A Machine Guard turns flat material into a structure without any tooling investment, which is why it suits prototypes and volume equally well. Designed for telecom cabinets, this Machine Guard is produced in 1.5 mm cold rolled steel and powder coating with laser cutting, CNC bending, welding, hardware insertion and finishing. The figures below are the ones recorded at tryout rather than theoretical values.
Tolerance is applied where it does work rather than across the whole drawing. Critical features are held to ±0.2 mm, non-critical dimensions follow the general machining tolerance, and the difference is stated in the quotation rather than discovered later.
Specification
| Process | Laser cutting, cnc bending, welding, hardware insertion and finishing |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | 1.5 mm cold rolled steel and powder coating |
| Size / capacity | leg lengths within 0.2 mm |
| Tolerance | ±0.2 mm |
| Surface finish | powder coated, anodised or brushed |
| Application | machine guard for telecom cabinets |
| Inspection | Dimensional report, material certificate, first article report on request |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days for samples, 3–4 weeks for production |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for prototypes, from 50 pieces for production pricing |
Manufacturing process
Work is carried out with laser cutting, CNC bending, welding, hardware insertion and finishing. Tooling, speeds and fixturing are recorded with the part number, so a repeat order starts from a proven process instead of a fresh setup.
Material is purchased against a certificate and checked on receipt, so the composition is known before any cutting starts. Work in progress is identified by part number and operation, and the finished parts are deburred, cleaned and protected before they leave the machine area.
Typical applications
Most of the work supplied in this category falls into the following examples.
- Control cabinets and consoles.
- Machine guarding.
- Laboratory instrument cases.
- Telecom and server racks.
- Kiosk and vending bodies.
Quality control and documentation
Critical features are measured on calibrated equipment in a controlled room, and the results are filed with the job so that a repeat order can be compared with the first.
Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, dimensional reports and first article inspection reports are issued with the shipment where the application requires them. Calibration dates and measurement uncertainty are recorded alongside every result.
Ordering, lead time and packaging
Packaging is specified by the part: individual protection for finished surfaces, separation for assemblies, and export crating with a packing list for shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How is bend accuracy controlled?
By calculating the flat pattern from the material thickness and bend radius, then verifying the first part on the brake and adjusting the program before the batch runs.
Can machined features be added to sheet parts?
Yes. Tapped holes, countersinks and machined faces are added after bending where the tolerance requires it, usually on a machining centre with a dedicated fixture.
What file formats do you need for a quotation?
STEP or IGES for the 3D model and a PDF drawing with tolerances, material and surface finish called out. Native files from SolidWorks, Creo or Inventor are also accepted.
Drawings are reviewed for manufacturability before quotation, and any feature that adds cost without adding function is pointed out at that stage rather than after the parts are made.
