When you discuss a quote with Accurate CNC, one of the first things we’ll ask is whether you’ll supply materials or have us source them for you. While our purchasing power means we can offer excellent pricing on materials, we are more than happy to accommodate customers who provide their own.

Of course, the process of supplying us with the material isn’t always simple. Shipping and storage are concerns, not to mention the unique materials our Idaho machine shop often handles—storing 20-foot timbers, for instance, takes some problem-solving! But we go above and beyond to ensure secure delivery and storage as your material awaits precision machining. 

Here’s what you should know about supplying materials, and how our team treats your materials as if they’re our own.

Deciding Material Sizes: Why Kerf Allowances Are Crucial

We always ask customers the size of their material dimensions and formats. This isn’t just for storage purposes—it’s critical for production planning. Customers often base their sizing choice on their nesting designs, but that nesting may not properly account for tool kerfs or setup pieces. These factors can be unique to every shop, and even a slight miscalculation can lead to another full sheet being required. 

To solve this issue, we always communicate our sheet or bar yield so you can adjust your purchasing and nesting accordingly. In many cases, we will suggest a different size to simplify the machining process, which can lead to process and labor savings. 

Planning for Any Surplus Material

During the quoting process, as we discuss material yield, we will often suggest adjustments to sheet usage to minimize waste. However, if there will still be leftover pieces larger than one square foot, we can ship those with your completed parts. 

Some customers prefer to instead increase the quantity of their order to reduce or eliminate falloff, and we’re ready to help you adjust accordingly. But if you would like your material returned, we can easily add it to your delivery.

Coordinate Your Material Delivery With Our Team

By alerting us to a coming delivery, we will be ready to actively inspect it and quickly move it into storage when it arrives at our facility. If there is any shipment damage or other issues, we will take pictures, document the damage for any claims with the shipper, and contact you to determine if you would like us to accept the shipment.

However, this process is more difficult if you haven’t told us about an imminent arrival. We are closed on Fridays, for instance, but some customers don’t realize this, and shipments arrive that day. This can lead to delays in inspection and potential storage issues, so please coordinate deliveries with our team during our regular business hours, Monday through Thursday.

How We Protect Your Material in Our Shop

Our careful storage practices protect your materials and maintain their quality as they await manufacturing. We add protective cardboard to all stored units and incorporate multiple support points for materials over 8 feet long. We take particular precautions with materials like plastic—as a leader in plastic machining services, we know that any warping or bowing could compromise the quality of your finished parts.

Our shop can handle materials of all sizes, but for projects spanning multiple months and requiring significant floor space, storage fees may apply. These charges are discussed on a case-by-case basis during the quoting phase.

Begin Your Precision Manufacturing Journey

By maintaining open communication with us and accounting for these key factors, we can ensure your material supply process goes smoothly. Our precision CNC machining services will then transform these materials into your finished parts.

Request a quote today to get started on your next project!