Cutting tool catalogs are full of very good off-the-shelf options for a lot of machining applications. But not every situation has a standard answer. Is it possible that you may save time and even more money by going to a tool tailor-made to your needs? Here are 5 signs that you might be better off going with a customized product.

One: Unsatisfactory Performance

The most obvious sign that a custom tool may serve you better is when you pull a part out of the CNC machine and are not happy with the results. For example, if you feel your surface finish could have been better, or you’re routinely sending pieces off to another operation for polishing or deburring, you could be wasting time and money. Likewise, if you are getting the quality you want, but wish you got more tool life, custom may be the way to go. Constantly stopping the run to replace tools that break prematurely is also an obvious red flag.

Two: Bottlenecks in Production

Simple logic tells us that when you can make a part faster, you reduce the cost per unit and generate more revenue. Along with this, when big rush orders come through the door (and they always do), having the ability to increase throughput makes customers happy in the form of on-time deliveries. If you’re cutting profiles on a part that require multiple tools to complete, especially on turning centers where tool storage is limited, it might be worth investigating whether a custom form tool will do it in one operation. The custom tool, combined with a little tool path reprogramming support from GWS, has the potential to reduce hours into minutes and minutes down to seconds. And as we all know, in manufacturing, every second counts!

Three: Room for Improvement

The best tool out of the catalog may not be the best option for the application. How much in terms of operational performance is it leaving on the table? You probably experimented with different makes and models before you selected the standard tool you are using now. Why not keep that thought process going and really dial in the geometry, coating and substrate to wring out every ounce of performance possible? Custom could open up a whole new world for you.

Four: Slow or Late Delivery

Just because a part is in a catalog doesn’t mean it’s actually on the shelf. Lead time on out of stock tools can stretch from a few days to a few months, depending on the manufacturer and their production backlog. A custom tool means it’s unique to you with no one else to deplete inventory and leave you stranded. With over 150 grinding centers organized in cells to accommodate highly customized work with rapid turnaround times, GWS can fill large volume orders quickly, consistently and with the highest degree of quality. To ensure consistent and on-time-delivery, we even work with our distributors to keep inventory on their shelves dedicated exclusively to individual customers.

Five: Spending Too Much $$$

It may seem counterintuitive that custom tools can save you money. But if you’re a high-production manufacturer using hundreds or even thousands of tools over the course of the year, you could be ordering a hundred or two hundred tools at a time. However, the catalog price is the catalog price. You won’t get a concession for volume because the price has already been set. Custom tool pricing is based on quantity breaks, and as a consequence, often yield cost savings versus pre-defined “stocked standards.”

Getting out of the “stock” mindset and seeking optimum performance for your cutting tool dollar by going “custom” makes sense in today’s manufacturing environment. If you have noticed any of these signs in your operations, contact us and put our expertise to work for you.