PMF Process and Capabilities
Cutting, punching, and forming large sheets of metal within tolerances that amount to only a few hairs’ width requires both experience and the right tools. Precision Machine Fabrication has been around for nearly 25 years and we have been lucky enough to keep many of our early employees with us as we grow. Of course, over that time, technology has changed a great deal, and we strive to progress right along with it. We are constantly adding new equipment to our already extensive repertoire. This allows us to guarantee the ultimate in quality for any job that our customers may require.
Punching / CNC
The first step in manufacturing a sheet metal part is to punch out any interior holes, forms, and extrusions, as well as to cut the flat part out of the sheet. Precision at this stage is vital because it ensures the quality of the finished product.
The heart of our Punching/CNC Department lies with four state of the art Amada machines. The functions of the Vipros, Apelio, Pulsar, and EM2510 range from strictly punching to only laser cutting, or might include a combination of the two. The Vipros, Apelio, and EM2510 can even load and/or unload their own material automatically. We are also equipped with 2 Pega CNC stations and several stand-alone punching cells to accommodate any customer need.
Press Brake
After a part is punched or laser cut it often then moves to the Press Brake Department to be formed and bent. PMF is fully stocked in this department as well, currently fielding 9 machines. Our wide array of brakes range from a small 17 ton Diacro for light duty work all the way up to a 125 ton Amada for large jobs.
More important than the equipment in the press brake department, however, is the experience behind it. PMF is fortunate to employ some of the best operators in the business. Several of our top employees have been with us for over 15 years and gained invaluable fabrication knowledge while operating a press brake. While other process have become more automated over time, running a press brake remains, largely, a skill. You can rest assured that no one is more skilled at forming your parts than the operators at PMF.
Welding
If a part requires welding, PMF is more than capable of filling that need. We are equipped with 2 spot welding stations and we also employ traditional welders who are experienced in both MIG and TIG welding practices. In an effort to lessen the cost associated with welding large quantity orders, as well as to push the envelope of technology, we recently purchased a robotic welder, capable of precision welding long runs.
Today many of our customers look to outsource more assembly than ever. This makes quality welding imperative, as it is usually the foundation of those more complex units. We make sure that our welders have the best equipment and the experience needed to work within the close tolerances that our customers demand.
Machining
While PMF has built its reputation on sheet metal fabrication, we have expanded our focus to include CNC machining. Our machine shop has always included two manual milling machines and lathes, but we’ve recently added a CNC mill to enhance our production capabilities.
The Haas VF-2SS high speed vertical machining center allows 3 axis automated milling of aluminum, stainless, and plastic. Sometimes customers’ assemblies require a combination of both fabricated and machined parts. Having the capability to provide both services in-house is a valuable resource to our customers.
Paint / Assembly
Certain high visibility or cosmetic parts require finishing or assembly before final delivery to the customer. Here at PMF we have our own in-house paint facility. We use a powder coat method in which we spray dry powder paint onto a statically charged part, and then bake it in large ovens until cured. Powder paint is sold in almost any color and texture and the dry paint method is much cleaner than wet paint, and it eliminating problems like runs and drips.
Often our parts are shipped to the customer to be assembled into the final product. But, if a customer desires a more complete product when it arrives on their floor, we have the capability to perform electro-mechanical assembly at any level- from basic to complex. If necessary, we can even perform product testing to ensure that the final assembly is working properly before it leaves our facility.