CNC machining stands as the cornerstone of modern manufacturing, and we're proud to be at the forefront of this revolutionary technology. Every physical product produced in the advanced world today either was made useing CNC machinery, or or was made using tooling or equipment produced on CNC machinery. Simply put, CNC machining is the art of transforming raw materials into intricate components with unparalleled precision, all driven by the power of computer-controlled automation.  CNC machining is a subtractive process where material is removed from stock to shape the part to its design configuration.   

CNC Turning and Milling

We have precise, rigid, and accurate CNC Machine tools. Our part size envelopes are as follows:

CNC Turned and Mill-Turned part limits

• Maximum turning diameter: 14.4” (366mm).

• Maximum diameter for bar stock: 2.5” (65mm)

• Maximum part length: 20.0” (510mm)

CNC Milling part limits

• Maximum size dimensions: 51” x 22” x 20” (1300mm x 560mm x 508mm)

• Maximum part capacity: 1980 lbs (900 kg)

Our machine tools have high pressure coolant for deep hole drilling and improved surface finishes.

Equipment

• DMG Mori NLX 2000/500 SY

• Live-tool, Y-axis, sub-spindle lathe

• Okuma M560-V

• 3-axis vertical machining center

Materials

We have experience with machining a wide variety of materials:

• Acetal/Delrin

• HDPE

• PVC/CPVC

• PEEK

• Machinable Ceramics, including Macor

• Aluminum, including 6061, 7075, MIC-6, and more

• Steel, including AISI 1018, AISI 1144, AISI 4041, AISI 4340, AISI 8620, AISI A2, AISI D2, and more

• Copper and Brass alloys, including OFHC Copper (C11000), Chromium Copper (C18200), Beryllium Copper (C17200), and more

• Stainless Steel, including SAE 303, SAE 304, SAE 316, SAE 440, and more

• Hardened Materials, including hardened AISI A2 at 52 HRC, and more

• Nickel alloys, including Nickel 400, and more

Quantities

Prairie West Design’s production volumes run prototypes or short runs of parts, up to large production runs.  We also perform assembly operations using fabricated and OTC parts making finished devices or assemblies.

Laser Engraving

Prairie West Design can laser mark items in bulk, with a maximum engraving area of 26.47” x 19.6” x 27.5” (680 mm x 500mm x 700mm).  This includes unique, trackable serial numbering, QR and barcodes and other product information.  We also have a rotary table for laser marking around round parts, up to 3.46” (88mm) in diameter with ID gripping and 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg).

We are capable of laser engraving where material is removed, annealing where local heat is applied to discolor the material without disturbing the surface finish, structured surfaces where a fine structure is engraved on the material by the laser, and laser cleaning of the surface by uniformly ablating away material.  

We can engrave are most metals and some plastics.

Equipment

Trumpf TruMark Station 5000 with TruMark 5050 Laser and DA65 rotary

Value added services - In house

There are a number of support machines and processes that we can provide.  We would not consider these our core competencies, and for many are only value added processes that we can add with CNC machining or laser engraving.  However, do not hesitate to contact us if you have a small run, an emergency or test part with the processes.

• Manual Lathe work with Hardinge HLV-H

• Manual Milling work with Bridgeport Series 1

• Manual Grinding with Mitsui High-Tec MSG-200M 6”x12” surface grinder

• Broken Tap Removal

• Laser Welding

• Bead Blast

• Tumbling

• Polishing and lapping

Value added services - local partners

We also work with a number of local partners to offer surface treatments and other finishing processes to the parts we are making.

• Anodizing

• Powder coating

• Cerakote

• Black Oxide

• Electropolishing

• Passivation

• Heat treating