# JointWerks Advanced Manufacturing > JointWerks is a digital manufacturing procurement platform and manufacturing network for product manufacturers: design, fabrication, CNC machining, finishing and assembly from its own shop, sourced and managed through one digital interface, ManuConnect. --- # A history of Kitchener-Waterloo manufacturing URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/kitchener-waterloo-manufacturing-history/ From Buttonville to BlackBerry: how a settlement of German immigrants became a manufacturing and engineering powerhouse. JointWerks is based in St. Jacobs, just north of Waterloo, in a region with a long habit of making things. To understand why so many manufacturers and engineers are here today, it helps to go back about 150 years. A town built by makers In the 1800s the area was settled largely by Pennsylvania German Mennonites and immigrants from the German states. The town that grew up around them was named Berlin in 1833, and it brought a strong craft tradition with it: practical people who valued skilled work, thrift and building things to last. That culture turned into industry. In 1866 Emil Vogelsang, a German immigrant, began making buttons with merchant Henry Huber, and button factories grew until Berlin was known as “Buttonville”, with more than a thousand people working in them. Furniture, leather, rubber and food followed. Berlin businessmen started the Berlin Rubber Manufacturing Company, and the Dominion Tire plant later became Uniroyal and, today, AirBoss Rubber Compounding. From Berlin to Kitchener During the First World War, anti-German feeling and pressure from local business leaders led to a referendum in June 1916, and on 1 September 1916 Berlin became Kitchener. The name changed; the manufacturing culture did not. Companies that grew up here Over the generations, Kitchener-Waterloo and the surrounding Waterloo Region produced or hosted companies known around the world: Seagram’s. The Waterloo distillery dates to 1857. Joseph E. Seagram became its sole owner in 1883, and the company he built became one of the largest distillers in the world. Schneiders. J.M. Schneider was making sausages full time in Berlin by 1890. The brand is now part of Maple Leaf Foods. Dare Foods. Charles Doerr opened a grocery in Berlin in 1889 and was soon baking biscuits; the company is still headquartered in Kitchener. BlackBerry. Founded in Waterloo in 1984 as Research In Motion by Mike Lazaridis, then a University of Waterloo student, and Douglas Fregin. ATS. Founded in 1978 by Klaus Woerner and now headquartered in Cambridge, ATS builds automated manufacturing systems for customers around the world. Eclipse Automation. A Cambridge builder of custom automation and robotics, acquired by Accenture in 2022. Toyota added to that story in 1988, when the first Corolla came off the line at its new Cambridge plant. The engineering engine In 1957 a new engineering school opened in Waterloo with 74 students and a radical idea: alternate classroom terms with paid work terms in industry. That school became the University of Waterloo, and its co-op program now places more than 25,000 students a year with thousands of employers. Conestoga College, founded in Kitchener in 1967, trains the technologists, technicians and tradespeople who turn designs into parts. Put a craft culture, a dense base of manufacturers and two schools feeding them talent in the same place, and you get what Waterloo Region is today: one of Canada’s strongest clusters of manufacturing and engineering. The next chapter We see ourselves as part of that story: a modern shop that pairs the region’s craftsmanship with software that connects customers directly to the work. Proudly made in Canada, and delivered wherever you need it. Have a part that needs making? Send us your drawing. --- # How manufacturers can develop young engineering talent URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/developing-manufacturing-talent/ Pair them with your best people, hand them real projects, and back them all the way. Every term, Conestoga College and the University of Waterloo send another wave of students into the shops and engineering offices of Waterloo Region. They arrive with a solid grounding in the theory and the software. What they don’t have yet is the judgement that only comes from making real parts for real customers. That gap is the manufacturer’s job to close. Here is how we think about it. Pair them with your most experienced people, early The fastest way to learn a trade is to stand next to someone who has done it for thirty years. Don’t park new people at a desk to “get familiar with things”. Put each student or apprentice with a senior machinist, welder or designer from the first week, and make that pairing deliberate. The senior learns to teach, the student learns the hundred small things that never make it into a textbook, and the knowledge stays in the building. Give them big projects, and let them grow into them People rise to the size of the problem in front of them. A student who only ever deburrs parts will learn to deburr parts. A student who owns a real project, a fixture, a frame, a customer’s first prototype, learns design for manufacture, scheduling, communication and accountability all at once. Big projects carry a real chance of failure. That is the point. Set a stretch goal, give them room to get it wrong, and be there when they do. The lesson from a part that didn’t fit is one nobody forgets. Back them 110%, start to finish A good co-op term or apprenticeship is a marathon, not a sprint. It should be intense enough that the student is proud of what they finished. That only works if the company supports them from the first day to the last: the tools they need, time with the people who know, honest feedback, and credit when the work goes out the door. Why it matters to the people buying parts A shop that develops its people makes better parts. Engineers who learned to design next to the machinists who make their designs catch manufacturing problems before they reach the floor. That is the same idea behind ManuConnect: put the people who design a part and the people who make it in the same conversation. Have a part that needs designing, or a design that needs making? Send it to us and meet the team who will make it. --- # How Waterloo’s innovation ecosystem shapes manufacturers URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/waterloo-innovation-ecosystem/ Startups move fast. The shops that serve them have to move faster. Waterloo Region is known for its technology companies, but there is a quieter story underneath: the startups, accelerators and builders here depend on manufacturers to turn their ideas into hardware. That relationship is changing how local shops work. An ecosystem built for speed Waterloo has spent decades building support for founders. Communitech was started by local entrepreneurs in 1997. The Accelerator Centre, one of our partners, has helped startups grow in Waterloo since 2006. The University of Waterloo runs one of the largest co-op programs in the world, and both the university and Conestoga College back student entrepreneurs. The result is a steady stream of young companies building physical products: sensors, robots, medical devices, lab equipment, clean-tech hardware. Every one of them eventually needs parts. Innovators set the pace A startup’s runway is measured in months. If a prototype bracket takes three weeks to quote, that is three weeks the company cannot test, demo or raise money on. Founders don’t have time to chase quotes by email or wait for a shop to call back. That pressure forces manufacturers to play at a different speed: faster quotes, quick prototype turns, design feedback while the part is still a model, and clear answers about when parts will ship. Shops that can’t keep up get left behind. Shops that can become part of the team. Open minds matter as much as fast machines Innovators bring problems nobody has solved before. Their drawings may be rough, their materials unusual and their quantities uncertain. A manufacturer who answers with “we don’t do that” loses the job. One who asks “what are you trying to make happen?” often finds a better, cheaper way to make it. Working with startups means saying yes to one-off parts, revisions every week and prototypes that become production runs. It means treating the customer’s engineer as a partner, not a purchase order. How we keep pace We built JointWerks for exactly this. Our engineers review designs for manufacturability before they are quoted, our shop handles one-offs and production under one roof, and ManuConnect gives every customer live quotes, order tracking and a direct line to the people making their parts. Building something new? Upload your design and let’s get your prototype moving. --- # What digital manufacturing marketplaces tell us URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/digital-manufacturing-marketplaces/ Manufacturing comes down to two flows: information and goods. The fastest-growing companies fixed the first one. Ten years ago, buying a custom part meant emailing a drawing to a few shops and waiting days for a quote. Today you can upload a CAD file and get a price in seconds. The companies that made that possible have grown fast, and their growth says a lot about where manufacturing is heading. Four companies, four approaches Xometry (founded 2013, Maryland) is a marketplace. It owns no factories; it quotes your part instantly and routes it to a network of independent supplier shops. In 2025 it reported revenue of $686.6 million (USD), up 26%, with about 82,000 active buyers and about 5,000 active suppliers. Protolabs (founded 1999, Minnesota) runs its own digital factories and, since buying 3D Hubs in 2021, a supplier network called Hubs. In 2025 it reported record revenue of $533.1 million (USD). Its network revenue grew 15.7%, about four times faster than its factories. SendCutSend (founded 2018, Nevada) owns its own factories and quotes laser-cut, waterjet-cut, bent and finished parts online from your file. Fractory (founded 2017 in Estonia) is a marketplace for sheet metal and machined parts, routing orders to a network of partner manufacturers. Owned factories or supplier networks, they all have one thing in common: they made the information side of manufacturing easy. The two keys to manufacturing Every manufactured part depends on two flows. The flow of information: the drawing, the revision, the quote, the material, the tolerance, the question from the machinist, the ship date. When this flow breaks, parts arrive late, wrong, or not at all. For decades it ran on email, phone calls and spreadsheets. The flow of goods: raw material in, parts through each operation, finished goods out the door and onto a truck. This is what shops have always been good at. The marketplaces grew because they fixed the first flow. Instant quotes, online ordering and order status turned buying parts into something that feels like buying anything else online. Buyers clearly want that. Where it is heading Fixing the information flow alone has limits. A marketplace that routes your order to whichever supplier is available may never see the machine that makes your part. The questions that come up during manufacturing, the ones that save money or catch a mistake, still need to reach someone who knows the part. We think the future joins both flows in one place: the convenience of buying online, connected directly to the shop floor that makes the part. That is what we built at JointWerks. ManuConnect handles the information, live quotes, orders, files and tracking, and it is tied to our own shop and the people who make your parts. Want to see both flows working together? Upload your drawing and get a quote from the shop that will make it. --- # What is a NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code? URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/what-is-an-ncage-code/ A five-character code that tells defence buyers exactly who you are. If you want to sell parts to a defence customer, sooner or later someone will ask for your CAGE code. For a Canadian company, that means an NCAGE code. Here is what it is and why it matters. What it is NCAGE stands for NATO Commercial and Government Entity. An NCAGE code is a unique five-character identifier assigned to a company, or to a specific company location, that does business with governments and defence organizations. In the United States the same system is simply called a CAGE code; NATO and partner countries use NCAGE codes in the same format. What it is for Defence supply chains track millions of parts across many countries. The code ties every part, drawing, contract and shipment back to exactly one supplier and one site, with no confusion over similar company names or addresses. Buyers use it to look you up, register you as a supplier and trace where a part came from. Who needs one Canadian companies that want to bid on or supply US Department of Defense work, including through the US/Canada Joint Certification Program, which requires a valid NCAGE code. Suppliers to NATO agencies and allied defence departments. Subcontractors further down the chain, when a prime contractor asks for one to register them as a supplier. Even if you only make parts for a prime contractor, having a code ready makes it easier for them to bring you onto a defence program. How Canadian companies get one In Canada, NCAGE requests go through the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC). First check whether your company already has a code using NATO’s NCAGE search tool; companies sometimes have one from a past contract without knowing it. If not, complete the CCC’s request form and send it in. Make sure the legal name and address match your business registration exactly, because the code is tied to that site. One step among several An NCAGE code identifies you; it doesn’t clear you to handle controlled or classified work. For that, Canadian suppliers may also need Controlled Goods Program registration, a security clearance or cyber security certification. We cover those in why defence contractors need CGP, ITAR and security clearance. Building parts for a defence program? See our aerospace and defence work or send us your drawing. --- # What makes a good co-op in manufacturing? URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/what-makes-a-good-co-op/ Stretch goals, a real passion to chase, and mentors we will miss when they retire. Manufacturing and engineering need young people, and they need them now. Many of the skilled tradespeople and senior engineers who built this industry are heading toward retirement, and the knowledge they carry doesn’t retire with a pension, it disappears. Co-op students and interns are how that knowledge gets passed on. But not every co-op is a good one. Some students spend four months filing drawings. Others leave knowing exactly what they want to do with their careers. The difference comes down to three things. 