Turning & Milling Services for Fiber Optic Equipment

Metal Craft has provided turning and milling services for OEMs specializing in the fiber optic industry to produce a variety of precision components for more than 30 years. Machining small, lightweight, consumable fiber optic components in large quantities at our facility in the U.S. and in Asia allows us to ensure that our customers have components at the right price when they need them.

Our focus on advanced optics and opto-mechanical assemblies have allowed us to become a leader in the manufacture of precision component machining with tolerances of ±0.0002" using of CNC mills and lathes.

CNC-machined parts used in fiber optic equipment must meet precise specifications to ensure optimal performance and quality of the equipment, however, there are several challenges in producing such parts.

These challenges include:

• Complex geometry: Fiber optic equipment often requires intricate geometries, which can be challenging to produce using traditional machining methods. The complexity of the parts requires precise and accurate CNC machining techniques to ensure optimal performance and quality.
• Material selection: Fiber optic equipment requires materials with specific optical and mechanical properties. The selection of the right material is crucial to ensure the part meets the necessary specifications and performs optimally.
• Tolerance: Fiber optic equipment requires precise dimensional tolerances, making it challenging to produce parts that meet these requirements consistently. The tight tolerances require precise machining techniques and close monitoring of the machining process.
• Finishing: The surface finish of the parts is critical to the performance of fiber optic equipment. The finishing process must be carefully controlled to ensure the parts meet the necessary surface roughness and optical specifications.
• Inspection: Fiber optic equipment requires a frequent inspection to ensure that the parts meet the necessary specifications and perform optimally. The inspection process must be precise and accurate to ensure that any defects are detected and addressed.

Producing CNC-machined parts for fiber optic equipment requires precise and accurate machining techniques, material selection, and inspection processes. The challenges in producing such parts require a high level of expertise and attention to detail to ensure optimal performance and quality of the equipment, as the accuracy of this equipment is of the utmost importance.

Trusted Manufacturer of Machined Parts

CNC machining is a highly-competitive industry. Our skilled machinists and engineering team differentiate us from the competition, allowing us to provide the highest quality product with the shortest lead times in the industry. We provide everything from engineering and prototyping to assembly and inspection services – we not only have our 30,000-square foot facility in Southbridge, Mass., but we also have our 60,000-square foot facility in New Bedford, Mass., and our approved facilities on Asia.

Southbridge has a long history of manufacturing optical products, earning it the unofficial title "Eye of the Commonwealth" (in reference to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts). American Optical was founded in Southbridge and was once one the world's largest manufacturer of ophthalmic products, pioneering research in fiber optics. A plaque across the street from the old plant site, the first optical fiber laser and amplifier, developed by Elias Snitzer and colleagues in 1961 in the former American Optical complex allowed messages to cross oceans without interruptions. Today, there are more than 50 fiber optic equipment companies in Southbridge and the surrounding areas that we continue to support for their machining needs.

Additionally, developments in laser technology for healthcare and dental applications have also created opportunities for growth in the fiber optics market as consumable fiber optic components include items such as end tips, ferrules, housings, handpieces, connectors, and more, which are primarily made of aluminum or plastic to keep them lightweight. Our continuous investment in CNC-controlled and manual equipment, vertical machining centers, and lathes allow us to take on milling, drilling, turning, tapping, grinding, threading, and more.

Value-Added Capabilities

In this age of quick turnaround and vendor consolidation, Metal Craft performs sub-assembly and final assembly operations for our customers to their exacting specifications. Provide us with your assembly specifications, and our dedicated team will source the required items or services, manage components stock levels, and provide you with a part that is ready to go into your final assembly upon receipt. We even provide custom markings and packaging as required.

Our expertise in this area has saved our customers time and money as we work with these vendors on a daily basis, and this means that we have the relationship and leverage to get your product completed quickly.

Some of the services we provide are:

• Laser Engraving
• Custom Bagging & Labeling
• Passivation & Sanitization
• Silk Screening
• Painting
• SPAP/PPAP Documentation
• Annealing
• Broaching
• Anodizing/Plating
• Thread Locking
• Plating
• Assembly of PEMs and other hardware
• Chemical Etching
• Heat Treating
• Water Jet Cutting
• Wire EDM
• Tensile/Hardness Testing

Inventory Management Programs

Metal Craft offers stocking programs of all different kinds to ensure that your machined and assembled parts are available when you need them with no more than a one-day lead time. Whether through a formal Kanban program, blanket orders, consignment, a simple safety stock, or any other jointly agreed-upon process, stocking programs will ensure exceptional service and responsiveness to your needs.

You can get more information on our stocking programs on our parent company website as they have more than 70 years of experience managing inventory for customers.