• About
  • Careers
  • Services
  • Partnership
  • Process
  • ConeMount
  • Blog
Menu
  • About
  • Careers
  • Services
  • Partnership
  • Process
  • ConeMount
  • Blog
Request a Quote
  • February 8, 2022
  • Reata Engineering

DFM Tip: 3 Ways to Improve Your Prints and Get Better CNC Machined Parts

Our goal at Reata Engineering is to produce the highest quality parts in the fastest and most cost-effective manner possible. 

There are so many steps involved to manufacture each part—and as the saying goes, the devil is in the details. This principle applies to every aspect of the contract manufacturing process, including the prints customers provide. 

If critical details are missing from your print, we’ll always work closely with you to clarify requirements and specifications. But including key information up front will minimize back and forth communication to get you the parts you need—and save you time and money. 

How to Improve Prints for Contract Manufacturing Services

Follow these tips to optimize your print for contract manufacturing services:

Improve Prints1. Keep title block tolerances general

The title block of a print contains default tolerances that manufacturers apply throughout the entire part. Setting those tolerances too tight could mean paying for tight tolerances on more features than necessary. 

We advise keeping tolerances in the title block general and specifying tighter tolerances individually at each feature location in your print to prevent costly overengineering. 

Our standard recommendation for block tolerances is +/- 0.005″ – 0.010.” Sometimes customers use fractional tolerances in the title block, but because most of our customers come to us for precision machining, we rarely see tolerances depicted that way. 

The information in the title block also determines whether we use English or metric settings when making your part. Conversions between the two settings aren’t always exact, so manufacturers and customers must align on the chosen system for a project to ensure accuracy. 

2. Maintain consistent tolerances between models and prints

It’s common practice for engineers to submit a 3D model along with their prints and instruct manufacturers to machine their parts according to the dimensions in the 3D model. But if the dimensions aren’t consistent between the two files, this conflicting information can lead to discrepancies during the contract manufacturing process. 

While manufacturers typically machine to the model’s dimensions, quality inspectors reference prints during inspection. If, for instance, the engineer rounded up their tolerances from three decimal places in the 3D model to two in their prints, the quality inspector may conclude that the part doesn’t meet specifications, or is at the tolerance limits.  When this confusion occurs, it causes unnecessary back and forth between our internal teams and may even result in a phone call with the customer to clarify the correct tolerances. Maintaining consistency among 3D models and prints helps prevent this problem to ensure accuracy and on-time delivery. 

3. Call out detailed plating specifications

We work directly with trusted plating vendors to manage all finishing operations for our customers, and we need to have all the requirements so we can communicate clearly to ensure you get the finishing you need. 

Here are a few critical plating specifications to note in your print: 

  • MIL specification. Instead of calling out something general like “black anodize” in your print, note the specific MIL-spec you want (e.g., black anodize per MIL-A-8625, Type II, Class 2). Check out this handy resource for additional information on which MIL-spec to use.
  • RoHS compliance. RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. If the finish on your part needs to be RoHS compliant, we’ll need to communicate that to the plater up front.
  • Pre or post-plating dimensions. The plating process inevitably adds a layer of thickness to each part. For this reason, it’s important to note in your print whether the dimensions of your part are pre- or post-plating. For example, if you specify that your dimensions are post-plating, we’ll machine your part “out of print” to ensure it meets specifications after plating is complete. If this information is missing, our default is to assume pre-plating dimensions are indicated. 

If you need contract manufacturing services for your next project, Reata Engineering is here to ensure you get the exact parts you need. Request a quote to work with us! 