1. Individual development, with stretch goals Every student arrives with different strengths. A good co-op looks at the person, not the job posting, and sets goals that are just past what they think they can do. Intense, real projects with a clear finish line teach more in four months than a year of busy work. 2. Find a passion early, then fuel it Manufacturing is enormous: design, machining, welding, automation, quality, procurement, software, logistics. Most students have no idea which corner of it they will love. Give them a look at as much of it as you can, watch for what lights them up, and then back it. A student who finds the thing they love in their second term has a decade’s head start. 3. Mentorship from a generation we will miss The machinist who can hear a bad cut, the welder who reads a puddle, the designer who knows what a part will cost before it is quoted: that experience is irreplaceable. Pairing students with those people, while they are still on the floor, is the best investment a manufacturer can make in its own future. Why it is worth the effort Co-op students bring energy, fresh ideas and comfort with new tools. The good ones come back after graduation, already trained in how your shop works. And every one of them who leaves loving manufacturing makes the whole industry stronger. Want to see what a young, hungry team can do with your next project? Send us a drawing. --- # Why defence contractors need CGP, ITAR and security clearance URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/defence-manufacturing-cgp-itar-security-clearance/ Making the part is only half the job. Protecting the information behind it is the other half. Defence manufacturing looks a lot like any other precision work: drawings, materials, tolerances, inspection. The difference is the information. Drawings and technical data for military goods are controlled by law, and the companies that touch them have to prove they can protect them. In Canada, that comes down to four programs. 1. The Controlled Goods Program (CGP) The Controlled Goods Program is run by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) under the Defence Production Act. Any person or business in Canada that needs to examine, possess or transfer controlled goods or controlled technology must register. That includes receiving bid documents that contain controlled technical data. Registration is free, and lasts up to five years. The business appoints a designated official, who passes a security assessment and mandatory training. Owners of 20% or more, and employees who handle controlled goods, are assessed too. Penalties for breaking the rules include fines of up to $2,000,000 and up to 10 years in prison. 2. ITAR The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) are US rules administered by the State Department. They cover defence items and technical data on the US Munitions List. Much of the defence work in North America involves US-origin designs, so Canadian shops run into ITAR often. Canada and the US have a special arrangement: under the ITAR’s Canadian exemption, US companies can send certain unclassified, less sensitive defence items and data to Canadian companies registered in the CGP without an export licence. That is a big part of why CGP registration matters: it is what lets a Canadian shop receive US defence drawings without the delay of a licence for every job. More sensitive items still need one. 3. Security clearance (the Contract Security Program) When a contract involves protected or classified government information, PSPC’s Contract Security Program screens the company. A company can’t apply on its own; it is sponsored through a government contract or bid. The main levels are: Designated Organization Screening: staff screened to Reliability status, for access to protected information and sites. Facility Security Clearance: for classified work, at Confidential, Secret, Top Secret or NATO levels. Document Safeguarding Capability: permission to store protected or classified material at your own site, for a specific contract. Individual employees are screened too, at Reliability, Secret or Top Secret, depending on what they need to see. 4. Cyber security: CPCSC The newest requirement is the Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification (CPCSC), which checks that defence suppliers protect sensitive information on their computer systems. Level 1: an annual self-assessment against 13 security controls. Launched in April 2026. Level 2: certification by an accredited body against 98 controls (in development). Level 3: assessment by National Defence against more than 130 controls (in development). How it fits together A defence buyer wants to know three things: who you are (your NCAGE code), whether you are allowed to see the data (CGP and security clearance), and whether your systems keep it safe (CPCSC). Only then does the conversation turn to whether you can make the part. At JointWerks we are working toward CPCSC Level 1 and ISO 27001; see our certifications. Have a defence part to make? See our aerospace and defence work. --- # Can you trust an online machine shop? URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/online-machine-shops/ Instant quotes are great. Here is what to check before you upload your next drawing. Upload a STEP file, get a price in seconds, click order. Online machine shops, sometimes called digital manufacturing platforms or e-machine shops, have made buying custom parts feel like buying anything else online. For a simple bracket, that can be all you need. But the more your part matters, the more it is worth asking a few questions before you upload. Who actually makes the part? Many online platforms don’t own a shop. They take your order and pass it to whichever supplier in their network bids lowest that week. That is not wrong, but it means the people quoting your part have never seen the machine that will make it, and the next order may go to a different shop entirely. Who answers when something goes wrong? Manufacturing always raises questions: a tolerance that can’t be held, a material that is out of stock, a feature that would cost half as much with a small change. Engineers want to talk about the part. If the only answer is a support ticket, those questions become delays, or worse, surprises at delivery. Can you see your order while it is being made? “In production” tells you nothing. Ask whether you can see which operation your parts are in, whether they have passed inspection, and when they will really ship. What happens to your drawings? Your drawings are your intellectual property. Ask where they are stored, who can see them, and whether they are passed on to other suppliers. The best of both We built JointWerks to keep what is good about buying online and fix what is missing. You get fast quotes built from live shop data, and you order and track everything in ManuConnect. Behind it is our own shop, and real engineers and machinists you can call by name. Your parts are made by the people who quoted them. Want to compare? Send us the same drawing and see what a real shop comes back with. --- # What is a STEP file, and how do you view one? URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/step-file-viewer/ The file format that gets your part made right, and how to open it without CAD software. Ask any machine shop or fabricator what they want with your quote request and the answer is usually the same: “Send us a STEP file.” Here is what that is, why it matters, and how to look at one when you don’t have CAD software. What is a STEP file? STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data, ISO 10303) is the universal format for 3D CAD models. A STEP file, ending in .step or .stp, holds the exact solid geometry of a part or assembly: every surface, hole and edge, at full precision. Almost every CAD program can save one, whether it’s SolidWorks, Fusion, Inventor, Creo, CATIA or Onshape, and almost every manufacturer can open one. Why manufacturers ask for STEP files Exact geometry. Unlike a mesh file (STL) or a picture of a drawing, a STEP file keeps true curves and dimensions, so programmers can cut, bend and machine straight from the model. Faster, more accurate quotes. The shop can measure volume, features and bends directly instead of rebuilding your part from a PDF. Works with any CAD system. You don’t need to use the same software as the shop. The best quote request has both: a STEP file for the geometry, and a PDF drawing for tolerances, finishes and notes. Our guide to starting a project covers what else to send. How to open a STEP file without CAD software You don’t need a CAD licence to look at a STEP file. Free online STEP viewers open the file in your web browser, so you can rotate the model and check it before you send it. That is handy for buyers and project managers who need to confirm they have the right revision, or show a part to someone in a meeting. Before you upload a file to a free viewer, check where it goes. Your models are your intellectual property, and some free tools keep or share what you upload. View your STEP files in ManuConnect ManuConnect, our customer portal, has a built-in 3D viewer. Upload a STEP file with your quote request and you can open and rotate the model right in your browser, next to its drawings, revisions, quotes and orders. Your files stay in ManuConnect, shared only with the people making your parts. STEP, STP, IGES, STL: which should I send? STEP / STP: the first choice for machining, sheet metal and fabrication. IGES / IGS: an older exchange format; fine if it’s all you have. STL: a triangle mesh, made for 3D printing. Good for prints, not for machining. DWG / DXF: 2D drawings and flat patterns, useful for laser-cut sheet parts. Have a STEP file ready? Send it to us for a quote. We accept STEP, IGES, STL, DWG, DXF, PDF, images and ZIP files up to 95 MB together. --- # Why your parts shouldn’t be ordered by email URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/stop-buying-parts-by-email/ What gets lost between an email and a finished part. You wouldn’t order your pizza by email. Yet most custom parts are still bought that way: a drawing attached to a message, a quote back in a PDF, a revision in a reply three weeks later, and a phone call to ask where the order is. What gets lost Every handoff by email is a chance for something to slip. The shop quotes revision B while engineering has moved to revision C. A note about a critical tolerance sits in a thread nobody on the shop floor reads. The buyer asks “where’s this at?” and waits a day for an answer. And quality shows up only as a surprise at delivery, when it is too late and too expensive to fix. None of this is anyone’s fault. It is what happens when the information about a part travels separately from the part. Two flows, not one Making a part is two flows: the material moving through the shop, and the information moving with it, such as drawings, revisions, questions, inspection results and dates. Most shops manage the first and leave the second to the inbox. We think the second matters just as much. What changes when it lives in one place In ManuConnect, every quote, order, drawing and revision for your parts is in one place, shared by you and the people making them. You see your parts move through each operation and each quality checkpoint as it happens. Questions go to the shop floor directly. And everything learned on the first order stays on file, so every order after it is simpler. What it means for you Engineers spend less time chasing and more time designing. Buyers know where every order is without asking. Parts meet your quality standards, checked on the way, not discovered at the dock. Want to see it with your own parts? Send us a drawing for a quote. --- # About Us URL: https://jointwerks.com/company/ You see your parts, your quality and your progress the whole way through. Why JointWerks exists JointWerks exists to modernize how manufacturing gets bought. We were tired, honestly upset, with how little information flows between manufacturers and