Aluminum Anodizing

Aluminum anodizing is a surface hardening process that enhances aluminum alloys by thickening the natural oxide layer through electrolytic passivation. This method is employed to boost resistance against corrosion and wear. While anodizing can be applied to various metals, aluminum is often preferred among anodizers due to its inherent susceptibility to corrosion, exacerbated by alloying elements like copper and iron.

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Blow Molded Plastics

Blow molding is the versatile backbone of countless consumer products. From robust tanks to sleek CD cases, any hollow, three-dimensional item you can think of likely owes its existence to this innovative process. Blow molded products are designed to safely contain a wide range of substances, including herbicides, pesticides, cosmetics, and automotive oils. The secret behind this versatility lies in the thermoplastic resins used in blow molding, such as acetal, polysulfone, polyamide, polystyrene, butadiene styrene, Barex, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and both high and low-density polycarbonate.

Blow molding can be broken down into three primary techniques: injection blow molding, extrusion blow molding, and stretch blow molding. Each method follows a two-step process, with variations primarily occurring in the initial stages. The final shape of the plastic product is determined by the mold cavity, allowing for an extensive range of standard shapes and sizes. Additionally, custom blow molding offers the flexibility to create unique products tailored for specialized applications, demonstrating the boundless possibilities of this dynamic manufacturing process.

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Bonded to Metal Rubber

Rubber is adhered to metal through a range of adhesives. Initially, a bonding agent is applied to a metal substrate, which is then placed into a mold. Rubber is subsequently injected into the mold and allowed to cure. Once solidified, the part is finished. This method is employed for manufacturing items such as rubber rollers, gaskets, seals, electrical cables, and engine mounts. These products find application across diverse industries including construction, electric, medical, automotive, and aerospace sectors.

Additional metals frequently utilized in rubber bonding include brass, beryllium, and copper. Moreover, bonding can extend to non-metal materials such as fabric, glass, and various plastics.

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Broaching Job Shops

Broaching is a cost-effective method for precision metal removal that can cut nearly any material, although it is commonly used for softer metals. It is utilized to cut external (flat, round, or contoured) surfaces and internal features such as splines, gears, sprockets, keyways, slots, or serrations. Broaching operations are typically carried out in specialized job shops.

Broaching primarily serves the industrial sector, producing items such as gears, threaded fasteners, pulleys, sprockets, wrenches, and bushings. Materials commonly broached include copper, aluminum, brass, various steel grades, plastic, and wood.

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Calibrating Services

Calibrating services are performed to measure the reading, or output, of a device and compare it to accepted standards set by the manufacturer and the industry. Calibration devices use electrical signals to calibrate instruments. Once the margin of error has been determined and verified, the device can be adjusted to values identical with the standard in order to maintain a standard, high-quality output. Learn more about calibration services.

Ceramic Manufacturing

Ceramic products are made from inorganic and metallic materials like tungsten carbide, silicon carbide, as well as, more traditionally, clay materials like kaolinite. They are Ceramics materials are valued for the many advantages they offer, such as their light weight, high melting points, high hardness levels, exceptional insulation properties, corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance.

They are also known for their extremely long service lifetime and superior heat protection. The many advantages of ceramic materials leads ceramic manufacturing to be popular with a wide variety of industries, particularly in the aerospace, automotive, food processing, medical and biomedical, military and defense and nuclear power industries. Ceramic products are usually divided into four main groups by type.

These are: structural, refractory, whiteware and technical. Structural ceramics include items like roof tiles, bricks, pipes, floor tiles and other products that help build or maintain a structure. Next, refractory ceramics are used in extremely high heat settings, most often kilns and furnaces. Examples of whiteware ceramic products include cookware, sanitary ware, tableware, wall tiles and pottery products. Finally, technical ceramics, are also known as fine, advanced, engineering or special ceramics, are used in technical applications. They include disc brakes, implants, missile nose cones and more. Learn more about ceramic manufacturers.

In the simplest terms, ceramic manufacturing is the technique of creating ceramic materials that can support a wide range of high-tech engineering products and machineries. As their name implies, these items are made from ceramics, usually clay and other non-metallic materials. The material components are mixed with highly pure chemical solutions to meet the strength of the machine they support. Learn more about ceramic manufacturing.

CNC Machining

CNC machining is a manufacturing process that employs specialized computer programs to automate the design and production of highly precise parts across various industries.

