Author Archives: Peerless Precision

  1. The Power of Determination in Precision Machining

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    It’s a lesson we all learned as children: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” But in precision manufacturing, how many attempts are reasonable when tackling challenging parts?

    At Peerless Precision, our answer is simple: as many as it takes. When we first attempted a family of parts – which we’ve now been machining for decades – we initially scrapped nearly 100 parts before finally perfecting them. When we share this story with other job shops, they’re amazed—most say they would have given up after 25 attempts if not sooner.

    That story exemplifies our determination at Peerless, where we routinely solve manufacturing challenges other shops walk away from. We sometimes even fix the problems other shops leave behind. Our problem-solving capabilities stem from three core values: unwavering persistence, deep technical expertise, and a total commitment to our partners.

    The Importance of Persistence in Precision Machining

    That hundred-part journey taught us valuable lessons about persistence. Between perfecting setups and mastering challenging features, we invested significant time and resources. But we had promised our customer a solution, and they trusted us to deliver. We knew we could succeed—we just had to keep pushing forward.

    Almost 30 years later, we’ve produced hundreds of thousands of parts for that same customer, all because we were so intent on solving the challenges of that initial batch. It’s a common thread that runs through everything we do: if we think we can manufacture a part, we completely dedicate ourselves to finding a solution to make it happen.

    The Technical Expertise to Solve Any Problem

    Persistence is a virtue, but there’s a crucial difference between pointless stubbornness and admirable determination. At Peerless Precision, our persistence is guided by our specialized capabilities and serious expertise.

    precision

    In part, our persistence is possible because our capabilities extend far beyond those in a typical shop. Our precision grinding, honing, and lapping services are increasingly rare in modern manufacturing, and they enable us to tackle precise parts that other shops can’t handle. Yet even the finest equipment requires skilled hands; our experienced team knows how to leverage these capabilities to overcome the most demanding challenges.

    Our Focus on Partnership

    Our willingness to tackle challenging parts is always guided by realistic assessments. We maintain transparent communication with customers about our capabilities and timelines, ensuring a clear understanding of progress and potential obstacles. Above all, we say “no” when we have to, even though we hate saying it.

    Our deep commitment to customer partnerships guides many of our decisions. For instance, one client recently faced supply chain disruption when their existing vendor declined to continue manufacturing their parts. We initially hesitated to take on the new project, but as we discussed their situation, we quickly realized how urgent their needs were. We took decisive action, and after a successful sample run, we assumed their full production.

    Even when we don’t have a solution, we’re not afraid to invest in new technology when needed—we first added laser welding services to solve a specific customer challenge. However, we maintain a network of trusted partners for complementary capabilities that we do not currently offer. This collaborative approach ensures we can always deliver completed parts to our customers.

    Talk to Us About Your Next Challengeprecision

    Every problem we solve teaches us something valuable, and we’re constantly improving our abilities to efficiently machine even the most challenging parts. We’re committed to finding solutions that keep our customers’ production moving forward.

    Our precision machine shop is here to help you with your next challenging part. Whether your part requires tight tolerance machining or is manufactured with difficult material, we’re ready to tackle it.

    Request a quote today and learn how we solve our customers’ issues!

  2. Investing in Excellence: How Our Tailored Training Leads to Long-Term Results

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    Manufacturing is at a pivotal point. As we welcome the next generation into the industry, we know that attracting young talent is just the beginning; the real transformation happens with hands-on, personalized training. At Peerless Precision, training isn’t just a phase—it’s an ongoing dedication to developing the skill and precision our customers rely on.

    Here’s a look into how our team’s expertise and our focus on growth ensure you’re always getting the best.

    How We Find and Grow Talent in Manufacturing

    Our team is committed to making manufacturing as exciting and opportunity-filled as ever. When young people tour our facility, they see firsthand that the industry is dynamic and technology-driven. And our team doesn’t stop at just attracting talent—we prioritize developing it.

    training

    Some claim today’s young people are different from prior generations, but we know one thing for sure: anyone with a solid work ethic can succeed. Manufacturing has evolved beyond what’s commonly taught in schools, so we meet new employees where they are, teaching from the ground up. This approach allows us to build strong, capable teams ready to deliver the results you expect, year after year.

