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Precision Machined Components – Should You Repair Or Replace Them?

Posted by William Karslake on Aug 22, 2018 4:13:28 AM

Precision Machined Components – Should You Repair Or Replace Them

When it comes to manufacturing precision-machined components, choosing the highest quality materials and the most experienced engineers are a must. However, no matter how well the part is manufactured, it may eventually break down.

A broken component puts a machine out of order, thus resulting in downtime which may be extremely costly. Should you opt for repairing the parts or manufacture new ones?

At Woodley Engineering, we repair and replace all types of precision machined components. If you aren’t sure whether you need to repair or replace them, we can offer expert advice. The choice depends on several factors:

The Budget

If your budget is an issue, you may want to consider repair instead of replacement. In the majority of cases, repairing a single component is less expensive than replacing it.

However, if the part is in a bad condition, repairing it may be costly and only temporary. In order to determine the potential longevity of a broken part, you need to ask for a professional opinion.

Time Constraints

If the breakdown of a component stops the production process, every second counts. The money lost due to downtime waiting for repair may be huge compared to the budget for a new or replaced part. In such a case, you need to choose which process is less time-consuming.

Depending on the problem, it may be quicker to repair the new part than to replace it and vice versa. Only a qualified engineer can determine the time frame accurately.

Plans For The Future

If your equipment is old and you are thinking about replacing it in the near future, repairing the broken component is the way to go. If you are thinking of using the equipment for many years to come, it may make sense to replace the part in order to improve the machine’s longevity, or upgrade its productivity.

However, there are times when repairing a part is virtually useless since it may break down again in the near future.

Tight Tolerance

Over time, components slightly change shape to fit the working environment. As a result, they become effectively unique. Replacing such parts may lead to problems during installation. The new part will need to be manufactured with a tight tolerance in order for it to fit the rest of the components. This may make the replacement process longer.

In such a case, if the damage is not overbearing, it makes sense to opt for repairs.

Expert Advice

After you make your own evaluations, ask for an expert opinion. A professional engineer can help you make the right decision on whether to repair or replace. We can help assess whether repair is less costly than replacement, and how long the repaired part may serve.

Find Out More

At Woodley Engineering, we are always ready to provide expert advice about repairing or replacing precision machined components. We offer both repair and replacement options for your equipment and its parts. For more information about our services, please download our free Precision Engineering Guide.

Woodley Engineering Precision Engineering Guide

Tags: Precision Engineering

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