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, encompassing a variety of manufacturing processes used to efficiently produce large or small volumes of precise, identical parts throughout the production process.

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Contract Packaging

Contract packaging is a service where a company will package products for another company.

Proper packaging is an essential step in the distributing process of any manufacturer and some industries have a number of very strict packaging requirements. For example the food/beverage and medical industries are required to comply with a set of regulations to ship their items. In some situations companies may not be able to properly equipped with the equipment to meet these requirements so a contract packaging company can then be utilized to adequately package the materials. Learn more about contract packaging.

Die Castings

Die castings, solid metal parts and shapes, are created in foundries through a process that shares their name. The procedure is straightforward: manufacturers heat metal until it becomes molten, then inject this molten metal into hollow forming shapes known as dies, molds, or die molds. These dies are typically crafted from a durable metal like steel. Most commonly, closed dies are used. To create these, manufacturers cut an original die into two separate blocks, align their cavities, reassemble them, and then apply a lubricant to the joined pieces. This lubricant facilitates easier removal of the parts and helps maintain the proper temperature.

During die casting, manufacturers use high pressure to help shape the metal according to the die‘s form. Once the metal has taken on this shape satisfactorily, it is allowed to cool and harden. Sometimes, manufacturers follow the die casting process with additional steps aimed at enhancing the casting‘s quality.

Die casting typically involves non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, bronze, copper, lead, magnesium, tin, and zinc. Steel and steel alloys, while occasionally used, are more commonly reserved for forging processes.

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Dip Molded Plastics

Dip molding plastic stands as one of the most straightforward and cost-effective methods for producing a vast array of parts and products. This versatile process rivals blow molding in its ability to generate large quantities efficiently. Dip molding serves two primary functions in manufacturing: crafting complete flexible or rigid items, like rubber gloves, condoms, and plastic caps, and coating pre-manufactured items such as wire racks, cables, and plastic handles.

The dip molding process follows a simple yet effective sequence. First, a large batch of glass or metal molds undergo surface preparation to ensure the final product easily releases once dry. For items being coated, meticulous buffing and prepping ensure the plastic adheres securely. These molds are then immersed in a vat of molten polymer or elastomer resin. Depending on the desired thickness and material consistency, molds may undergo multiple dips, sometimes alternating between the polymer bath and a cold water or solidifying reagent. Complex layered products, like kitchen gloves, might incorporate additional layers, such as fabric, between polymer coatings. Once the plastic sets, the product is ready for removal, trimming, cleaning, and finishing.

This streamlined approach enables the efficient production of durable, high-quality plastic goods, meeting a wide range of industrial needs.

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EDM

EDM, short for electrical discharge machining, is a specialized tooling method harnessing electrical energy to cut, drill, etch, and machine metal parts with precision. Renowned for its accuracy, EDM excels in crafting intricate geometries and details, particularly when guided by CNC EDM machines. This versatile process is effective for machining both tough materials and delicate substances that pose challenges for traditional cutting methods.

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Electroless Nickel Plating

Electroless nickel (EN) plating employs an auto-catalytic chemical process to apply a layer of nickel alloy-typically nickel-phosphorus or nickel-boron-onto solid substrates such as metal or plastic workpieces. Critical to this method is the use of a reducing agent, such as hydrated sodium hypophosphite, which interacts with metal ions to facilitate the precise deposition of nickel onto the substrate.

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EMI Shielding

EMI shielding involves the use of electrically conductive materials, such as metals like aluminum or copper, to protect electronic devices from electromagnetic interference (EMI). This interference can disrupt electronic signals, leading to malfunction or data loss in sensitive equipment. By enclosing devices or components in conductive enclosures, applying coatings, or using shielded cables and gaskets, EMI shielding creates a barrier that reflects or absorbs electromagnetic waves, preventing them from penetrating or escaping from the shielded area. Effective shielding is crucial in industries like telecommunications, aerospace, and medical devices, where reliable operation without interference is paramount.

The EMI in EMI shielding is short for electromagnetic interference. Electromagnetic interference is a type of electromagnetic radiation that can interfere with, lessen or damage the various functions of electronic equipment and devices. It is able to do this when it travels along wires, electrical circuits and conductors. Simply put, EMI shielding blocks EMI. It also blocks radio frequency interference (RFI), which creates the same problems. RFI radiates electromagnetic noise and travels through the air as radio waves. When it used to block RFI, EMI shielding may alternatively be referred to as RF or RFI shielding.

