From the initial prototype to the manufacturing process, machinists are experts at providing quality services at affordable prices–and within a reasonable amount of time. If a company has a long, positive reputation in the industry, chances are they provide not only manufacturing but also prototyping and engineering. From the initial blueprinting stages to the work done on the production line, expert engineers and machinists can help design and bring to life a quality series of components for your business in the medial, defense, energy, or aerospace markets.
Equipment and Forms
While equipment varies from company to company, you can be certain that most prototype machining is completed with a number of high quality pieces. Precision machined parts require an unsurpassed level of attention to detail, and engineers and machinists with many years of experience in the industry typically use a variety of lathes.
There are as many materials available as there are forms, shapes, and styles. Bars, castings, forgings, and extrusions are common requests that most prototype machinists are familiar with. Before you select a machining company, be sure that they work with your preferred material. Typically, machinists work with the following metals:
- Alloy steel
- Aluminum
- Brass
- Copper
- Titanium
- Nickel
- Stainless steel
- Carbon steel
- ToughMet
- Hastelloy
- Inconel
- Stellite
If you are interested in plastic and composite machining instead, many companies will be willing to work with the following materials:
- Nylon
- Acrylic
- Ertalyte PET-P
- Acetal (all colors)
- Nylatron
- Lexan
- Polycarbonate
- Teflon
- PCTFE
- Polyether
- Kel-F
- Polyurethane
Capabilities
Prototype machining refers to a fairly wide range of procedures completed by expert machinists and manufacturers. Since machinists generally provide services for those in the defense and medical industries, among other high-profile markets, they take their jobs very seriously, and hold themselves to extremely high standards of quality.
Among some of the common capabilities provided by machinists are cleaning, CNC turning, CNC Swiss turning, milling, soldering, brazing, and of course, prototyping during the initial stages of the process. If you would prefer the same company to provide assistance all throughout the process rather than watch your components change hands several times, contact a machining company that provides services from prototyping all the way to manufacturing.
If you require prototypes and components for your business in the medical, aerospace, defense, or energy industry, rely on a team of expert machinists to provide you with excellent service.