Fabrication is more than just welding pieces of material together. Fabrication done right is the difference between a mediocre, lack luster end product and the eye popping "WOW!" quality that captures the designers intended vision. See detailed list of our services >
In addition to our fabrication expertise, we also can complete projects that require press brake and sheet forming. Our layout software can sequence the proper bends so we make most efficient use of the material and time. Used in conjunction with our CNC cutting machines, formed parts can be sequenced and formed very quickly and accurately.
Why choose us for your project? When choosing a company it is important to take a close look at the capabilities within the company. Many fabrication companies have welders and some smaller shop tools. When the project calls for complete control of the processes, we can offer what many others can't. We have the equipment to complete a project from start to finish with high degrees of accuracy and quality. By making use of the CNC equipment we have we start with perfect pieces which then means the finished product is accurate to the drawing.
By keeping all steps to a job in house, we are able to have complete control of the end product in not just quality but in time to complete the project.
For projects that require powder coating and media blasting, we turn to Paradigm Coatings for their quality and short lead times.
We are experts at aluminum welding, as 95% of our work is aluminum. We can weld mild and stainless steel as well. We have three Miller TIG welders and two MIG welders. TIG welding is our primary type of welding. All parts after that are welded use parts cut on either our laser, waterjet or turret punch. This allows the fabrication process to move quickly and efficiently. Welding FAQ >
TMS has the ability to do many complex machining jobs. Our CNC machining capabilities are lead by a 20 veteran of the mold machining industry. Used in conjunction with our Laser or Waterjet we can cut large rough parts, and do the finish machining in house. This makes it very cost effective and convenient for the customer as there is no need to send the part out to someone else for machining. Machining FAQ >
Send us a drawing, CAD file or sketch. Our mission is to bring your vision to reality. Give us a call or email us to get a quote or to just find out more info on how we can help complete your project.
Laser cutting is a highly accurate means of cutting metal. Laser is best suited to cutting harder metals such as steel, aluminum and some alloys. For sheet metal and thinner steel, laser is the best choice. It can cut faster and more accurate than most other forms of cutting. The speed of the laser helps keep cost down as most shops charge by the hour.
Our machine is a Mitsubishi 3015 LVP Plus II Laser with a 5'x10' Table that can cut 0.125" steel @ 115" per minute. See our press release at thefabricator.com >
The effects on the workpiece materials is rather minimal due to the small zone of metal affected by the laser beam. However, the effects are due to the high temperature of the laser that change the hardness and the creation of a narrow heat-affected zone. Laser Cutting FAQ >
C-Mn steels up to 20mm
Stainless steel up to 12mm
Aluminum up to 10mm
Other non-ferrous metals
Thermoplastic materials
Wide range of other non-metals
Benefits:
High quality cut - no finishing
Flexibility - simple or complex parts
Non contact - no marks
Quick set up - small batches
Low heat input - low distortion
Virtually any material can be cut
Many industries can benefit from the accuracy and variety of materials our Waterjet can cut. The water jet can hold a tolerance of somewhere between ± 0.0005"-0.0008" depending on material conditions and required tolerance of the part. Depending on your project, a few thousandths of an inch are okay to spare in order to save time by running the part faster; when precision is the key factor, slower speeds are essential to a quality product.
The main advantages of water jet cutting are the variety of materials which can be cut and the thickness of material which it can cut. An abrasive water jet can cut realistically a 4"-6" thick piece of metal with very little taper. Materials, including glass, plastic, alloys, cardboard, foil, tile, stone etc. can also be cut into almost any 2D form imaginable. Another advantage is that heat is not introduced into the process. When it is critical to keep the molecular structure of your part intact, water jet cutting is the right choice, as the water doesn't change any of the properties, it simply erodes the material away.
There are two forms of waterjet cutting, technically it is called abrasive waterjet cutting when sand is used in the cutting process. True waterjet cutting uses water only accelerated to speeds of 60,000 psi to cut non hardened materials such as plastic, carpet, rubber etc.. Abrasive waterjet cutting is the same process with garnet (sand) introduced to the high speed water flow. This is used to cut harder materials such as metal, glass, and various alloys.
The Metal Shop uses a Mitsubishi Suprema Waterjet with Mitsubishi controls. We think the fact that the control is not some re-hashed windows computer makes it a much more reliable and accurate machine. Our table is 7'x13' which can handle a 5'x12' sheet. The machine is equipped with a Mitsubishi Taper Control head. Why this is important is that we can program a part to run at normal speed and still maintain our accuracy and limit taper. On machines without Taper Control, you control taper by reducing the speed which means it takes longer to to cut the part and increases your cost.
Waterjet cutting isn't the right process for every job. We can help you decide if it is the most effective means or maybe our laser, mills or punches would be more efficient. In those areas where it is the proper choice, you can't find a more versatile cutting option. Waterjet FAQ >
Do you need your product to stand out from the competition?
From ideation and hand sketching to 3D modeling and rendering, our designer has all the skills to get your idea ready for production. With nearly 10 years of architectual, industrial, and product design experience, our designer knows how to take your idea to the next level. We use a wide range of CAD programs too (AutoCAD, Solidworks, Rhinoceros, even Alias Autostudio), so no matter what CAD system you use, we are able to meet your needs. Design and Engineering FAQ >
In addition, our designer is capable of designing and developing highly complex and precise sheet metal parts and assemblies which are then cut with our laser or water jet and bent to shape using our press brakes.
We also ofter design consultation for your existing project. If your project needs to meet certain size, material, ergonomic, or cost criteria, and requires some tweaking, or even re-design, our designer is more than capable to refine your concept to meet the needs of todays competitive markets.
It is always easier to keep control of your cost by keeping control of the project on site. TMS keeps this mind and that is why we have the full complement of machines to complete your project.