the people who depend on them, and with quality that shows up only as a surprise at delivery. So we built our own manufacturing shop and our own customer interface. You see your parts, your quality and your progress the whole way through. No more email. No more “where's this at?” What makes us different Two flows, not one Most job shops manage one thing: parts moving across the shop floor. We manage two: the parts, and the information about them. Every quote, drawing, revision, question and status update flows through one portal, ManuConnect, connected to our floor. A closed loop Your design comes in, our engineers flag manufacturing problems before anything is cut, the shop floor feeds progress back to you as the work moves, and everything learned stays on file for the next order. Each job makes the next one faster and better. Industry 5.0 Automation and software do what they are good at, so skilled people can do what they are good at: solving problems, talking to you directly, and building parts right the first time. Who we’re for We make parts for engineers, buyers and founders, at startups, OEMs and large manufacturers alike. If you need custom parts designed, made and finished right, and you want to see where they are the whole way, we’re built for you. Don’t take our word for it. Here is what the people we make parts for say. Submit a review → We have been thoroughly impressed with the exceptional expertise and innovative solutions provided by JointWerks. Their thought and precision in mechanical design and commitment to delivering real world solutions has been outstanding. We highly recommend JointWerks for any engineering design needs. Scott Mahon, President, Wowbutter Foods JointWerks provides professional 3D model design and manufacturing services based on our requirements. Starting from mid-2023, we have been working for a couple of contracts for a years. They are reliable and we are happy to have a long-term partnership with this company. Jinwei Zhang, Co-Founder and COO, LoopX Innovation Bruce County Custom Cabinets hired JointWerks on a few projects when we required custom-designed and manufactured stainless steel pieces. It was a pleasure working with JointWerks. They listened to our needs and came through with exactly what we needed. Larry Lange, Shop Manager and Owner, Bruce County Custom Cabinets Jointwerks was able to come in to design and build a solution, and also repair the problems of the previous work that had been poorly done. I have and will continue to recommend them to the clients that I am working with. Dennis Heide, Shop Manager and Owner, D&D Custom Rolling Services Inc. JointWerks helped me design in-house replacements for expensive laboratory test and production equipment. Thanks to their help with designing and manufacturing I've been able to fast-track my design and testing processes by getting the customized equipment I can needed for my business. Drew Davidson, Director, ArcticEdge Technologies Inc. JointWerks provided a collaborative, start-up-friendly engineering experience with flexible pricing and strong prototyping capabilities. Their team made it easy to communicate our requirements and worked closely with us through multiple design iterations, allowing us to develop and refine our concept efficiently. Tina Mahmoudi, Lead Engineer, Asima Health More about us People & Processes The team, the mentors behind them, and the three steps every job follows. Meet the team → History & Vision Where we started, the problem we kept hitting, how we are solving it, and where we are going. Read our story → Commitments & Values Passion, discipline and craftsmanship, and what they mean for your parts. Our values → Certifications ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and CPCSC Level 1, all in progress. See where we are → --- # Aerospace & Defence URL: https://jointwerks.com/industries/aerospace-and-defence/ From an application-specific problem to precision-machined, hard-anodized parts. From idea to delivery, with you at every prototype For engineers, procurement managers, veterans and serving members who need precise parts, made and protected to defence standards. What we make Precision 5-axis machined components Mounts, rails and brackets Prototypes, from 3D print to production Type III hard-anodized aluminum parts Enclosures and frames Proud of a one-off? So are we: see custom jobs we’re proud of. We are working toward CPCSC Level 1 (Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification) and ISO 27001. See our certifications. Precision CNC machined rail for a defence client A precision-machined rail for an application-specific problem brought to us by a defence industrial base client. What we did We developed the solution from the client's problem: 3D CAD design, 3D-printed prototypes to prove the angular (MOA) offset, then CNC machining and Type III hard anodizing. The client was involved from idea to delivery, giving live feedback as the prototypes and design changed. Materials and processes 3D CAD mechanical design, 3D printing for prototyping, 5-axis CNC machining, 7075-T6 aluminum, Type III hard anodizing Result An idea-to-delivery process that met the needs of the client's application quickly, with the client's direction built in at every prototype. Capabilities used: Design & Engineering, Machining & Additive, Anodizing & Plating Need something like this? Get a quote → --- # Anodizing & Plating URL: https://jointwerks.com/capabilities/anodizing-and-plating/ Protective and decorative finishes for aluminum, steel and stainless steel. Finishes that protect the part The right finish makes a part last: harder wearing, corrosion resistant, conductive where it needs to be, and the right colour. We coordinate the finish as part of the job, so you get finished parts, not raw ones. Typical lead time: 3 to 5 days, depending on part complexity and quantity. Finishes Aluminum anodizingHard, clear, black and coloured, RoHS AlodineClear (RoHS) and yellow chromate conversion coating Electroless nickelOn steel and aluminum ElectropolishingOn stainless steel Black oxideOn steel and stainless steel Zinc platingClear (RoHS), yellow and black PassivationStainless steel Projects with these finishes Aerospace & Defence Precision CNC machined rail for a defence client A precision-machined rail for an application-specific problem brought to us by a defence industrial base client. See the project → Industrial & Construction Rolled 316 stainless steel weldment for a city water main A rolled and welded 316 stainless steel thrust collar for a city water main. See the project → Food, Pharmaceutical & Beverage Food-grade 316 stainless steel transfer bin, rated 2,000 kg A food-grade 316 stainless steel transfer bin rated for 2,000 kg, with radius corners so food cannot build up. See the project → Automotive Assembly line WIP transfer cart for an automotive manufacturer A prototype work-in-progress (WIP) transfer cart for an automotive assembly line. See the project → --- # Assembly & Testing URL: https://jointwerks.com/capabilities/assembly-and-testing/ Parts that arrive assembled, tested and ready to use. Assembled and tested before it ships Loose parts cost you time. We install the hardware, test assemble, and check clearances and movement, so what arrives is ready to go into your product. Typical lead time: 1 to 2 days, depending on the assembly. Hardware installation PEM nuts Studs Dowel pins Grommets Testing Test assembly Clearance testing Movement and articulation testing Assembled and tested projects Research & Lab Custom test equipment: a hydrostatic head tester A small, mobile tester that measures the water pressure a fabric resists before water passes through it. See the project → Research & Lab Custom test fixture for fabric flammability testing A fixture that holds a fabric sample safely and repeatably for flammability testing. See the project → Research & Lab Custom mounting frame for a quantum computing cryostat A frame that mounts a cryostat inside a research lab, for a quantum computing application. See the project → Hospitality & Healthcare Custom metal furniture: a one-off showroom table A bespoke, one-off table set designed and built for a showroom. See the project → Energy & Mining Rugged sensor housing for physical AI in mining A rugged sensor housing for a product manufacturer's physical AI hardware, built to last in hard mining environments. See the project → Automotive Assembly line WIP transfer cart for an automotive manufacturer A prototype work-in-progress (WIP) transfer cart for an automotive assembly line. See the project → --- # Automotive URL: https://jointwerks.com/industries/automotive/ Fixtures, tooling and production-line parts for automotive manufacturers and their suppliers. Parts that keep your line running For manufacturing engineers, maintenance teams and buyers at automotive manufacturers and tier suppliers, who need parts made right and made fast when a line is waiting. What we make Production line fixtures and jigs Brackets, guards and machine covers Tooling plates and end-of-arm tooling mounts CNC machined replacement and wear parts Prototype parts, from 3D print to production Powder-coated and plated finished parts Automotive manufacturers and suppliers such as Toyota Boshoku Canada trust us with their parts. We design, fabricate, machine, finish and assemble under one roof, and you track every order in ManuConnect. A line down and a part broken? Call us at 519-218-9525 or send us the part or drawing for a quote. Assembly line WIP transfer cart for an automotive manufacturer A prototype work-in-progress (WIP) transfer cart for an automotive assembly line. What we did We assisted with the design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) review and completed the CAD model and production drawing changes. Then we led procurement from tube laser cutting through to the finished assembly. Materials and processes Tube and sheet laser cutting, CNC machining, black oxide plating, aluminum anodizing, 3D printing, powder coating, assembly and testing Result The customer received a fully procured prototype transfer cart within 4 weeks, from purchase order to finished goods delivery. Capabilities used: Design & Engineering, Metalworking & Fabrication, Machining & Additive, Anodizing & Plating, Coating & Marking, Assembly & Testing Need something like this? Get a quote → --- # Bend radius and flange chart URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/reference-charts/bend-radius/ Design bends we can form the first time. Every bend has a smallest inside radius the material will take without cracking, and every flange has a shortest length the press brake can hold. Design to these and your part forms cleanly, with no surprises at the first article. Minimum inside bend radius As a multiple of material thickness (T): Material Minimum inside radius Notes Mild steel (hot or cold rolled) 1 × T Bends easily in any direction Galvanized steel 1 × T Tight radii can flake the zinc coating 304 and 316 stainless steel 1 to 1.5 × T Springs back more than mild steel 5052-H32 aluminum 1 to 1.5 × T The usual choice for formed aluminum parts 6061-T6 aluminum 2 to 3 × T Cracks on tight bends; bend across the grain Plate over 1/4 inch 1.5 to 2 × T Depends on the grade and the bend direction Shortest flange A flange needs enough length to sit across the die while it is formed. As a rule of thumb, make every flange at least 4 × T plus the inside radius, measured to the outside of the bend. Shorter flanges are possible with special tooling; ask us before you design them in. Holes and cut-outs near a bend Keep holes at least 2.5 × T plus the bend radius from a bend, or they will stretch out of round. Keep holes at least 2 × T from an edge. Add a bend relief, a small notch at least T wide, where a bend meets an edge. Make holes at least the material thickness in diameter. Press brake capacity We form on press brakes up to 175 ton by 10 feet and 350 ton by 12 feet, with various tooling for complex geometries. For a long or heavy part, tell us the bend length and the thickness and we will check it against the tonnage needed. Tolerances on formed parts Typical, unless your drawing says otherwise: ±0.010 inch (±0.25 mm) on a flat cut feature, ±0.020 inch (±0.5 mm) across one bend, and ±1° on bend angles. Tolerances stack up across bends, so dimension critical features from one datum. Tighter tolerances are possible; put them on the drawing and we will quote to them. See also the sheet metal gauge chart and designing sheet metal parts. --- # Capabilities URL: https://jointwerks.com/capabilities/ From an idea to finished, coated and assembled parts, under one roof and one portal. Everything a complex part needs Each capability below links to its processes, equipment, typical lead time and the real projects it was used on. Lead times depend on part complexity and quantity. Design & Engineering 3D CAD modelling from a concept, 2D PDF or sample part Production drawing packages, GD&T and revision control Finite element analysis, engineering calculations and documentation Design for manufacturing, assembly and cost 2 to 3 days → Metalworking & Fabrication Laser cutting, plasma and sawing in sheet, plate and tube Press brake forming, plate and sheet rolling Weld preparation, grinding, chamfering and fit-up GTAW and GMAW welding in mild steel, stainless and aluminum 1 to 3 days → Machining & Additive Multi-axis CNC turning and full 5-axis CNC milling Manual machining, drilling, tapping and secondary operations 3D printed prototypes, jigs