EMI shielding works by creating a barrier that EMI, RFI and other magnetic and/or conductive materials cannot cross. Usually, EMI shieldings are produced in the form of an enclosure, coating or transmitted signal. No matter their exact configurations, though, EMI shieldings isolate their paired device from everything on the outside. External fields cannot get in and potentially damaging internal fields cannot get out. EMI shielding products are super important to the proper functioning of most any electronic device, most particularly communication devices. Most often, these products are made from metal foam, metal screen or sheet metal. Alternatively, they may be coated with metallic ink. Learn more about emi shielding.

Expanded Metals

Expanded metal encompasses all metals or alloys that have undergone a machining process where a sheet or coil is cut and drawn simultaneously to form an open grid pattern. This method is an economical alternative to perforated metals, producing no waste since the material is slit, not punched. Additionally, it requires fewer raw materials as each component can be stretched up to ten times its original length.

Expanded metals are created from plate or sheet metal that undergoes perforation via a series of slits, cut along parallel lines, and then stretched into a mesh structure. This stretching can increase its width by up to ten times, depending on the length of cuts, width of metal between cuts, and amount of stretching applied. It is a lightweight and cost-effective alternative to solid plates and sheets, maintaining structural integrity without unraveling.

This versatile mesh is used to filter light, air, water, materials, sound, and views, commonly used in decking, fencing, screening, lath, and decorative purposes. Materials range from aluminum, steel, mild steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, to plastics, offering various finishes to suit different designs. Perforation patterns can feature staggered lines for optimal open area when stretched, or evenly spaced fine lines. Typical designs reveal diamond-shaped holes, though other patterns are possible. Measurements are based on Long Way Diamond (LWD) and Short Way Diamond (SWD) specifications, tailored to specific application requirements.

Expanded metals differ from perforated metals, which are solid sheets with punched-out holes of specific designs and not stretched. Despite similarities in use, expanded sheets weigh less per inch and offer greater flexibility compared to perforated sheets of equal weight.

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Extruded Plastics

Plastic extrusions are crafted in a manner akin to injection-molded plastics, but with a distinctive twist: they take shape through an open die. The process begins as plastic resins, including PVC, acrylic, polypropylene, or ABS, are funneled into a hopper and fed into the extruding barrel. Here, the resin is sheared and melted before being propelled through the open die to form a specific profile or shape. This newly formed profile is immediately submerged in cold water to set the plastic. The continuous extrusion process sees the profile passing through the die, cooling in water tanks, and arriving at a sawing table, where it is cut into pre-determined lengths.

Extruded plastics are tailored to meet a wide array of specialized applications, such as building trim, window and door sealants, vinyl siding, PVC pipe, and surgical tubing. Additionally, plastic sheets and flexible plastic sheet rolls are produced through extrusion. In this variant, the melted plastic is stretched rather than cooled after exiting the die. Flexible sheets pass through a series of large calenders before being rolled onto a tube. Discover more about the fascinating world of plastic extrusions.

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Extruded Rubber

The rubber extrusion process transforms various rubber materials into practical products such as weatherstripping, rubber seals, grommets, and bushings. This process involves pressing rubber through a die to shape it, creating custom profiles to meet diverse requirements. The properties of each product depend on the raw rubber used, the extrusion process, and any secondary treatments. Different types of rubber-such as natural rubber, valued for its acid and abrasion resistance, and synthetic rubbers like silicone and viton, known for superior heat, chemical, and weather resistance-are selected based on specific application needs. Overall, rubber extrusions are highly valued in industries requiring flexible, impermeable, and resilient sealants and gaskets.

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Forgings

Forgings, also known as metal forgings, are metal parts created through the forging process. They play crucial roles in various vehicles and machinery, including tractors, automobiles, airplanes, engines, missiles, and material handling equipment. Forging is favored for its ability to offer design flexibility while consistently producing exceptionally strong parts with minimal defects. Moreover, forgings often eliminate the need for additional processing steps.

In forging, manufacturers apply compressive force to reshape metal through plastic deformation, altering its grain structure. This force is typically exerted using a hammer and anvil.

