Customization may not always be top of mind when machine designers are selecting motion control vendors. The hope is usually that they will find exactly what they need in the catalog and avoid what they believe to be the higher costs, delays and risks associated with custom solutions. But, given that more than 25 percent of motion system projects end up requiring at least some degree of customization, it could be beneficial to prepare for that eventuality from the outset. Including customization expertise on your list of vendor selection criteria could help avoid higher costs and delays if your application should require some modification down the road. And, as you learn about the varying customization capabilities of different vendors, you might just find that customization can be much faster, less expensive and not as risky as you may have thought. The most important question to ask before closing on any motion control purchase is “What happens if we can’t get my needs met with standard products?” A few key factors to consider include: Commitment. For some vendors, customization is part of their business model, while for others, it is something to be avoided at all costs. If the vendor website has dedicated customization pages with detailed lists of characteristics that can be customized, you are probably in good hands. If, on the other hand, there is little or no mention of customization, you should find out why. It could be because of deficiencies in any of the other areas mentioned below on this list. Experience. How often have they had to modify a product? Can they give examples? How did the need for customization impact cost and delivery? Capability and scale. Do they have any special equipment for customization? What does it do? What is the minimum number of potential products for which they would consider customization? Are they set up to handle smaller batch runs or will they customize only for large product runs?

Supply chain flexibility. Are they vertically integrated so that they build most of their subcomponents from raw material, or will they be waiting for your parts to arrive on the next container boat? Process. Can they give budgetary quotes right away? How long does it typically take to get a quote for a nonstandard product? Will there be a dedicated engineer? Can you build the prototype online?  Can the vendor produce the product directly from a CAD model? Engineering problem-solving. After all else is considered, perhaps the most important factor is the creativity of the vendor’s engineering team in terms of helping you reach an optimal solution. Will they take the time to understand your needs?

“In these days, in which machine designers are having to do more, faster and with fewer people, the more uncertainty they can drive out of the process, the greater their chance of sustained success.”

While it is common for machine builders to think of customization as an all-or-none situation, many needs can be met with a relatively simple modification of standard products, which, depending on the vendor’s experience, can often be delivered in days rather than weeks or months. Sometimes all that is needed are some special machined shafts, connectors or mounting ends. Here are some examples of linear motion customizations that have helped designers adapt to irregular spaces, improve ergonomics or reduce costs.