    Training Tailored for Long-Term Results

    Our president, Kristin Carlson, deeply believes in customized training, influenced by her own experience. Back in high school, Kristin struggled with physics until she had an engaging, hands-on instructor. That experience—seeing how an adaptive style can unlock potential—inspired our company’s training philosophy.

    In the office and on the shop floor, we tailor our training to fit each team member’s learning style. Kristin encourages employees to choose the approach that suits them best—whether through hands-on experience, verbal guidance, or detailed notes. We start by placing new hires in roles aligned with their interests, providing repeated instruction, opportunities to apply their skills directly, and constructive feedback until they reach full proficiency.

    From CNC milling to lapping services, veteran staff pass along knowledge to interns and new hires. Everyone here shares expertise, ensuring that our team’s skill set stays as sharp as our precision parts.

    Committed to Continuous Learning

    Our focus on training extends well beyond initial onboarding. Through NTMA U, online courses, and seminars, we’re constantly enhancing our team’s skills—both technical and soft. From mastering 5-axis machining to building emotional intelligence, our training covers it all.

    We also tap into local and state resources, including grant-funded programs and partnerships with community colleges. This ongoing development keeps us competitive and ready to tackle even the most complex projects with confidence and expertise.

    We take training seriously because Peerless Precision offers more than a short-term job—many of our employees have been here for more than 20 years. We want team members to build rewarding, long-term careers and help us deliver consistent quality as a precision parts manufacturer for decades to come.

    Moving Forward Together on Your Next Project

    Investing in our team is an investment in our customers’ success. As our team’s skills grow, so does our ability to deliver top-notch CNC machining services with the precision and quality you expect from a trusted manufacturing partner.

    Request a quote today to see how our dedication to excellence ensures reliable quality on every project.

  3. Ensuring Precision and Trust: How First Article Inspections at Peerless Precision Guarantee Quality

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    At Peerless Precision, we specialize in precision machining for demanding industries like aerospace and defense. Some shops are intimidated by the standards required for these sectors, but we thrive on these challenges. As an AS9100 and ISO-certified machine shop, we emphasize quality in every aspect of our operations.

    First Article Inspection (FAI) is a particularly exacting process. FAI confirms every part we produce meets our clients’ specifications. With our talented workforce and state-of-the-art machining capabilities, Peerless Precision performs FAIs for the highest quality assurance and customer confidence in our results.

    What is First Article Inspection?

    An FAI is a comprehensive examination of a part against its design specifications. We conduct FAIs at the request of customers, most commonly when we produce a machined part for the first time or are manufacturing a component after a multi-year hiatus.

    An FAI is different from our typical inspection process, in which we evaluate a certain percentage of the parts as specified by the customer. For many of our clients, an FAI involves 100% inspection of the entire lot. This process is labor-intensive, but its results validate the quality of a customer’s parts, ensuring efficient future production.

    FAIs We Perform at Our Tight Tolerance Machine Shop

    At Peerless Precision, we offer a range of FAI services, including full First Article Inspections, partial First Article Inspections, and AS9102 First Article Inspections tailored for the aerospace industry.

    • Full FAI: We assess every characteristic of a part or assembly.
    • Partial FAI: We inspect only specified features.

    The two are broadly similar – in both cases, customers provide balloon drawings outlining the dimensions we must inspect, along with details about required materials and outside processes. As we conduct our inspection, we meticulously document our measurements, specify the tools used, verify the material and its origin, list special processes utilized, and detail supplier information and certifications.

    At the conclusion of our inspection, we provide this information to the customer in a Certificate of Conformance, ensuring traceability and compliance with all requirements. This comprehensive documentation establishes a quality assurance baseline for our future production runs.

    Aerospace machining projects frequently involve AS9102 First Article Inspections, which are more stringent than standard FAIs. These inspections require detailed documentation for every dimension, characteristic, and requirement of the part. As an AS9100 machine shop, we are fully equipped to perform these thorough inspections.

