In order to understand how machining and fabrication work together, you must first understand how they differ. Machining and fabrication are both industrial terms that refer to the process of producing or constructing a product. Machining converts raw materials into a finished products via large-scale industrial operations, while fabrication assembles various standardized parts to make a finished product. Essentially, machining involves building a product from the bottom-up, wheres fabrication is the assembling of already-manufactured parts to create a product.
Machining and Fabrication Services from Reading Plastic
We offer a full range of CNC machining capabilities, with the equipment and know-how to produce the most precise and dependable plastic parts. We can then fabricate those parts into an assembled finished product ready for immediate use, saving you valuable time on your project.
Our machining capabilities include:
- CNC milling – Our team uses computer-driven CNC milling machines to ensure the precision, accuracy, and repeatability of the parts we produce. We can create advanced plastic parts with tolerances of +/- .001 to meet the strictest tight tolerance needs. With secondary post-milling operations, we can add threads, finish through-bores, mount surfaces, and brand parts to save time and lower your production costs. We can even machine any associated metal parts necessary to your design.
- CNC routing – We excel at fast cycle times, with our vacuum-secured routing system quickly turning out hundreds to thousands of identical high-performance parts. We can also handle oversized specialty parts up to 127” x 80” x 9”, and have specialty bits to handle the most advanced engineering plastics. With our machines equipped to handle the full spectrum of plastics, you have the freedom to choose the material that is best for your product.
- CNC turning – Our highly skilled team specializes in multi-axis lathe work that can hold tight tolerance standards up to .001”. We offer precision threading in ANSI, ASME, metric, and variable pitch threads, as well as interrupted cuts hexes, deep hole drilling, sprocket teeth, deburring, and more. With the latest in CAD/CAM techniques and software, we can turn your designs into reality.
- CNC sawing – Our fleet of CNC saws use pinpoint accuracy and ultra-fast cutting speeds to help you meet the tightest project deadlines. We know how to properly cut the full spectrum of plastics, no matter how technical the material. We even cut raw sheets, tubes, and bars for our plastic distribution customers to help save time and reduce costs.
Our fabrication services run the gamut from simple to complex. Our expert fabrication team has helped fabricate models and demonstration materials for medical device salespersons, trade show displays, machinery covers, and much more. Whether you need your parts ready for use right away, or you don’t have enough staff to fabricate in-house, we are here to help. We specialize in:
- Bending
- Forming
- Bonding
- Threaded inserts
- Welding hoppers
- FDA protective devices
- Acrylic showcase displays
- Secondary assembly diamond polishing
- And more!
If you are in need of expert machining and fabrication services, call Reading Plastic today at (610) 926-3245.
