How to Reduce CNC Machining Time in Soft Tooling

Smart and Easy Soft Tooling with Precision Board Bonded Blocks

Custom bonded blocks can be a game-changing asset for any soft tooling application. Order a professionally bonded custom block, and have it arrive fully bonded and ready for machining- this is a huge CNC time-saving benefit. Our custom bonded blocks allow you to save significant machining time, as you only need to machine minimal excess material, rather than machining an entire block down to size. See the diagram below:

 

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As you can see, the savings in CNC machining time and material when using Precision Board custom blocks are substantial. Additionally, our fabricating capabilities go way beyond simple stepped designs. We’re experts at planning a material utilization strategy that is unique to your specific project, no matter how complex. All we need is a dimensional sketch of the finished tool, and we’ll take it quickly from there to prepare a quote. As you can see in the video above, our skilled production team is able to create large, highly complex tooling blocks from scratch. And thanks to our large inventory and highly skilled production team, we can create blocks of any size, any shape, and any density. Plus, we move fast!

soft tooling packaged

Precision Board custom bonded block ready to ship

After the custom tooling block is fabricated, it undergoes a careful packaging process to ensure it arrives intact. We use sacrifice sheets, reinforced edge protectors, a custom-sized pallet, and yards of plastic wrap and bindings to protect the block and secure it for shipping. You can rest assured that your Precision Board custom block will arrive undamaged and ready for machining.

So give us a call or email today to find out more about our custom tooling block capabilities, or request a quote for a custom block of your own. We’re here to help!

Custom Blocks – Decrease Your CNC Machining Time

Coastal Enterprises offers custom sized and custom bonded blocks of Precision Board Plus to save on labor and CNC machining time. We already have eight standard sizes up to 24″ thick in stock, but if a different shape or size is needed, there is no limit to the size or shape of blocks we can make.

Using a drawing provided by you, we will make a custom-sized block in the rough shape and size of your tool. Our expertise will keep your project on schedule and on budget.

The benefits of doing this are:

  • Less material purchased overall
  • CNC machining time is drastically decreased because the block is closer to net size
  • Assembly is eliminated
  • Tool arrives ready for immediate machining
  • Reduced labor costs

Contact us if you are interested in a custom sized block quote. Check out our tooling gallery for additional pictures of custom blocks.

This is a custom bonded block used to make a mold for Ken Duttweiler’s 2000+ horsepower Small-Block Chevy “Speed Demon” race car, which will be featured in our upcoming email newsletter on 3/12/12. Click here if you would like to sign up!

Thermoformed Likes it Turnkey

Thermoformed Plastic Products, located in the Air Capital of the World, manufactures Vacuum Form tools, Master models, CNC holding fixtures, Composite Layup molds and other tooling for many of the well-known aerospace companies.  TPP chooses Precision Board Plus and Coastal Enterprises to help them get the job done efficiently and on time.  “At TPP, we like turnkey.  We can order a custom-bonded block, or just order a block large enough, that we don’t have to take time to bond up large shapes before starting the machining operation,” says co-owner Chet Hunter.

Vacuum Form Fixtures

 

Ordering ready-to-machine, custom blocks and large sizes is just one reason why TTP chooses Precision Board Plus as Chet adds “Precision Board Plus is always available in a broad array of sizes, quick to machine, and easier to seal than other substrates.”  Call Thermoformed Plastic Products for your next fixture, model, or tooling needs at (316) 841-8398 or (316) 214-9623.

Vacuum Formed Tool PBLT-30 Custom Bonded Tooling Blocks