    Building Customer Trust Through Quality Assurance

    first article inspections

    First Article Inspections are vital in building customer confidence in our products. They not only document our results, they also help us identify and address potential quality issues before they impact production. We approach FAIs with exceptional attention to detail, recognizing their importance in establishing and maintaining customer trust.

    To ensure accuracy, we employ sophisticated measuring tools that are calibrated on a yearly basis. Our facility houses Coordinate Measuring Machines for complex geometries, cylindricity inspection machines for circular parts, and instant measurement machines for rapid data collection, alongside traditional tools like micrometers and calipers. If a customer’s project will require specialized inspection tools, we’re open to discussing an investment in new equipment to meet your needs.

    While our advanced technology is essential, our skilled inspectors are our greatest asset. Each FAI is conducted by our most senior inspectors, all of whom also have a background in machining. This dual expertise enables them to identify issues and communicate effectively with our machinists to implement necessary process corrections. Their technical knowledge sets our inspections apart, guaranteeing the best possible outcomes for our customers.

    Experience Our Commitment to Quality

    When we perform an FAI, you can rest assured that the parts shipped will meet or exceed all your requirements. With over 12 years of First Article Inspections under our belt and no customer rejections, we provide the reliability you can count on.

    We invite you to discuss your next project with us and experience our commitment to quality firsthand. Request a quote today and see how Peerless Precision can meet your machining needs.

  4. Mastering Material Sourcing: Navigating Pricing and Lead Times

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    It’s hard to believe, but we’re coming up on the 5-year anniversary of the start of the pandemic. The manufacturing industry was hit hard, with supply chains thrown into disarray, and material pricing and availability becoming volatile. While the headlines about these disruptions have faded, the aftershocks are still felt and many customers might assume prices have stabilized. And while supply levels and pricing have certainly improved, there is still lingering disruption.

    Before and After at Peerless Precision

    Until recent years, we were able to confidently send quotes that were valid for 30 days. Not only that, when we quoted a repeat part, we’d simply be able to check historical pricing and quickly send it out. If we had purchased material within the past six months, we trusted that its price wouldn’t fluctuate more than 10% either way, and we rarely worried about supply shortages. But all that has changed.

    Today, pricing and lead time are difficult to predict across all materials. Exotic materials, unsurprisingly, are particularly challenging and can have long lead times. But even common materials like aluminum have undergone significant price spikes and seen major volatility over the past several years.

    Now, if we haven’t ordered a material within the past month, we’ll re-quote the price. When we send quotes to customers, they’re typically only valid from 1-5 business days. If we don’t receive a quick response from our customers, that pricing could very well change and the material may no longer be available.

    material pricing

    Collaborating for Improved Pricing

    To ensure you get the best value and meet your project deadlines, collaboration is key. In today’s challenging material sourcing landscape, open communication and a strategic approach can make all the difference. Here’s how we can work together to navigate this new reality:

    1. Talk to us about timing. Pricing and lead time can sometimes be correlated – if you are ready to pay a higher price, you can find a better lead time. Similarly, a customer who is willing to wait several months may be able to find much better pricing. This is why we always try to take a collaborative approach and talk to you about the bigger picture of your project to determine the best solution.
    2. Share Your Material Sources. If you have a material supplier, let us know. Some customers have contracts or purchasing agreements with material houses or mills, giving them access to better pricing. If you can provide the material, we won’t bill you for it, and it could improve both your pricing and lead times.
    3. Communicate As Early As Possible. We’re currently telling customers: if you need something in three months, give us the purchase order five months before you need it. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it’s a helpful rule of thumb in the current material landscape. Many aluminum alloys are becoming harder to obtain, while specialized aerospace machining materials, like Greek Ascoloy, can take months. Beyond being sure that you’re selecting the right material for your parts, the best thing you can do is give us plenty of advance notice. And if we receive the material well before your part is due, we’re happy to store it on our shelves.

