Why New Part Meetings Are a Critical Step in Our Process
When Reata Engineering begins work on a new part or when an existing part or process changes, we hold a “new part meeting” that includes multiple department heads within the company. These “new part meetings”, as we call them, bring together our entire team—quality, estimating, production, engineering, programming, and management—to review the new part (or […]
Reata Achieves ISO 13485 Certification for Medical Device Manufacturing
In April 2024, Reata Engineering achieved ISO 13485:2016 certification. This certification establishes a stringent international standard for medical device quality management systems and serves as proof of our consistent, high-quality production process. ISO 13485 is a rare certification for precision machine shops to maintain due to the high costs of annual audits. However, we knew […]
The Door to Our Precision Machine Shop is Always Open
Historically, contract manufacturing has been a closed-door industry. After all, no one wants their customers to see a mistake they’ve made or their competitors to discover the secrets behind manufacturing an innovative new part. But Reata Engineering is championing a new way of thinking: total transparency. With our Lunch & Learn program, we bring customers […]
How to Approach Tight Tolerances in Complex CNC Machining
In complex CNC machining, a standard tolerance of +/- 0.0050” is sufficient for most parts. When tighter tolerances are necessary, Reata Engineering can reliably hold tight tolerances of +/- 0.0005” before costs significantly increase. However, we often see customers specifying tolerances of +/- 0.0002” and tighter when those tolerances aren’t necessary for the part’s function. […]
How Our Cutting-Edge Proactive Maintenance Program Benefits Customers
Machine malfunctioning isn’t just inconvenient—it can negatively impact part quality, too. In the weeks before machines visibly need repair, parts produced are prone to issues like chip build-up and subpar surface finishes. To combat this problem, Reata Engineering created a proactive maintenance program to keep machines in optimal operating condition. We stay two steps ahead […]
Machining vs. Extruding Heat Sinks: Which Option Is Better?
Heat sinks are vital elements in many electronic and mechanical systems. These parts manage heat in applications like computer CPUs and medical machinery, preventing them from overheating and malfunctioning. Heat is transferred from the component into the heat sink and then into the air through vertical fins. The fins increase the surface area from which […]
How Our Turnkey Assembly Services Benefit Customers
Your precision machine shop may not be the first place you turn to for assembly services, but at Reata Engineering, we believe it should be. Precision machining companies like Reata are well-equipped to manage your assembly process. From sourcing and machining components to managing inventory, we take the bulk of the work off your plate. […]
DFM Tip: Why You Should Model to the Mean, Not the Nominal
When producing high volumes of the same part, slight variations are inevitable. Tolerancing is just one way we account for these variations. However, a common misconception is that tolerances play the same role in prints and models. On prints, tolerances indicate the measurements for your ideal part, indicating how much deviation is acceptable. But when […]
Our Software Increases Visibility for Contract Manufacturing Customers
Reata Engineering constantly looks for ways to improve customer experiences, from the precision machining processes we develop to the software we use. We invest in state-of-the-art software to inform customers about the statuses of their contract manufacturing orders. We’re excited to announce that we’re preparing to roll out a new dashboard for increased customer visibility […]
Why We Use Pre-Processed Parts for Complex CNC Machining Jobs
Let’s face it: customers don’t partner with Reata Engineering for our exceptional rectangular cut-outs. Customers choose Reata because we specialize in complex CNC machining jobs that make other precision machine shops sweat. So we don’t want to make them pay premium prices for simple services. That’s why, in many cases, we order pre-processed parts from […]