Despite recent economic conditions, the challenges faced from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing supply chain issues, this year is still delivering increasing demand for Advanced Precision Machining’s milling and machining services. We’re continuing with expansion, steady sales, net profit, and investment in cutting-edge technology to broaden our range of precision manufacturing offerings. Now that our Colorado machine shop is well into the first quarter of what, by early indications, promises to be another year of continued success, we are well aware of the uncertainties that still lie ahead, but we remain confident and positive as we operate in a “new” normal.

As business conditions inevitably improve, and the manufacturing economy continues to rebound from any damage the virus has dealt, all aspects of APM’s machine shop are experiencing growth. Owing to the hard work of our CNC machinists, our committed customer base, and ongoing demand for the precision parts we manufacture locally, we are still in the midst of an unprecedented period in our company’s development.

2022 is already shaping up to be another positive one for our balance sheet, and the need for our CNC milling, grinding, turning, and surface finishing services continues to be on the upswing. We’re always looking forward, and we’re optimistic about plans for future facility expansion and additional capital expenditure in new CNC machining equipment. This will allow us to further improve upon efficiency and lower costs. In fact, late last year, APM upgraded its commitment to part accuracy and precision with the purchase of a new coordinate measuring machine (CMM); We’ve added a Hyundai WIA multi-axis turning center into our lineup, and in February, we acquired a Keyence MD-X2520A multi-axis, hybrid, laser marking unit and will adding laser marking to our machine shop services.

Currently however, we have more pressing concerns that are consuming our focus given today’s labor market. Any thoughts of expanding APM’s machine shop footprint, or investing in new big ticket equipment, is quickly tempered by one factor; The human factor. There are currently certain economic realities faced by the precision machining sector, and for that matter, the manufacturing industry as a whole. When work orders increase and operations reach capacity, it doesn’t matter how many or what types of machines you possess if you don’t have the necessary personnel to operate them.

Machine shops today are still facing a familiar reality; a lack of qualified labor. Finding experienced CNC machinists has proven difficult for many shops including APM. To combat this “skills gap”, as it has been coined, there has been a resurgence in apprenticeships, community and technical college curriculums, and vocational school training, all offering machinist instruction and on the job training. The good news is that our staffing levels are adequate, and the labor market is improving, but we are still in need of a few good men or women to realize our full potential, meet increased demand, and move forward on plans for future expansion and growth.

To this end, we are currently accepting applications for a highly skilled journeyman machinist and another good machinist who will both be trained up by co-workers and management. Here is a list of qualifications and benefits…Come join the APM team!

What we’re looking for:

We’re looking to add exceptional CNC machinists to our team of top performers. Training is provided in all aspects of the machine shop environment for suitable candidates. Our culture is innovative, fast-paced, and continually improving. Ideal candidates will need an enterprising mindset with substantial experience in starting up and carrying out milling and machining projects. The successful applicant will need the ability to communicate with a sense of openness and transparency, operate with a high degree of independence, responsibility, self-sufficiency, and be able to balance best practices with a willingness to explore better ways of performing tasks. We’re growing rapidly and are moving quickly to hire well-qualified, professional CNC machinists. Our ideal candidate is an open-minded team player who will fit in well. Skills that are essential to work with APM’s team include: a good attitude, an open mind towards new ways of doing things, an eagerness to learn new skills, ease to work with, and a willingness to help in other areas of the shop.

Skills/qualifications needed:

• Preferred: 7+ years experience
• Proficiency in MasterCam CNC software and Hurco conversational programming
• Cross skills are a plus – We have multiple CNC mills and lathes
• Ability to set up required material blanks in the machine precisely as directed by programmers
• Ability to read technical drawings and retrieve dimensions for measurement, and measure parts after machining to ensure they match drawing specifications
• Ability to perform quality assurance (QA) in all aspects of machining metals and plastics
• Possess a strong understanding of inspection reporting methods/techniques
• Ability to adjust speeds and feeds to maximize production runs
• Ability to deburr parts as they are machined
• Strive to produce extremely precise parts for our customers every time
• Some physical effort required (lifting 10-50 lbs. when loading/unloading parts)
• Ideal position for an experienced, self-motivated, independent machinist

What’s in it for you:

• Benefits apply to only full-time, eligible employees
• Competitive Pay – Salary commensurate with experience ($25.00 – $35.00 per hour)
• Paychecks are received bi-weekly, or twice monthly
• Full-Time Hours
• Flexible schedule
• Clean work environment
• Friendly co-workers
• Training provided
• Half of medical premiums paid
• Paid holidays
• 2 weeks paid vacation after 1 yr. of employment

Want to learn more about our open positions, or have a question about our range of services? Contact the expert CNC machinists at APM’s Colorado machine shop for all of your milling and machining needs.

Be sure to Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @APMLongmont for latest industry news and highlights from the shop.

