Our History
Since 1969, Machine Specialties, Inc. has grown from a small precision parts manufacturer to a 150,000ft² facility serving the aerospace, commercial, military, medical, and energy sectors.
Growth Timeline
- 1969: Founded by Carlos Black
- 1978: Expanded our first property to 7,500ft²
- 1985: Expanded to 24,000ft²
- 2003: Expanded to 40,000ft²
- 2009: Moved to a new 170,000ft² property with room to expand
Why Customers Choose MSI
- Fast Turnaround: We often deliver parts weeks faster than competitors
- Dedicated Capacity: We support new product development with reduced time-to-market
- Diverse Capabilities: Our expansive skillset makes us a one-stop shop for your unique needs
Quality
MSI builds quality into every part, from the first design review to final inspection. Our dedicated Quality department ensures each process meets or exceeds industry standards and our customers' specific requirements.
Quality Processes
- All measuring tools calibrated on a strict schedule; accuracy traceable to NIST
- Customer-specific QA programs kept on file for faster repeat orders
- CAD/CAM data imported directly from customer systems to reduce interpretation errors
- First Article Inspection Reports (FAIR) and other custom inspection documentation available
Capabilities
- 3–5 axis multiple pallet CNC machining centers
- 2–5 axis multi-turret, multi-spindle CNC turning
- 11 axis Swiss-type CNC machining with simultaneous back-end working
- CNC contour grinding
- Cylindrical and centerless grinding
- Mechanical assembly
- Anodization, chem film, passivation, and pressure testing
- Heat treating, plating, and painting both in-house and through proven 3rd-party suppliers
We consult with many of our customers regarding the manufacturability of their part designs, specifications, and material selections.
We have 3-dimensional CAD/CAM capabilities for machine programming, and can accept customer files on disk or over modem. We accept IGIS, DXF, VersaCad and DGN file formats, among others.
MSI offers contract engineering services to customers who want to perform in-house machining, but want additional expertise or resources to develop the required processes on their own.
MSI offers any of the following services individually, or you can combine them into a customized turnkey package that meets your specific needs:
- Bills of Materials
- Bills of Operations
- CNC Programs
- Tooling Packages
- Work Holding Fixtures
- Machine-tool recommendations
- Machine set-up services
In addition to our contract engineering services, MSI can also offer the following on a contract basis:
- Contract inspection services, including First Article Inspection Reports, Limited Quantity Inspection Reports and CMM-based Geometric Form and Position Plots
- Reverse engineering services – MSI can prepare technical drawings and documentation based on the measurement and analysis of previously manufactured parts or assemblies
- Measurement of components and assemblies
- Metallurgical & materials analysis
- 3D models and detail drawings, including bill of materials, full description of geometry and required finish call-outs
- Design for manufacturability analysis, including reviews of legacy parts or new designs
- Cost reduction analysis based on current machined parts design
- Any time top quality and/or close tolerances are required
- 15–10,000 piece lot sizes
- More than 10,000 piece lot sizes depending on the part
- Less than 15 piece lot sizes if:
- The order precedes a production run
- The order will be repeated
- The part requires substantial amounts of machining
- Tooling, singles, and prototypes depending on the individual situation
- 4 weeks or less if the machine time is available
- 4–8 weeks for standard lead time orders
- Under 4 weeks for small quantities, tooling, or special situations
- Lead times are from receipt of order. The required lead time is influenced by the following factors:
- Previously contracted work load on the required machines at the time an order is placed
- The delivery lead time of the required raw materials
- The actual required machining time
- The time required for any outside processing requirements
- The needs of the customer
- The flexibility of our other customers' delivery dates
- All common manufacturing metals except cast iron and graphite (we do make rare exceptions)
- Most exotic materials such as Titanium, Inconel, Monel, and Kovar
- Plastics and Phenolics
- Virtually any raw material form, including castings, forgings, bar stock, ingots, and plate stock
- Aluminum Anodizing
- Chromic Type I A, Sulfuric Type II, and Hard Coat Type III to MIL-A-8625 as well as customer-specific requirements.
- We also offer Dying (colors), Sealing (Nickel Acetate, Dicromate, and Hot Water), Chemical Coating, and Neutralization.
- Passivation
- For Stainless Steel products per QQ-P-35 C Types II & VI
- Part Sizes
- Machining Centers: 50″ × 24″ × 30″ Swiss Type Lathes: 1.25″ O.D. × 80″ Chucking Lathes: 18″ O.D. × 60″
- Tolerances
- ± 0.0001″ is considered a normal tolerance.
- ± 0.00005″ under environmentally controlled conditions and depending on a part's geometry.
- Hardness
- Milling and turning of material up to 40 RC is considered normal. We can turn materials over 60 RC in special situations. Grinding of hardened tool steel at 60 RC or higher is also common.
- Finish
- MSI can mill and turn to better than a 16 finish. We can grind to an 8 finish or better.