• Smart Design Features
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    Sheet Metal Twist Tabs
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    Interlocking Parts

Engineering: Design for Manufacturability

The engineering team at Northern specializes in taking customer designs and finding a new way to make a project utilizing our unique and advanced technology. This process often allow us to eliminate parts, welding and machining which can both lead to a savings in cost and improvement in quality.

Engineering Highlights

3D Model Every Part

3D modeling enables many things: programming machines, creating shop routing, and QC check our drawings with customer prints. We use the 3D models for project planning, re-design for manufacturing with our equipment, and document/revision control.

Hands-On Problem Solving

Engineers spend a great deal of time on the shop floor and have a thorough understanding of our machines and capabilities. Many improvements are made through small "tweaking" of designs, and occasionally their insight will yield a design breakthrough significantly changing the cost structure of the part.

Never Pick Up a Tape Measure

Smart design features can error proof assembly. This is all possible from thoughtful design decisions in engineering. While this adds time at the beginning of the process, it significantly improves productivity and quality.

Software and File Types

  • Software:
  • File Types:

Locating Features

Error Proof Design

Locating features make it possible to design tight tolerances into a product without the use of fixtures. The CNC cutting equipment defines the location of parts to within 0.005".

Sheet Metal and Tubing

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Fixtureless Welding

Laser Etching


3D Modeling

From Customer to the Shop Floor

Every project is 100% 3D Modeled. This helps with our quality control, brainstorming, planning, and communication.

iPad 3D Models

3D Interference Checks

Quality Inspection