and fit check models CMM inspection, first article and dimensional reporting 3 to 5 days → Anodizing & Plating Hard, clear, black and coloured anodizing Alodine, chem film and electroless nickel Zinc plating, black oxide and electropolishing Stainless passivation 3 to 5 days → Coating & Marking Powder coating and electrostatic wet spray Ceramic coatings and nylon spray Dry film lubricants Laser etch, silkscreen and part marking 3 to 5 days → Assembly & Testing PEM hardware, studs, standoffs, dowel pins and grommets Mechanical subassembly and test assembly Fit, clearance and movement verification Kitting, packaging and ready-to-install delivery 1 to 2 days → --- # Certifications URL: https://jointwerks.com/company/certifications/ Where we are on quality, information security and defence cyber security. In progress We only list a certification as held once it is held. These three are in progress now, with a target date of 01 FEB 2027. In progressETA 01 FEB 2027 ISO 9001 Quality management. A documented system for how we quote, plan, make, inspect and deliver your parts, checked by an outside auditor. In progressETA 01 FEB 2027 ISO 27001 Information security management. How we protect your drawings, models and order data, in our shop and in ManuConnect. In progressETA 01 FEB 2027 CPCSC Level 1 Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification. The cyber security level Canadian defence contracts ask suppliers to meet. --- # Coating & Marking URL: https://jointwerks.com/capabilities/coating-and-marking/ Durable coatings for parts that work hard, in a wide range of colours. Coatings for every job Welded and fabricated parts often need a coating before they are ready to use. We finish parts as part of the job, so a welded frame arrives coated and ready to install. Typical lead time: 3 to 5 days, depending on part complexity and quantity. Coatings Powder coatingsDurable, uniform finishes in a wide range of colours Electrostatic wet spraySmooth, even coverage for complex shapes and surfaces Ceramic coatingsHigh-performance finishes built to withstand extreme heat and wear Nylon sprayTough, abrasion-resistant protection for parts that take a beating Dry film lubricantsLow-friction coatings for moving parts and precision applications Coated projects Hospitality & Healthcare Custom metal furniture: a one-off showroom table A bespoke, one-off table set designed and built for a showroom. See the project → Energy & Mining Rugged sensor housing for physical AI in mining A rugged sensor housing for a product manufacturer's physical AI hardware, built to last in hard mining environments. See the project → Automotive Assembly line WIP transfer cart for an automotive manufacturer A prototype work-in-progress (WIP) transfer cart for an automotive assembly line. See the project → --- # Commitments & Values URL: https://jointwerks.com/company/commitments-and-values/ Everyone notices the details. So do we. Our values Passion Care like it's yours. We chase the next skill, the better method and the harder problem, at work and in life. Discipline The extra step, the extra minute, every time. Consistency isn't luck; it's showing up the same way on every job. Craftsmanship Sweat every detail of what we design, build and deliver. This work is cool as hell, we never forget it, and we know you'll notice the details, because everyone does. Our commitment We are committed to manufacturing solutions that exceed our customers' expectations, and to the quality and innovation that make every project a success. We believe in open communication and collaboration. We work closely with you to understand your needs, and ManuConnect keeps that conversation in one place, from the first drawing to delivery. We are also working toward ISO 9001 for quality and ISO 27001 for information security; see our certifications. Our partnerships We work alongside organizations that back founders, students and builders. Accelerator Centre Waterloo’s startup accelerator, helping founders build and scale their companies. Visit Accelerator Centre → Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective Conestoga College’s entrepreneurship hub, helping students and alumni turn ideas into ventures. Visit Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective → Builders Club A coworking space and community for builders in downtown Kitchener. Visit Builders Club → Start your custom manufacturing project → --- # Contact URL: https://jointwerks.com/contact/ Send us a problem, a sketch, your drawings or a model, and we will come back with a plan and a quote. Get in touch JointWerks Advanced Manufacturing Headquarters 3040 Sawmill Rd St. Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0 Canada 519-218-9525 contact@jointwerks.com Monday to Saturday, 6am to 6pm Closed Sunday Open in Google Maps → What to send A problem to solve, a sketch, or an idea Drawings or 3D models (PDF, DWG, STEP or native CAD) Or access to an existing part to remodel Material and finish Quantity When you need the parts Anything special: tolerances, certifications, inspection Request a quote Tell us what you need and attach any drawings, models or photos. We will come back with a plan and a quote. Name * Company Email * Phone What do you need made? * Quantity Needed by Material and finish Drawings, models or photosPDF, DWG, DXF, STEP, IGES, STL, images or ZIP, up to 95 MB together. Larger files: we will receive them through ManuConnect. Website The quote form needs JavaScript. Please email contact@jointwerks.com or call 519-218-9525. Send quote request → Where we deliver We deliver across Canada, the United States and internationally. Canada OntarioOn-site work and direct delivery Quebec and Atlantic CanadaQuebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador Western CanadaBritish Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba The NorthYukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut United States Great Lakes statesMichigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin All other statesCoast to coast International We ship internationally. Our team handles international shipping processes and requirements, so your parts reach you wherever you are. --- # Design & Engineering URL: https://jointwerks.com/capabilities/design-and-engineering/ From an idea, an old drawing or an existing part to a finished set of production drawings. Mechanical design for manufacturing We develop 3D CAD models of existing parts, turn 2D PDFs into 3D models, improve the manufacturability of existing 3D models, and take new designs from an idea all the way to production drawings. We work in both 3D and 2D. The goal is always the same: a finished set of production drawings and models, ready for procurement, whether we make the parts or you do. Our 2D production drafting turns any of these into drawings a shop can quote and build from. Typical lead time: 2 to 3 days, depending on complexity. What we need to start An idea or a problemDefined well enough to design against Existing drawingsPDF or DWG files of what needs remodelling Existing partsAccess to the parts or assemblies to remodel Software SolidWorks Autodesk ANSYS Projects that started with design Robotics & Automation Custom stainless steel conveyor guard A custom, application-specific stainless steel corner cover for a production conveyor line. See the project → Robotics & Automation Mobile steel frame for temporary power distribution A mobile steel frame for temporary power distribution. See the project → Aerospace & Defence Precision CNC machined rail for a defence client A precision-machined rail for an application-specific problem brought to us by a defence industrial base client. See the project → Industrial & Construction Rolled 316 stainless steel weldment for a city water main A rolled and welded 316 stainless steel thrust collar for a city water main. See the project → Food, Pharmaceutical & Beverage Food-grade 316 stainless steel transfer bin, rated 2,000 kg A food-grade 316 stainless steel transfer bin rated for 2,000 kg, with radius corners so food cannot build up. See the project → Research & Lab Custom test equipment: a hydrostatic head tester A small, mobile tester that measures the water pressure a fabric resists before water passes through it. See the project → Research & Lab Custom test fixture for fabric flammability testing A fixture that holds a fabric sample safely and repeatably for flammability testing. See the project → Research & Lab Custom mounting frame for a quantum computing cryostat A frame that mounts a cryostat inside a research lab, for a quantum computing application. See the project → Hospitality & Healthcare Custom metal furniture: a one-off showroom table A bespoke, one-off table set designed and built for a showroom. See the project → Energy & Mining Rugged sensor housing for physical AI in mining A rugged sensor housing for a product manufacturer's physical AI hardware, built to last in hard mining environments. See the project → Automotive Assembly line WIP transfer cart for an automotive manufacturer A prototype work-in-progress (WIP) transfer cart for an automotive assembly line. See the project → --- # Designing machined parts URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/guides-and-tutorials/design-for-cnc-machining/ Design rules for parts that machine fast and measure right. Machining time is most of what a machined part costs. These rules cut that time without changing what the part does. We machine on 5-axis CNC, which reaches most faces in one set-up, but the same rules still save time on every machine. Internal corners need a radius A round cutter cannot make a sharp inside corner. Give every internal corner a radius of at least one third of the pocket depth, and a little larger than the cutter, so it can turn the corner without stopping. If a square part must sit in a pocket, add small relief cuts in the corners instead. Keep pockets shallow Deep, narrow pockets need long tools that cut slowly and chatter. Keep pocket depth to about four times the width of the pocket where you can. Walls and thin features Thin walls vibrate and bend while they are cut. Keep metal walls at least 0.8 mm (1/32 inch) thick, thicker for tall walls. Holes and threads Use standard drill sizes and standard threads, metric or imperial. Thread depth beyond 1.5 times the diameter adds little strength. Leave room at the bottom of blind tapped holes for the tap. Tolerances Unless your drawing says otherwise, we machine to ±0.005 inch (±0.13 mm). Put tighter tolerances only on the features that need them, such as bores, mating faces and locating holes, and use GD&T where position or flatness matters. Every tight tolerance adds machining and inspection time. Surface finish A standard machined finish is about 3.2 µm Ra (125 µin). Call out a finer finish only where a surface seals, slides or shows. Allow for anodizing Anodizing grows into and out of the aluminum surface. Type III hard anodizing adds about 0.001 inch (25 µm) to each surface, so tight bores and threads need to be masked or machined to allow for it. Tell us the finish and we will set the machining sizes. See Anodizing & Plating. Prototype first For a new design, we can 3D print it to check fit and form before metal is cut, as we did for the long-range scope rail. See Machining & Additive. --- # Designing sheet metal parts URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/guides-and-tutorials/design-for-sheet-metal/ Design rules that save cost and rework on cut and formed parts. Most cost and delay in a sheet metal part is decided at the design stage. These rules keep your part simple to cut, form and weld, and they are what our design and engineering team checks first when you send us a model. 1. Keep one thickness A formed part is made from one sheet, so every wall is the same thickness. If one face needs to be stiffer, add a flange, a rib or a second part welded on, rather than a thicker wall. 2. Use one bend radius One inside radius for every bend means one tool set-up and a faster, cheaper part. Use at least the minimum radius for your material; see the bend radius and flange chart. 3. Make flanges long enough A flange that is too short cannot be held across the die. Make every flange at least 4 times the thickness plus the inside radius. 