Machine Shop Services Reference Materials

Description: Wax patterns are the heart of the investment casting process. With a good quality pattern and precise control over the casting process, the metal part will probably be good too. Conversely, any ...

Description: Sand casting is an economical process for making metal parts, but not everyone understands the complexity it's capable of. At Impro, our skilled patternmakers and experienced foundry personnel work ...

Description: One of the biggest challenges in sand casting is to completely fill the mold cavity before the metal starts to freeze. It’s a problem that grows harder as the shape being cast gets more complex. ...

Description: The precision machine shops we run are set up with extensive capabilities for complex, tight tolerance work. This includes 4 and 5-axis machining centers and a range of turning, milling, and grinding ...

Description: Investment casting is used for parts that need high accuracy, excellent surface finish and fine detail. Achieving durability and performance goals requires these parts to be free from surface and ...

Description: Many industrial robots and robot systems rely on electric motors for their motion. There are situations though where hydraulic orbital motors are the better choice. After providing an introduction to ...

Description: Are you developing a prototype or mechanical part that features flat surfaces? Although your designs may appear flat, post-production warping can significantly affect prototype validation and part ...

Description: The goat head that's installed on the top of a frac tree undergoes a lot of precision machining during its manufacture. As an essential element of a hydraulic fracturing Christmas tree, it provides ...

Description: The tools and equipment used on oil rigs and in oil and gas extraction are made from alloys that are hard to machine. Our blog, "Drilling into Precision: Machining for Oil Rig Equipment", discusses ...

Description: Investment casting yields accurate metal parts with detailed features, thin walls and smooth surfaces. This is achieved by using wax patterns that replicate the part being made. These patterns can now ...

Description: Are you developing a prototype or mechanical part that features flat surfaces? Although your designs may appear flat, post-production warping can significantly affect prototype validation and part ...

Description: Swiss screw machining is for turning long, cylindrical parts like rods, pins, and screws. It's a precision process capable of maintaining tight tolerances over long production runs, and it's often ...

Description: It takes lots of motor torque to move heavy loads, which is one reason hydraulic orbital motors are widely used in material handling equipment. Fork trucks, cranes and heavy-duty or long-distance ...

Description: Sand casting is a cost-effective process for producing metal parts weighing from ounces to hundreds of pounds. Best results are achieved with lower melting point alloys like cast iron and bronze. The ...

Description: Mobile machinery used in construction and agriculture needs low speed and high torque rotary motion. For many such applications, the best way of achieving this is with hydraulic orbital motors. This ...

Description: Investment casting works well for complex parts with fine features. Being near-net shape, it minimizes secondary machining, which can lower costs and reduce lead time. It's not ideal for all metal ...

Description: Hydraulic orbital motors are the answer for mobile and industrial applications that need high torque at low speed in a small space. In direct drive applications they save the weight and expense of a ...

Description: 2023 was an exciting time at Impro and we hope the same can be said about your business, too. As is true with any given year there were a lot of ups as well as downs... but we just wanted to take an ...

Description: Swiss screw machining is valued for its ability to produce complex parts while driving down individual piece costs. This blog explores how material selection contributes to that goal, while helping ...

Description: If you've ever used a scissor lift AWP you'll know the importance of smooth and precise motion. Our hydraulic orbital motors provide the high torque, low speed and smooth, reliable movement needed. ...

Description: According to a recent research report, the global automotive lightweight materials market is expected to grow 7.3% CAGR from 2023 to 2029. It is expected to reach above $1331.41 Billion by 2029 from ...

Description: In the fast-paced world of product development, embracing the standardization of parts is a game-changer. David Anderson's advice to "Never design parts that you are unable to find in the product ...

Description: Mass air flow measurement provides a functional test of precision machined parts like those used in gas turbine engines. It's important for minimizing temperature variations and vibration, preventing ...

Description: RPWORLD, one of the leading mechanical parts manufacturers for prototyping and on-demand production, is proud to announce its recent achievement-the attainment of ISO 14001 certification. ...

