It’s been a busy year for all of us at CST Precision – we’re excited and proud to announce that we’ve just earned our ISO 9001 and 13485 certifications. For the past 12 months, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to achieve these two important goals. Together, they represent a long-term investment and a significant amount of effort. What’s more, these certifications demonstrate our commitment to quality management and continuous improvement – and that means we’ll be able to provide even better customer service to you.
In order to get our ISO 9001 certification, we had to identify and document all of the successful procedures and processes that go into making parts to spec for customers just like you. But that’s only the beginning – we then hold ourselves accountable to replicating those procedures and processes each and every time we do business. Furthermore, we commit ourselves to establishing a robust quality management system that increases the likelihood of everything we make being exactly what we intend to make. All of this ensures consistency, success, and maximum customer satisfaction.
Our new ISO 13485 certification is a little more specialized than ISO 9001, but just as exciting. It’s a designation of quality management that applies to the medical device space. Think of it as the gold standard for this market. Specifically, ISO 13485 focuses on the areas of risk assessment, risk mitigation, and patient safety in the manufacture of medical device components. With ISO 13485, we can now enter a brand-new market and pursue the business opportunities it provides.
Our dedication to quality management and continuous improvement is good news for you too!
Whether you’re already one of our valued customers, or you’re considering a relationship with us, we invite you to learn more about our ISO certifications. We’d love to chat with you about the exclusive club we’ve just joined, and how it can help us serve you better.
Here at CST Precision, we’re always looking for ways to provide better service to customers. That’s why we’re incredibly excited to announce the addition of a brand-new piece of technology that can save you time, work, and money. Our in-house 3D printer is a game changer that transforms the traditional manufacturing process and dramatically reduces lead time on projects. Let’s take a closer look at how it works and what it can do for you.
A Better Way to Work
Our brand-new 3D printer uses selective laser sintering (SLS) technology, which features a software-controlled laser that melts and fuses powder into solid objects. The results are superior-quality and production-ready parts and high-performance prototypes that are consistent, reliable, strong, and functional. And because the entire process is software driven, SLS technology is much more timely and economical than traditional manufacturing. This means we can reduce your manufacturing costs and significantly cut the lead time on your projects — ensuring that fully functional and customized parts make it into your hands as quickly as possible.
Using an SLS 3D printer also greatly speeds up the process of going from initial concept to prototype to design freeze to production. And that, of course, enables you to get your products to market faster. With SLS 3D printing technology, you can go from design concept to printed prototype within a few hours — something that usually requires days or even weeks to achieve in traditional manufacturing. Design modifications are quick and efficient, because they’re made with the printer’s software (instead of the labor-intensive manual machining work required by traditional manufacturing). What’s not to like about all that?
A Real Win for Clients
SLS 3D printing technology has already begun producing results and delivering benefits for some of our clients. For example, one of our clients used to have us do machining for custom assemblies made out of aluminum components. In the past, we’d have to procure the metal, laser-cut it, machine it – and all of that effort was just to produce a single component. If it didn’t satisfy the customer’s functional requirements, we’d have to make design modifications, go back to the drawing board, and start the whole process all over again.
We proposed a new way: making that initial prototype using our SLS 3D printer. The printer’s software allowed us to create a design for the component, and eight hours later the printer generated the part. It was ready for testing just 2-3 hours after that. The client approved the design quickly and we’ve already produced 50 additional components for them. All of this was done in just a couple of days – that entire process would’ve taken 6-8 weeks using traditional manufacturing! The cost and lead time reduction that SLS 3D printing technology offered was huge. Our client saved more than 50% per unit cost and reduced lead time to market by more than 80%!
“CST Precision has been a great partner in the past few years. A recent project transitioned from concept to production in record time. We were able to bring a product to market quickly while also reducing costs. Shorter development times will pose fewer setbacks and allow us to be more competitive in a wider range of markets.” –Jonathon Temblador, Matica Corp.
What Can We Do for You?
