Material Sourcing: Here’s How Accurate CNC Can Help

For more than 20 years, Accurate CNC has been sourcing materials for all kinds of projects. Over this time, we’ve developed material expertise and built a strong network of suppliers who can help us track down what our customers need.

Our material expertise allows us to identify alternatives when a specified material is unavailable, while our supplier network gives us more options for finding the right choice at a reasonable price. And when the usual approach doesn’t work, our team gets creative until we find another solution.  

Long story short: when material sourcing gets complicated, Accurate CNC can help.

Material Sourcing Struggles and How We Solve Them

We understand that your projects often have strict material requirements. The hard fact is that material availability and pricing can change quickly, making sourcing more complicated than it may appear. 

For example, thinner-gauge steel can be difficult to source, and pricing can fluctuate from day to day. Those changes aren’t always within our control, but we want you to know we’re in your corner and working to get you what you need.

To help, we’re continuing to expand our supplier relationships so we have more options to compare pricing and find the right material for your project.

What We Need From You

One of the best ways we can help with material sourcing is by having as much information as possible, as early as possible. 

Knowing your material requirements upfront allows us to provide a more accurate quote and gives us more time to plan. This prevents material-related delays once your project moves into production.

Here are a few details to share with us upfront:

Material Specification and Alternatives

It is helpful to know whether your project allows for flexibility when it comes to alternative materials.  

For example, if your project allows for it, specifying “A36 or similar” instead of “A36” gives us more flexibility when sourcing steel.

For plastics, providing the required properties, such as whether it needs to be food-grade, can help us identify an alternative if your material is unavailable. 

If you have questions about what materials may work, our Idaho machine shop can help you evaluate your options.

Color and Finish Requirements

If your parts will be painted or powder-coated, let us know early. Certain colors need to be specially ordered, so we want to manage this as soon as possible in order to protect your lead times. 

Because shades can vary by brand, being as specific as possible about the color you want will ensure you get the correct shade.

The same applies to wood. Let us know what color you need so we can source the appropriate materials.

Material Certifications 

Sometimes a project requires documentation for material origin and traceability. When we know this is required before the job even starts, we can plan accordingly.

A Team of Creative Problem-Solvers

At Accurate, we pride ourselves on finding creative ways to make things happen, even when the path isn’t straightforward.

Our experience sourcing unusual materials has taught us to think outside the box. 

One recent example was a project involving poplar, a relatively soft, utilitarian wood. This particular application required the material to be three inches thick and free of knots and cracks. 

The challenge? We couldn’t source poplar thicker than 1.5 inches that met the project’s requirements.

When we originally partnered with this customer on the same project, we worked with a local company that sourced poplar strips and vacuum-packed them together to create the required three-inch blocks. 

This time around, we are using another strategy. We are gluing and screwing the strips together and using our press brake to apply pressure and set the assembly.

It’s a good example of how we approach sourcing challenges and develop practical solutions to benefit our customers.

When Sourcing Gets Complicated, We’re Here to Help

With our material expertise and network of vendors who can help us track down materials, we’re ready to help you source what your projects require.

And if faced with a sourcing challenge, Accurate CNC will work until we find a solution for your parts.

If you have questions about a material, contact Accurate CNC. Or, if you’re ready to get started on your next project, request a quote today.