Description: What does it take to machine and fabricate parts used in aerospace? The short answer is, a deep understanding of product requirements and a high level of manufacturing mastery. Our eBook, "A Complete ...

Description: The list of processes for making exhaust manifolds includes several casting technologies. Selecting the optimal one entails considering quantities required, the physical size of the manifold, ...

Description: How can you reduce lead times on sand cast samples and prototypes? Impro knows, and our eBook, "Addressing Cost, Lead Time and Complexity with 3D Printing in Sand Casting", has the details. Request ...

Description: Gas turbines are deployed on the ground and in the air. The two use cases are very different, yet the fundamentals remain the same: a continuous combustion process generates thrust and rotary motion. ...

Description: Switzerland is famous for high quality watches, and tiny, high-precision screws contribute to their success. Today, though, the machine tool technology developed to make these intricate parts is used ...

Description: Unlock the full potential of your CNC projects with these six critical design tips! From ensuring part quality post-heat treatment to optimizing clamp setups and reducing tool run times, these ...

Description: Our precision machining facility produces complex, high value-added, mission-critical components from bar stock for customers in transportation, agricultural and construction equipment, industrial ...

Description: Nozzle assembly components don't last long in the challenging environment inside a gas turbine engine. Thermal cycling causes fatigue, high temperatures cause creep, and corrosive gasses erode ...

Description: A car grille can enhance the appeal as the ornamental structure, it is also a key component for a cooling system and even protective purpose. Let's have a look at the evolution of grille and its ...

Description: Agricultural, construction and landscaping machinery use hydraulic orbital motors because they're rugged and durable. When sized correctly for the application and maintained correctly, they will ...

Description: Do you understand the role heat treatment plays in precision machining? Are you aware of the ways in which it can save you money while improving product performance and durability? If not, our eBook, ...

Description: The following article is the differences of Injection Molding, CNC Machining, and Urethane Casting in detail, including processes themselves, manufacturing lead times, relationships of part quantities ...

Description: Stainless steel is produced in a large number of grades that have austenitic, ferritic or martensitic structures. 17-4 is a martensitic grade that can be precipitation hardened, (leading to the 17-4 ...

Description: In a gas turbine engine the nozzle assembly comes just after the combustion chamber. It directs fast moving gasses onto the turbine blades that generate the rotary motion needed for power generation. ...

Description: Not many alloys can survive in the environment downstream of the combustion chamber in a gas turbine engine. It's too hot, forces are high, the gases are extremely corrosive and they're flowing ...

Description: Like welding, brazing is a method of permanently joining separate metal pieces. Where brazing differs though is that there's no melting of the pieces being joined. This makes it the preferred process ...

Description: Discover how RPWORLD's unique high-mix, low-volume approach guarantees top-quality results in on-demand manufacturing. Explore our four key strategies for maintaining excellence in every custom part ...

Description: Machining isn't the last step in producing precision metal parts; they need appropriate surface treatments too. The right finishing process can extend product life, improve functionality or make them ...

Description: Wall thickness refers to the distance between opposite sides or surfaces of a solid metal cast region. In a part like a cover the wall thickness is the distance between inner and outer surfaces. Thin ...

Description: The heat of welding distorts workpiece materials and alters their properties. Electron beam welding (EBW) minimizes these adverse impacts and provides a way of joining otherwise unwieldable materials ...

Description: The heart of the axial flow turbine engine is the combustion chamber. This is where fuel and air are mixed and ignited, with air velocity determining how far through the chamber the flame front ...

Description: Stainless steel is preferred for many aircraft engine, structural, fuel and hydraulic system applications. Providing a combination of strength and corrosion-resistance, it supports weight reduction ...

Description: Gas turbine nozzle components are some of the most highly engineered parts manufactured anywhere. They need to survive high temperatures, corrosive atmospheres, vibration and centrifugal forces, and ...

Description: Hydraulic motors are a good choice in many applications, but a cursory search reveals there are several types to choose from. This blog will explain the advantages of orbital motors over the other ...