Recent Posts

  • The True Test of a Precision Machine Shop? How We Respond to Mistakes
  • Why “Approximately Correct” Is Better Than “Perfectly Wrong” in Contract Manufacturing
  • Why Your Contract Manufacturing Partner Should Handle Production AND Inspection
  • Identifying and Overcoming Bottlenecks to Maximize Manufacturing Efficiency
  • “Do Or Do Not; There Is No Try.” Wise Words from Yoda, the Mascot of Our Precision Machine Shop
  • What Should You Look for in a Manufacturing Partner? A Can-Do Attitude!
  • Better People, Better Parts: How Reata’s Talented Team Drives Our Customers’ Success
  • Engineering Expertise at Reata: Supporting Complex Designs for Superior Results
  • Efficiency, Transparency, and Accuracy: Reata’s Journey with Datanomix
  • Why Reata Added Passivation and Laser Engraving to Our In-House Capabilities
  • Reata’s Partnership with NIMS Sets the Stage for Workforce Development
  • Reata’s Approach to Data-Driven Decision-Making
  • How Our New 3D Printing Technology Increases Versatility and Customization at Our Precision Machine Shop
  • How Reata Successfully Quoted a 1,000-Piece Medical Assembly in Record Time
  • Collaboration Is Key in Contract Manufacturing
  • How Reata Standardizes Training and Streamlines Production with STS
  • Optimizing Our Outside Processing Services with In-House Masking
  • Innovative Solutions Through Partnership: Our Approach to Problem Solving
  • Great Leaders Run Great Precision Machine Shops
  • Why New Part Meetings Are a Critical Step in Our Process
  • Reata Achieves ISO 13485 Certification for Medical Device Manufacturing
  • The Door to Our Precision Machine Shop is Always Open
  • How to Approach Tight Tolerances in Complex CNC Machining
  • How Our Cutting-Edge Proactive Maintenance Program Benefits Customers
  • Machining vs. Extruding Heat Sinks: Which Option Is Better?
  • How Our Turnkey Assembly Services Benefit Customers
  • DFM Tip: Why You Should Model to the Mean, Not the Nominal
  • Our Software Increases Visibility for Contract Manufacturing Customers
  • Why We Use Pre-Processed Parts for Complex CNC Machining Jobs
  • Reduce Contract Manufacturing Costs with Extrusion
  • The Future of Contract Manufacturing Requires Your Participation
  • How 5-Axis Machining Accelerates the Prototyping Process
  • 5 Ways Reata’s Kanban Approach to Assembly Benefits Customers
  • Use DFM Principles for Superior Prototype Machining Services
  • DFM 101: 3 Reasons Reata Is a Superior DFM Partner
  • DFM 101: Getting Started with Design For Manufacturability
  • The Importance of a Complete PO in Precision Machining
  • How Reata’s Software Investments Benefit Contract Manufacturing Customers
  • How to Use Datums to Get the Part You Want
  • Celebrating Our 30th Anniversary with a Look Back at How We Got Here
  • How We’re Using AI to Improve Our Manufacturing Processes
  • Why Low-Volume, High-Mix Shops Make Great Manufacturing Partners
  • A One-Stop Shop for Complex Assembly Projects
  • How Industry 4.0 Is Transforming Our Contract Manufacturing Shop
  • How Our New Scanning CMM Improves Inspection Capabilities
  • 5 Reasons Contract Manufacturing Customers Love Reata’s Quotes
  • Reata’s Customer Service Standards as Your Contract Manufacturing Partner
  • Decoding Machinist Speak: Surface Finish vs. Finishing in Contract Machining
  • Complex CNC Machining Is Our Specialty
  • 5 Reasons to Grow Your Contract Manufacturing Career at Reata Engineering
  • What to Know About Electroless Nickel Plating Services
  • How Measuring Our Performance against Manufacturing Industry Benchmarks Keeps Us Competitive
  • How 3D Printing Technology Improves Our Contract Manufacturing Services
  • Choosing the Right Aluminum Plating Method
  • What 5-Axis Machining Capabilities Tell You about a Machine Shop
