At Wagner Machine, we’ve built our reputation by having the right skills, tools, and processes to meet our customers’ diverse needs. Sometimes, we’re presented with requests that stretch beyond our current capabilities. Our team sees this as more than just a challenge—it’s an opportunity to improve and evolve alongside our customers.
Over the past year, we’ve embraced intriguing precision machining challenges from both long-time and potential new customers. In tackling these requests, we’ve found that when customers push us to grow, it opens doors for innovation, benefiting everyone involved. By carefully evaluating opportunities and investing in the right areas, our CNC machine shop has evolved while still maintaining the high standards you’ve come to expect from us.
New Offerings to Meet Customer Demand
Expanding Our Titanium Machining Services
While we have machined titanium for years, recent projects have pushed us into new territory. Customers have been requesting parts across the size spectrum, from larger components to intricate micro-sized titanium parts. This surge in demand has prompted us to explore new tooling and inspection options.
Although we have a comprehensive tooling library, these unique part requests necessitate specialized tooling tailored for titanium machining. As we research and collaborate with vendors to find the right tooling, we continually refine our processes to ensure we deliver precise, high-quality results. We have greatly expanded our experience with turned and 5-axis milled titanium parts up to eight inches in diameter. At the same time, we are tackling smaller and more complex features with tighter tolerances than ever before.
Intensive Inspections
Several of our customers have been requesting 100% inspection on critical features that often have extremely tight tolerances or finish requirements. In some instances, this requires microscopic inspection of surface finish or burrs on key features in addition to dimensional checks. In response, we’ve invested in new inspection technology to meet these customer requirements. We’re also exploring advanced solutions like CT scanning to further enhance our inspection capabilities.
Surface Finishing
We program edge breaks or deburring of .005”-.010” on almost all of our parts depending on feature size. Recently, we have been seeing requests for even smaller edge breaks in the range of .001”-.003” on many new parts. Depending on the material, edge breaks of less than .005” actually increase burr issues. We are leaning toward microblasting as a solution to this challenge. While we don’t prefer manual finishing processes, this is another example of how we’re committed to pursuing the best processes to grow with our customers’ needs.
Implementing New Techniques While Upholding Our Standards
Operational Alignment
As we expand, our dedication to quality remains our top priority. When customers present us with new challenges, we carefully evaluate whether the request aligns with our core competencies. It’s vital for us to ensure that any new processes seamlessly integrate with our existing operations, allowing us to maintain the precision, quality, and efficiency you’ve come to rely on.
Equipment Research
Once we confirm that a process is a good fit, we dive into extensive research to determine the best tools and equipment for the job. Whether it’s sourcing new tooling or advanced machinery, our goal is to find solutions that not only meet the current project’s requirements but also provide flexibility for future needs. We collaborate with equipment vendors and customers to stay ahead of the curve. Attending industry events like IMTS is a great way to explore the latest innovations in one place.
Intentional Application
Our team is committed to learning new strategies and techniques to ensure the success of each application. You can always count on us to be transparent and honest about our capabilities. For new processes, we will keep you informed of our progress and share as much information as we can to ensure that our new techniques meet your expectations. Some projects require multiple iterations, and we document our experience along the way ensure that we are working toward a reliable process in the end.
As we gain experience, we become more adept at recommending the best applications and approaches for your needs. We will never claim expertise in an area we can’t confidently deliver. Conversely, when we suggest a method as the best way to meet your requirements, you can trust that we stand by our recommendations.
Do You Have a Request That Requires Expertise?
At Wagner Machine Company, we thrive on challenging projects and are proud of our track record in meeting our customers’ needs—even when faced with a seemingly “impossible” task. Whether it’s an ambitious prototype or a complex production run, we’re committed to delivering exceptional results. From CNC-turned parts and micro lathe components to wire EDM services—or even something entirely new—we’re ready to bring your project to life.