Description: Cranks, handles, levers, rods and shafts are just some of the industrial equipment parts cast in carbon steel. Casting helps avoid machining, and investment casting achieves this better than sand ...

Description: If you're exploring manufacturing processes for machined parts, 5-axis milling may open up design options you haven't considered. Download our ebook, "How 5-Axis Milling Changes the Machining ...

Description: For high torque in mobile and industrial applications, it’s hard to beat a hydraulic orbital motor. These are compact enough to use as wheel motors in mobile equipment like skid steers, and for ...

Description: The modern multi-spindle lathe gives engineers more freedom to consider functionality over manufacturability. It also improves quality, boosts productivity and can even speed up delivery. Learn how ...

Description: Hydraulic orbital motors provide high torque from a compact package. They are ideal for mobile and industrial applications where electric motors would be too big, bulky, expensive or otherwise ...

Description: Some manufacturing experts are calling it the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Others use terms like "The Industrial Internet of Things" (IIoT) or "smart manufacturing". Whatever label you put on it, ...

Description: If you need a competitive North American source of sand cast iron parts, this blog is for you. We recently completed Phase One of a modern, highly efficient casting and machining plant in the Mexican ...

Description: Simplify your CNC part designs with these expert tips to enhance tool accessibility, reduce tool change times, and boost manufacturing efficiency. Learn how to cut costs and improve workflow with ...

Description: When designing parts that will be investment cast it's very easy to make costly and/or program-delaying mistakes, especially when cores are involved. To avoid this, Impro recommends reading our eBook, ...

Description: One of the reasons for having parts made by investment casting is that the process is capable of maintaining tight tolerances. This minimizes secondary machining and enables reproduction of fine. ...

Description: Swiss screw CNC lathes are highly productive machines, but running them at less than maximum efficiency can mean a significant loss of output. This blog explains the kind of precision machining work ...

Description: RPWORLD CNC machined parts are featured with short lead time and consistent high precision. How to ensure the consistent quality for different production runs? How to ensure dimensions and hole ...

Description: CNC machining allows for the use of a wide range of plastics and metals, presenting a plethora of choices for your machined parts. Navigating this vast selection to find the ideal material that ...

Description: Exposed to hot, fast moving and corrosive gasses, exhaust manifolds need an uncommon set of qualities if they are to survive and contribute to efficient combustion. Impro successfully sand casts these ...

Description: If you're looking for a North American source of investment castings, Impro can help. We started investment casting at our plant in Mexico in late 2022, and with extensive precision machining services ...

Description: Simple design modifications or optimization can have major effect on manufacturing and assembly. How can designers optimize part design that operators can pick up the parts easily? Here are 3 design ...

Description: Impro uses sand casting to produce engine blocks for high horsepower and other applications. Sand casting has advantages over other casting processes, but also poses some challenges. Here's an ...

Description: The tough alloys used for demanding applications in the oil and gas sector pose serious machining challenges. Cutting forces are high, inserts wear rapidly, and chips refuse to break. Add these ...

Description: Many components of power generation equipment perform best when produced in cast iron. It's a metal that can dampen vibration, distribute heat, hold up to wear and withstand high loads. Impro sand ...

Description: The combustion gases expelled from a gas turbine will quickly erode and can even melt most steels. For internal components to survive in such an environment, they are investment cast in nickel-based ...

Description: Engineers turn to nickel-based superalloys when stainless steel can't provide enough corrosion resistance or high temperature strength. The downside of alloys like Inconel® though, is that they ...

Description: A technology for precision machining small cylindrical parts quickly and efficiently. These parts can be much larger than watch screws, and they needn't be threaded, but machinists still refer to the ...

Description: Tight tolerances and demanding surface finish requirements may dictate the use of grinding. Our eBook, "Grinding for Precision", will give readers the information they need to minimize the use of this ...

Description: Cavities in parts made by sand casting, like valve bodies, pump housings, and engine blocks, are there mainly to channel, guide and hold fluids. They can also reduce finished part weight and save on ...

