Versatile and Nimble

Whether you need a single component, a piece of furniture, or a complex interactive exhibit, HMC can design and produce what you need. The benefit of working with a small shop is having the flexibility to shift from a 200 unit production job for a furniture maker, to fabrication design and engineering work on a piece of public art, then wrap up with coordination and project management of an out-of-state museum exhibit installation. Yes, the work is always different, but the process remains the same: communication and hard work always creates the best results.

Prototype Development

HMC is your temporary team member, able to fit right in with your workflow to manage custom projects from initial concept sketch all the way through to the finished, delivered product.

Successful public art and museum exhibits have been developed, produced, shipped and installed from Wyoming to Texas, Massachusetts to Washington, and many places in between. No matter what you need, either HMC can do it, or we will find someone who can.

Analog Solutions

Every now and then there are projects where it is impractical or “impossible” to fabricate complex forms using only computerized manufacturing capabilities. This is where HMC really finds its niche. Pulling measurements from 3D models, maintaining crucial proportions, and verifying complex geometry is all standard practice here. The use of string lines, levels, projectors, tracing paper, etc. is not a common workflow for some, but it is necessary every now and then. Strings never run out of battery, paper templates never round and save to incorrect units… control + Z is not an option.

These are the projects that stoke the fire.

Respect for Materials

At HMC, fit and finish is a top priority. This means understanding what it takes to fabricate different materials in the best way. Stainless steel is a favorite in the shop, even though it takes extra effort to handle, fabricate and finish. All tools are cleaned and dated, abrasives are kept in dust-proof containers, gloves are brand new, and the importance of cleanliness is emphasized with every vendor along the way. We’ve even built massive plastic “clean rooms” around projects to protect from steel dust contamination in the main shop… anything it takes to respect the materials and a client’s goals for their project.

“To the Fastener” Design

Using Rhino3D along with McMaster-Carr catalogues, HMC develops full “to the fastener” models for approvals, proof of concept, and fabrication documents. All information is included in these models, like part numbers, hardware details, assembly and sub-assembly identification, and all the geometry verification you could want. This style of project management streamlines communication between designers, engineers, vendors and client. Laser and CNC files are pulled directly from these models, parameters for machining and forming techniques as well as tolerances for finishes are all modeled in when necessary to create “kit of parts” builds with few to no surprises. When everyone is on the same page, things go smoothly.

Small Shop, Big Work

Don’t let the size fool you, HMC delivers. Need a 15’ tall aluminum butterfly wing? No problem. Want a 40’ long twisting stainless steel center piece for a performing arts center? We’ve got you covered. Human scale and larger is the perfect size project, and multi-month projects are our specialty. Finding a shop that can roll with public art timelines is tough, and HMC understands that unique workflow. Typically, these projects fall into the “hurry up and wait, then rush to the end" category. Although no one truly likes to work that way, that tends to be how it happens. Early design development for approvals, then engineering and material selection, waiting for public input, then finally, fabrication and installation… this means a project could take 8-14 months to complete, and HMC fully understands what it takes to meet deadlines and milestones along the way.