No Overpromising, Just Results: How We Solved a 2 Ra Finish Challenge

At Peerless Precision, when we say we can do something, we mean it. We’re always up for a challenge—but if a part isn’t a good fit for our capabilities, we’ll be honest about it. Transparency is a critical value in our shop.

Customers sometimes find our precision machine shop after struggling to secure a reliable supplier for a challenging part, and they remain skeptical even after we give them our quote. When we deliver the right results the first time, they’re surprised—and impressed.

One customer recently approached us for CNC machining services, telling us no other shop could get their part right. We told them we knew we could handle the challenge, and we proved it right away. With Peerless, you’ll always get a straight answer and the results to match.

The Challenge: A Piston Sleeve with a 2 Ra Finish

Our customer needed a piston sleeve to be used in a cooling system, and several suppliers had tried and failed to create the part. At first glance, the part may have seemed simple, but that’s because the drawing didn’t specify one critical detail: a 2 Ra surface finish.

That near-mirror finish was crucial for fit and functionality in the part’s larger assembly. Yet they were so concerned that no supplier could achieve it that they hadn’t yet officially added it to their drawing.

As they continued searching for a suitable partner, they began consulting with other divisions within their company. One gave a strong recommendation for Peerless Precision, and they began to explore our website.

They called and told us they were impressed with our track record as a precision parts manufacturer and our capabilities. They asked us: Did we think we could actually solve their problem? Of course, we told them—we never mislead customers.

How We Achieved a 2 Ra Finish on This Difficult Part

We started with a sample run of 50 parts. Every single one met the 2 Ra finish requirement and met specifications on all dimensions. Our customer was surprised, but we knew we could achieve it when we took the project on.

We don’t mean to suggest it was simple—there is a reason other suppliers struggled to achieve the required finish. But here’s how we made it happen:

Specialized capabilities: Our lapping services were a critical aspect of achieving this finish. Material removal affects dimensions, so our lapping required a delicate touch. Every part was lapped by hand on the interior diameter with extreme care, ensuring dimensional accuracy and a flawless surface quality.

Expert team: Lapping is a complex process, requiring proper training and hands-on experience to master and achieve tight tolerances. Our skilled team brought both expertise and grit to the project.

Critical inspection: We invested in new air gauging systems to ensure we could perform the ultra-precise measurements necessary on the internal diameter. We performed 100% inspections to verify that every part met the challenging dimension and finish specifications.

We’ll Deliver On Your Next Challenge

When a customer comes to us for precision machining on a part they’ve struggled to source elsewhere, we only say yes when we know we can do it. And even in this challenging project, we knew from the start we could machine the part as required.

If you’re struggling with a project, talk to us. Bring us your most challenging part, and we’ll give you an honest answer—and more often than not, we’re up to the task.

Request a quote today to discuss your next project with our Massachusetts machine shop!