    Why You Can Trust Our MA Machine Shop

    At Peerless Precision, honesty and transparency are core to our values. We believe in telling it like it is. While we might not always say what you want to hear, you can trust that it’s the truth.

    In challenging times like these, honesty is more important than ever. Customers always want to be sure they’re getting the best price, so we are transparent with pricing. If customers provide us with sources, we show them the quotes we received – which can vary widely in pricing and lead time.

    Above all, it’s vital to talk to us about your project as soon as possible. The sooner we start discussing your project, the better we can manage lead times and ensure all aspects run smoothly. While the complexities of today’s market may mean adjusting timelines, our focus remains on delivering quality results, on time, every time.

    Contact us today to request a quote and let’s get your project moving.

  5. Peerless Precision: Your Trusted Partner in Space Industry Manufacturing

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    At Peerless Precision, our expertise in CNC machining services makes us a reliable partner across various industries. We take pride in showcasing our contributions to these sectors, demonstrating why we’re the preferred choice for precision manufacturing. In this spotlight, we’re highlighting our work with the space industry.

    From the International Space Station to Lunar Missions

    space industry

    Peerless Precision has been a trusted partner to the space industry for decades. Our journey began in the early 2000s, when we had the privilege of manufacturing components that became integral parts of the International Space Station. Contributing to such a monumental project was an exciting milestone for our precision machine shop, marking the start of our enduring relationship with the space sector.

    Over the years, we’ve continued to collaborate with leading space companies, manufacturing key components such as spacecraft doors, mounting plates, and lids—all crafted to meet the rigorous standards of the space industry.

    Providing Solutions for Space Industry Challenges

    Recently, we partnered with an eastern Massachusetts company contracted to produce parts for an upcoming lunar landing module. Their components required a cryogenic seal, but they struggled to achieve the precise finish needed, resulting in parts that didn’t fit together correctly. After discovering us online, they visited our facility and entrusted us with the parts to see if we could deliver the necessary results.

    Our team of experts was able to achieve the exact finish they required, ensuring their end customer’s satisfaction. This successful collaboration has since led to ongoing production orders, with the company machining the parts and sending them to us for lapping services.

    This partnership is a great example of what we always say at Peerless Precision: we’re the solution providers, not the problem creators.

    Why Space Industry Leaders Choose Peerless Precision

    There are several reasons why companies in the space industry choose Peerless Precision as their manufacturing partner:

    1. Certifications: At Peerless Precision, we hold essential certifications for space industry work, including ITAR registration and AS9100, ISO 9001:2015. We are also fully compliant with Level 2 Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), and we are certified by the Joint Certification Program.
    2. Tight Tolerances: Space industry components demand extremely tight tolerances, and this is where we excel. We can achieve tolerances as precise as +/- 5 millionths of an inch, ensuring that every part meets the exacting requirements of space applications.
    3. Material Expertise: Working with materials that are lightweight, strong, and resilient under extreme conditions is a key aspect of aerospace machining. We are experts in machining aluminum, titanium, various steels, plastics, tungsten, and more.
    4. Advanced Capabilities: Our proficiency in lapping, grinding, and honing with very tight tolerances is essential for space-related projects. Additionally, we specialize in finishing processes that ensure components achieve the necessary cryogenic seals for space missions.
    5. Low-Volume and Prototyping Excellence: As specialists in low-volume and prototype machining, we have extensive experience in the iterative process and problem-solving that these projects often require. Our expertise makes us ideal partners for perfecting your space industry products.

    Partner with Us for Your Next Space Project

    If you’re in the space industry and seeking a reliable partner for your next project, Peerless Precision is here to help. With our extensive experience and advanced capabilities, we’re equipped to meet your exacting standards.

    Contact us today to request a quote—and don’t worry, we’ll make sure your project is out of this world (in the best way possible)!

  6. Design for Manufacturing: Surface Flatness, Mating Parts, Wall Thickness and Undercuts

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    In our day-to-day work at Peerless Precision, we’re constantly seeing new designs for CNC machined parts. And after working on so many of them, we recognize a few common design decisions that can have an unexpected effect on price and lead time. These aren’t design errors, but instead, they’re choices where an alternative decision could save a customer valuable time and money.

