The Hidden Value of a Tooling Certificate

Buying a new machine tool is a major investment. But getting the machine onto the shop floor is only part of the equation. To put it to work, you also need the right tooling.

A tooling certificate can help.

A tooling certificate is a prepaid credit that can be applied toward the tooling your shop actually needs. Often included with a machine tool purchase, it gives you the flexibility to choose tooling based on your applications instead of being locked into a predetermined package.

What Is a Tooling Certificate?

Think of a tooling certificate as a dedicated tooling budget that comes with your new machine.

Rather than receiving an assortment of tool holders, boring tools or accessories that may not fit your work, you select the products that make sense for your machine and applications.

You also don't have to make every tooling decision on day one. Your initial jobs may require one set of tools, while work that comes in months later may call for something different. A tooling certificate allows you to build your tooling investment around the work you actually have.

Why Get a Tooling Certificate?

A tooling certificate lets you choose tools based on your machine, materials and applications.

Your tooling needs can change as your business changes. If new jobs require different tool holders, boring tools or accessories, a certificate that can be redeemed over time allows you to use your tooling budget when those needs arise.

Get help selecting the right tools

Tool selection depends on factors such as spindle type, taper, workpiece material, reach, rigidity and cutting conditions.

Working with a tooling specialist gives you access to someone who can recommend products that fit your machine and applications, both now and as your work evolves.

How Does a Tooling Certificate Work?

The exact terms vary by supplier, but the process is generally straightforward:

• Purchase the certificate with your machine. The certificate provides a set amount to spend on eligible tooling.
• Discuss your applications. A tooling specialist reviews your machine, current work and anticipated projects.
• Select the tooling you need. Choose eligible products that fit your machine and applications.
• Redeem the certificate. Apply the certificate toward your tooling purchase, either all at once or over time, depending on the program.
• Use the remaining value later. The balance can be applied to future tooling needs.

Plan Tooling Before the Machine Arrives

Tooling is often treated as an afterthought. A machine arrives, and only then does the team begin figuring out what is needed to get it running.

Planning tooling alongside the machine purchase can help avoid that scramble. Consider the work the machine will perform, the materials you'll machine, the required reach and rigidity, and the spindle interface. A new machine is also an opportunity to evaluate newer tooling technologies that may improve setup times, accuracy or productivity.

Starting those conversations before the machine arrives makes the transition smoother and helps ensure the machine is ready to produce sooner.

A Tooling Certificate Gives You Flexibility

The real value of a tooling certificate is flexibility. It allows you to purchase the tooling needed to get a new machine up and running while keeping options open as new applications come through the door.

When investing in a new machine, think beyond the machine itself. The right tooling—and the support to select it—can have a lasting impact on how effectively that machine performs. A tooling certificate helps make that investment more closely aligned with the work your shop actually does.