An advantage of being a small engineering consulting firm is the ability to utilize whatever type of manufacturing processes that a particular project may require, without being tied to any particular manufacturing processes.  A particular design may very well include machined components, sheet metal components, injection molded components, modified off-the-shelf components, EDM'd components, stamped components, etc.

PMD typically designs products / machinery using the following manufacturing processes:

• Machining

PMD takes advantage of CNC machining as much as possible, in some cases even eliminating the requirement for component drawings (usually only in the case of components not requiring tight tolerances)

• Sheet Metal

PMD has "pushed the limits" of sheet metal design, utilizing CNC punch presses, enabling complex, "attractive" shapes to be made out of planar and cylindrical sheet metal componets, either welded or riveted together, often giving the impression of high-volume stamping without the associated tooling costs

• Vacuum Forming

• Rapid Prototyping

Smaller projects (for example, surgical instruments, small commercial products, etc.) often benefit from Rapid Prototyping.  This enables prototypes to be manufactured with no tooling or setup time whatsoever.  Parts are fabricated directly from CAD files in a day or two, then FEDex'd to PMD / the customer.

The capabilities of Rapid Prototyping machines and materials are improving practically monthtly.  Typical processes include SLA (Stereolithography), SLS (Stereosintering), and FDM (Finite Deposition Modeling)

• Precision Stamping

• Injection Molding

• EDM'ing

Wire EDM'ing

Plunge EDM'ing

• Laser Cutting

• Water-Jet Cutting

PMD has established relationships with many types of manufacturers, and is constantly learning about the latest manufacturing processes.