    This is the essence of “design for manufacturing” (DfM), an approach that aims to identify cost-effective practices for producing parts without compromising on quality or functionality. We always like to ensure customers know that certain features, such as tight tolerances, may increase the cost or time for manufacturing a part. It’s important for us to provide our customers with all the information possible about how different design choices could potentially lower their prices.

    design for manufacturingThese are four of the most common areas where we offer DfM tips to maximize our customer results.

    Surface Flatness

    We are capable of achieving extremely flat parts at Peerless, but we always try to work with customers to make sure they understand how flatness can impact pricing. Flatness can be difficult to achieve after certain processes like heat-treating or when using strong materials like titanium.

    Sometimes we discuss the impact of a certain level of flatness with customers, and they decide the part will be just as functional with a less perfectly flat surface. For instance, one recent part request we received had strict flatness requirements, and we discussed with the customer the effect this would have on pricing and timeline. They decided that the part wouldn’t lose any functionality with a lower degree of flatness.

    design for manufacturingMating Parts

    Mating parts is a strength of ours at Peerless Precision. After all, it’s how we initially got our foot in the door of this industry 30 years ago in aerospace machining.

    However, even our experienced team may encounter challenges when designs lack sufficient clearance between mating parts. The amount of clearance significantly impacts the time and cost of manufacturing, so organizations should ensure that the clearance matches the part’s intended function.

    One suggestion in our DfM eBook is to use fractional diameter holes in the corners so the manufacturer can simply drill out and then machine the profile. This isn’t always aesthetically pleasing, but it will decrease the time and cost to manufacture. This may be a good choice for parts that are not visible in the final application.

    Wall Thickness

    In our eBook, we recommend that “the machined part wall thickness should be greater than .060 inches. If walls are too thin the part may distort and warp, especially if using a plastic material.” That being said, we can go under .060 inches, but it might be difficult.

    Recently, we began working on a part that has a titanium shaft welded to a cone. The titanium shaft has a wall thickness of .003 inches and the cone has a wall thickness of .002. We asked our customer if their previous supplier had been able to achieve the wall thickness for the cone. They said that, in fact, the previous supplier could only achieve .003 – but that the part had worked as functioned. This information changed our approach to the part, and any sort of context or background information a customer can give us about a part can often be very helpful in the manufacturing process.

    Undercuts

    In our DfM guide, we note that “undercuts should be avoided as they add cost and possibly lead time to the part.” However, some parts do require undercuts. In that case, it’s just important that a customer understands this feature will affect price. If a customer wants a part made without undercuts, we are happy to discuss how a new design could potentially avoid these features.

    These are just a few tips, but at Peerless Precision, we have decades of advice and expertise we’d love to share with you. Request a quote today to discover how our expert CNC machining services and extensive knowledge can benefit your next project!

  7. A MA Machine Shop Owner on Why Manufacturing Is a Fulfilling Career Path

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    By Kristin Carlson, Owner of Peerless Precision

    I grew up working alongside my dad in his workshop, and those are some of my fondest memories from my childhood. When I was ten, he brought home some bicycle parts, and we built a ten-speed bicycle together. I remember building furniture and so many other things with him.

    It was then that my passion for precision machining was sparked, though it would take me a long time to realize that my love for working with my hands and tinkering with pieces that made up a whole could actually translate into a career path.

    Like many people, I fell into the trap of believing that college was the “right choice” for me. I had no idea that a hands-on job like manufacturing could be a viable, fulfilling career.

    College Isn’t the Only Path to a Fulfilling Career

    I’ve always thought it absurd that we as a society pressure teenagers to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives—especially when they don’t have all the information about the different opportunities available to them.

    Go to college, join the military, or work a minimum-wage job with no growth path. More often than not, high school students are given those options for what to do after they graduate. Many choose to go to college and, in doing so, take on a mountain of debt with no real guarantee of a return on their investment. It’s no surprise that an increasing number of Americans say a 4-year degree isn’t worth the cost.

