Fabrication of an Enclosed Boom Cabin for the Aerospace Industry

ABLE Manufacturing & Assembly's integrated services and multiple process capabilities enable us to provide fabrication for complex assemblies resulting in a turn-key cab for our customers. The project highlighted here was designed to keep the operators of a large boom lifts safe, secure, and protected from the elements. It features a precision-welded aluminum frame with a class A paint finish, polycarbonate windows, and watertight construction.
Working from customer specifications and a highly coordinated project plan, we designed and built the fixtures, then machined and stamped the component parts and installed the clear polycarbonate windows. Dimensional tolerance requirements of +/-.030", +/-2° angular, required that our welding team display precision control over the joining process when fabricating the cabin housing. More than 71 components, including doors, weather stripping, wipers, seats, and the interior console, were part of the completed 46.28" x 42.57" x 63.21" assembly.
Both in-process and post-assembly quality controls, executed in accordance with our ISO 9001:2015-certified quality management plan, ensured that the final product was dimensionally accurate, 100% weather-tight, and the electronics fully functional. Multi-disciplined groups of experts working together toward a common goal made this project a success. ABLE Manufacturing is the one to call when you are looking for a total system solution. Contact us today.
Fiberglass Lamination & Open Molding of a Hood for the Construction Machinery Industry
ABLE Manufacturing & Assembly has been in business since 1954, and our in-depth knowledge of materials and manufacturing has made us a trusted supplier of large component parts to the heavy equipment industry. When approached by a customer to fabricate this engine hood, we began the collaboration by conducting a design-for-manufacturability assessment of their part drawing. Our engineers determined that a combination of fiberglass light resin transfer molding as well as utilizing an open mold process would be ideal for delivering a durable, tight tolerance assembly with a high quality surface finish and minimized tooling costs.

Building the tooling for the components of this 60" x 30" x 25" fabrication was done in-house and dimensionally inspected by utilizing an advanced technology laser scanning device. We employed multiple fabrication processes to lay-up the parts to precise thicknesses, and molded in steel brackets for added structural stability. A specialty-formulated 2-tone gel coat provided the durable, high-gloss, showpiece type finish. Additional operations included trimming, drilling, and painting the black surfaces. Both in-process and final piece inspections ensured that we met the tight tolerance requirements for material thickness and overall size.
The lightweight durability of this component is field-proven and we currently manufacture 1000+ units annually for just-in-time delivery to our customers. Contact us today to learn how our team of experts can optimize the production of your equipment components.