About Advanced Precision Machining

APM provides comprehensive manufacturing services; from blueprint and prototyping, to machining and inspection. In their state-of-the-art machine shop, fully certified CNC machinists offer a full range of services featuring the latest CNC mills and CNC lathes to cut steels, composites, aluminum, plastics, and exotic metals. For additional information or to request a quote, please visit our website or call 303-776-1910.

As 2021 comes to a close, all of our fully certified CNC machinists at APM are busy as buzzing bees,  putting in long hours here at our state-of-the-art CNC machine shop. It’s been a good year for us as we’ve  taken care of new clients and established clients alike. Now, typically, we spend most of our working hours  manufacturing some of the best, most high-quality precision parts in the industry. That’s our specialty, of  course; providing milling, turning, prototype development, and production on our top-quality CNC mills and  lathes.

That being said, we also pride ourselves on taking the time and effort to provide our valued clients with the  very best customer experience we can provide. That experience includes keeping you and our other clients  updated about the latest developments in precision machining technology. It also includes letting you know  about the latest news from our shop and our newest available CNC services. (You can read all about them in our machine shop blog, too.)

Right now in Colorado (as you likely know if you live here), the cold of winter has set in, and the snows  have arrived. The trees are frozen and seemingly dead as they take their long winter’s nap. (They’ll be back  in spring, we promise!) Some of us at APM enjoy this time of year most. Others, not so much. Still, we don’t  get out in the cold, snow, and ice as often as we’d like because we’re too busy attending to our duties,  milling, and machining parts precisely for you, our clients.

As you may or may not know, the vast majority of the parts we manufacture meticulously in our shop are  fully functional from the get-go. The job is handled by our CNC mills and lathes, our top machines that are  at the forefront of what we do and demand the most attention. However, some of them need a bit more  “dressing up” before they’re ready to be shipped out. As we move into winter, we wanted to let you know  about another service that APM performs that might not take center stage, but it’s nonetheless vital to our  business; electroplating.

Here’s the thing; once we finish milling and machining a part, many believe that the production process  ends. However, that’s not always the case, as many of the parts we manufacture still need surface finishing  before they’re ready to ship. Indeed, one of the last and most crucial steps in delivering high-quality machine  parts is surface finishing so that they meet and exceed the expectations of you, our clients, and customers.  Indeed, we can’t deliver our work (or exchange any money for it) until the surface finishing is completed on many of the parts we manufacture. (The reason why is that we’re a contract machine shop.)

One of the most important of those surface finishing processes typically involves something called plating.  One of several different types of metal-finishing techniques available, plating is an excellent option for a wide variety of different parts depending on who will use them and what their purpose will be. The reason why is that plating helps a milled part to have a longer working lifespan. Plating can, for example,  increase the abrasion and wear resistance of a machined part and provide corrosion protection and lubricity. Also, plating is aesthetically pleasing and can build up the thickness of otherwise undersized parts.

What Does Plating Do for a CNC Machine Part?

Plating is the process by which a layer of new metal is attached (plated) to a CNC machined part. The metal  used for the plating can be made of tin, copper, zinc, gold, nickel, or silver. Whatever the new metal, the  plating process helps it adhere exceptionally tightly to the milled part. So tightly, in fact, that the new layer  of metal becomes fully bonded to the machined part’s surface. Typically, plating is performed using an  electrical current, which is why many of the plating processes today are known as electroplating. 

Here in our custom machine shop, the electroplating process involves immersing a milled or lathed part into  a water bath. That bath contains the plating metal (in ion form) that will be used, suspended in a chemical  solution. If it’s copper, for example, the chemical solution in the bath will be copper sulfate.

The electroplating process itself is when an electrical current is passed through the water bath containing the  chemical solution and the metal that’s being used to plate the part. Two electrodes are dipped into the water  bath, forming a battery or other power supply circuit. The part that is being plated becomes the cathode and, when it does, the metal ions in the water bath are attracted to it and form a thin player on top of it. This is called electrodeposition.

Here at APM, our state-of-the-art machine shop offers a wide variety of different electroplating techniques,  including anodizing, passivating, nickel plating and chromating

In short, an important thing to remember is that, after a part is finished being milled or lathed, one last  critical step to add functionality to that part is to electroplate it. Not only does it make the part more functional but also more attractive as well.

At APM, our goal as CNC machinists is to see your job through from start to finish and provide you with  the highest quality electroplated parts on the market. If you have questions or want to learn about our many  options for electroplating, we’re always available to take your questions and provide the answer you need.

Call or contact us today for the answers you seek. For additional information or to request a quote, please  visit https://advancedprecisionmachine.com or call 303-776-1910. Also, please follow our social media pages for more highlights from our standout shop, including Facebook, Twitter @APMLongmont, and the Advanced Precision Machining LinkedIn Company Page.