    What I want young people to know is that there’s another option that isn’t always made clear to them: learning a skilled trade, like precision machining.

    I want them to know that getting a job in manufacturing requires only a high school diploma or equivalent and that they can earn $40,000 annually starting out. I want them to know that their manufacturing job can easily become a fulfilling career filled with growth opportunities and the potential to eventually earn a six-figure salary.

    Even better, many manufacturing companies, including my MA machine shop, reimburse manufacturing workers for the costs of professional development. Essentially, young people have the opportunity to learn, grow, advance, and make more money without taking on a dollar of debt.

    Manufacturing Touches Every Aspect of Life

    Some people may wonder, “How can a career in precision machining be so fulfilling?” I’m happy to share my perspective on the matter.

    What it comes down to, for me, is that manufacturing touches every aspect of human life and truly makes the world go ‘round. This fact has become increasingly clear to me throughout my career in the industry and my time spent networking with other US manufacturing professionals.

    Look up into the sky, and every plane or helicopter you see contains hundreds of thousands of parts made in MA machine shops like Peerless Precision. (There’s a reason they call this region of the country Aerospace Alley). It’s impossible not to take immense pride in that.

    US manufacturers make parts for the International Space Station and parts for lunar landing modules. They make parts for the cars you drive and the phone you’re probably holding in your hand right now. I even know a shop that makes an injection needle for a certain peanut butter cup that most of us wouldn’t want to live without!

    Manufacturing makes people’s lives better. It even saves lives. I have a friend who works at a company that makes needles for biopsies. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and when she needed a biopsy, it was done with the needle her company made. I was at an NTMA conference recently, and one of my colleagues had a knee replacement a few years ago. It turned out the guy he was sitting next to had made that knee.

    There aren’t many other career paths where you can have these kinds of experiences—where you can have such a sense of pride and accomplishment in contributing to something that makes a material difference in the world.

    From College Dropout to MA Machine Shop Owner

    career path

    I learned these lessons about manufacturing the long and hard way. I went to college, thinking that was what I was “supposed to do”—and I dropped out. I don’t regret going. I had fun. I met my husband, who also dropped out. Today, he’s one of the top finishing machinists in the country, and I own a machine shop. Both of us couldn’t be happier in our manufacturing careers.

    There’s no one right path for everyone. We all have to take our different journeys. What I want you to know—whether you’re just starting your career or considering a career change—is that manufacturing is a deeply fulfilling path for many people. It’s here for you if you want it, so don’t be afraid to pursue it.

    Contact Peerless Precision to learn how you can start a career in precision machining!

  8. How Peerless Precision Mastered the Art of Optical Machining

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    At Peerless Precision, complacency isn’t in our vocabulary. Our precision machine shop constantly seeks opportunities to expand our capabilities and tackle new manufacturing challenges. This drive has been particularly evident in our journey to becoming experts in the niche field of optical machining.

    A decade ago, manufacturing the precise components used in cameras, vision systems, microscopes, and other optical technologies seemed unattainable for our machine shop. The stringent cosmetic requirements and tolerances, often measured in millionths of an inch, represented a steep learning curve for our team. However, we were determined to master optical machining to serve our customers better.

    Embracing the Optical Machining Learning Curve

    From that point forward, our team immersed itself in perfecting the processes and procedures critical to optical machining success, including:

    • Instituting stringent part handling requirements (like the need to wear cotton gloves)
    • Investing in specialized equipment, like a dedicated glass bead blasting cabinet
    • Mastering manual machining techniques such as grinding, honing, and lapping

    From our CNC milling and turning capabilities to grinding and assembly, our precision machine shop has the in-house capabilities to manufacture even the most geometrically complex optical components from start to finish.

    Building a Trusted, Deeply Vetted Supply Chain

    In addition to our extensive in-house capabilities, Peerless Precision has cultivated a trusted supply chain partner network to handle specialized processes and services. Because optical parts require extreme precision and attention to detail, we hold these vendors to the same high standards as our own staff.

