Precision Engineering Blog

What is Low Volume CNC Milling?

Wednesday, March 20th, 2019

low volume CNC Million

The basic idea of milling is to remove material from a larger piece, whether wood, metal, plastic or something else. Low volume milling refers to the case where only a small number of units are milled compared to regular manufacturing processes in which thousands or millions of pieces of materials are milled to the desired specification. Finally, the “CNC” part refers to the fact that the milling is directed by computer, not by hand. CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control and is the name given to the process by which a computer translates digital information from a computer into milling instructions in equipment capable of removing material. Continue reading

UK’s Manufacturing Industry – A Short History

Friday, January 11th, 2019

manufacturing image

Invention and innovation has always been at the cutting edge in the Uk which is why the manufacturing industries have always been so important and whilst we saw a shrinkage during the mid 20th century it has still remained and important part of the UK’s economy. Continue reading

Thompson Precision and 3D CAD Software

Monday, October 15th, 2018

3D CAD software

Thompson Precision Engineering have offered 3D CAD product design for over ten years to support our CNC machining services and assembly facilities. But what exactly is 3D CAD design software, what is it for and why do we use it? Read on to find out more about this technology and how it helps us to offer world class product design. Continue reading

What is large scale CNC Milling and what is it used for?

Monday, August 13th, 2018

large CNC milling

CNC Milling is the use of automated machinery to produce incredibly accurate models, prototypes and products. When we refer to large scale CNC milling, this simply means that the end result is, well, large! To produce these bigger projects, specialist machinery is required which often uses something called G-code to produce accuracy on a large scale. Continue reading

Helping Our Customers with Product Design

Tuesday, June 19th, 2018

product design giant snow globe

Thompson Precision are specialists in mechanical and electromechanical product design with many years experience of helping clients see their designs come to life. You can benefit from our expertise whether you need help with creating a product design from scratch or just need to tweak an existing design to overcome mechanical problems or resolve any issues. Continue reading

3D Printing vs CNC Machining in the automotive industry

Monday, May 21st, 2018

3D printing underway

The automotive industry has a habit of pushing boundaries; with billions of dollars pumped into research and development in the industry, it’s little surprise that today’s cars look vastly different to those from even a decade ago. While much of the basic features remain the same, automotive companies are constantly looking at ways to reduce weight, lower wind resistance and make cars that look as futuristic as possible. One of the main ways they do this is to utilise modern manufacturing techniques, like 3D printing. Continue reading

Encouraging more Women into Engineering

Tuesday, February 20th, 2018

female engineer at work

This year marks the 100th anniversary of women being allowed to vote, which is something well worth celebrating. However there is still a lot of gender imbalance when it comes to certain industries with less women choosing careers in the scientific and engineering industries. Continue reading

What’s involved in Large Scale CNC Machining?

Friday, December 15th, 2017

Industrial metal blank machining process by CNC lathe

The manufacture of large precision CNC machined pieces can present a particular challenge. Large scale CNC machining is our specialty though and our expertise, together with the right software and machinery, allows us to offer this very specialist service to our clients. Continue reading

What is Reverse Engineering?

Monday, October 16th, 2017

reverse engineered toothbrush

Reverse engineering is when a product manufactured by someone else is reproduced after examining its construction and composition – it is a process which involves disassembling or deconstructing the product, analysing its components and workings and then producing something similar or the same. It is also known as ‘back engineering’.

While this might at first sound like a process for ripping something off (and it can be, particularly for military purposes), it is in fact also a legally sanctioned method of copying a technology and it has some very useful applications. Continue reading