Published 12/16/2021

TCI Precision Metals Supports Shops Turning the Lights Out

TCI Precision Metals’ MRP Blanks are custom made to order and are said to eliminate the need for in-house sawing, grinding, flattening, squaring operations and outside processing.

Automation

Edited by: Chris Pasion

Managing Editor, Modern Machine Shop | Production Machining

An operator loading a pallet pool with MRP Blanks for lights out operation. Photo Credit: TCI Precision Metals

TCI Precision Metals has announced support for lights out manufacturing with close tolerance materials that are said to be Machine-Ready for Production (MRP) Guaranteed.

According to TCI, MRP Blanks are custom made to order and eliminate the need for in-house sawing, grinding, flattening, squaring operations and outside processing. Each blank is said to arrive deburred, clean and to the customer’s net specifications as close as ±.0005" dimensionally and as close as .002" flatness, squareness and parallelism.

TCI says shops can choose from four different types of MRP Blanks to best suit their machining centers and established processes:

Flat Blanks are made flat to ±.002″ and designed to stay that way. Parts are said to arrive stress free to avoid movement during machining;
Block Blanks are close tolerance square, flat and parallel precision blanks that are custom made;
Dovetail Blanks reportedly maximize four- and five-axis milling throughput with custom sized material that includes a pre-machined dovetail to match the brand and model of dovetail work holding to be used;
Feature-Added Blanks have custom features added to save time in roughing, stepping, hog outs, drill, bore, turn, mill and more.

“MRP Blanks are consistent part-to-part and suitable for lights-on, human interaction, lights-off robotic handling or anywhere in between,” says Ben Belzer, president of TCI Precision Metals. “Shops are reporting increases in throughput of 25% and more using MRP Blanks. It really comes down to improving both productivity and quality, lights-on or lights-out.”

Orders can be delivered all at once or in time to match customer production schedules.