Wexmar provides CNC machining for telecom and datacom equipment makers from our shop in Canastota, New York. Network hardware companies, RF and antenna suppliers, fiber optic component makers and data center equipment builders use us as a telecom machine shop for RF connector bodies, coaxial components, antenna mounting hardware, heat sinks, machined enclosures and fiber optic hardware. Our Swiss machines and lathes handle small turned connector parts in production counts, and our horizontal machining centers produce housings, heat sinks and brackets.
What telecom and datacom buyers order from a machine shop
Telecom and datacom systems combine signal-carrying parts, thermal parts and structural hardware. Typical requirements include:
- RF and coaxial connector components such as bodies, center contacts, coupling nuts and insulators.
- Antenna mounting hardware including clamps, brackets, adapter plates and tower hardware.
- Heat sinks and thermal spreaders for radios, amplifiers and network equipment.
- Machined enclosures and covers for outdoor and rugged electronics, with sealing grooves.
- Fiber optic hardware such as adapters, ferrule holders, strain relief parts and alignment components.
- Data center hardware including bus bar components, standoffs and rack adapters.
Materials common to telecom parts
Brass C360 is widely used for RF connector bodies and coupling nuts because it machines cleanly and plates well. Copper alloys serve center contacts and thermal parts, and copper C110 is used for bus bar and grounding components. Aluminum 6061-T6 is the common choice for enclosures, heat sinks, antenna brackets and adapter plates, finished with anodize or chemical conversion coating through qualified outside processors. Stainless 303 and 316 cover outdoor hardware exposed to weather. Engineered plastics such as PTFE, PEEK and Ultem serve as dielectric insulators and spacers. See our materials page for grade notes.
Tolerances, finishes and documentation
RF performance depends on geometry. Typical callouts include ±.0005 in. on center contact and dielectric diameters, concentricity within .001 in. between inner and outer conductors, fine-pitch threads on coupling nuts, and controlled surface finish on mating faces. Heat sinks need flat mounting faces, commonly .001 to .002 in. flatness, to transfer heat into the base. Enclosures carry sealing groove dimensions and flatness on the flange. Gold, silver, nickel and tin plating, anodize and chemical conversion coating are performed through qualified outside processors, and plating thickness is accounted for on tight diameters.
Documentation typically includes material certs, dimensional inspection results and a certificate of conformance. CMM reports, optical comparator data on small profiles and first article inspection in AS9102 format are available on request. Our quality system is ISO 9001:2015-aligned.
Quantity patterns: prototype, deployment and production
New radio and network products start with prototype lots of 5 to 50 for testing. Connector and fiber hardware then move into production runs of thousands to tens of thousands of pieces per release, where lights-out Swiss capacity is useful. Enclosures, heat sinks and antenna hardware typically run in lots of 50 to 2,000 aligned with deployment schedules. We quote each pattern on its own terms and keep programs on file for repeat releases.
How our floor handles CNC machining for telecom and datacom
Swiss for connector components
Four Maier MLK-32 Swiss-type machines with FMB bar feeders turn connector bodies, contacts, insulators and fiber hardware to 32 mm diameter, holding concentricity on long, slender parts. See our Swiss machining page.
Turning with live tooling
Ten CNC lathes with live tooling and Y-axis produce larger coupling nuts, adapters and antenna hardware complete, including wrench flats and cross holes.
Horizontal milling for heat sinks and enclosures
Six horizontal machining centers with pallet changers run 3- and 4-axis horizontal milling on heat sinks, enclosures, brackets and bus hardware. A surface grinder finishes flat mounting faces where the drawing calls for it, and two Brown & Sharpe CMMs verify critical features. Related work is covered on our electronics enclosures and connectors page.
Typical telecom parts, materials and tolerances
| Part | Common material | Typical tolerance | Primary process |
|---|---|---|---|
| RF connector body | Brass C360 | ±.0005 in., .001 in. concentricity | Swiss |
| Center contact | Copper alloy, brass | ±.0005 in. OD | Swiss |
| Dielectric insulator | PTFE, PEEK | ±.001 in. | Swiss |
| Heat sink | 6061-T6, copper C110 | .001 in. base flatness | Horizontal milling |
| Antenna bracket | 6061-T6, 316 | ±.005 in. | Horizontal milling |
| Outdoor enclosure | 6061-T6 | .002 in. flange flatness | Horizontal milling |
Getting a quote
Send drawings or STEP files, plating requirements, and prototype and production quantities. You can upload a drawing for an instant estimate, and a human estimator confirms every quote. For telecom and datacom parts, call (315) 400-2654, Monday through Friday, 7 to 4 Eastern, or email ron@backwell.com.