There are two primary forging methods: closed die forging (also known as impression die forging) and open die forging. Closed die forging is the more prevalent of the two. In closed die forging, manufacturers use a hammer and anvil to pound preformed metal blanks, known as ingots, into a die or set of dies. These dies replicate a three-dimensional mold of the part being forged. The hammer and anvil completely enclose the workpiece to ensure uniformity, forcing the metal to fill all areas of the die. During forging, manufacturers may preheat metal, but they do not melt or pour it.

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Grey Iron Castings

Grey iron castings are crafted in foundries using an iron alloy known as grey iron. To create grey iron, metalworkers begin with mining iron ores and iron oxides, which are then processed in specialized blast furnaces such as electric induction furnaces or cupolas. For an alloy to qualify as grey iron, it must consist of 95% iron by weight, 2.1 to 4% carbon by weight, and 1 to 3% silicon by weight. Additional elements like manganese and sulphur are sometimes added to modify its characteristics. Grey iron exhibits diverse properties including coloration, melting point, energy dissipation, thermal conductivity, wear resistance, and deformation resistance. Its distinctive graphite-gray hue, visible upon fracturing, lends grey iron its name. This gray coloration is largely attributed to silicon, which produces graphite under heat. The precise appearance and properties of grey iron are intricately linked to temperature and timing during its production process.

Manufacturers employ established casting procedures to produce grey iron castings, renowned for their robustness and longevity. These castings find applications across various industries such as ventilation, architecture, transportation, agriculture, irrigation, automotive manufacturing, machinery construction, construction, transportation, and electronics. Explore further insights into the versatility of grey iron castings.

Injection Molded Plastics

Injection molding is a prevalent and versatile plastic molding technique, known for its ability to produce three-dimensional, solid parts with mid to high strength. The cost of the process varies significantly based on the part‘s complexity and the materials used. What sets injection molding apart from other plastic molding methods is its capability to create relatively intricate shapes.

Advanced injection molding techniques include insert molding and reaction injection molding (RIM). Insert molding involves injecting molten plastic around a solid object, such as an electric coil, to create an encapsulated product. On the other hand, RIM combines a liquid resin thermoset polymer, typically polyurethane, with liquid polyisocyanate. The polyisocyanate acts as a reagent within the mold, causing the polymers to expand and form either open or closed cell foam, effectively filling the mold.

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Investment Castings

Investment casting is an advanced industrial manufacturing process designed to produce highly intricate and complex shapes and parts with exceptional detail. Rooted in lost-wax casting, one of the oldest metal-forming techniques known to humanity, it continues to excel in precision and versatility.

To initiate the process, manufacturers begin by creating a wax model of the desired part, which will eventually serve as a mold. Once the wax model is prepared, it is affixed to a sprue. Multiple wax models can be attached to the same sprue, forming what is known as a tree. Next, the tree is repeatedly dipped into a slurry compound and coated with a sand-like abrasive material, known as the investment. After building up a sufficient thickness of investment, the entire assembly is placed into an industrial oven and heated to temperatures exceeding 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat melts the wax away while preserving the integrity of the investment, which now forms a hollow mold. Molten metal is then poured into the mold, allowed to solidify and cool, after which the shell is removed and the cast metal parts are separated from the sprue. Explore further details about investment castings to understand this intricate process better.

Laser Cutting Services

Laser cutting is a low-distortion, hot cutting process primarily using a CO2 laser to cut materials, typically metals. "Laser" stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The laser beam is an extremely focused radiation wavelength, preventing dissipation like conventional light beams.

Laser cutters are often controlled by precision programs that direct the cutting process with minimal human intervention. These programs obtain machining details from CNC systems using CAD designs.

Technicians may also use an "assist gas," such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, with laser cutting to prepare newly cut surfaces for painting or corrosion resistance coating. CO2 laser cutting, a gas assist technique, is currently considered the most powerful wave laser globally.

Laser cutting is a low-distortion hot cutting process that most commonly uses a CO2 laser for the cutting of material, usually metal or sheet metal. Thus, a laser is sometimes also called a metal laser.

"Laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation; it emanates a light that contains a decent amount of electromagnetic radiation. This extremely focused radiation of a wavelength does not dissipate like conventional light beams. A laser beam is way stronger and denser than any other type of light that we have known so far. The beam emission device can be programmed and the intensity of the laser beam can be manipulated according to the requirements of the application. Learn more about laser cutting.

