Douglas Fab
Quality parts, just in time.

Custom Machining, Welding, and Thermoforming

Quality parts… just in time.

 

Custom machining, thermoforming and fabrication services since 1985.

Douglas Fabrication & Machine, Inc. is a woman-owned and operated enterprise that has been proudly serving the southeast with 31 years of experience. We manufacture machined, thermoformed, and fabricated parts made to custom specifications.

Once operating as a traditional machine shop, we have expanded our facilities to include more plastic processes and larger parts. Our thermoforming department makes vacuum and pressure formed plastic parts up to 5 feet by 18 feet. We have large format 3 and 5 axis CNC routers for complex part trimming and pattern making. We also offer welding of metals and plastics.

For your OEM requirements, prototype or production quantities of your parts can be produced in our shop for a competitive price.

Get in touch with us to set up a consultation, or use the contact form at the bottom of this page to enquire whether our services are right for you.

 

Contact

➤ LOCATION

430 Industrial Dr.
Wendell, NC 27591

☎ CONTACT

sales@douglasfab.com
(919) 365-7553

 

Areas of expertise


Milling

Milling is the most common form of machining, a material removal process, which can create a variety of features on a part by cutting away the unwanted material. The cutter is a cutting tool with sharp teeth that is also secured in the milling machine and rotates at high speeds. By feeding the workpiece into the rotating cutter, material is cut away from this workpiece in the form of small chips to create the desired shape.


turning

Turning is a form of machining, a material removal process, which is used to create rotational parts by cutting away unwanted material. The turning process requires a turning machine or lathe. The cutter is typically a single-point cutting tool that is also secured in the machine, although some operations make use of multi-point tools. The cutting tool feeds into the rotating workpiece and cuts away material in the form of small chips to create the desired shape.


prototyping

A prototype is a simple experimental model of a proposed solution used to test or validate ideas, design assumptions and other aspects of its conceptualization quickly and easily, so that the designers involved can make appropriate refinements or possible changes in direction. Prototypes can be quick and rough — useful for early-stage testing and learning — and can also be fully formed and detailed — usually for testing or pilot trials near the end of the project.


Custom Mold-Making

Thermoforming materials requires the use of a mold. Molds for production of large quantities of parts are typically sandcast, which requires the creation of a pattern. Smaller molds can be machined directly, and smaller production runs can be made from other materials such as mahogany or Ren-Shape pattern board. Molds are custom made for the application.


thermoforming

Thermoforming describes the process of heating a thermoplastic sheet to its softening point, stretching it over or into a single-sided mold, and holding it in place while it cools and solidifies into the desired shape. The thermoplastic sheet is clamped into a holding device and heated by an oven using either convection or radiant heat until it is softened. The sheet is then held horizontally over a mold and pressed into or stretched over the mold using vacuum pressure, air pressure, or mechanical force. The softened sheet conforms to the shape of the mold and is held in place until it cools.


Fabrication

Fabrication is the creation of structures by cutting, bending and assembling processes. It is a process involving the creation of machines, parts, and structures from various raw materials.

 
 

 
 
Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.
— Henry Ford
 
 

 
 
 

Let's Chat.

Use the form below to contact us regarding your opportunity. Please be as detailed as possible. Include your industry along with any specific requests. To help us best service your inquiry, we recommend that you describe what you want to achieve. You may also email or call us to make an appointment.

For job opportunities, please email us your resume.