    One time, we received plated parts back from a vendor and could instantly see fingerprints underneath the coating. When we pointed out the issue, the shop tried to pass it off, claiming the parts arrived to them in that condition.

    However, our team knew that couldn’t be true, given Peerless’s stringent handling requirements for optical machining work. Even a stray fingerprint can ruin these sensitive parts, so employees must always wear protective gloves when handling them—a specification we also pass along to vendors.

    In that case, we had no choice but to refuse the defective parts outright and have them replated by a supplier we could trust to adhere to the proper procedures. To prevent these issues from happening again, we only work with vendors who share our uncompromising commitment to quality.

    Developing Rigorous Quality Standards

    Of course, the right processes, equipment, and suppliers are only part of the equation. At Peerless Precision, we’ve implemented thorough quality control procedures in adherence with our ISO 9001:2015 certification to ensure perfect parts every time, including:

    Optical Machining

    • Thorough part inspection to identify any cosmetic defects or imperfections
    • Leaving adequate material stock to account for potential heat treat distortion
    • Continuous part refinement based on customer feedback and collaboration
    • Tight process controls to hold tolerances down to 0.000005.”

    This strict focus on quality allows us to manufacture the best optical components for applications in aerospace, scientific instrumentation, and medical devices.

    The Peerless Optical Machining Advantage

    Trust Peerless Precision’s manufacturing expertise when you need flawless optical components produced with unrivaled precision. With our robust in-house capabilities, deeply vetted supply chain network, and rigorous quality standards, we’ve become a leading partner for machining complex optical parts.

    Request a quote today!

  9. 4 Reasons to Outsource Mechanical Subassemblies to Peerless Precision

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    As an AS9100D & ISO-certified machine shop, Peerless Precision has built a reputation for delivering high-quality parts with uncompromising accuracy. But you may not realize that our commitment to quality doesn’t end with the precision machining of individual parts—we also specialize in complete mechanical subassemblies.

    What Are Mechanical Subassemblies?

    Mechanical Subassemblies

    These units are made of multiple machined components that fit together into a larger assembly. Off-the-shelf components may also be involved. Examples of mechanical subassemblies we frequently make at Peerless Precision include:

    • Matched valve and sleeve sets
    • Alternator housings
    • Control mounting plates
    • Crankcase assemblies
    • Complex multi-part pistons
    • Cap assemblies for landing gear

    We primarily build mechanical subassemblies for the aerospace and defense industries, but we’ve also done some assembly work for our medical customers—including prototyping for prosthetics!

    Many customers take advantage of our ability to manage the entire manufacturing process. In addition to machining your parts in our AS9100D & ISO-certified machine shop, we work with outside suppliers to secure additional parts when needed—whether off-the-shelf components or parts ordered from a previously approved shop.

    Once we have all the necessary parts, we’ll assemble them and ship the units to your door.

    4 Benefits of Outsourcing Subassemblies to Peerless

    Here are the key benefits you can expect when you have our AS9100D & ISO-certified machine shop handle your mechanical subassemblies rather than just supplying individual machined parts:

    Supply chain consolidation

    Rather than dealing with multiple suppliers for your different components, you get everything you need from a single trusted supplier. We’ll manage the entire supply chain, securing all third-party pieces and combining them with our precision-machined parts into the final subassembly.

    Lead time reduction

    With Peerless managing the entire procurement and assembly process, you can expect to receive your completed subassemblies much faster than you would otherwise. We’ll leverage our trusted supply chain to get the needed parts and assemble, inspect, and test them in record time.

    In-house quality control

    Because all your components are sourced from and assembled in our AS9100D & ISO-certified machine shop, we can ensure all mechanical subassemblies meet our exacting quality standards before leaving our facility. Our prices include a thorough inspection and testing of each completed subassembly, so you won’t pay extra for this service.