4. Keep holes away from bends and edges Holes too close to a bend stretch out of round when it is formed. Keep holes at least 2.5 times the thickness plus the bend radius from a bend and 2 times the thickness from an edge, and add a bend relief where a bend meets an edge. 5. Dimension from one datum Tolerances add up across every bend. Dimension the features that matter, such as hole patterns that mate with another part, from one datum, and tolerate only what the part needs. Tight tolerances everywhere cost more and rarely make a better part. 6. Choose hardware early Threaded inserts, studs and nuts pressed into the sheet are cheaper than welded nuts or tapped holes in thin material. Name the hardware on your drawing, or ask us to suggest it. 7. Plan the finish Powder coating adds thickness and needs a hang point; anodizing changes the size of aluminum parts slightly; welds on stainless steel are passivated. Tell us the finish at the start so it is designed in, not worked around. What to send us A 3D model in STEP or your native CAD format is best, because we can unfold it directly. A flat pattern DXF and a PDF drawing with the bends, thickness, material, finish and critical tolerances works too. Only have a sketch or an old part? We can model it for you. See starting a project. --- # Designing welded assemblies URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/guides-and-tutorials/design-for-welded-assemblies/ Design weldments that fit, stay straight and clean up well. A weldment is only as good as the fit of its parts before the first weld. These rules make assemblies easier to fit up, keep them straight and make the welds stronger and cleaner. Leave room for the torch A welder needs to reach every joint with the torch at a sensible angle. Avoid welds in tight inside corners, deep channels or behind other parts, and check that the welder can see the joint. Design parts that locate themselves Tabs and slots, notches and laser-cut features that key parts together make an assembly fit the same way every time, with fewer fixtures and less measuring. We design them in when we model an assembly for you. Weld only what you need More weld means more heat, more distortion and more cost. Use the weld size and length the load needs, and use stitch welds where a continuous weld is not required. Put welds in balanced pairs on opposite sides so the heat pulls evenly. Plan for distortion Heat moves metal. Long, thin parts and large flat panels move the most. Tell us which surfaces must stay flat or square, and we will plan the weld sequence, fixturing and any machining after welding to hold them. Food-grade stainless welds For food, pharmaceutical and beverage equipment, we TIG weld 316 stainless steel with continuous welds, finish them smooth and passivate them, so there are no gaps or crevices where product can collect. Radius inside corners, like those on our 2,000 kg food transfer bin, clean out easily. Put the surface finish and any sanitary standard your equipment must meet on the drawing. Call welds out clearly Use standard weld symbols on your drawing to show the type, size and length of each weld. Not sure how to call one out? Mark where the parts join and what the joint must carry, and we will detail the welds. Need welds to a code or welder qualifications? Tell us which standard, such as CSA W59 or AWS D1.1, when you request a quote. TIG or MIG We TIG (GTAW) and MIG (GMAW) weld stainless steel, mild steel and aluminum. TIG gives the cleanest, most precise welds on thin and visible parts; MIG is faster on heavier sections. We choose the process for the part unless your drawing names one. See Metalworking & Fabrication. --- # Energy & Mining URL: https://jointwerks.com/industries/energy-and-mining/ Rugged hardware for hard environments, designed once and made repeatably. Built for hard environments, made to scale For maintenance engineers, product development leaders, operations managers and supply chain managers who need hardware that survives the site and keeps running. What we make Rugged enclosures and sensor housings Equipment frames and skids Replacement and wear parts Brackets, guards and platforms Production runs that match the first unit We prototype to prove the design, then set up a repeatable process so the hundredth unit matches the first, at whatever volume you need. Rugged sensor housing for physical AI in mining A rugged sensor housing for a product manufacturer's physical AI hardware, built to last in hard mining environments. What we did The customer needed a more robust housing for their sensor. We developed a mechanical design able to survive sustained use in harsh mining conditions, prototyped it, and set up a repeatable manufacturing process able to make hundreds of housings a year. Materials and processes 3D CAD mechanical design, prototyping, laser cutting, brake forming, TIG and MIG welding, powder coating, assembly, testing and documentation Result A scalable manufacturing partner able to meet the customer's fluctuating, complex volumes. Capabilities used: Design & Engineering, Metalworking & Fabrication, Coating & Marking, Assembly & Testing Need something like this? Get a quote → --- # Frequently asked questions URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/faq/ Straight answers about custom metal fabrication, sheet metal, welding and CNC machining. ## Is there a metal fabrication shop near me in Kitchener-Waterloo? Yes. JointWerks is headquartered at 3040 Sawmill Rd in St. Jacobs, Ontario, just north of Waterloo, open Monday to Saturday, 6am to 6pm. We are a custom metal fabrication, welding and CNC machining shop serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and the rest of Ontario, and we deliver across Canada, the United States and internationally. ## What is sheet metal fabrication? Sheet metal fabrication turns flat sheet into finished parts by cutting, bending and joining it. We laser cut the blanks, form them on 175 and 350 ton press brakes, roll them where needed, and TIG or MIG weld them into brackets, enclosures, guards, frames and assemblies. ## Do you do custom sheet metal fabrication for one-off parts? Yes. We make one-off parts and prototypes as readily as production runs. Many of our projects started as a single custom part for a problem nobody had solved before. ## What metals do you fabricate and weld? Stainless steel (including food-grade 316), mild steel and aluminum. We TIG and MIG weld all three, and roll sheet, plate, angle, tube and bar. ## Do you offer welding and fabrication together? Yes. Cutting, forming, welding, machining, finishing and assembly happen under one order, so you deal with one shop instead of several. ## Do you do CNC machining as well as fabrication? Yes: multi-axis CNC turning, 5-axis CNC milling and manual machining, with CMM inspection. Machined parts and fabricated parts can be built and assembled in the same order. ## How fast can I get a quote? Fast. Our quotes are built from live shop data, not guesswork, so we can turn them around quickly. Typical lead times once you order are 1 to 3 days for fabrication and 3 to 5 days for machining, depending on complexity and quantity. ## What do I need to send for a quote? Whatever you have: a 3D model (STEP or IGES), a drawing (PDF, DWG or DXF), an STL, photos, a sketch, or the broken part itself. Our engineers can turn a sketch or an old 2D drawing into a 3D model and production drawings. ## Can you make a replacement for a broken part? Yes. Send us photos and dimensions, or the part itself, and we will model it, make it and get it back to you. If a line is down, call us at 519-218-9525. ## Do you do powder coating, anodizing and plating? Yes, as part of your order: powder coating, electrostatic wet spray, anodizing (including Type III hard anodizing), Alodine, electroless nickel, electropolishing, black oxide, zinc and passivation. Your parts arrive finished. ## Do you ship outside Ontario? Yes. We deliver across Canada and the United States, and ship internationally. Our team handles the shipping requirements, so your parts reach you wherever you are. ## Which industries do you work with? Robotics and automation, automotive, aerospace and defence, energy and mining, food, pharmaceutical and beverage, industrial and construction, research labs, and hospitality and healthcare. ## How do I track my order? In ManuConnect, our customer portal. You see every quote, order, drawing and revision in one place, and watch your parts move through each operation and quality checkpoint as it happens. ## Are my drawings kept confidential? Yes. Your drawings and data live in ManuConnect, shared only with the people making your parts. We are working toward ISO 27001 and CPCSC Level 1 (Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification). --- # Food, Pharmaceutical & Beverage URL: https://jointwerks.com/industries/food-pharmaceutical-and-beverage/ Food-grade 316 stainless steel equipment, TIG welded and passivated. Food-safe stainless steel, made to last For operations, plant and maintenance managers, and owners, who need equipment that is cleanable, corrosion resistant and back in service fast. What we make Stainless transfer bins and hoppers Sanitary tubing and inlet weldments Conveyor parts and guards Equipment frames and platforms Replacements for worn equipment, even without drawings We work in 316 stainless steel, radius the corners where product could collect, TIG weld every seam and passivate the finished part. Food-grade 316 stainless steel transfer bin, rated 2,000 kg A food-grade 316 stainless steel transfer bin rated for 2,000 kg, with radius corners so food cannot build up. What we did A complete remanufacture of the customer's existing, worn-out bin. We produced the fabrication drawings, then laser cut, formed, TIG welded and passivated the whole bin to strict food-safe requirements. Materials and processes 316 stainless steel sheet, tube and bar, laser cutting, forming, TIG (GTAW) welding, stainless passivation Result A complete replacement for a worn-out storage bin, from fabrication drawings to a food-safe finished bin. Capabilities used: Design & Engineering, Metalworking & Fabrication, Anodizing & Plating Need something like this? Get a quote → Sanitary stainless steel food inlet weldment A complex, precise stainless steel inlet weldment that directs food product streams relative to one another. What we did We formed the tube and bar, TIG welded the inlet weldment and passivated it for food contact. Materials and processes 316 stainless steel tube and bar, tube and bar forming, TIG (GTAW) welding, stainless passivation Capabilities used: Metalworking & Fabrication Need something like this? Get a quote → --- # For designers and engineers URL: https://jointwerks.com/manuconnect/for-designers-and-engineers/ Catch problems at the design stage, not on the shop floor. Talk about the part, not the paperwork Engineers want to talk about the part: the tolerance that matters, the feature that is hard to make, the change that would save half the cost. ManuConnect puts you in direct contact with the operators and engineers making your parts, linked to live shop data, so those conversations happen before anything is cut. Upload a STEP file and drawings with your quote request. Our engineers review each part for manufacturing and flag issues while it is still a design. You answer questions, request design changes and approve revisions in one place, and every revision stays on file with the part. When the part is made, you see it move through each operation and quality checkpoint, so you know it meets your quality standards before it reaches your dock. What you can do in ManuConnect View your models in 3DOpen and rotate STEP files in your browser, next to their drawings and orders. Catch issues at the design stageManufacturing problems flagged before anything is cut. Talk to the shop floorQuestions and design changes go straight to the people making your parts. Every revision on fileDrawings, models and changes kept with the part, for every order after. Backed by our own design team Need help getting from idea to drawing? Our design and engineering team turns sketches, old 2D drawings and broken parts into 3D models and production drawings, designed for manufacture from the start. Send us your model for a quote → --- # For supply chain managers and purchasers URL: https://jointwerks.com/manuconnect/for-supply-chain-and-procurement/ Know where every order is, without asking. No more “where’s this at?” Buying custom parts usually means chasing: quotes in one inbox, revisions in another, and a phone call every time you need a delivery date. ManuConnect puts every quote, order and expected delivery date for your manufactured parts and assemblies in one place, linked to our shop floor. Quotes are built from live shop data, so you get them fast and they hold up. Once you order, you see each part move through every operation and quality checkpoint, with expected delivery dates that come from the floor, not from a guess. Every past order stays on file with its drawings, revisions and pricing, so ordering the same part again, or scaling it from one piece to production volumes, is simple. What you can do in ManuConnect Live quotesBuilt from real shop data, with clear lead times. Order status for every partSee which operation each part is in, and when it ships. Every past order on fileDrawings, revisions and pricing kept for the next order. One place for complex assembliesFrom a single part to a multi-level assembly and production runs. One shop, one point of contact Design, fabrication, CNC machining, finishing and assembly happen under one order, so you manage one supplier instead of several. And when you need a person, a real one picks up the phone at 519-218-9525. Start your quote → --- # Guides & Tutorials URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/guides-and-tutorials/ How to get better parts, faster, with less back and forth. Starting a project What to send, what to include in a quote request, typical lead times by process and where we deliver. Read the guide → Designing sheet metal parts Bend radii, flanges, holes near bends and tolerances that save cost and rework. Read the guide → Designing machined parts Internal corners, pockets, threads, tolerances and anodizing allowances. Read the guide → Designing welded assemblies Weld access, self-locating parts, distortion and food-grade stainless welds. Read the guide → --- # History & Vision URL: https://jointwerks.com/company/history-and-vision/ From digital things to real, manufactured things. 