Engineering

Engineering Solutions You Need for Your Product

“Engineering, when done well, is revealed by elegance of design”

SMI provides a full range of design and production support services; everything you need to take your idea from concept to completion and all the little things in-between…

Computer Aided Design CAD

SMI uses various cutting-edge computer software to create, test, and dissect the many individual components of a project

Computer Aided Machining CAM

SMI has fully-computerized milling machines to make sure parts are created to the most precise specifications

Finite Element Analysis FEA

Efficiently optimize and validate each design step using fast-solving, CAD-integrated virtual simulation to ensure quality, performance, and safety

Advanced Custom Parts

SMI has an array of C.N.C. Computer Numerical Controlled machines, vertical milling centers, and lathes, which allows us to create custom parts in a variety of sizes

Low-Volume Production Molding/Casting

SMI provides molding/casting for final testing prototypes

Stereolithography, 3D Printing, and Photogrammetry

3D printing helps for one-off mold master parts and proof of concept parts by bypassing expensive prototype part production

Anodizing and Plating for Specialized Applications

Some applications require specialized coatings; SMI can plate using an array of metals specialized for their non-corrosive properties

Photorealistic Renderings and Animations

SMI is experienced in creating photorealistic renders and animated operation videos for use in advertising, websites, and training materials

Technical and Manual Writing

SMI has created many detailed manuals and Operating Standard Manuals

Design and Prototype

Design and Prototype

We offer a full range of design support services. Everything you need to take your “napkin sketch” to finished product and all it entails in between. We work closely with you to provide more than just a 3D model and drawing package of your idea; we are able to test prototypes, manufacture concept demonstrators, and meet low-volume production needs.

We help you refine your design, create a virtual model of it, and test it. We then streamline the design to meet the optimal manufacturing technique for your target market and production needs; i.e. casting, molding, or machining. We provide insight into the best materials for the application from standard steels, brass, aluminum, or plastics, to more advanced and exotic composites, high-temperature epoxies, high-strength modern aluminum alloys, and specialty stainless steel and alloys.

Production

Production

SMI’s talents are best described as a “prototype house.” With in-house production capabilities optimized for low-volume production volumes (up to approx. 2000 parts per annum), we have both machining and molding facilities, allowing us to help our clients maximize their investment in and get the best out of their designs.

Our machine shop operates C.N.C. mills and lathes, generating CAM programs from the solid model CAD drawings. This allows us to make low-volume production runs to help speed the time to market for clients’ products.

Frequently, the machine shop is employed to create a “Master” part for the client (typically slightly over-sized to allow for shrinkage) and then this part is passed to the mold shop where it is used to create molded parts in a multitude of materials to verify the best material for the application.

Having this ability in-house allows SMI to offer the client one-stop shopping and the advantages of continuity in staff, following a project from concept to completion, eliminating the problems typically encountered when a product is transferred from one company to another through its typical design-to-product life cycle.

Specialty

Specialty

Everything from matching materials to applications, optimizing designs, FEA testing before going into production, to producing photorealistic renderings and video animations of your product based on the solid model CAD for advertising, websites, and training materials, to creating training manuals and workshop manuals, everything from the user through to the technician.