Case Study: Christopher Tool and Mfg. Co. achieves 90% faster, more accurate CMM inspections with Stratasys 3D-printed F370 fixtures

Christopher Tool and Mfg. Co. - Customer Case Study

Christopher Tool and Mfg. Co., a family-owned precision machining shop since 1951 serving aerospace, oil and gas, robotics and other industries, struggled with slow, non-repeatable coordinate measuring machine (CMM) setups that relied on magnets, vices and ad-hoc fixturing and risked introducing measurement error. To address this challenge, Christopher Tool and Mfg. Co. worked with Stratasys and its F370 3D printer to explore a repeatable fixturing approach.

Stratasys helped the customer 3D print part-specific CMM fixtures in ABS thermoplastic with soluble supports, enabling complex, hands-free post-processing and rapid, accurate part positioning. The Stratasys solution delivered faster, more accurate inspections and dramatically reduced setup time—reloads dropped from about 3 minutes per part to mere seconds (about 90% time savings)—resulting in lower labor costs and improved measurement repeatability.

Christopher Tool and Mfg. Co.