Progressive Machining Inc.

🛠️🔥📏 Titanium Machining + Ultra-Tight Tolerances

Just wrapped up machining a batch of titanium parts, and it was one of those jobs that reminds you why titanium is in a class of its own.

Titanium brings a lot of performance benefits, but it also brings real machining challenges: it tends to hold heat at the cutting edge, can be prone to work hardening, and demands the right tooling, feeds and speeds, and process discipline to keep surface finish and dimensional stability where they need to be.

What made this run especially demanding was the tolerance requirement. The tightest tolerance on these parts was 12 microns, compared to standard tolerances that are usually around 200 microns. And while we regularly work well below “standard,” holding 12 microns in titanium is a different level of precision and control. It meant close attention to process planning, tool life, inspection cadence, and maintaining dimensional stability throughout the job.

Proud of the team for executing cleanly and delivering parts that meet spec.

If you’re working on titanium components and need a machining partner who’s comfortable living in the details, feel free to reach out.

Tough material 💪
Tight tolerances 🎯
Clean finish ✨

This AISI H1 tool steel component came with its usual challenges—tough material, high heat resistance, and the need for the right setup, tooling, and process control to keep everything stable throughout machining. Getting consistent results with tool steel like this takes experience and attention to detail at every step.
The team did a great job dialing it in, managing tool wear, and delivering a quality part that meets spec from start to finish.

Optimized cutting parameters for M1 tool steel eliminated rapid tool wear and edge breakdown. The blue/purple chip color indicates elevated cutting temperatures, with heat effectively dissipated through the chip rather than the tool or workpiece.

Always good working with challenging materials like this—and even better when we can hand over a finished part that performs exactly as intended.

Huge congratulations to Craig on reaching an incredible milestone — 10 years of service at Progressive! 🏆
If you’ve ever wondered why our precision stands out, Craig is a big part of that. As our Quality Control Specialist, he serves as the final line of defense, helping ensure every part meets our highest standards. He’s never afraid to speak up when something doesn’t meet his standards, and in an industry where “close enough” is never enough, his meticulous approach and hawk-like attention to detail ensure every part leaving our floor meets the highest expectations.
From medical devices to aerospace and defence components, having someone who refuses to overlook even the smallest detail is critical. Ten years is a significant milestone, and we truly appreciate the consistency and dedication Craig brings to his work every single day.
Thank you for a decade of hard work and commitment, Craig! 👏

🚀Aerospace & Defense Grade Precision ⚔️

At Progressive Machining Inc., we specialize in 3-, 4-, and 5-axis CNC machining with a focus on tight-tolerance and high reliability requirements for complex aerospace and defense components. From one-off prototypes to full production runs, we leverage the latest machining technologies to deliver consistent, repeatable, and reliable results.
Our team has deep experience in the aerospace and defense sectors, strengthened through our affiliation with Barrday Inc., an organization with more than 25 years of history serving these markets and supporting critical manufacturing processes (https://www.barrday.com/). This shared background gives us the insight and capability to meet the demanding requirements of critical applications.
We are also in the process of obtaining our AS9100 certification, an important next step that will further elevate our ability to support customers in the aerospace and defense industries.
If your program demands precision, reliability, and a manufacturing partner that can scale with you — Progressive Machining Inc. is ready to support you.