Imagineering and Manufacture
What is that supposed to mean?
Google’s definition of Imagineering: verb; to devise and implement a new or highly imaginative concept or technology
North Coast Imagineering and Manufacture, LLC, annihilates the entrenched boundaries between engineering and manufacturing as a solid team of quality driven people who do not just think outside the box, we believe there is no box. We can work with skilled engineers with little to no experience with manufacturing to adapt their designs finding ways to accomplish the design intent using common manufacturing techniques lowering costs and without sacrificing functionality.
Our mechanical and design engineers who cut their teeth working on cars to advanced instrumented mechanical testing equipment will collaborate with your team, under the protection of NDAs, to help resolve your prototyping and manufacturing problems. We can do this because our engineering staff with years in front of CAD stations are also programming the M&G code for 3, 4, and 5 axis CNC equipment. NCIMfg’s equipment is routinely setup, programmed, and operated by experienced engineers with backgrounds in mechanical design, design for manufacturing, and industrial engineering. This means that when we look at your print or concept, we can provide a truly comprehensive review. We care just as much about how the component being quoted will perform for its intended purpose as we do about how it is made – we believe these qualities go hand in hand..
Toys in the Playground
Okuma Multus B200II-BBW
Hardinge/Bridgeport GX 1000 OSP
Hardinge/Bridgeport GX 1000 OSP
Work Envelope (ø x Z | Y, inch): 23 x 31 | ±3
4+1 Axis Mill-Turn, 12,000 RPM M-Spindle
400-1,000 psi Thru-Spindle Coolant
Hardinge/Bridgeport GX 1000 OSP
Hardinge/Bridgeport GX 1000 OSP
Hardinge/Bridgeport GX 1000 OSP
Work Envelope (X x Y x Z, inch): 40 x 21 x 21
True Fourth Axis VMC 10,000 RPM Spindle
400-1,000 psi Thru-Spindle Coolant
Okuma LB3000L x 1000 Lathe
Hardinge/Bridgeport GX 1000 OSP
Clausing CSG-2A618 Surface Grinder
Work Envelope (ø x Z, inch) 16.3 x 39.3
2 Axis turret lathe, NC tail stock, ø3.19 spindle through-bore, 40 - 4,2000 RPM
Clausing CSG-2A618 Surface Grinder
Product Development Engineering / Design for Manufacture
Clausing CSG-2A618 Surface Grinder
2+1 Axis w/ DRO
Work Envelope (X x Y x Z, inch): 18 x 6 x 14
General Fabrication / Secondary Process / CAD Services
Product Development Engineering / Design for Manufacture
Product Development Engineering / Design for Manufacture
What we can't weld, bend, press, cut, or assemble in house, we know people in the local area who can. Need stainless steel or aluminum welded? We can help you out.
Small part heat treatment with a PLC controlled lab scale sintering oven allows fast prototyping; complex heat treatment / tempering / Ion NItriding is well sourced with great vendors.
Want your parts or assemblies painted via powder coating? We can deliver turnkey products using local vendors that reduce shipping costs and the risk of damage from getting there and back.
Working off of old pencil prints or sketches and want to upgrade? We offer full Pro-E CAD modeling and detail print services for your designs - complete with your company logo. All proprietary property under the protection of a non-disclosure agreement to protect your rights.
Product Development Engineering / Design for Manufacture
Product Development Engineering / Design for Manufacture
Product Development Engineering / Design for Manufacture
North Coast Imagineering and Manufacture is a small company with deep roots in start-up product development projects. We have a special passion for working with small outfits with big ideas. We have first hand experience with the monumental challenges small companies face with getting prototypes made and making it to the next level.
Never demanding any sort of partnership or stake in your technology, we ensure that your IP is protected and yours to control with solid NDAs. By working with you directly, NCIMfg strives to ensure that your design ideas are as manufacturable as they are functional. Even if you take your production business elsewhere, we can set you up with well vetted detail manufacturing prints, CAD models, and process specifications that you can use to shop around for the best manufacturer to fit your needs.
Case Studies
Superior Fishing Products
Superior Fishing Products
Superior Fishing Products
A small fabrication company based in Houghton county, MI, the owner approached NCIM with a solid product concept. His passion for big water fishing gave him expertise on what the market wants, but wasn't sure how to make functional or a cost effective way to manufacture it. Over a few pots of coffee in collaborative discussion and a couple of prototypes for a swivel base later, Superior Fishing Products now offers the best rattle free double, triple, and quad pole holders on the market. North Coast Imagineering and Manufacture provided Superior Fishing Products with the detail drawings of the components we helped him with so that, if they so chose to, they could seek out new a new manufacturer for the 3 and 4-axis made parts we make for them. NCIMfg will always strive to provide the best possible customer service possible.
Champion Welding Alloys
Superior Fishing Products
Superior Fishing Products
A producer of specialty, high quality welding rod, Champion Welding Alloys contacted NCIMfg looking for some remanufacturing work on key pieces of their extrusion process. Small repair jobs led to the design and build of a custom stainless steel flux mixer. The owner, being knowledgeable in the design and function of the extrusion head where the flux is added to the welding rod but, was not as experienced in design for manufacture or detailing work, NCIMfg collaborated with CWA with design coaching to make his design manufacturable and preserving / improving functionality. CWA did the CAD modeling work, NCIMfg did the detailing print work and manufactured the parts.
Orbion Space Technology
Superior Fishing Products
Orbion Space Technology
A young company that is growing at a phenomenal rate, Orbion Space Technology has exquisite needs for exotic materials machined to challenging feature sizes for use in their world-leading small-scale hall-effect propulsion systems for satellites orbiting in space. North Coast Imagineering and Manufacture has become their local go-to source for rapid prototyping and prototype modification for design change testing. Materials from simple aluminum to difficult to machine steels, machinable and full hard ceramics, NCIMfg finds a way to get it done. When the CTO commented "you're not going to like this one" , the reply was "this looks sexy!"
2, 3, 4, and 4+1 axis
CAD modeling / Detailing
Orbion Space Technology
The ability to run lathe and milling operations in the same setup saves time, improves accuracy. With our Multus B200II-BBW mill-turn, we can often make complete parts from raw stock in a single setup.
CAD modeling / Detailing
CAD modeling / Detailing
CAD modeling / Detailing
Good with the solid modeling but a little thin on the detailing? North Coast Imagineering and Manufacture can get you where you want to go. CAD modeling to visualize to complete detail / assembly / process drawings that you can take with you to your manufacturer of choice.
Experimental Machining
CAD modeling / Detailing
CAD modeling / Detailing
Having performed machinability studies and developed tooling design & manufacture for automotive / aerospace, we do not shy away from projects because the materials involved are difficult to machine. CGI, Inconel, hardened steels, and titanium are some of the materials that we've made chips in.