Standard vs Custom-made Tooling Components: Pros and Cons

In 1952, my grandfather Earl Walker founded Carr Lane Manufacturing (CLM) in his garage while working as a welder in the Tool Room at Curtis-Wright. At the time, there were no standard versions of a locating pin, which meant that every L and T pin used in a tool was made according to each individual designer's design. This resulted in varying dimensions, materials, finishes, and tolerances, leading to high costs and long lead times. 

To address this issue, my grandfather created the CLM standards based on common designs, and my grandmother, who had experience drafting house plans for her father, created the initial prints and catalog pages. The first CLM catalog was only a few pages in length, but it marked the beginning of the development of standard tooling components. 

Standard items, which have been developed from 1952 until today, offer several advantages over custom-made items. 

Advantages 

1. Cost 

When CLM makes a catalog item it is made not for an order, but for inventory. This drives down cost by rolling up all customers’ demand into a single production lot. Specials and Made-to- Order Items typically include Set-Up charges, which in small quantities can be prohibitively expensive.  

2. Availability 

CLM typically works to maintain a inventory approximately 6 months of sales. While sometimes customers place exemplary orders, or a machine breaks-down, or suppliers miss their Due Dates the lead-time to receive a standard item, even when it is out of stock, is typically far less than that of a Special item.  

3. Design Cost 

Standard items have the advantage of CAD files being available immediately, which can save time and cost in tool design. Some companies, like CLM, have systems that allow for the generation of CAD for many common special items, but even those configurators have limitations. When those limits are exceeded, additional design time and costs may be necessary. 

4. Risk 

Special items are quoted by companies like CLM in a "average-case" scenario. Quotes are typically valid for 30 days or longer. If a machine breaks, an employee departs, a vendor goes bankrupt, or any other number of possibilities occur the lead time of that special is in jeopardy. Although it is not a practice at CLM some vendors may even go back to the customer to request additional money for the project. These risk are unpredictable and not definable – and risk the success of a tooling project.  

Of course, there are some advantages to Special items. Most importantly, when no standard item meets the project's requirements, a special item can be created. 

When a project requires a Special Item consider; 

1. Material 

Consider the materials commonly used by the manufacturer as these materials are more likely to be stocked by the company. At CLM we publish a list of our stocked materials on our website. Stocked materials not only shorten lead times but also reduce cost as material does not need to be specifically purchased for the job, which typically carries a minimum cost even before machine set-up.  

2. Finish 

Special items that require finishes (Zinc Plating, Anodizing, etc.) typically have higher costs and longer lead-times than Special items made from materials without finishes. The most common alternative to materials that require finishes are Stainless-Steels. (CRES) As many of these materials can be heat treaded to harnesses like that of many steels they may be an excellent substitute.  

3. Modified Standards 

The more similar a Special item is to a manufacturers standard item typically the lower the cost and the shorter the lead-time becomes as well. At CLM we stock dozens of items in partially finished condition to support customers' needs for Special items. Commonly modified products include Drill Bushings, Ball Lock Pins, and all types of Locating Pins.  

Ultimately, the decision to choose a standard item over a custom-made one depends on the specific situation and needs. It is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages carefully to make an informed decision.