What does a 1-micron tolerance *look* like? (Spoiler: You can’t see it.)
Ceramics like alumina, sapphire, and quartz are unforgiving materials to machine, especially after firing. And yet, our team routinely hits submicron tolerances on components used in:

• Aerospace sensors
• High-voltage insulators
• Surgical tooling
• Cleanroom and vacuum systems

What tolerances can INSACO hold?
The nature of diamond grinding on ultra hard materials translates into tight tolerances being routinely achieved. The actual limits to the attained precision depend on variables like the machine tool used, the general shape and size of the part, and the sequence of operations needed to complete the task. Although our shop standard for machining is +/-0.004″, we generally halve this on the first pass of operations. Secondary operations can further narrow this to +/-0.0001″. Our flat lapping operations can best be recorded in millionths of an inch. We have done bearing parts that have tolerance in the millionths of an inch. We welcome discussions about desired tolerances and often provide constructive advice regarding practical limitations and cost considerations.

What separates INSACO from its competitors?
QUALITY, SERVICE, and the ABILITY TO MACHINE TO EXTREMELY TIGHT TOLERANCES. These are the 3 main differentiating features that sets INSACO apart from other similar Companies. With over 75+ years in business we have earned a reputation for providing exceptional customer service and technical support unmatched in the industry. We excel in machining, grinding, and polishing services for a wide variety of materials, including hard and exotic materials, while adhering to very demanding specifications. Our team of engineers and support groups are highly trained and experienced to ensure that our customers receive the highest quality product.

Insaco Designers Guide
select materials of interest based on what is most important to your application. Once you specify which properties are most important, the "guide" searches our database of materials and presents you with various materials listing the selected properties ranked as you specify and often includes some other materials provided as references.

Watch>>>Ceramic Manufacturing and Machining Process with Insaco, Inc.

Insaco
Insaco has been fabricating precision parts from all technical ceramics since 1947. Approximately a third of our machining involves sapphire, but our capabilities go way beyond that. Insaco engineers welcome inquiries from designers contemplating specifying technical ceramics for their applications, whether prototype or full production. We only ship parts that meet agreed-to requirements, but are often able to respond to challenges and achieve results others cannot.

Watch>>>Precision Fabrication by Design

High Precision Machining of Hard Materials
Since 1947 Insaco® has been a precision machining and polishing fabricator of parts from all technical ceramics, sapphire, glass and quartz. We machine these materials to very precise tolerances (many times measured in millionths of an inch) for dimension, flatness, wedge and roundness or cylindricity. Our customers typically have a critical application that requires extremely tight tolerances in ultra-hard materials. We also have the capability to grind and polish spherical radius parts in a variety of hard materials, both inside and outside diameters, to optical requirements.

features include:

• Extremely high accuracy and tight tolerance machining
• Lights-out manufacturing
• Machine automation including large capacity envelope
• Automated centerless grinding
• High efficiency/low cost volume production
• Low-volume prototype machining
• 5-axis machining capability
• ITAR compliant
• High-volume robotic machining
• Video inspection and a Class 100 Cleanroom
• Extensive Quality Control protocols
• Sapphire tubes and polishing

Insaco
Insaco has been fabricating precision parts from all technical ceramics since 1947. Approximately a third of our machining involves sapphire, but our capabilities go way beyond that. Insaco engineers welcome inquiries from designers contemplating specifying technical ceramics for their applications, whether prototype or full production. We only ship parts that meet agreed-to requirements, but are often able to respond to challenges and achieve results others cannot.

Insaco also has extensive inspection and documentation procedures so parts are always to print. With a seasoned team of engineers and machine operators we are available to discuss your application needs including alternative materials and cost drivers. please click here to send a request, or visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. Click here to find out more about our company and our people.

Insaco Brochure