2020–2022 Where it started JointWerks began as a mechanical design office. Our founder, Noah Donsig, designed parts and products for companies that didn't have the engineering capacity in house, and then helped them get those designs made. 2022–2024 The problem we kept hitting Turning a design into real parts meant chasing quotes by email, waiting on updates that never came, and finding problems after the parts arrived. Good shops were out there, but the information between them and their customers was broken. 2024–2026 How we are solving it We built our own shop, and partnered with ManuConnect, a procurement platform built by people who had lived the same problem, to connect customers directly to the work. Today more than 30 product manufacturers use the portal to routinely source and manage more than 100 products and projects. 2026+ Where we are going A network of proven local shops, all connected through one customer portal, so buying complex parts is as clear as ordering anything else online. Customers organize, visualize, quote, order and track their manufacturing digitally, while a local network of proven technicians gives them direct, shop-floor feedback and a local connection. It is a closed loop, from the flow of digital information to the flow of physical goods, where careers in marketing, software, robotics, mechanical engineering, manufacturing and logistics can all thrive. --- # Hospitality & Healthcare URL: https://jointwerks.com/industries/hospitality-and-healthcare/ Bespoke, one-off pieces, from a sketch to delivery. One-off pieces, one shop For operations and procurement managers, mechanical design engineers and architects who need a custom piece designed, made and finished in one place. What we make Custom furniture and tables Fixtures and displays Equipment frames and carts Powder-coated steel parts One-off showpieces We handle all of it, from the first sketch through cutting, TIG welding, CNC machining and powder coating to final assembly. Custom metal furniture: a one-off showroom table A bespoke, one-off table set designed and built for a showroom. What we did A complete mechanical design for a one-off table set, then laser cutting, tube laser cutting, CNC machining, TIG welding, powder coating and assembly. Materials and processes 3D CAD mechanical design, laser cutting, tube laser cutting, CNC machining, TIG (GTAW) welding, powder coating, assembly Result A proprietary one-off table, from idea to delivery through one shop. Capabilities used: Design & Engineering, Metalworking & Fabrication, Machining & Additive, Coating & Marking, Assembly & Testing Need something like this? Get a quote → --- # How it works URL: https://jointwerks.com/manuconnect/how-it-works/ Three steps, with quality and information flowing through all of them. The three steps The JointWerks process cycle: 1 Organize & Visualize, 2 Order & Track, 3 Receive & Scale, then back to the start ManuConnect 01 Organize & Visualize 02 Order & Track 03 Receive & Scale 01 Organize & Visualize Upload your complex assemblies and loose piece parts. Our engineers review each one for manufacturability before anything is made. In ManuConnectManuConnect automatically organizes everything by its procurement requirements into an easy-to-understand visual map of your procurement workflow. Request a quote instantly, based on live shop capacity and capabilities. 02 Order & Track Provide feedback, adjust your RFQs, then submit your order. We manufacture with quality checkpoints along the way. In ManuConnectLive orders update every time they complete an operation, so you can see them pass every quality checkpoint and arrive on time. 03 Receive & Scale Build and optimize your specific manufacturing requirements directly, and keep optimizing as your product lifecycles evolve. In ManuConnectAccess the information for any part, on any current or past order, in one place. Organize your products and projects around their routine procurement requirements, set by how your systems work, and let ManuConnect automate the rest. What you can do in ManuConnect Quotes from real shop data Get quotes generated from live shop capacity and capabilities. Catch issues at the design stage Spot manufacturing issues while your part is still a design. Talk to the shop floor Talk to operators during production and request revisions. Track delivery lead times See expected delivery lead times for every order. Scale to production Grow from one part to production volumes, with everything already on file. --- # Industrial & Construction URL: https://jointwerks.com/industries/industrial-and-construction/ From an architectural drawing to a rolled and welded assembly, in one shop. From a 2D drawing to a finished weldment For project managers, estimators, owners and architects who need custom metalwork built from the drawings, quoted fast and delivered on schedule. What we make Structural and custom weldments Rolled plate, rings and collars Brackets, supports and embeds Stainless parts for water and infrastructure One-off parts from architectural drawings We turn 2D drawings into 3D models, production drawings and cutting files, then cut, roll, weld and passivate the parts in our shop. Rolled 316 stainless steel weldment for a city water main A rolled and welded 316 stainless steel thrust collar for a city water main. What we did We broke a 2D architectural PDF down into laser-cutting-ready files, laser cut the blank parts, roll formed the 1/2 inch 316 stainless collar tube and MIG welded the complete collar weldment. Materials and processes Mechanical design and drafting, laser cutting, roll forming, MIG (GMAW) welding of stainless steel, stainless passivation Result One shop that took an architectural 2D drawing to a 3D CAD model with production drawings, and then to a physical rolled and welded assembly. Capabilities used: Design & Engineering, Metalworking & Fabrication, Anodizing & Plating Need something like this? Get a quote → --- # Industries URL: https://jointwerks.com/industries/ Real projects for the industries we serve, designed, made and delivered by professionals. Custom parts for the industries we serve Pick your industry to see the parts we machine and fabricate for it, and the real projects behind them. Robotics & Automation Machining End-of-arm tooling plates and gripper jaws Bearing housings, riser blocks and shaft adapters Fabrication Conveyor guarding and safety fencing Machine frames, pedestals and base plates Learn more → Automotive Machining Tooling and fixture plates Checking fixture details and gauge components Fabrication WIP and finished goods carts Dunnage racks and returnable containers Learn more → Aerospace & Defence Machining Machined housings, fittings and bracketry Tooling details and locating hardware Fabrication Assembly and weld fixtures Ground support equipment, transit stands and shipping frames Learn more → Industrial & Construction Machining Adapter flanges and spool connections Wear components, bushings and pins Fabrication Water main spool pieces and fittings Equipment skids, bases and access platforms Learn more → Food, Pharmaceutical & Beverage Machining Sanitary fittings and adapters Change parts, guides and machined wear components Fabrication Stainless hoppers, chutes and product contact surfaces Washdown tables, conveyor frames and equipment guarding Learn more → Research & Lab Machining Test rig components and custom fixture plates One-off machined parts to print for R&D builds Fabrication Stainless benches, carts and equipment stands Enclosures and frames for test apparatus Learn more → Hospitality & Healthcare Machining Replacement components for commercial equipment Custom hardware and mounting details Fabrication Stainless counters, prep tables and shelving Carts, trolleys and equipment stands Learn more → Energy & Mining Machining Flange adapters and shaft components Wear parts, bushings and liners Fabrication Chutes, hoppers and liner panels Skid frames, guarding and access platforms Learn more → Custom jobs we’re proud of One-off problems people brought us: a precision rail for a defence client, a frame for a quantum computing lab, a showroom table. If it has never been made before, we’re the shop to call. Aerospace & Defence Precision CNC machined rail for a defence client A precision-machined rail for an application-specific problem brought to us by a defence industrial base client. See the project → Research & Lab Custom test equipment: a hydrostatic head tester A small, mobile tester that measures the water pressure a fabric resists before water passes through it. See the project → Research & Lab Custom mounting frame for a quantum computing cryostat A frame that mounts a cryostat inside a research lab, for a quantum computing application. See the project → Hospitality & Healthcare Custom metal furniture: a one-off showroom table A bespoke, one-off table set designed and built for a showroom. See the project → Bring us your one-off project → --- # Insights & News URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/insights-and-news/ Updates from the shop and thoughts on modern manufacturing. What is a NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code? What the five-character code is for, who needs one, and how Canadian companies get one. Read the article → Why defence contractors need CGP, ITAR and security clearance Controlled Goods, ITAR, security clearance levels and CPCSC, explained for Canadian suppliers. Read the article → A history of Kitchener-Waterloo manufacturing From Buttonville to BlackBerry: how the region became a manufacturing and engineering powerhouse. Read the article → How Waterloo’s innovation ecosystem shapes manufacturers Startups move fast. Why the shops that serve them have to move faster, with open minds. Read the article → How manufacturers can develop young engineering talent Pair them with your best people, hand them real projects, and back them all the way. Read the article → What makes a good co-op in manufacturing? Stretch goals, a passion to chase, and mentors we will miss when they retire. Read the article → What digital manufacturing marketplaces tell us What the growth of Xometry, Protolabs, SendCutSend and Fractory says about where manufacturing is heading. Read the article → What is a STEP file, and how do you view one? Why manufacturers ask for STEP files, and how to open one in your browser without CAD software. Read the article → Can you trust an online machine shop? Instant quotes are great. What to check before you upload your next drawing. Read the article → Why your parts shouldn’t be ordered by email What gets lost between an email and a finished part, and what changes when the order lives in one place. Read the article → --- # Machining & Additive URL: https://jointwerks.com/capabilities/machining-and-additive/ Multi-axis CNC turning, 5-axis milling and CMM inspection. CNC machining, prototype to production From one-off prototypes to bar-fed production runs, we machine complex parts complete in as few setups as possible, and inspect them before they leave. For early prototypes, we 3D print to prove a design before it is machined. Typical lead time: 3 to 5 days, depending on part complexity and quantity. Multi-axis CNC turning Up to 24 inch swing, 80 mm bore capacity 2.5 inch bar capacity, bar-fed production runs Turning, Y-axis and 5-axis milled features complete in one setup 5-axis CNC milling 330 mm diameter work envelope, full 5-axis Up to 15,000 RPM, CAT 40 tooling 50 by 20 by 25 inch travels, 3-axis Manual machining and inspection Knee mill Engine lathe CMM inspection and in-process probing Machining projects Aerospace & Defence Precision CNC machined rail for a defence client A precision-machined rail for an application-specific problem brought to us by a defence industrial base client. See the project → Research & Lab Custom test equipment: a hydrostatic head tester A small, mobile tester that measures the water pressure a fabric resists before water passes through it. See the project → Research & Lab Custom test fixture for fabric flammability testing A fixture that holds a fabric sample safely and repeatably for flammability testing. See the project → Hospitality & Healthcare Custom metal furniture: a one-off showroom table A bespoke, one-off table set designed and built for a showroom. See the project → Automotive Assembly line WIP transfer cart for an automotive manufacturer A prototype work-in-progress (WIP) transfer cart for an automotive assembly line. See the project → --- # Start your quote URL: https://jointwerks.com/manuconnect/ Drop in your drawings and models. A real engineer looks at every file, and we come back with a quote, fast. Drop your drawings and models here or click to choose files PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP, IGES, STL, images or ZIP, up to 95 MB together. Larger files: we will receive them through ManuConnect. Name * Email * Company Phone Anything we should know? (optional) Website The quote form needs JavaScript. Please email contact@jointwerks.com or call 519-218-9525. Get my quote → More about ManuConnect What is ManuConnect? One place to organize, visualize, quote, order and track your manufacturing. Learn more → How it works Three steps, with quality and information flowing through all of them. Learn more → For designers and engineers Catch issues at the design stage, view your models in 3D and talk to the shop floor. Learn more → For supply chain managers and purchasers Live quotes, order status and every past order in one place. Learn more → --- # Materials we work with URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/reference-charts/materials/ Steels, stainless steels and aluminum, and what each is good for. We work with the metals most custom parts and assemblies are