August 11, 2017 | Prototype Casting
The Significance of a Machine Shop and Metal Casting
When it comes to metal casting, Prototype Casting is proud to deliver high-quality, efficient metal prototyping and casting services. We’re always excited to talk about our production methods and other aspects of our prototyping and casting service. However, we’ve never really touched on the importance of a machine shop itself: our home, our physical environment and a place where things simply get done and get done right.
All of our metal casting production occurs inside of our machine shop, and Prototype Casting wants you to know what a machine shop means to us, if you will. Today, we’re going to briefly touch on the significance of a machine shop and how it connects with the metal casting work that we do here at Prototype Casting.
Overview
‘Machine Shop’ is actually a pretty general, all-encompassing term. Really, a machine shop refers to any room, building, or company where machining takes place – specifically where machinists use machine tools and cutting tools to manufacture parts that are usually made out of plastic or metal and sometimes glass or wood.
The production inside of a machine shop can consist of cutting, shaping, drilling, finishing, and other manufacturing processes. Obviously, in the case of Prototype Casting, we mostly treat our machine shop practice as a shaping and casting operation.
Quick History
The first early machine shops started to appear in the 19th century when the Industrial Revolution was already well underway. Prior to the industrial revolution, parts and tools were produced in workshops located in local villages and cities on a small scale, often only intended for a local market.
The initial production machines in the very first factories were constructed on site, in which every part was individually made to fit. The handiwork, diligence, and dedication to this level of craft without any modern automation processes is difficult to imagine! Anyway, after some time, the first factories started their own workshops where parts of the existing machinery were repaired or modified. Back at the turn of the Industrial Revolution, textiles were the dominant industry. The textile industry and similar industries quickly started to further develop their own machining tools into eventually what we know them as today.
Modern Times
Fast forwarding to the 21st century and beyond, the introduction of industrial robots further increased factory automation. Typical applications of automated robot technology in the context of machining include welding, painting, assembly, pick and place, product inspection, and testing. Now, machining technology has allowed the modern manufacturing market to accurately produce high-quality items for a relatively low cost.
Metal Casting and Machine Shops
Machine shops run in our blood at Prototype Casting – it’s where we make great things. Metal casting is also, naturally, a passion of ours. We’re excited about the future of metal casting, rapid investment casting, sand casting, rubber mold casting, and all other kinds of prototype creation while working under the roof of a good ol’ machine shop.
If you’re looking for a quality metal casting company and machine shop in the Denver area to create accurate prototypes and other items on a small or large scale, then look no further than the fine casting services at Prototype Casting. Contact us today or browse our website for further information about our casting services to see how we can help you or your business!