As you can see, having an in-house SLS 3D printer allows us to deliver gold-standard customer service. You may recall our series of posts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) where we explained how the “CST” in our company’s name stands for combining, shaping, and transforming – three key tasks that are at the core of everything we do for our customers. Our SLS 3D printer essentially incorporates all three of these mission-critical functions into one fantastically powerful piece of technology. Want to learn more about what SLS 3D printing can help you accomplish? Contact us at info@cstprecision.com or 864-879-8165. We’d love to work with you, from concept to prototype, print to part, prototype to production, and production to supply chain fulfillment!
EDITOR’S NOTE: This post is the third in a three-part series. If you’re considering contract manufacturing services, you’ll want to watch this space. The posts in this series provide a great introduction to who we are, what we do, and why we’re so passionate about creating solutions for our customers. We hope you enjoy these posts and find them useful.
When we acquired Carolina Tool Works in January 2019, one of the first things we did was change the company name to “CST Precision.” We wanted our new name to both reflect and explain our technologies to our customers. We chose “CST” because these letters stand for Combining, Shaping, and Transforming – three key tasks that are at the core of everything we do. The first post of our series focused on the “C” – combining. In the second post, we discussed the “S,” which stands for shaping. For today’s post, we’ll be taking a closer look at the “T”. It’s time to talk about transforming!
Transforming is a critical operation in manufacturing. Lots of commodity items that we touch and encounter – and take for granted – on a daily basis benefit from transforming. When it’s done right, we don’t even notice or appreciate the chemistry and physics that are involved. It’s really not that different from the experience of eating out at an upscale restaurant. You can obviously recognize that the chef has fantastic recipes and knows all the inputs which need to be managed in order to produce the output (namely, that fantastic gourmet meal sitting on your plate). Although you may not be able to eat the results of our work, it’s just as interesting to learn a little more about what’s cooking behind the scenes.
One of the most common transformation processes we use here at CST Precision is the heat treatment process. During heat treatment, we harden or soften something (typically metals or plastics) so that it performs better. Take cutting blades, for example. By hardening them with heat treatment, we can make those blades do a much better job than they would if we didn’t harden them. They’ll last longer, cut more precisely, and be more durable.
Conversely, when we use heat treatment to soften a material, we make it more machinable and malleable, which means we can then bend it and mold it. This is frequently done with electrical connectors that are machined from brass or copper. With these jobs, we’ll use a heat treatment process called annealing. Think of that electrical connector as a tube that needs to fasten onto something. In order for that to happen, you need to crimp, squeeze, or crush that tube. If it’s not annealed first, it’s going to be brittle and it’s likely to crack. But annealing that tube before we do anything else changes the game: The annealed connector becomes soft and malleable, enabling us to shape it and create the pressure which, in turn, creates the connection.
As we mentioned earlier, heat treatment isn’t just for metals. It’s also useful for plastics that need to be softened. Let’s say we’ve just extruded a plastic tube. That general process results in an object that’s somewhat rigid. But if we put that same tube into an oven to anneal it, we can soften it and give it more desirable characteristics (such as increased malleability).
Two other transforming processes that we use frequently are etching and laser engraving. With these, we can put identifying or graduated marks onto many different kinds of objects, including medical instruments and devices, or measuring equipment (such as rulers). Etching is a very controlled and extremely precise chemical process that uses acid to burn, char, or scorch the marks right onto the material. Laser engraving is slightly different, because it uses a controlled light beam (laser) to make marks.
Example of laser engraving hardened cutting blade.
Another transforming process that we have available to our customers is passivation. You can think of this technique as being rather like a cleaning process. It’s a great option for stainless steel. We often think of this material as being corrosion resistant, and for the most part it is. But we can increase that resistance by putting the material through passivation. This involves placing the stainless steel into an acidic bath that strips and removes all of the iron from the surface. The result? Maximum rust prevention and corrosion resistance.
Whether it’s heat treatment, annealing, etching, laser engraving, or passivation, the transforming work we do typically happens after the combining and shaping operations are complete. Sometimes, transforming work might occur in the middle of different shaping operations. Unlike combining and shaping, our transforming processes are rarely standalone; they are a value-added service, typically in addition to combining and shaping.