Machined Graphite

Graphite is both a naturally occurring and synthetically manufacturable mineral that is used in a variety of applications that call for parts or materials with properties like: self-lubrication, dry-lubrication, corrosion resistance, strength and/or hardness. Examples of graphite products include bearings, brake linings, electrodes, batteries of all kinds, foundry facings, lubricants, pencils and neutron moderators.

Graphite may also be used in the service of: scanning probe microscopes, laptop cooling, vehicle heat resistance, steel making and refractories. Regardless of what product or part is made out of graphite, the machining processes used to process it must be heavy-duty. This is because graphite is incredible abrasive, making it tough on tools and difficult to fabricate. A polymorph of carbon, graphite is also the most stable form of carbon.

When found in nature, it may be grouped into three main categories: amorphous graphite, flake graphite and lump graphite. The first type, amorphous graphite, also known as meta-anthracite, is composed of exceptionally fine particles. The second type, flake graphite, is made of flat, isolated and plate-like particles. The third and last type, lump graphite, is also known as vein graphite. It is a compact, fibrous or crystalline aggregate that is found in fissure veins. Learn more about graphite machining.

Graphite is one of the strongest minerals in the world, with many applications in industrial production, from #2 pencils to EDM machinery. Because of its strength and durability, graphite has become one of the most common industrial materials in factories and other heavy machinery, out-performing plain steel as well as other carbon hybrids. However, graphite in its raw form cannot be used in any industrial applications. In order to make use of graphite, it must be machined.

Graphite machining is a process by which the graphite material is cut or shaped to suit a variety of applications and purposes. The graphite itself is almost impossible to cut and will dull most metals, so it‘s important to make sure that only diamond and carbide tools are used. However, because of this strength, using graphite has a number of benefits. The material won‘t rust or break down, is extremely strong, and can serve as a natural lubricant for bearings and other machine parts. This cuts down on the costs of other oils and lubricants. Learn more about graphite machining.

Machinery Rebuilders

Machinery rebuilders are service companies that disassemble, clean, repair and/or replace machine components in order to increase their service life. While rebuilding is considered to be an old-fashioned term in some industries, having been replaced in common use by the term "remanufacturing," other industries such as the railroad industry have maintained the term in common usage. Learn more about machinery rebuilders.

Metal Etching

Metal etching, also known as metal engraving, involves creating grooves, fine lines, or designs on metal parts or sheets. This can be achieved through various methods, with the most common being mechanical machining, chemical machining, or acid etching.

Today, metal etching is primarily performed using chemical machining, mechanical machining, or acid etching. Additional techniques include photo etching (photofabrication), stamping, water-jet cutting, laser engraving, electro discharge machining (EDM), and mechanical milling. Laser etching is preferred for its precision and minimal need for touch-ups. EDM achieves tight tolerances by exposing the metal to streams of corrosive electromagnetic discharge. Post-etching, manufacturers can smooth or polish the metal to remove any imperfections, burrs, or marks.

Metal etching, also referred to as metal engraving, is the process of creating grooves, fine lines or impressed designs on metal parts or sheets. Metal etching is used for a wide variety of reasons, including decorative and architectural purposes. For example, manufacturers sometimes employ decorative etching in order to smoke surfaces so that the lines will be more visible. In addition, metal etching can be used to help a metal part meet restrictive weight demands by removing a surface layer of a part through chemical or mechanical means.

Some of the industries that have use for metal etching include jewelry, furniture, architecture, music, art, healthcare, woodworking, aerospace, electronics and arms and defense. Examples of the many products that manufacturers can produce or improve through metal etching processes include: stencils, printing plates, musical instruments, plaques and trophies, foil-stamping dies, metal stamps, precision parts, stents, implants, cathodes, printed circuit boards, engraved or reduced missile skin panels and jet frames. Learn more about metal etching.

Metal Fabricators

Metal fabricators are companies that transform metals into usable products, encompassing a wide range of metalworking processes. Common fabrication techniques include metal bending, welding, stamping, and punching. Fabricated metal parts are typically made from pre-processed metals rather than raw, unprocessed materials. Standard raw materials used by metal fabricators include plate metal, tube stock, formed and expanded metal, welding wire, welding rod, and castings.

While virtually any metal or alloy can be used to create a part or product, materials like steel, stainless steel, and aluminum are more commonly utilized. Other frequently used metals in fabrication processes include bronze, brass, and titanium.