  • Decoding Machinist Speak: Measurement Conventions
  • 6 Benefits of Electropolishing for Stainless Steel Parts
  • 4 Ways Reata’s Automation Solutions Benefit Customers
  • Why True Position Is a Precision Machine Shop’s Best Friend
  • Considerations for Plating Precision Machined Parts
  • How to Convey Intent in Precision Machining Designs
  • 5 Reasons to Reshore Manufacturing Operations
  • How to Avoid Tolerance Stacking Problems When Designing Mating Parts
  • Inside Reata’s Successful Summer Internship Program
  • How Lights Out Manufacturing Benefits Precision Machining Customers
  • 5 Ways Reata Is Mitigating Manufacturing Workforce Issues for Our Customers
  • 6 Reasons to Tell Your Precision Machining Partner about Your Part’s Application
  • Could Your Complex Parts Benefit from GD&T Profile Callouts?
  • How Industry 4.0 Helps Us Meet Customer Needs
  • 5 Ways Reata Overcomes Global Manufacturing Challenges
  • DFM Tip: 4 Facts to Know About Perpendicularity
  • Can’t Find These 3 Popular Materials? Talk to Your Contract Manufacturing Partner
  • What Makes Reata Engineering an Engineer-Friendly Precision Machine Shop
  • How a Happy Manufacturing Team Makes for Happy Customers
  • DFM Tip: 5 Best Practices for Revision Control in Contract Manufacturing
  • A Single-Source Precision Machining Solution for Assemblies
  • Could Your Part Benefit From 5-Axis Machining?
  • DFM Tip: 3 Ways to Improve Your Prints and Get Better CNC Machined Parts
  • Best Practices for Achieving Color Consistency in Anodized Parts
  • DFM Tip: How to Handle Flatness and Parallelism Specifications in Your Print
  • DFM Tip: Clarify Cosmetic Surfaces to Reduce Cost and Lead Time for Contract Manufacturing
  • Best Practices for Measuring Holes in CNC Machined Parts
  • 5 Benefits of Using GD&T in Complex CNC Machining
  • DFM Tip: Best Practices for Thread Design in Complex CNC Machining
  • Low Volume Swiss Turning Services for Complex Assembly Components
  • How Reata Engineering Expertly Manufactures Titanium Medical Components
  • Creative Solutions to Sourcing Problems in Contract Manufacturing
  • CNC Machining Case Study: TITAN CSR™ Retractor System for the Medical Industry
  • How Machine Monitoring Technology Helps Productivity for Contract Manufacturing
  • To Cast or Not to Cast? 4 Reasons to Convert from Casting to Contract Machining for Low-Volume Parts
  • 5 Ways Reata Engineering Solves Material Sourcing and Supply Chain Problems
  • How Availability, Machinability, and Cost Factor Into Choosing a Stainless Steel Grade
  • Top 3 Non-Machinable Features to Avoid Designing Into Your Part
  • Reata Engineering’s Customer-Focused Approach to Design Iterations
  • Reata Engineering’s Proven Process for Manufacturing Success
  • The Advantages of Working with a Digital Machine Shop
  • 9 Ways Our Assembly Services Will Make Your Life Easier
  • What It Means for Us to Be a Customer-Focused Company
  • Why Reata Engineering Excels at Manufacturing Complex Parts
  • Why AS9100 Certification Matters (Even If You Aren’t In Aerospace Manufacturing)
  • Reata Engineering promotes Christina Collette to Director of Operations – Denver Colorado USA February 12th, 2021
  • 5 Reasons to Find a Machine Shop with Multi-Tasking Machines
  • Reata Engineering appoints new Quality Manager
  • Reata Engineering gave a virtual shop tour at RMTMA Ignite
  • Reata Engineering showcased its capabilities at the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association B2B conference
  • More New Capabilities
  • Reata in the News!!
  • Done in One

7822 South Wheeling Court,
Suite AEnglewood, CO 80112

(303) 936-1350

(303) 936-1350

Facebook Twitter Linkedin

Standard Terms and Conditions of Sale

Privacy Policy 

About
Careers
Services
Machining
Assembly
Partnership
Process
Blog

© All rights reserved

Designed by Factur