made from. Not sure which one your part needs? Tell us how it will be used, what it must survive and what it must meet, and our design and engineering team will recommend one. Stainless steel Grade Good for Finishes 304 General-purpose corrosion resistance: covers, guards, enclosures, frames. Our conveyor corner cover is 304. Brushed, bead blasted, passivated 316 Food, pharmaceutical, water and marine use, where chlorides or cleaning chemicals attack 304. Our food transfer bins, inlet tubing, test equipment and water main collars are 316. Passivated, polished for food contact Carbon steel Material Good for Finishes Mild steel sheet, hot or cold rolled Frames, brackets, bases and enclosures where cost matters most Powder coating, painting, plating Structural steel, CSA G40.21 44W and ASTM A36 Plate, angle, channel and tube for welded frames and skids Powder coating, painting Galvanized steel Outdoor parts that need corrosion protection without a coating step As supplied Aluminum Alloy Good for Finishes 5052-H32 Formed sheet parts: it bends well and resists corrosion Anodizing, powder coating 6061-T6 Machined parts and welded frames; the general-purpose alloy Anodizing, powder coating 7075-T6 Machined parts that need high strength for their weight. Our long-range scope rail is 7075-T6 with Type III hard anodizing. Type II and Type III anodizing Other materials We also 3D print prototypes to check fit and form before a part is machined. Other metals, such as brass, copper, titanium and tool steels, are available on request; ask us. Material certificates Need mill test reports or material traceability for your parts? Put it on your quote request and we will supply them with the order. Mill certificates are available for every stainless steel and structural steel order. See also the sheet metal gauge chart, Anodizing & Plating and Coating & Marking. --- # MCP & APIs URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/mcp-and-apis/ Connect your systems and AI tools to JointWerks and ManuConnect. More of your team’s research and purchasing starts with an AI assistant or runs through your own systems. This page lists what those tools can read and connect to. For AI assistants: available now llms.txt: a short map of this site for AI tools, with every page and what it covers. llms-full.txt: the text of every public page in one file. Structured data on every page describing JointWerks, our services and how to reach us. An assistant pointed at jointwerks.com can answer what we make, which processes we run and how to start a project, from our own words. ManuConnect API ManuConnect offers an API so your ERP or purchasing system can send quote requests, follow orders and download documents such as drawings, inspection reports and certificates without anyone retyping them. To connect your system, get in touch and we will set up access with you. ManuConnect MCP server ManuConnect’s MCP server lets an AI assistant your team already uses, such as Claude or ChatGPT, check order status, find a past drawing or start a quote request in ManuConnect, using your login and your permissions. Your data Connections use your ManuConnect account and only see what your account can see. Our ISO 27001 work, in progress, covers how we protect your drawings, models and order data, in the shop and in ManuConnect. See Certifications. --- # CNC machining, metal fabrication, quoted fast, done right. URL: https://jointwerks.com/ Manufacturing is complex and confidential. We manage your drawings, data and orders with the same care and precision we put into your finished products. Trusted by industry leaders Join them: get a custom manufacturing quote → Custom manufacturing, start to finish JointWerks is a Canadian custom manufacturer: mechanical design, sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining, welding, finishing and assembly under one roof, with every quote and order online in ManuConnect. From a one-off prototype to a full production run, for startups, OEMs and large manufacturers alike. Bring us a problem, a sketch, an old drawing or a 3D model, and we’ll make it. Made in Canada, delivered across Canada, the United States and internationally. See where we deliver. Canada’s fastest lead times Service Lead time Design & engineering 2 to 3 days Metalworking & fabrication 1 to 3 days Machining 3 to 5 days Anodizing, plating & coating 3 to 5 days Assembly & testing 1 to 2 days Get a CNC machining or fabrication quote → Parts on the floor, information online Most job shops manage one thing: parts moving across the shop floor. We manage two: the parts, and the information about them. Every quote, drawing, revision, question and status update flows through one portal, ManuConnect, connected to our floor. It is a closed loop. Our engineers flag manufacturing problems before anything is cut, the shop floor feeds progress back to you as the work moves, and everything learned stays on file for the next order. No more email chains, and no more “where's this at?” Why we work this way. Track your orders live in ManuConnect With JointWerks ManuConnect Feature What you get Live quoting and order tracking Quotes, orders and delivery dates in one place Visualize and organize Every part, drawing and revision, organized Complex assemblies From a single part to a multi-level assembly Why manufacturers choose JointWerks Reviews from the engineers, buyers and founders we make parts for. We have been thoroughly impressed with the exceptional expertise and innovative solutions provided by JointWerks. Their thought and precision in mechanical design and commitment to delivering real world solutions has been outstanding. We highly recommend JointWerks for any engineering design needs. Scott Mahon, President, Wowbutter Foods JointWerks provides professional 3D model design and manufacturing services based on our requirements. Starting from mid-2023, we have been working for a couple of contracts for a years. They are reliable and we are happy to have a long-term partnership with this company. Jinwei Zhang, Co-Founder and COO, LoopX Innovation Bruce County Custom Cabinets hired JointWerks on a few projects when we required custom-designed and manufactured stainless steel pieces. It was a pleasure working with JointWerks. They listened to our needs and came through with exactly what we needed. Larry Lange, Shop Manager and Owner, Bruce County Custom Cabinets Jointwerks was able to come in to design and build a solution, and also repair the problems of the previous work that had been poorly done. I have and will continue to recommend them to the clients that I am working with. Dennis Heide, Shop Manager and Owner, D&D Custom Rolling Services Inc. JointWerks helped me design in-house replacements for expensive laboratory test and production equipment. Thanks to their help with designing and manufacturing I've been able to fast-track my design and testing processes by getting the customized equipment I can needed for my business. Drew Davidson, Director, ArcticEdge Technologies Inc. JointWerks provided a collaborative, start-up-friendly engineering experience with flexible pricing and strong prototyping capabilities. Their team made it easy to communicate our requirements and worked closely with us through multiple design iterations, allowing us to develop and refine our concept efficiently. Tina Mahmoudi, Lead Engineer, Asima Health ←→ More on our reviews → --- # Metalworking & Fabrication URL: https://jointwerks.com/capabilities/metalworking-and-fabrication/ Complex multi-part assemblies, broken down, formed and welded back together. Sheet metal fabrication and welding We take complex multi-body assemblies down to their individual parts, work each part through the processes that form it to shape, then bring them back together through welding and assembly. We cut sheet, plate and tube on our lasers, form on press brakes up to 350 ton by 12 feet, roll sheet, plate, angle, tube and bar, and TIG and MIG weld stainless steel, mild steel and aluminum. Need the parts finished too? Pair fabrication with powder coating and painting or passivation and plating. Typical lead time: 1 to 3 days, depending on part complexity and quantity. Processes Sheet and plate laser cutting Tube laser cutting Forming and plate forming Sheet and plate rolling Angle rolling Tube and bar rolling GTAW (TIG) welding GMAW (MIG) welding Capacity Press brake175 ton by 10 ft Press brake350 ton by 12 ft ToolingVarious tooling for complex geometries TIG (GTAW)Aluminum, mild steel, stainless steel MIG (GMAW)Aluminum, mild steel, stainless steel Fabrication projects Robotics & Automation Custom stainless steel conveyor guard A custom, application-specific stainless steel corner cover for a production conveyor line. See the project → Industrial & Construction Rolled 316 stainless steel weldment for a city water main A rolled and welded 316 stainless steel thrust collar for a city water main. See the project → Food, Pharmaceutical & Beverage Food-grade 316 stainless steel transfer bin, rated 2,000 kg A food-grade 316 stainless steel transfer bin rated for 2,000 kg, with radius corners so food cannot build up. See the project → Food, Pharmaceutical & Beverage Sanitary stainless steel food inlet weldment A complex, precise stainless steel inlet weldment that directs food product streams relative to one another. See the project → Research & Lab Custom test equipment: a hydrostatic head tester A small, mobile tester that measures the water pressure a fabric resists before water passes through it. See the project → Research & Lab Custom test fixture for fabric flammability testing A fixture that holds a fabric sample safely and repeatably for flammability testing. See the project → Research & Lab Custom mounting frame for a quantum computing cryostat A frame that mounts a cryostat inside a research lab, for a quantum computing application. See the project → Hospitality & Healthcare Custom metal furniture: a one-off showroom table A bespoke, one-off table set designed and built for a showroom. See the project → Energy & Mining Rugged sensor housing for physical AI in mining A rugged sensor housing for a product manufacturer's physical AI hardware, built to last in hard mining environments. See the project → Automotive Assembly line WIP transfer cart for an automotive manufacturer A prototype work-in-progress (WIP) transfer cart for an automotive assembly line. See the project → --- # People & Processes URL: https://jointwerks.com/company/people-and-processes/ 60+ years of combined experience behind every part you order. Between the four founders we bring more than 60 years in manufacturing, engineering and software. We started young, as engineers, a millwright and a software engineer, and we could have taken those skills anywhere. We stayed in manufacturing because precision matters, and because making things in Canada matters. You deal with us directly. Every person below has a button to call or email them, and when you call, a real person picks up. Founders Noah Donsig Founder & CEO Years: 12+ in manufacturing & engineering Credentials: Mechanical Engineering Technology – Design and Analysis, Conestoga College Past: CAF Infantry, Noah John Design, Engineering Leadership Passions: Building a better way to do something, building teams “The person you will miss the most is the one you could have been.” Call NoahEmail Noah Kyle Magalhaes Co-Founder & COO Years: 14+ in manufacturing & project management Credentials: Mechanical Engineering Technology – Design and Analysis, Conestoga College Past: $50M+ procurement projects Passions: Process, people, on-time delivery “Systems create consistency and processes create efficiency so that our team can create excellence.” Call KyleEmail Kyle Nicholas Porter Co-Founder & CTO Years: 5+ professional, 9+ in software Credentials: B.Eng. Software Engineering, Carleton University Past: Government & manufacturing software systems Passions: System design, process automation “The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second-best time is today.” Call NicholasEmail Nicholas Andrew Dekker Co-Founder & CIO Years: 25+ in manufacturing & IT Credentials: Millwright, patented inventor, open-source contributor Past: Manufacturing leadership, Industry 4.0 & 5.0 Passions: Systems automation, security, pushing things past spec “Hack the planet.” Call AndrewEmail Andrew Engineering and mentors Andreas Kempf Lead Mechanical Design Engineer Years: 8 in mechanical design & manufacturing engineering Credentials: Automated Manufacturing diploma, B. Mechanical Systems Engineering, Conestoga Passions: Gearhead; mechanical, electrical, robotics, automation Goal: Multidisciplinary projects, start to finish “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” — Leonardo da Vinci Call AndreasEmail Andreas GN Georg Nowak Technical Mentor, Engineering Design MP Martin Pinnau Technical Mentor, Manufacturing How we work Every job follows the same three steps, with quality checks and information in ManuConnect the whole way through. Organize & Visualize Upload your complex assemblies and loose piece parts. Our engineers review each one for manufacturability before anything is made. In ManuConnectManuConnect automatically organizes everything by its procurement requirements into an easy-to-understand visual map of your procurement workflow. Request a quote instantly, based on live shop capacity and capabilities. Order & Track Provide feedback, adjust your RFQs, then submit your order. We manufacture with quality checkpoints along the way. In ManuConnectLive