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Metal Spinners

Metal spinning, also known as spin forming, is a cold metalworking process where a flat metal disc, fixed onto a lathe mandrel, spins at high speeds and is shaped using forming tools.

Using tools known as spoons, a metal spinner applies pressure to the rotating disc, known as a blank, to shape it over a mandrel. This can involve a single tool or multiple tools. The process ensures the finished product is free from wrinkles or warbling, emphasizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Typically, forming an average metal piece takes only five to ten minutes, with minimal metal waste generated per part.

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Metal Stamping

Metal stamping is a metal forming method that uses a press to shape sheet metal into a tool or die. It can incorporate other processes like bending, drawing, blanking, and cutting. Utilizing various tools and dies, metal stamping can produce a wide range of metal products. This process is ideal for manufacturing large quantities quickly and efficiently at a low cost, with parts that are repeatable and capable of achieving precise tolerances.

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Perforated Metals

Perforated metals are produced through a metal stamping process that creates patterns of holes in sheet metal. Various metals, including steel, aluminum, brass, and titanium, can be perforated for diverse applications such as structural, design, and filtration purposes. Lightweight metals like aluminum are often used for decorative purposes, while perforated steel is commonly utilized for architectural support. Perforation patterns vary, with options such as staggered and straight patterns, and holes come in multiple shapes and sizes.

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Powder Metal Parts

Powder metallurgy produces solid metal parts used widely across industries including lawn and garden, computer electronics, hardware, and automotive sectors. These components are crafted from powdered metal, offering versatile applications.

Powder metal parts encompass magnetic assemblies, filtration systems, structural components, and automotive parts. Powder metal gears, characterized by their inherent porosity and noise-reducing properties, are well-suited for sintering processes. Bearings and bushings can be efficiently manufactured through sintering, though they may necessitate secondary sizing due to the precision required during fabrication.

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Roll Formed Parts

Roll formed parts are metal products shaped through a series of rollers in the roll forming process. Commonly roll formed metals include brass, steel, zinc, aluminum, and zirconium. These parts are appreciated for their uniformity, precision, structural strength, and cost-effective tooling. They are used across diverse industries including building construction, architecture, carpentry, commercial automotive, and home improvement sectors, in the fabrication of various commercial, consumer, and industrial products.

Common roll formed products used in carpentry and building construction include angle irons, aluminum angles, steel angles, metal channels, and metal trim. These angles are specifically engineered to provide dual-directional support and often include slots or holes for connecting components.

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Rotationally Molded Plastics

Rotational plastic molding is a powerful process for producing plastic parts with exceptional strength and intricate structural details, surpassing the capabilities of other molding techniques. This method is distinctive in that it generates parts in relatively low volumes, making it ideal for specialized, short-run production. While it may not be suitable for mass production like blow molding, dip molding, or thermoforming, it is the go-to process for creating complex and high-performance components such as detailed plastic figurines and military-grade rackmount carrying cases.

What sets rotational molding apart is its unique process. Molten polymer, often polyethylene or polycarbonate, is poured into a closed, three-dimensional mold. This mold is then placed in a gyroscope-like machine that rotates slowly, allowing the polymer to coat the entire interior evenly, forming a hollow structure. This technique not only excels at crafting complex shapes but also ensures that the parts have uniform material consistency, resulting in very high strength and durability.

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Rubber Molding

Rubber molding shapes raw rubber into functional products, distinct from methods like cell casting and extrusion. It utilizes a mold cavity to create complex and irregular shapes, distinguishing it for its flexibility and precision in manufacturing various rubber goods.

Rubber molding is a process to shape melted raw rubber inside a mold to create precise, complex products like diaphragms and seals. This method ensures a perfect fit for equipment, minimizing leakage. Products like washers and grommets, crucial for equipment protection, require the precision of rubber molding, although they can also be produced through extrusion. Unlike extruders, which are limited to X and Y axes control, molding offers design flexibility across three axes, thanks to its mold cavity process.

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Rubber Rolls

Rubber rollers are durable, chemically resistant cylindrical tubes crucial for various manufacturing applications. They facilitate material application, movement, support, and transportation across diverse sectors such as assembly lines, grocery store checkouts, mail machines, consumer printers, industrial heat treat equipment, automatic car wash systems, boat trailers, and commonly serve as wheels and castors.

