Integrating high-tolerance CNC machining with advanced composite fabrication to ensure repeatability, fit, and performance.
At Southwest Composite Works, we provide a single-source solution by integrating in-house CNC capabilities directly into the composite manufacturing workflow, from prototype through full-scale production.
Our workflow eliminates the friction between design, tooling, and final production, providing our partners with tighter control over tolerances, as well as significantly reduced lead times.
We manage both the tooling and the final machining of cured parts, and we can ensure that every component meets the exacting standards for aerospace, medical, recreation, and other high-performance industrial applications.
Integrated CNC machining
Our 3-axis CNC machining capabilities are specifically calibrated for the unique demands of composite tooling and component finishing.
Unlike general machine shops, our process is informed by a deep understanding of composite behavior, thermal expansion, and fiber orientation:
- Design for manufacturability (DFM): We evaluate tool access and geometry constraints during the design phase to reduce iterations.
- Precision material removal: We can achieve complex features and mating definitions with consistent accuracy.
- Single-source accountability: We help minimize supply-chain risk and logistical delays by keeping all machining and fabrication under one roof.
Tooling & mold machining
To ensure uncompromising part fidelity, we machine our production tooling to exact tolerances, since the final component is only as precise as the surface on which it is cured.
We can machine master-patterns and production molds from a variety of materials, optimized for your specific process, and your volume requirements:
- Substrate expertise: We offer high-precision machining in aluminum, epoxy tooling board, and high-density foams.
- Stable tooling surfaces: We can achieve high-micron finishes, ensuring consistent part release and superior surface quality.
- Thermal stability: Our tooling is made to maintain dimensional integrity across repeated heating and cooling cycles.
Secondary operations & finishing
For many high-performance components, the work begins after the part is cured, when our team prepares custom components for assembly.
At Southwest Composite Works, we provide precise secondary machining to ensure the final product is assembly ready and meets all interface requirements:
- Precision trimming & drilling: We use custom setups to maintain edge quality and hole-placement accuracy on cured laminates.
- Feature definition: We’re built to machine tight-tolerance bores, pockets, and mating surfaces that cannot be achieved through layup alone.
- Contamination control: Our specialized processes ensure carbon fiber dust and debris are managed, without compromising the part or the environment.
Fixturing & inspection support
Repeatability in mission-critical industries requires more than just a good mold; it takes precise secondary alignment.
We can design and machine custom fixtures to hold complex carbon fiber geometries securely, for processing and validation:
- Custom inspection fixtures: We’ll establish reliable datums for parts with organic or non-linear shapes, to support CMM inspection.
- Assembly fixturing: We can ensure parts are held in the exact orientation required for secondary bonding or mechanical fastening.
- Reduced variation: We control how parts are referenced throughout the process, to provide reliable outcomes across large batches.
Scaling, from prototype to production
During the early-stage development phase, we use CNC machining to quickly iterate on prototypes, allowing your team to validate fit and function before committing to high-volume production tooling.
This fail-fast capability reduces program risk, and ensures that when you move to full-scale manufacturing, the path forward is clear and efficient.I can't.
Industries we partner with
We support machining requirements for composite components where consistency and performance are critical to the success of the final product:
- Aerospace: High-tolerance structural components and non-flight critical flight-ready assemblies.
- Medical: Precision-machined carbon fiber for imaging tables, and prosthetic frames, and more.
- Industrial: Durable tooling and components for high-cycle production environments.
- Recreation: Lightweight, high-strength parts for performance-driven equipment.
Ready to get started on your company’s project?
If you’re evaluating a manufacturing partner who can handle the complexities of both composite layup and precision machining, our team is ready to help.