Cost-Effective Laser Cut Defence Shaft Support
Universal Fabrications worked with a defence customer to develop a new shaft support housing. Through close collaboration between our design engineers and the customer, the project moved away from costly machined items to a more cost-effective laser cut fabrication that was quicker to produce. With over 45 years’ experience manufacturing complex metal fabrications for security, policing and defence, we know where fabrication can deliver the same performance for less.
The Challenge
The original approach relied on machined components, which are accurate but expensive and slow to produce, particularly when precision machined from solid. The customer needed a shaft support that met the performance requirements of a defence application while reducing cost and lead time.
Universal Fabrications’ Role
The housing design came about after a series of meetings between our design engineers and the customer’s team. Together, we developed a fabricated alternative: a welded structural steel housing built from laser-cut plate ranging from 5mm to 10mm thick. The side panels have lattice cut-outs to reduce weight while keeping the housing stiff, and the top section is press-brake folded, with gussets welded in for extra strength. The machined shaft tube and bearing boss were MIG and TIG welded into the frame, so machining was only used where precision is essential rather than across the whole part. All of the manufacturing was undertaken at our Nuneaton facility, under our ISO 9001, BS EN ISO 9606-1 and BS EN ISO 3834-2 welding capabilities.
Why It Mattered
Switching from machined items to a laser cut fabrication reduced cost and shortened production time, without compromising the function of the part. It shows the value of involving a manufacturer early: working through the design together led to a better solution than simply quoting the original. It’s the same approach we bring to all our work across defence, automotive, EV and industrial sectors, from fabricated and machined assemblies to precision machined parts.
Have a defence project or a component that could be made more cost-effectively? Call 02476 370272 or email email@universalfabrications.com.
Speak to a Manufacturing Specialist today. Call 02476 370 272 or send us an email.
