Have an Impossible Part? We'll Find a Way to Make It!
If another shop has turned down your custom project, it’s time to talk to Accurate CNC! We love problem-solving with our customers to help bring their unusual and complex concepts to life.
When you bring a design for “impossible parts” to our Idaho machine shop, we know the questions to ask, the processes to apply, and the vendors to enlist—and we do it all with your budget and quality goals in mind.
Impossible Parts
Shops sometimes call a part or project “impossible” for one of these reasons:
The shop thinks the job won’t be profitable enough
The shop thinks the customer won’t want to pay what the job is worth
When a customer needed replica parts for a vintage soda machine, several shops turned him away because they assumed he required a molded metal replica—an incredibly expensive undertaking for a single part. We leveraged a combination of 3D printed prototyping and precision machining to deliver high-quality results at a price the customer loved.
Another customer was thrilled to discover that his PVC assemblies could be 3D printed instead of machined. While other shops quoted him the much higher price of precision machining, our team’s recommendations helped him obtain the parts he needed in less time and for significantly less money.
Of course, some projects truly are impossible. Budget limitations sometimes stall ideas before they reach fruition, while engineering issues call other concepts back to the drawing board. Whatever the circumstances, we’ll gladly review your design, discuss the possibilities, and help you identify the best path forward.
Case Study: Bolo Fly
After finding us on Google, a customer asked us to make the pendant for a bolo tie-style fly fishing lanyard. Though the part was small, the project was not. A local outfitting store had just signed on to sell the inventor’s lanyard, so we got started with rapid prototyping services right away.
The challenge
Our customer initially planned to obtain the small aluminum discs from Accurate CNC and finish each pendant himself with a hammered surface and copper inlay. However, with real sales now on the line, he recognized that committing to high quantities of tedious DIY work was not in his best interest! We set about to help him obtain the look he imagined without all the homework.
The solution
Due to the pendant’s small size and tight corners, we called on our local EDM partners to create the intricate metal inlays. Next, our finishing vendor will create the desired dimensional effect by clear anodizing the pendants and anodizing the inlays in a copper color. By managing these third-party services on our customer’s behalf, we’ll be able to produce his components quickly, affordably, and with the incredible aesthetic he envisioned.
The next steps
Next, this customer wants to explore the possibility of forming hammered, dome-shaped pendants—and he wants to tackle this task himself! To facilitate this handmade touch, we’re investigating options for developing a steel mold that he can pair with a small hydraulic press to achieve the hammered texture.
The results…so far!
Creative projects like this one stoke our curiosity and inspire us to continuously improve our processes, expand our capabilities, and communicate even more effectively with every customer. In this Idaho machine shop, impossible parts are always welcome.
Great Vendors Help Us Make Great Parts
Today's advanced technologies have introduced numerous manufacturing methods to our industry, but not every shop can perform every service. At Accurate CNC, we’ve cultivated a broad network of small manufacturing businesses that are eager to collaborate with us on any challenge.
Along with their exceptional skill, these vendor partners all embody one key characteristic: clear and open communication. By working closely with committed craftspeople who value problem-solving, we create better products and better experiences for our customers.
These are just a few of the capabilities we trust to our vetted community of vendors:
EDM. Our EDM partners, like Big Sky Cutting Edge, assist us with intricate features that precision machining can’t quite achieve.
Welding. Our expert welding partner is one of the busiest manufacturing pros in town, and he doesn’t even have a website!
SLS 3D printing. Selective laser sintering prints impressively strong parts, and our SLS partner provides top-notch work.
Consult with Accurate CNC about Your Impossible Parts
Schedule a consultation for our team to evaluate your idea or design. We’ll discuss your goals and review your options—and we’ll always communicate with total transparency.
Or, if you’re ready to get started, visit our secure online portal and request a quote!