Rubber rollers are typically named based on their specific functions. For instance, ink rollers, also known as printing rollers, apply ink to various surfaces, either containing ink internally or engraved with patterns. Laminating rollers, constructed from heat-resistant materials like silicone, heat up to 500°F to laminate materials on both small and large scales.

Another type, the rubber drive roller, focuses on movement. Often used in converters and web machines, these rollers use integral shafts with keyways that act as gears.

Support and transportation rollers serve essential roles. Guide rollers, also known as idler rollers, support conveyor systems without directly moving materials. Grooved rollers feature spiral, U, or V patterns and are integral components of belt-driven conveyor systems. Conveyor rollers, widely used, simply convey materials along designated paths.

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Rubber Tubing

Rubber tubing serves diverse industries for transporting liquids and gases, fabricated from materials like latex, neoprene, natural rubber, silicone, viton, EPDM, and others. This versatility enables manufacturers to tailor tubing to specific industrial needs.

Rubber tubing‘s diverse chemical compositions offer significant advantages to professionals across various industries and applications, including food and beverage processing, medical and surgical settings, commercial heating and cooling, lawn and garden care, petrochemical extraction, sanitation, and more. For instance, flexible rubber tubing is well-suited for beverage applications in compact or unconventional spaces, such as bag-in-box systems. Conversely, surgical tubing is specifically designed to meet the stringent demands of medical environments and human anatomical requirements.

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Screw Machine Products

Specialty screws and fasteners are often produced using screw machining, or Swiss screw machining. However, turned parts play pivotal roles across various industries, serving as precision medical tools, automotive components, laboratory instruments, electronics parts, appliance elements, military components, and more. These applications typically demand precise turning and machining processes for their construction.

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Sewing Contractors

Sewing contractors manufacture products and provide services for a multitude of industries and applications. This trade employs simple and complex machines that are capable of producing high quality custom embroidery and large-scale manufacturing. Companies contract production out to industrial sewers for a wide variety of products found in nearly every business or home. They manufacture a plethora of textiles including covers, fabric enclosures, uniforms, and carrying cases.

Many types of fabrics are used by sewing contractors. Vinyl-coated nylon is a lightweight, durable material that is a popular choice for bags, presentation cases and protective covers, as it is tough and weather resistant. Neoprene and Hypalon are chemical and abrasion resistant and are used in industrial applications. Canvas, which is comprised of twill, soft flannel and felt, is a breathable material used for bags and curtains, as well as many industrial applications. A sewing contractor uses a variety of anti-static materials for products in the computer and electronics industries. Other materials include suede, leather, felt, webbing, plastic, cotton and polyester. These fabrics are often custom embroidered, which is a decorative embellishment made by stitching thread by a needle. They are graphic or descriptive text and images, and they are often used by companies and businesses that want to print their logo on their products and employee uniforms. Clothing labels are attached inside of all garments, bedding, textiles and clothing that are sold commercially. These tags contain information that lets the consumer know where the product was made, the materials it is made out of, washing instructions, and they often have a brand name, logo and garment size. These tags may be woven, embroidered or printed and made of satin, damask or taffeta.

Sewing contractors offer different services, such as free prototypes, custom fitting, custom embroidery and producing and attaching clothing labels to commercially-sold products. A variety of fabric products are produced by sewing contractors, including custom bags such as canvas bags or pouches, soft luggage and protective covers such as tarps. Many sewing contractors manufacture items for the aircraft industry such as seating, carpet, blankets and ground service covers. Banks, retail stores, amusement parks and insurance businesses use security, transit and courier bags; restaurants use umbrellas, slip covers, window treatments and booth cushions; and contract sewing is also used by the military, hospitality, transportation, casino and healthcare industries. Equipment used in contract sewing ranges from single needles to computer programmable machines. Auxiliary equipment includes riveters, stud setters, zipper fabricators, grometters, strip cutters, snap setters and heat and bag sealers. Learn more about sewing contractors.

Sheet Metal Fabrication

Sheet metal refers to thin, broad sheets of metal typically used as a base material in various industries including aerospace, automotive, communications, computing, construction, electronics, food processing, military, and pharmaceuticals.

The transformation of sheet metal into finished products is known as sheet metal fabrication. This process involves numerous techniques such as bending, drawing, flanging, punching, shearing, spinning, and stretching. Each method aims to produce durable, high-quality parts and products while optimizing material and labor efficiency.

