A Californian manufacturer of cutting tools recently moved away from using blanks produced by hot isostatic pressing, after concluding the technique simply masked inherent structural problems in the metal. The result, as Steve Minett and Fenwick report, was a large drop in failed returnsScientific Cutting Tools (SCT) a family-owned business in Simi Valley, recently became increasingly dissatisfied with its supplier of blanks. Company president Dale Christopher, recalls the difficulties: "We were having problems with consistency in a number of batches.."
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