IMS Expands In-House CNC Machining Services

IMS Electronics Manufacturing has expanded its in-house CNC machining services in Calgary with new metal-cutting, milling, and turning equipment.

When a component moves between multiple suppliers before final assembly, every handoff can add coordination, scheduling, and communication requirements. By expanding its in-house machining capacity, IMS can manage more metal-part requirements directly alongside its existing electronics manufacturing, sheet metal fabrication, and box-build services.

IMS has added three new machines to its Calgary facility:

• HYDMECH S-20A automatic horizontal metal-cutting bandsaw
• Haas VF-2SS Super-Speed vertical CNC machining centre
• Haas ST-25 CNC turning centre

Together, these machines expand IMS’s ability to prepare raw material, machine custom components, and support more integrated manufacturing programs from its Calgary facility.

IMS provides contract manufacturing services that bring together multiple stages of product manufacturing, including PCB assembly, sheet metal fabrication, cable and wire harnessing, coating and encapsulation, and box-build assembly.

For some projects, mechanical components need to move between suppliers for material preparation, machining, fabrication, finishing, and final assembly. Each additional supplier adds scheduling and coordination requirements.

By adding in-house cutting, milling, and turning capabilities, IMS can support a broader range of metal-part requirements directly from its Calgary facility. The new equipment also complements the sheet metal fabrication and forming capabilities already available through IMS.

This gives customers access to a more integrated Canadian manufacturing partner for products that combine electronic assemblies, fabricated enclosures, custom machined components, and final box build.

Precision machining begins before a component reaches a CNC machine. Raw material often needs to be cut to the correct starting size before it can be machined or fabricated.

The HYDMECH S-20A automatic horizontal metal-cutting bandsaw lets IMS prepare more raw material in-house before it moves into the next manufacturing operation. The machine can cut compatible metal stock into repeatable lengths required for machining or fabrication.

For example, a long metal bar can be loaded into the saw and cut into multiple specified lengths before those pieces move to CNC machining or another metalworking process.

Raw metal stock → Cut to required length → Ready for machining or fabrication

Bringing more material preparation in-house can reduce dependency on external cutting steps for suitable projects. It also helps IMS coordinate the transition from raw material to machining or fabrication more directly.

The Haas VF-2SS Super-Speed vertical CNC machining centre expands IMS’s ability to produce custom machined components in-house.

This type of machine supports material-removal operations such as:

• Precision milling
• Drilling
• Tapping
• Creating holes and profiles
• Machining pockets, contours, and other custom features

In simple terms, the VF-2SS starts with prepared material and removes material to create the geometry required by a component design.

Prepared stock → CNC milling and machining → Custom machined component

Depending on the material, part geometry, tooling, tolerances, and production requirements, IMS can assess machining projects involving materials such as aluminum and stainless steel.

CNC milling complements IMS’s existing sheet metal fabrication capabilities. Sheet metal fabrication is well suited to components made by cutting and forming sheet material. CNC machining can create features, pockets, holes, profiles, and dimensions that require material to be precisely removed from solid stock.

It helps to think of the difference the way Dave Elhard, President and Founder of IMS does: sheet metal fabrication is a bit like origami, starting with a flat sheet and cutting and forming it into shape. CNC machining is closer to sculpting: it starts with a solid block of material and removes what doesn’t belong, cutting away material to create precise pockets, holes, profiles, and dimensions.

Together, these capabilities give customers more options for manufacturing custom metal components within a coordinated production workflow.

Not every component is best made on a vertical machining centre. The Haas ST-25 CNC turning centre adds a different type of CNC machining capability that is particularly well suited to round and cylindrical parts.

With the VF-2SS, the cutting tool rotates while the workpiece is held in place. With the ST-25, the workpiece rotates while cutting tools remove material. This makes CNC turning an effective process for parts with round, concentric, or cylindrical features.

Typical turning-centre operations include:

• Turning
• Facing
• Drilling
• Boring
• Threading
• Machining diameters and profiles
• Producing bores and other internal features

Raw or prepared material → CNC turning → Precision round or cylindrical component

Adding CNC turning capability allows IMS to assess a broader range of components that require rotational machining operations. It can also reduce the need to coordinate with external machine shops for suitable round or cylindrical parts.

The HYDMECH S-20A, Haas VF-2SS, and Haas ST-25 do not necessarily form one fixed production line. Each machine supports a different stage or type of metal-component manufacturing.

The HYDMECH S-20A prepares raw stock by cutting it to the required starting length. From there, the appropriate CNC machine depends on the geometry and requirements of the part.

The Haas VF-2SS supports milling and machining operations for components that require custom shapes, pockets, holes, profiles, and other non-round features. The Haas ST-25 supports turning operations for parts that require precise diameters, threads, bores, and other cylindrical features.

In some cases, a part may only require milling or turning. In others, it may require more than one manufacturing process. The VF-2SS and ST-25 complement each other and help IMS support a wider range of custom component requirements.

The benefit of expanded CNC machining services is not simply having additional equipment on the shop floor. It is having more control over how a component moves from raw material to finished part.

For customers, this can mean:

• Fewer handoffs between separate suppliers
• More manufacturing work coordinated by one team
• Better alignment between machining, sheet metal fabrication, electronics assembly, and box build
• Greater visibility into scheduling and production flow
• A broader range of metal-component requirements supported from IMS’s Calgary facility
• One manufacturing partner accountable for more of the overall product build

For engineers, buyers, product developers, startups, and established manufacturers, this can simplify supplier management. Rather than independently coordinating machining, fabrication, electronics assembly, and final integration, customers can work with IMS to assess how those requirements fit together within a larger manufacturing program.

With expanded metal cutting, CNC milling, and CNC turning capabilities, IMS can support a broader range of custom metal-component requirements from its Calgary facility.

These capabilities build on the PCB assembly, sheet metal fabrication, cable and wire harnessing, coating and encapsulation, and box-build services IMS already provides. Together, they strengthen IMS’s ability to serve as a more integrated Canadian contract manufacturing partner, from prototype and production planning through assembly and final product build.

If you are looking for CNC machining services in Calgary, contact IMS to discuss your project. Sharing your drawings or CAD files, material requirements, tolerances, quantities, finishes, and assembly requirements can help the IMS team determine the best manufacturing approach for your component or product.