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Spring Manufacturers

Springs are essential components found in numerous devices, machines, and systems. They are elastic devices that exert a resistant force when compressed or stretched. Springs serve to store and absorb energy, as well as maintain the necessary force or tension within their intended applications.

Springs are utilized in various applications such as circuit breakers, solenoid valves, writing instruments, and electronics. They are categorized into four primary styles: compression springs, extension springs, torsion springs, and flat springs. A combination of a flat spring and a coil spring is commonly referred to as a constant force spring.

In addition to these main categories, springs are available in a diverse array of styles. Industrial springs are usually crafted from thick wire, whereas smaller springs can be made from thin, flexible wire. Some of these springs are too minuscule to be visible to the naked eye.

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Tube Fabricating Services

Tube fabrication, also known as pipe fabrication, employs diverse techniques to shape, bend, enlarge, and cut tubes of various sizes and metals for manufacturing parts, components, and consumer products. Tubes fulfill various functions such as containment, support, transportation, and protection. Although tube fabricators typically do not form raw metal into tubes, their services are crucial in the overall manufacturing process of tubes and pipes.

Trained engineers utilize specialized equipment such as swaging machines, mold bending tools, hydraulic tube benders, and CNC mandrel bending machines for tube cutting, flaring, swaging, and bending processes. These techniques are critical for enhancing tubing strength and preventing material distortion.

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Vacuum Formed Plastics

Vacuum-formed plastics serve as faceplates and semi-flat components across various industries, particularly in electronic devices like fax machines, keyboards, phones, and home appliances. This process, also known as thermoforming or pressure forming, starts with plastic sheets instead of polymer resin pellets. These sheets are heated until pliable, then vacuumed into an open mold, where they conform precisely to the shape of the die beneath.

Twin sheet thermoforming is often employed for creating large, precision parts such as hot tubs and aerospace interior wall panels. Beyond these specialized applications, thermoforming offers a highly cost-effective method for producing three-dimensional plastic packaging. Vacuum forming can efficiently manufacture blister packs, clamshells, plastic covers, and trays, delivering low-cost solutions at high production volumes.

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Waterjet Cutting

Water jet cutting is a subtractive manufacturing process that shapes new forms or refines existing ones. This method provides manufacturers and fabricators with a resource-efficient alternative to traditional hot-cutting techniques such as laser and plasma cutting. Water jet cutters excel in accurately shaping intricate designs from metals, plastics, and in some cases, glass and ceramics.

Waterjet cutting services cater to a diverse clientele spanning aerospace, automotive, communications, food processing, and industrial equipment manufacturing industries, alongside lumberyard workers and artists. This method is favored for its ability to produce clean cuts without burrs or imperfections, unlike traditional blade cutting processes. Moreover, as a cold-cutting technique that avoids heat-induced risks such as warping, discoloration, and related damage, waterjet cutting is highly valued across these sectors and beyond.

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Wire Forms

Wire forms encompass a diverse array of shapes and components crafted through wire manipulation, involving techniques like cutting, bending, and heat treatment. Essential across various sectors, they cater to industries such as commercial retail-utilizing wire displays for product placement like point-of-purchase (POP) displays and wire grids-and industrial manufacturing, where they serve purposes ranging from wire racks and shelves in storage systems to protective wire guards for machinery.

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Polyurethane Molding Manufacturers

Polyurethane stands out as a versatile material prized for its dual flexibility and rigidity, making it indispensable in memory foam products. Its utility extends to solid plastic forms, polyurethane rods, urethane wheels, bushings, and sheets. Renowned for high performance, polyurethane moldings surpass plastic in durability and outshine rubber in impact resistance. They boast elastic memory, noise reduction, and resistance to heat and chemicals, embodying the best attributes of metal, rubber, and plastics. Moreover, polyurethane can form robust adhesive bonds with most plastics and metals.

Polyurethane molded parts typically require minimal to no finishing, streamlining the manufacturing process. This efficiency makes polyurethane the material of choice for producing a diverse range of products, including moldings, parts, bowling balls, urethane bumpers, belts, conveyor bushings, electrical potting compounds, press tool blocks, and pneumatic seals. Its applications span numerous industries such as athletic equipment, engineering, manufacturing, industrial, food processing, automotive, and construction. Discover the transformative potential of polyurethane molding.

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