    Less work for you

    When you outsource your subassemblies to Peerless, your team saves the time and effort needed to build the subassemblies yourselves. Your units will arrive ready to integrate into their higher-level assemblies, creating greater efficiency on your end.

    Work With Our AS9100D & ISO-Certified Machine Shop

    Our team has extensive experience building mechanical subassemblies for the aerospace, defense, and medical industries. Because we specialize in highly complex parts, there are few assemblies we aren’t equipped to handle. As long as they fit within our doors (and don’t require any electrical components), we have the in-house capabilities to support you!

    If you need your mechanical subassemblies produced with the highest levels of accuracy and quality control, contact Peerless Precision. We’d be happy to take this process (and the headaches that come with it) off your plate.

    Request a quote today!

  10. Grinding at Peerless Precision: Our Secret to High-Precision Parts

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    At Peerless Precision, we frequently make parts with such tight tolerances and complex geometries that our customers think we’re using a bit of “black magic.”

    And while our team loves the aura of mystery this brings to our Westfield, MA machine shop, we must admit: it’s not magic that allows us to create such impressive parts—it’s our in-house grinding capabilities.

    Almost every part we create at Peerless Precision goes through our grinding department, allowing us to achieve tolerances and part dimensions that aren’t possible with CNC machining alone.

    For example, while our 5-axis machines can achieve tolerances of +/-0.005” inches, our customers often need parts with an even higher degree of precision. Thanks to our in-house grinding capabilities, our MA machine shop can achieve tolerances as tight as +/-0.0001” -0.000005” and surface finishes down to a mirror-like 2 Ra.

    It’s no wonder our customers think there is a touch of wizardry in our production processes!

    Our In-House Grinding Capabilities

    grinding

    There are two primary types of grinding we perform at Peerless Precision.

    1. Surface grinding allows us to grind surfaces to a certain flatness or achieve a specified surface finish. When we take parts off a CNC machine, the best-case scenario is that parts will have a 32 Ra finish. At this Ra value, parts will feel gritty, and you’ll be able to see imperfections on the material’s surface. Surface grinding allows us to smooth out these imperfections and accomplish a shiny, mirror-like 2 Ra finish.
    2. Cylindrical hole grinding can entail grinding a part’s inner diameter (ID) or outer diameter (OD). We also offer jig grinding, which allows us to perform both of these operations at once! In most cases, we use cylindrical grinding to achieve greater precision–particularly when multiple parts need to fit together as part of an assembly.

    While most of our grinding machines are numerically controlled, some human interaction is required. The one notable exception is jig grinding, which is a 100% manual process. Only the most experienced operators and machinists are capable of performing the necessary manual machining to execute grinding processes flawlessly.

    A Commitment to Manual Machining

    Even as technology advances, Peerless Precision remains as committed to manual machining today as we did when our Westfield, MA, machine shop opened its doors 48 years ago. Blending CNC machining with traditional manual machining has allowed us to thrive–and is what makes it possible for us to offer in-house grinding capabilities to our customers. In fact, we’ve become the go-to shop for other area manufacturers who don’t have the internal expertise needed to grind parts themselves.

    We’re proud to have about 100 years of combined grinding experience in our tight tolerance machine shop. And although a few of our longest-tenured employees are nearing retirement, we have planned ahead by placing 60 percent of our new hires in our manual machining department, where they can learn from some of the best in the industry.

    This commitment to training ensures that when these valued long-time team members decide to move on, their decades of experience and knowledge are passed down to the next generation–and that we maintain the talent needed to continue offering these valuable services to our customers for the long haul.

    Your One-Stop Shop for Tight-Tolerance Parts

    If you’ve ordered tight tolerance parts from Peerless Precision in the past, those parts most likely made their way through our grinding department–whether you realized it or not! Grinding isn’t a service you have to ask for; rather, it’s something we do automatically to ensure we meet your complex part requirements.

    By remaining committed to providing these services in-house, we retain full control over the quality of your parts, meaning you can count on us to deliver high-quality parts that meet your requirements each and every time.

    That’s where the real magic lies.

    Request a quote to experience the Peerless Precision difference for yourself!