Description: Investment casting is ideal for producing parts that will be highly loaded, subjected to high temperatures and pressures, or require precise geometry that minimizes secondary operations. This is ...

Description: Do you know a simple improvement can totally shorten the lead time of your CNC machined parts? Here're 4 design tips for your reference: 1. How to design parts that facilitates clamp? 2. Which ...

Description: The components at the heart of a gas turbine are engineered to handle the most challenging environments imaginable. Impro is proud to offer a total solution for such parts, from investment casting, ...

Description: Components used in commercial vehicles must have strength, toughness, and a little ductility. Good heat transfer properties and low density are bonus factors. These requirements push part designers to ...

Description: A high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent thermal conductivity and good corrosion-resistance are just some of the reasons for using aluminum. If you're looking for low mass, good heat transfer, or ...

Description: CNC machining is highly automated, but human element is still critical. Our engineering experts have concluded some of recurring design issues. Avoiding these 5 issues may help you improve part design ...

Description: The lead time to get sample parts can be longer and tooling costs may be higher. For engineers and buyers trying to determine if investment casting is the right process for their parts and ...

Description: Choosing the right prototyping machine shop for your next project is quite possibly the most important decision you will make in the entire process. This is particularly true for entrepreneurs with ...

Description: What makes these motors the best choice for an AWP. ...

Description: When a foundry is deciding how to cast a particular part, selection of the binder system - the mechanism that makes grains of sand stick together - is a big part of the process. This blog will explain ...

Description: For a large family of parts the lowest total cost manufacturing route includes investment casting. Our eBook, "Determining Economic Quantities for Investment Casting" explores this topic to help ...

Description: Impro Sales and Technical associates look forward to see you at the show. Please come and visit us at Booth# 535. We can discuss your specific product needs or provide an overview of our company and ...

Description: A hydraulic orbital motor uses the energy in flowing liquid to create rotation. As with an electric motor, this can drive machinery or vehicles, but where orbital motors have an advantage is in low ...

Description: Draft angles on cast parts limit the designer's freedom and complicate secondary machining operations. One of the advantages of investment casting over other casting processes is that draft angles can ...

Description: A hydraulic orbital motor is the best source of high torque at low speed. They are used in many mobile, and quite a few static applications and can simplify equipment design while delivering better ...

Description: Understand the key characteristics of common medical materials to quickly and effectively choose the best options for your device development. Explore their properties and applications to streamline ...

Description: Revealed at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show, an innovative electric vehicle prototype features Electric Rearview Mirrors along with advanced sensors. As these mirrors gain popularity, we explore ...

Description: Explores the requirements of CNC machining process for part design and talks about 5 tips to machine parts with lower cost, high efficiency, high quality, under the conditions of meeting needs of ...

Description: The blog explains the different ways of machining holes with regard to achieving tight tolerances, accurate placement, and smooth or textured surface finishes. ...

Description: Although precision machining was affected by the pandemic, because of the decrease in manufacturing production and supply chain disruptions, it is once again expected to return to previous levels and ...

Description: Impro Fluidtek traces its roots back to White Drive Products, founded in the USA over 40 years ago, and is a leader in these motors. You'll find them used in agriculture, forestry, construction, ...

Description: We've all started to adjust in ways both large and small to the new reality that we are now confronted with. ...

Description: There're many options when selecting the right materials for your CNC machined parts, and it is quite a challenging work to find the exact material that meets all requirements for your product ...

Description: In this blog, Impro explains 5 things you need to know for providing sufficient information in an RFQ so that manufacturers can provide an accurate quotation. ...

Description: Impro provides regionalized supply solutions for castings and precision machined parts to customers from its Mexican plant facilities in San Luis Potosi. ...

Description: Machining influences assembly ease, function, and repairability of products. Our blog will help you how to select a partner for your precision machining needs. ...

Description: CNC machining is usually the most cost-effective way of putting mounting surfaces, holes, screw threads and precision bores into parts that are either cast or machined from solid. However, there are ...

Description: Our blog describes automatic visual Inspection methods and technologies that Impro employs for quality assurance of precision machining. ...