless nickel plating, a versatile finishing method that works well with many metals, including steel, copper, and aluminum alloys. Electroless nickel plating uses a chemical reduction process to deposit an alloy of 90% nickel […]
How Measuring Our Performance against Manufacturing Industry Benchmarks Keeps Us Competitive
Reata Engineering is committed to continuous improvement and puts in significant effort to stay at the forefront of the manufacturing industry. Our team members regularly attend industry conferences to learn about innovations that could enhance our capabilities and increase our capacity. As an active member of many professional associations, we’re known as the shop that […]
How 3D Printing Technology Improves Our Contract Manufacturing Services
Here at Reata Engineering, all of our engineers have a 3D printer on their desk一sometimes more than one! After purchasing our first 3D printer in 2011, it didn’t take long to see the potential for leveraging 3D printing technology to improve our contract manufacturing services. Now, we can confidently say that implementing 3D printers at […]
Choosing the Right Aluminum Plating Method
At Reata Engineering, our quality process encompasses every manufacturing stage, from design to product fulfillment. After we manufacture, assemble, and test customers’ parts, we often send them out for plating, a finishing service we subcontract to trusted vendors. We closely manage these vendor relationships to ensure that our customers get optimal results. When finishing is […]
What 5-Axis Machining Capabilities Tell You about a Machine Shop
Regardless of whether your project requires multi-axis machining capabilities, it’s in your best interest to work with a precision machine shop that has them. By investing in advanced technologies such as 5-axis machining, shops demonstrate core qualities that benefit all customers. Sophistication 5-axis machines make it exponentially easier to manufacture complex parts. With equipment like […]
Decoding Machinist Speak: Measurement Conventions
If you’re a product developer working with precision machine shops for the first time, you may notice the measurements that shops use aren’t what you might expect. While a shop’s system may seem a bit confusing initially, there’s a method to the madness—we promise! While precision machine shops often manufacture parts for large-scale industrial applications, […]
6 Benefits of Electropolishing for Stainless Steel Parts
Selecting the right finishing treatment for precision machined parts can be overwhelming—there are so many options to choose from, each with their own unique characteristics. Today, we’re demystifying a lesser-known but ideal treatment for many stainless steel parts: electropolishing. Electropolishing is an excellent choice for certain aerospace and medical applications. Although the technique isn’t new, […]