There is only one thing that always happens when working with machinery – it breaks. When and where it breaks is usually out of your hands, but the time required for the repair job is well within your ability to maintain and control. Buying replacement parts in advance is usually a great practice, but not everyone is so forward facing. Sometimes you’ll need a part urgently, and you won’t have the time to wait on shipping – not even express shipping. When that happens, part machining might be your only option.
Why? Well…
…Because it’s faster
More than often, an able parts machinist can have your replacement part the next day. It all depends on the complexity of the measurements and the precision of the cuts required to machine the part. In general, larger parts take longer to machine than smaller parts, but certain exceptions do exist. For example, a smaller – more precise part – may take more effort to machine than a larger, less precise part. Regardless, part machining almost always takes less time to deliver the goods to the customer.
…Because it’s specialized
You won’t have to spend hours searching for the correct part on a catalog. Just by having the older, broken part – a machinist can craft a new, replacement part. Other specifications can be taken as well, such as additional accommodations in the part design, or customized etchings. Getting the wrong part is never an issue if you’re having it custom made at a shop. Of course, you can always return the part to the machinist if it does turn out wrong. It’s much less of a headache than shipping an incorrect part back to the manufacturer and getting it replaced “whenever.”
…Because it’s personal
If you have your part machined locally, you’ll always be dealing with someone face-to-face. Specifications that are difficult to articulate on paper can be told directly to the machinist so that you can be absolutely certain the part you receive is correct. Issues with the completed part can always be brought up to the machinist personally, so you won’t ever have to call a sales or returns department. Local part machining is the only way to ensure you get the correct part in a more reasonable time-frame than parts purchasing.