Mecha has grown so much in recent years that we have run out of physical space in our building for new equipment. We needed to find a high performance, compact machine to help meet customer demand until we can find a new building. After much research, we decided that the Datron Neo+ was a perfect…
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In the past, Mecha outsourced any type of laser engraving requirement. We recently purchased a Trotec Speedy 360 to bring that process in-house. This has allowed us to shorten our lead-times reduce costs, and control quality better than ever with associated parts. We’re finding all kinds of other uses for the laser as well. It…
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Mecha added a new CMM recently. The Keyence KM-T1200 uses a touch probe system with software that makes it really easy to set up a new program. Once the program is completed, the operator simply follows the on-screen photos that show where to touch the part for a measurement. This addition to Mecha’s inspection arsenal…
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Machining can be very dangerous. Sometimes parts can be ripped out of a vise during drilling or milling, causing significant damage. This is why CNC machines typically have safety glass on the front doors, and most newer machines by will not run with the doors open. At Mecha, we mill parts as aggressively as possible,…
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The dimensions on almost all drawings for machined components are assumed to be after plating. However, plating thicknesses generally only matter when machining parts with tight tolerances (<0.001″). Most plating processes only add a couple tenths or less (<0.0002″) of thickness per side. This includes chromate conversion, Type II anodizing, and electroless nickel plating. Measuring…
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This is a bit of an oversimplification, but when a part gets anodized, the anodize layer forms halfway into and halfway above the original surface. So if a drawing calls for 0.002″ of anodizing, then the part will “grow” in size by 0.001″ per side of the part. For example, if a raw part is…
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Deburring is the process of removing extraneous material leftover from machining. This material is not considered part of the design and cause a variety of issues if they come loose later. Issues may include plating voids, cosmetic paint imperfections, mechanical damage, or electrical shorts in some products. Burrs must be removed manually using various hand…
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