Macfab Manufacturing

Precision is often synonymous with every CNC-machined part manufactured for the aerospace industry. The inherent need for safety and reliability in the industry stipulates no room for error or substandard quality, even in parts that measure up to only a few millimeters.

For over 35 years, Macfab Manufacturing, a leader in high-precision, tight-tolerance CNC-machined parts, consistently surpasses the ever-changing demands of the aerospace industry. It is a one-stop CNC machine shop specializing in custom manufacturing medium to high complex parts with tolerances down to ± 0.0025 millimeters. Macfab holds all the capabilities and ancillary services to meet and exceed aerospace industry standards, from prototype development and product testing to specialty finishing and clean room assembly.

“Quality, on-time delivery, and reliability are the ethos deeply embedded in our manufacturing DNA,” says Tony Burns, GM of Macfab Manufacturing.

Macfab’s precision CNC machining services are instrumental in producing sun sensors, gyroscopes, and other essential satellite components. It also excels at manufacturing high-precision components and sub-assemblies for applications, including electromagnetic flight control and guidance systems for shafts, gearboxes, housings, and RVDT units.

Having worked with numerous aerospace clients, Macfab understands the need to check all the boxes in compliance and FOD controlled environments for assembly lines. As an ISO9001:2015 and AS9100 company, it constantly exceeds the stringent standards and requirements set by some of its demanding customers such as Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS).

Making Macfab unique among other machine shops is its back to birth traceability. Unlike mill-spec sampling, where clients get information regarding a part’s approval or rejection, Macfab takes a step ahead and gives them all the dimensions measured in the entire product lifecycle. This enables clients to effortlessly identify ‘out of spec’ parts.

It also leverages its traceability and documentation capabilities for root cause analysis to spot underperforming steps and continuously improve product quality, lead time, tooling, equipment, and employee training.

Since traceability and comprehensive inspections go hand in hand, Macfab has acquired and implemented a sophisticated software system that allows for delivering highly accurate components specific to clients’ needs every time. The software enables them to read all the dimensions of a part and organize it in a document, ensuring any change made to the component design is tracked. Macfab offers these reports in a spreadsheet, allowing clients to scrutinize the dimensions and characteristics of any part.

“The level of support we provide is equivalent to handholding clients in every process, assuring all their high precision product demands are realized,” adds Burns.

To ensure customer needs are always met, Macfab takes significant time upfront to understand their unique requirements and the product’s and part’s usage. Based on these insights, it offers comprehensive engineering support during prototyping and production. This solution-based approach increases efficiency while eliminating manufacturing waste. Its deep industry knowledge, combined with its knack for maintaining a high degree of quality, forms the crux of its high customer retention rate.

For instance, The University of Toronto (U of T) has a long collaboration history with Macfab. Currently, it is working with U of T’s renowned Institute for Aeronautics and Space (UTIAS) to aide in the development of micro and nanosatellites to expand our knowledge of space.

Macfab affirms all its success to its team of highly skilled engineers, technicians, and software professionals. The team holds an average of 40 years of industry experience, helping them uncover better ways to keep pace with market changes. Macfab is well poised to meet the growing demands, particularly with the manufacturing sphere shifting gears from globalization to localization. Macfab’s Controlled Goods Program, the Canadian equivalent to the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) clearance, and proclivity for quality and on-time delivery makes it an ideal, trusted partner for defense and aerospace companies.