As with combining and shaping, there is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to transforming. That’s why we always conduct a detailed consultation with our clients. Together, we explore options, discuss design constraints, understand functional performance requirements, and consider all manufacturing options. The result is a manufacturing solution that’s tailor-made for you and your situation.
To learn more about transforming – or CST Precision – please contact us at info@cstprecision.com or 864-879-8165. We’d love to work with you, from concept to prototype, print to part, prototype to production, and production to supply chain fulfillment!
EDITOR’S NOTE: This post is the second in a three-part series. If you’re considering contract manufacturing services, you’ll want to watch this space. The posts in this series provide a great introduction to who we are, what we do, and why we’re so passionate about creating solutions for our customers. We hope you enjoy these posts and find them useful.
When we acquired Carolina Tool Works in January 2019, one of the first things we did was change the company name to “CST Precision.” We wanted our new name to both reflect and explain our technologies to our customers. We chose “CST” because these letters stand for Combining, Shaping, and Transforming – three value-added activities that are at the core of everything we do. The first post of our series focused on the “C” – combining. In this post, we’ll be discussing the “S,” which stands for shaping. Let’s jump in!
In a contract manufacturing setting, “shaping” simply means starting with raw material and then removing material to achieve a final specification.
There’s no single “right way” to shape something. In fact, there are multiple types of shaping technologies we can use. And that means we can choose the option that’s the best fit for each customer’s unique situations, needs, and budget. Before we can do that, however, we have to ask a few important questions, including:
• How many items do we need to make? • How soon does the customer need the work done? • What kind of materials will we be using? • What are the critical specifications and/or design constraints? • What are the product’s functional requirements?
Once we know the answers to these questions, we can identify the best technology option for each customer’s circumstances. Depending on your specific requirements, we might use one or more of the following options to get your job done:
Let’s look at some of these shaping technologies in a little more detail.
EDM technology is a cost-effective material removal method that allows manufacturers to create features that are often much less expensive to machine, compared to traditional machining processes like milling and turning. The EDM method creates special features into a part and can be used to produce both small and large quantities. Let’s say you need to cut a keyway into a single pulley or gear to fit with a mating shaft. Historically, using a broach would produce the result you wanted, but it would also require a tool to create the specific-sized keyway. EDM, on the other hand, offers you a much more economical method to get the job done, while taking advantage of superior technology. That’s because an EDM machine provides the versatility to make any sized keyway without the expense of maintaining a tooling inventory.
Laser Machining. Technology for shaping metal has come a long way, and it continues to make significant advances. Laser machining, for example, allows us to create parts quickly and accurately without needing to create custom punches and dies. Lasers are also adaptive: We can use them to cut features and shapes into tubes, which has drastically enabled progress in the medical stent market. Products that were previously conceptual are now a reality, because lasers have overcome many limitations of traditional machines and tools.
Precision Grinding is a shaping technology we can use to achieve extremely tight tolerances and fine surface finishes. Grinding itself is an old technology. Shafts, bearings, and various tooling are all traditional examples of ground components. But precision grinding’s capabilities continue to improve in response to market demands. Medical device components, for instance—specifically, the guidewires used for minimally invasive procedures—have advanced grinding capabilities. The tools that are produced as a result are improving the quality of life for patients and surgeons around the world.
CNC Swiss Manufacturing is similar to that of a CNC Lathe, but it’s more specialized for repeatability and volume. Enhancements in machine design have made these machines even more friendly to the prototype process. Historically, CNC Swiss-style machines were ideal for high-volume, continuous production of screws and similar items, and they still are well suited for this type of product. But technology advancements in Swiss Machining have also resulted in machines that are now capable of producing a much greater variety of parts in single operations, thanks to the addition of spindles, lasers, and multiple axes.
Example of shaping using CNC technology.
Because there is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to shaping, we always conduct a detailed consultation with our clients. Together, we explore options, discuss design constraints, understand functional performance requirements, and consider all manufacturing options. The result is a manufacturing solution that’s tailor-made for you and your situation.
