Market: Auto Safety Equipment Function: Pitch adjusters The Challenge: A major manufacturer of safety testing equipment for the automotive industry was abruptly informed that a key precision machining supplier was being sold to a national tooling company and that the new management team was changing the focus of the company. The supplier would no longer … Automotive Safety
When something is hard to hold in manufacturing it requires special fixtures. We highlighted a previous video of the fixturing to make this part and now you’ll get to see the importance of those fixtures in use. Transcription: Hello everyone and welcome to another short video highlighting some of the contour tools, capabilities, and also … Using Custom Fixtures for Precision Control of Machined Parts
Why waste your time creating custom fixtures on old machines. Do it on a CNC in a fraction of the time with increased accuracy and repeatability. Transcription: Good morning and welcome to another short video highlighting some of the projects we’ve been working on here at contour Tool. Today I wanna talk about something a … Custom CNC Machined Fixtures
Tight tolerances are everywhere in manufacturing. How do you hold ±.0003″ in the bore of an aluminum casting? With the proper tools, gauges and approach it’s a daily occurrence for Contour Tool to hold these tolerances for our customers. Transcription: Hello everyone. Welcome to another contour tool short video on showing you some of the … Holding ±.0003″ on an aluminum casting
Here at Contour Precision Milling and Machining we not only machine the components and stock them for fast delivery but we can also assemble complete machines for our customers and package them. Transcription: Hello and welcome back to Contour Tool. I wanted to take the time today to show you that we not only have … Product Assembly Capabilities
In this video I’ll talk about the different stations we have within our tool crib to make it user friendly and sustainable. I won’t go into detail on our paperwork and work instructions but rather the overall layout which has helped us to setup tooling, teardown tooling and inventory our tooling better than we ever … Tool Crib Design 101 for Improved Productivity
Watch Michelle, Derrick & Bob talk about our capabilities on one of our NLX2500 lathes. By running a complete bar with the machine unattended we can work on another machine running a different job at the same time to improve our productivity. Transcription: Hi, everybody here at Contour Tool again. I’m trying to share a … Machining Smaller Parts on our NLX 2500
“Never be hesitant to try something new, you might be surprised of your results.” And we did not hesitate! One of our current customers was experiencing capacity challenges to meet demands for their high performance racing piston line and looked to Contour Tool for help. Through a joint working effort with our customer, taking an … Machining Lower Volume Work on a Horizontal Machining Center
With advancements in modern technology a part can be programmed, machined and inspected all from a single solid model! Gone are the days of drawing in 2 dimensional and trying to visualize the part in front of you to program it. Watch as we explain how a solid model of your part can streamline the … Precision Machining With No Visible Tool Marks
In this video: Learn how Contour machines difficult, hard to hold castings. Learn how Contour has been a company known for solving customers problems and is able to machine their problem parts. Also check out our Success Stories! Transcription: Hello everybody. My name is Marty Farley. I am here at Contour Precision Milling and Machining, … About Contour Precision Milling & Machining
Whether you are choosing to use steel because of the durability and strength that it provides or the attractive finish, it goes through a process to provide these benefits. Precision machining is required to get the best possible outcome. The alloys used, the tools, the speed, and precision, as well as a series of other … A Quick Guide to Machining Steel
A lot of companies in the United States have gone virtual in order to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. There are states that have ordered workers to stay at home with the exemption of essential businesses and manufacturers. There have been unprecedented changes throughout the world and the manufacturing industry has been adversely affected. … Tips on How Manufacturers Can Stay Connected With Customers Through the Coronavirus
An increasing number of manufacturers are looking for new and smaller components to maximize space usage, faster processing times, tighter tolerances, insanely fast turnarounds, and other benefits to ensure that they meet up with consumer demands. This pressure does not leave manufacturers who are into precision machining out of the loop. The introduction of automation … Advanced Automation Is Shaping The Future of Precision Machining
Five-axis machines represent modern CNC design and are able to machine shapes of nearly any complexity. The two main application categories for five-axis machining are conventional machining of tilted surfaces and the machining of complex 3D shapes. In both cases the workflow needed to create five-axis programs has been simplified over the years but still … What is 5-Axis Machining All About?
Pictured: Cate Smith (left, PMPA’s Executive Director) and Michelle Reichline (right, CEO Contour Tool Inc.) Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA) just named Cate Smith as their new Executive Director. And Contour was proud to host Cate during a recent visit shown in the above photo. After practicing law, Cate decided to moved into the non-profit … PMPA’s New Executive Director Visits Contour Tool Inc!
From Modern Machine Shop How Do You Sell Your Value-Add? A shop shares lessons learned about alluring and securing profitable, long-term CNC machining contracts. Contour Precision Milling & Machine moved into a brand new facility in 2006. Two years later, that move almost seemed ill-considered. “We lost about 60 percent of our business overnight,” recalls … Contour Featured in Modern Machine Shop
Here’s a summary of the award from Parker’s newsletter: Newsletter – Gold Link Award Ceremony. HVD is introducing a brand new supplier award: the Gold Link Strategic Supplier Award. Based on the same principles as the Win Scorecard, the Gold Link Award is reserved for only those select suppliers that excelled in all areas of critical … Contour Tool wins the Parker Hannifin HVD Silver Link Strategic Supplier Award!
Primary Markets Served: Construction Product: Roll Grover Value Assembly Project Function: This machine cold-forms the clamp groove in 2” to 24” schedule 40 thru 80 piping used in large piping projects. Problem: The customer had previously contracted with one of our competitors to manufacture and build this machine. That supplier had many quality and delivery … Construction Success Story
Primary Markets Served: Transportation Transportation Precision Machining and Assembly Product: Pneumatic Brake System Manifold Function: Part of a regenerative braking system for commercial vehicles Problem: The part cost from other sources exceeded budgetary figures for the customer. Contour Solution: Contour’s team worked together to develop the best-in-class tooling and process that minimized cost for the … Transportation Success Story
Primary Markets Served: Aerospace Aerospace Precision Machining and Assembly Product: Fuel System Flame Arrestor Function: Prevents flames from traveling thru the fuel system to the fuel tank. Problem: A Tier 1 supplier to the aerospace industry was looking for a source to manufacture this flame arrestor. Due to the tight tolerances involved on the delicate … Aerospace Success Story
By Michelle Reichlin and Dr Lisa Lang All else being equal, the lowest price gets the job because quality and reliability are a given, right? If you’re purchasing “off the shelf” parts that are generally considered to be the same, you can be relatively safe choosing a supplier based on price. If multiple customers are … 3 Strategies to Purchase Custom Machined Castings at a Reasonable Price, with Great Quality, and get them Delivered On-time without Losing Your Mind!
The world of rescue lost a great friend when Paul (aka Gomer) Reichlin died unexpectedly on March 22 at the age of 67. He was the founder of Contour Tool. He retired in 2009 when his daughter Michelle took over as the acting CEO. Michelle Reichlin of Avon, OH is an ESRA member/adopter/volunteer , who … In Memoriam — Paul L. Reichlin July 13, 1946 – March 22, 2014
Contour Tools Inc. Now Doing Business As Contour Precision Milling in Cleveland OH For Immediate Release February 17 2014: We are pleased to announce that Contour Tools Inc. is now doing business as Contour Precision Milling, offering the same high quality customer service and products for customers new and old. Contour Tool Inc. was founded … Precision CNC Milling of Hard-to-Hold Castings Expertise Cleveland OH