orders update every time they complete an operation, so you can see them pass every quality checkpoint and arrive on time. Receive & Scale Build and optimize your specific manufacturing requirements directly, and keep optimizing as your product lifecycles evolve. In ManuConnectAccess the information for any part, on any current or past order, in one place. Organize your products and projects around their routine procurement requirements, set by how your systems work, and let ManuConnect automate the rest. --- # Reference Charts URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/reference-charts/ The numbers you look up when you design a part. Sheet metal gauge chart Gauge to thickness for steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel and aluminum, in inches and millimetres. Open the chart → Bend radius and flange chart Minimum inside bend radius and shortest flange by material and thickness. Open the chart → Materials we work with Steels, stainless steels and aluminum alloys, what each is good for and how it finishes. Open the list → --- # Research & Lab URL: https://jointwerks.com/industries/research-and-lab/ Custom test rigs, fixtures and frames, designed, engineered and built for one purpose. One-off equipment for one test For specialty engineers, researchers and founders who need equipment that doesn't exist yet, built exactly once and built right. What we make Test rigs and testing equipment Instrument frames and enclosures Frames for cryostats and sensitive instruments Sample fixtures that repeat every time Prototype parts and small batches We handle the design, engineering and manufacturing, in 316 stainless steel and aluminum, with machining, TIG welding, assembly and testing. Custom test equipment: a hydrostatic head tester A small, mobile tester that measures the water pressure a fabric resists before water passes through it. What we did We completed the design, engineering and manufacturing. Materials and processes 316 stainless steel, machining, TIG (GTAW) welding, assembly and testing Result A small-form-factor, mobile hydrostatic head tester developed for the customer's specific product testing. Capabilities used: Design & Engineering, Machining & Additive, Metalworking & Fabrication, Assembly & Testing Need something like this? Get a quote → Custom test fixture for fabric flammability testing A fixture that holds a fabric sample safely and repeatably for flammability testing. What we did We completed the design, engineering and manufacturing. Materials and processes 316 stainless steel, machining, TIG (GTAW) welding, assembly and testing Result A purpose-built fixture for the customer's flammability testing. Capabilities used: Design & Engineering, Machining & Additive, Metalworking & Fabrication, Assembly & Testing Need something like this? Get a quote → Custom mounting frame for a quantum computing cryostat A frame that mounts a cryostat inside a research lab, for a quantum computing application. What we did We completed the design, engineering and manufacturing. Materials and processes 316 stainless steel, machining, TIG (GTAW) welding, assembly and testing Result A mounting frame built for a quantum computing lab's cryostat. Capabilities used: Design & Engineering, Metalworking & Fabrication, Assembly & Testing Need something like this? Get a quote → --- # Resources URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/ Guides, tools and updates to help you get better parts with less back and forth. Guides and answers for buying custom parts Straight answers, design guides, reference charts and tools, so your parts come out right the first time. FAQ Straight answers on fabrication, machining, quotes, files and lead times. Read the answers → Guides & Tutorials How to get better parts, faster, with less back and forth. Learn more → Reference Charts Sheet metal gauges, bend radii and the materials we work with. Learn more → Templates & Tools Checklists for a complete quote request and drawing. Learn more → Insights & News Updates from the shop and thoughts on modern manufacturing. Learn more → MCP & APIs Connect your systems and AI tools to JointWerks and ManuConnect. Learn more → Certifications & Accreditations Our certifications, registrations and standards. Learn more → --- # Robotics & Automation URL: https://jointwerks.com/industries/robotics-and-automation/ Custom parts and frames for automated production lines, from DFMA review to installation. Parts that fit your line the first time For project managers, application engineers and supply chain managers who need parts that match the layout and arrive before the line starts. What we make Machine frames and bases Conveyor covers, guards and chutes End-of-arm tooling brackets and mounts Sensor and camera mounts Safety guarding and enclosures Fixtures and jigs We review your layout or model for manufacture and assembly (DFMA), build in stainless steel, mild steel and aluminum, and you track every part in ManuConnect. Custom stainless steel conveyor guard A custom, application-specific stainless steel corner cover for a production conveyor line. What we did We completed the initial design and a design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) review, then planned the manufacturing around rolling to keep welding to a minimum. The cover was fabricated with a mix of sheet metal forming, rolling and TIG welding. Materials and processes 304 stainless steel, rolling and forming, TIG (GTAW) welding, finishing Result The customer received a custom designed and built cover in time for their production line start. Capabilities used: Design & Engineering, Metalworking & Fabrication Need something like this? Get a quote → Mobile steel frame for temporary power distribution A mobile steel frame for temporary power distribution. What we did We assisted with the final production drawings. Materials and processes Mechanical design and production drafting Capabilities used: Design & Engineering Need something like this? Get a quote → --- # Sheet metal gauge chart URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/reference-charts/sheet-metal-gauges/ Gauge to thickness for the sheet we cut, form and weld. A gauge number means a different thickness for each material, so a 14 gauge steel part and a 14 gauge aluminum part are not the same thickness. Put the thickness on your drawing, in inches or millimetres, and we will match it to the sheet that is available. Gauge to thickness Gauge Mild steel Galvanized steel Stainless steel Aluminum 7 0.1793 in 4.55 mm – 0.1875 in 4.76 mm – 8 0.1644 in 4.18 mm 0.1681 in 4.27 mm 0.1719 in 4.37 mm 0.1285 in 3.26 mm 10 0.1345 in 3.42 mm 0.1382 in 3.51 mm 0.1406 in 3.57 mm 0.1019 in 2.59 mm 11 0.1196 in 3.04 mm 0.1233 in 3.13 mm 0.1250 in 3.17 mm 0.0907 in 2.30 mm 12 0.1046 in 2.66 mm 0.1084 in 2.75 mm 0.1094 in 2.78 mm 0.0808 in 2.05 mm 14 0.0747 in 1.90 mm 0.0785 in 1.99 mm 0.0781 in 1.98 mm 0.0641 in 1.63 mm 16 0.0598 in 1.52 mm 0.0635 in 1.61 mm 0.0625 in 1.59 mm 0.0508 in 1.29 mm 18 0.0478 in 1.21 mm 0.0516 in 1.31 mm 0.0500 in 1.27 mm 0.0403 in 1.02 mm 20 0.0359 in 0.91 mm 0.0396 in 1.01 mm 0.0375 in 0.95 mm 0.0320 in 0.81 mm 22 0.0299 in 0.76 mm 0.0336 in 0.85 mm 0.0312 in 0.79 mm 0.0253 in 0.64 mm 24 0.0239 in 0.61 mm 0.0276 in 0.70 mm 0.0250 in 0.64 mm 0.0201 in 0.51 mm 26 0.0179 in 0.45 mm 0.0217 in 0.55 mm 0.0187 in 0.47 mm 0.0159 in 0.40 mm Mild and galvanized steel follow the Manufacturers' Standard Gauge, stainless steel the US Standard Gauge and aluminum the American Wire Gauge (Brown & Sharpe). Mills and suppliers vary slightly, so treat these as nominal thicknesses. Thicker than 7 gauge Above about 3/16 inch (4.8 mm), material is plate and is called by its thickness, such as 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch. We roll and form plate as well as sheet; the 316 stainless thrust collar we made for a city water main was rolled from 1/2 inch plate. Which gauges we keep in stock: mild steel 16 to 10 gauge, 304 and 316 stainless 16 to 11 gauge, 5052 aluminum 0.063 to 0.125 inch. What to put on your drawing the thickness, not only the gauge the material and grade, such as 304 stainless or 5052-H32 aluminum the finish, if the surface matters, such as a 2B or #4 brushed stainless finish Not sure which thickness you need? Send us the load and the use, and our design and engineering team will suggest one. See bend radius and flange chart for how thickness sets the smallest bend. --- # Starting a project with JointWerks URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/guides-and-tutorials/starting-a-project/ What to send, what to include, how long it takes and where it ships. What to send us Send whatever you have. A sketch, a PDF or DWG drawing, a 3D model in STEP or your native CAD format, an existing part, or just a description of the problem is enough to start. You do not need finished production drawings. Our design and engineering team can model an existing part in 3D CAD, turn 2D PDF or DWG drawings into 3D models, improve a design for manufacturing, or take an idea all the way to production drawings. See Design & Engineering. What to include in a quote request A complete request gets a faster, more accurate quote. Include: your drawings or models the material and finish the quantity the date you need the parts Email or call us with it from the Contact page. Existing customers request quotes in ManuConnect, where every quote, order, drawing and revision stays on file for the next order. Typical lead times Lead times depend on the complexity of the part and the quantity. As a guide: Process Typical lead time Mechanical design 2 to 3 days Fabrication 1 to 3 days CNC machining 3 to 5 days Anodizing, plating and coating 3 to 5 days Assembly and testing 1 to 2 days Your live orders in ManuConnect update as each operation is completed, so you can see your parts pass every quality checkpoint and arrive on time. One part or production volumes We make one-off parts, prototypes and small production runs, and set up repeatable processes when your volumes grow. Everything learned on the first order stays on file, so every order after it is simpler. Where we deliver Across Canada, the United States and internationally. Our team handles international shipping processes and requirements, so your parts reach you wherever you are. Certifications ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and CPCSC Level 1 are in progress. Our ISO 27001 work covers how we protect your drawings, models and order data, in the shop and in ManuConnect. See Certifications for where each one stands. --- # Templates & Tools URL: https://jointwerks.com/resources/templates-and-tools/ Checklists to prepare your next quote and drawing. Print these, or keep them open beside your CAD. A complete request gets a faster, more accurate quote, and a complete drawing gets the part you meant. Quote request checklist Drawings or 3D models (STEP or native CAD, plus a PDF drawing) Material and grade for each part Finish for each part: coating, anodizing, plating, passivation or as machined Quantity, and the quantities you expect later The date you need the parts, and where they ship Critical tolerances, and any inspection or first article report you need Certificates you need: material certificates, certificates of conformance Any standard the parts must meet, such as food contact or a welding code Who to contact with questions Drawing checklist Part number, revision and date in the title block Units stated: inches or millimetres Material, grade and thickness General tolerances, and tighter tolerances only where they are needed Datums for the features that must locate or mate Thread sizes and depths, hole sizes Bend directions and inside radius, for sheet metal Weld symbols, for welded assemblies Finish, colour and any masking Hardware, with part numbers Marking or engraving: part numbers, logos, serial numbers Templates to download A drawing title block template (DWG and PDF) and a quote request spreadsheet are on the way. In the meantime, send what you have from the Contact page. Existing customers request quotes in ManuConnect. --- # What is ManuConnect? URL: https://jointwerks.com/manuconnect/what-is-manuconnect/ Organize, visualize, quote, order and track your manufacturing in one place. What ManuConnect is JointWerks ManuConnect is a digital procurement platform that lets you organize, visualize, quote, order and track your manufactured products and projects, and scale them from one part to production volumes. It is linked directly to our shop operations. It uses real-time shop data to generate quotes, flag manufacturing bottlenecks and issues while your part is still a design, let you speak with the operators making your parts to answer questions or request design changes, and track expected delivery lead times. It solves the uncertainty and delays of manufacturing procurement: no more email chains, and no more “where's this at?” Three reasons buyers use it Live quoting and order trackingQuotes, orders and expected delivery dates in one place. Visualize and organizeEvery manufactured part, assembly, drawing and revision, organized. One place for complex assembliesFrom one part to a complex multi-level assembly. Learn more How it works Three steps, with quality and information flowing through all of them. Learn more → For designers and engineers Catch issues at the design stage, view your models in 3D and talk to the shop floor. Learn more → For supply chain managers and purchasers Live quotes, order status and every past order in one place. Learn more →