In the third post of this series, we’ll discuss the “T” in CST: transforming. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about shaping – or CST Precision – please contact us at info@cstprecision.com or 864-879-8165. We’d love to work with you, from concept to prototype, print to part, prototype to production, and production to supply chain fulfillment!
EDITOR’S NOTE: This blog post is the first in a three-part series. If you’re considering contract manufacturing services, you’ll want to watch this space. The posts in this series provide a great introduction to who we are, what we do, and why we’re so passionate about creating solutions for our customers. We hope you enjoy these posts and find them useful.
When we acquired Carolina Tool Works in January 2019, one of the first things we did was change the company name to “CST Precision.” We wanted our new name to both reflect and explain our technologies to our customers. We chose “CST” because these letters stand for Combining, Shaping, and Transforming – three key tasks that are at the core of everything we do. In this first blog post of our series, we’re going to focus on the “C.” So let’s take a closer look.
What is “Combining”?
When we talk about “combining” in a contract manufacturing setting, we’re actually referring to several things. We’ll start with the most basic one. At the simplest level, “combining” means we’re using technology to join or mix two materials in order to satisfy a customer’s functional characteristic. Perhaps we need to weld those materials together. Another project might require us to assemble them with bolts or screws. In other cases, we might bond materials to each other. Welding, assembling, and bonding are all examples of combining.
Each of these techniques has its advantages and merits, so which is the right one to use? It really depends on what our customer is trying to accomplish, and whether the setting is a prototype phase or a full production phase. For example, if you’re working on a prototype, you’re probably not terribly concerned about aesthetics at this stage – so welding two components together is a great solution. For some production environments, however, it’s a little different. Maybe you want your finished product to look flawless (or at least as close to it as possible). In that case, welding might not be so appealing if it’s going to be visible to end-users. And in the production phase, you may also not want the added labor that welding requires. On the other hand, welding could be the perfect solution in some production environments because it may be the best way to satisfy cost constraints.
Example of combining by shrink-fitting three pieces of steel followed by welding.
There’s usually never just one right answer, and that’s what makes this industry so fascinating. Take the options that are available with bonding, for instance. There are so many different kinds of bonding glues and technologies we can use. The key is knowing your components, because certain glues can disintegrate over time or during production.
Other Types of Combining
What about if you’re in the printing industry? In that case, “combining” means applying ink to a surface (in order to make that surface readable). The printed surface in question could be a label, a user guide, an insert, or a parts list. But that printed surface could also be objects such as kitchen utensils (think of that Pyrex measuring jug you use all the time), medical equipment, or PVC pipes. You might need to use a specific color of ink for safety reasons. Tasks that most of us take for granted, such as marking an object, could require an incredibly detailed engineering process. It’s important to ensure that the printing ink will adhere to a surface properly and stand up to repeated use, wear, and/or cleaning.
Insert/over molding are two processes that also come under the generic term of “combining.” These processes could include tasks such as putting a handle on a screwdriver blade, or a silicone spatula head over a stainless-steel handle. The nuances and specifics involved in these processes depend on things as varied as ergonomics or safety concerns.
Finally, let’s not forget platings and coatings, which also use combining technologies. Platings and coatings are perfect solutions for customers who need their products to be non-corrosive or to last a long time. (Patio/pool furniture and cookware are everyday examples of items that benefit from platings and coatings.) Deciding which ones to use depends on many factors, especially cost. For instance, combining a less expensive material, such as brass, with a zinc plating or black oxide process could lower the manufacturing cost significantly compared to using a higher-priced material, such as stainless steel.
The bottom line when it comes to your options for combining? There is clearly no “one size fits all” approach. And that’s why we always conduct a detailed consultation with our clients. Together, we explore options, discuss design constraints, understand functional performance requirements, and consider the engineering options. The result is a manufacturing solution that’s tailor-made for you and your situation.
In the second post of this series, we’ll discuss the “S” in CST: shaping. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about combining – or CST Precision – please contact us at info@cstprecision.com or 864.879.8165. We’d love to work with you, from concept to prototype, print to part, prototype to production, and production to supply chain fulfillment!
