Industry
Research Institutions
One-off experimental hardware machined to physics-grade specs, without production-run minimums.
FabVector machines Research Institutions parts in Aluminum 6061-T6, Stainless Steel 316L, Copper C110, from 1 piece, with instant online estimates, engineer-reviewed quotes in 24 hours and NDA-protected files. Delivery with duties handled to the US, Canada, UK and Australia.
- Materials
- Aluminum 6061-T6, Stainless Steel 316L, Copper C110
- Minimum order
- 1 piece
- Estimate
- ~60s online
- Quote
- engineer-reviewed 24h
- IP
- NDA from upload
What slows this industry down
Research hardware is the ultimate low-volume problem: almost every part is a quantity of one, designed by a scientist rather than a production engineer, and needed before the next beamtime or funding deadline. UHV work imposes invisible specs — no silicone contact, low-outgassing materials, virtual-leak-free blind holes — that a general shop will violate without knowing it. Cryostat and beamline parts mix exotic combinations like OFHC copper thermal links with PEEK insulators in a single assembly. Procurement rules add quoting and documentation friction that most fast prototype services refuse to deal with.
Typical parts we machine
- UHV chamber components and flanged fittings
- Beamline fixtures and sample holders
- Cryostat parts and copper thermal links
- Custom lab jigs and experimental mounts
- PEEK/PTFE insulating components
Recommended materials
Aluminum 6061-T6
The default CNC aluminum: strong enough for most jobs, machines fast, anodizes well.
Stainless Steel 316L
Marine and medical stainless: molybdenum chemistry that shrugs off chlorides and sterilization cycles.
Copper C110
The conductivity king: when watts or amps per gram is the whole point of the part.
PEEK
The polymer that replaces metal: 250 °C service, chemical immunity, implant-grade options.
PTFE (Teflon)
The slipperiest solid known: seals and insulators immune to chemistry and heat alike.
Recommended finishes
Electropolishing
Reverse plating that brightens, deburrs and passivates stainless in one step.
Passivation
Chemical hygiene for stainless: strips embedded iron so the steel can be as stainless as advertised.
Anodizing Type II (Clear)
The standard aluminum finish: hard, clear oxide that keeps the metallic look.
Certifications & standards
- ISO 9001
- We understand research procurement values ISO 9001-grade documentation — for single pieces, flexibility and a clean paper trail matter more than volume systems.
- EN 10204 3.1
- We support EN 10204 3.1 material certificates for UHV and cryogenic components where alloy purity drives outgassing and thermal behavior.
We understand and support these requirements; certification and documentation scope is confirmed per order.
Questions research institutions buyers ask
- Can a lab order one machined part without a company purchasing department?
- Yes — MOQ is 1 and quoting is self-serve: upload the STEP, get a range in about 60 seconds, and an engineer reviews before anything binds. For grant-funded work we quote fixed prices that survive procurement paperwork timelines.
- What should UHV chamber components be machined from and how?
- 316L or 304 electropolished, machined silicone-free with virgin cutting fluid, no blind tapped holes without vent paths, and low-outgassing packing. Copper C110 for gaskets and thermal links. State UHV on the RFQ — it changes toolpath and cleaning decisions, not just the wipe-down at the end.
- A one-off experiment part has no formal drawing — can it still be made?
- A clean STEP file plus a sentence on the critical features ("this bore fits a 25 mm optic, this face seals") is enough for engineering review to formalise tolerances with you. That conversation before cutting is free; discovering the critical fit after delivery is not.
Relevant services
Prototype Machining
Functional prototypes in production-grade materials, shipped in days with DFM feedback included.
CNC Milling
3- and 4-axis vertical machining for housings, brackets, manifolds and structural parts.
Micro Machining
High-speed spindles and Ø0.1 mm tooling for features below 1 mm and watch-scale parts.
Wire EDM
Electrical discharge wire cutting for hardened steels, sharp internal corners and zero-force profiles.
Industrial 3D Printing
Functional polymer and metal additive parts for prototypes, complex geometry, tooling and bridge production.
CNC machining service by country
Have a part in mind?
Upload CAD or drawings. Eligible CNC work gets an instant estimate; other processes move to engineer review. NDA-protected from the first byte.
Start an RFQ