At J&E Companies, our success as a full-service manufacturer is based in our ability to provide complete solutions regardless of design complexity or budget constraints. The aluminum cone shown here tested our laser cutting, precision metal spinning, finishing, and inspection capabilities, as well as our engineering staff’s ability to develop the most cost-efficient process possible. This product was designed for use in a veterinary/agriculture application and posed several challenges across the entire production process. The design called out the use of .250” thick, 3003-H14 aluminum, which delivered excellent corrosion resistance. Although this material also provided good workability, the blanks had to be precision cut to minimize secondary finishing after spinning. Our 4,000-watt Trumpf 3030 laser cutter was ideally suited for this type of application, providing all the speed and accuracy necessary to quickly set up and cut the required material.
Forming of the cone, which was 26” in diameter, and requires tolerances of ±.030” for flatness, was completed on our state of the art DENN, Model ZENN CNC lathe. This machine provided just the right mix of precision, speed, and automated functionality to produce maximum quality and high-speed output. It also made quick work of the .250” thick aluminum which is typically considered very difficult to form efficiently. Once the blank was formed into its final shape, the machining of tapped holes and slots was carried out, followed by grinding and finishing to create a flawless mill finish.
Our ISO 9001 certified quality department also played a key role throughout the manufacturing process. Using a Zeiss Numerex CMM and Pratt & Whitney micrometers, our quality team verified that all dimensions were well within spec, and backed it up with comprehensive reporting documentation and the application of serial numbers to each completed unit. Throughout this project, we worked closely with the customer to ensure an elevated level of responsive customer service. Our efforts on the initial 25 piece order have resulted in many repeat orders of 50 part batches.
For more information about this project, or to obtain a quote on your next precision metal spinning project, contact us directly.
Aluminum Cone Spinning Highlights
| Project Name & Description | Aluminum Cone |
| Capabilities Applied/Processes | Laser Cutting, Spinning, Re-finishing |
| Equipment Used to Manufacture Part | Lasers, Automatic Spinning Machine
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| Overall Part Dimensions | 26” Diameter |
| Tightest Tolerances | .030 flatness |
| Material Used | .250 Thick 3003-H14 Aluminum |
| Material Finish | Mill Finish Tooling marks removed after fab work using a Lathe Grinding Operation and Manual Touch up as needed. |
| Industry for Use | Veterinary / Agriculture |
| In Process Testing/Inspection Performed | Parts are 100% inspected, serial # are given, and measurements are recorded and supplied to the customer. |
| Volume | 25 qty to 50 qty per shipment periodically |
| Delivery/Turnaround Time | 3-4 weeks |
| Delivery Location | Minnesota |
