At Church Metal Spinning Company, metal spinning is our primary defining capability—and it is proudly reflected in our name. However, metal spinning alone is not always the most efficient or cost-effective way to deliver a finished component ready for use. In many cases, the greatest value for our customers comes from combining spinning with complementary in-house manufacturing processes that improve consistency, reduce handling, and minimize overall project risk.
While we are always happy to provide spun parts to print, many components require additional operations before they can be installed or placed into service. When those downstream processes are completed in-house, customers benefit from tighter tolerances, fewer suppliers, improved quality control, and lower total cost. By managing multiple manufacturing steps under one roof, Church Metal Spinning Company provides a streamlined path from raw material to finished part.
Laser Blanking of Parts: Precision from the First Step
Most of the parts we manufacture begin with fiber laser-cut blanks. Laser blanking provides precise, repeatable inputs for metal spinning, press forming, and custom cylinder production. Starting with an accurately cut blank improves material utilization and promotes consistent forming behavior throughout the process.
Laser blanking allows us to:
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Produce spin blanks with pre-spun or pre-formed features
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Create cylinder blanks with high-tolerance edges that improve sizing and cylindricity
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Maintain flexible minimum order quantities without sacrificing repeatability
Fiber laser cutting has become a preferred method in precision fabrication due to its accuracy, speed, and ability to hold tight tolerances in stainless steels and other demanding alloys (https://www.TheFabricator.com). For customers, this precision at the front end reduces variability and supports better outcomes in downstream operations.
Custom Cylinder Production Designed for Forming
Custom cylinder production is primarily used as an input to either spin-formed or press-formed components. At Church Metal, cylinders are rolled in-house and welded using either automated TIG welding or laser welding processes to produce strong, consistent seams.
Because these cylinders are intended for subsequent forming, seam quality and placement are critical. Internal control of rolling and welding ensures seams are robust enough to withstand additional forming without distortion or failure. Automated welding also improves repeatability while minimizing heat input—an important consideration when working with stainless steels.
Producing cylinders internally eliminates the variability often introduced when sourcing components from multiple suppliers. According to the American Welding Society, consistent fit-up and controlled welding parameters are key factors in achieving high-quality, repeatable welds.
Secondary Machining of Spun Features
Metal spinning is capable of producing complex shapes efficiently, but some applications require tighter tolerances than spinning alone can reliably achieve. To meet these requirements, Church Metal integrates secondary machining directly into the manufacturing flow.
Using spin lathes for in-process trimming or a dedicated Trak lathe for precision machining, we are able to:
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Machine internal and external diameters to tighter tolerances
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Perform controlled trimming operations
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Integrate machining into the spinning process to eliminate post-spin trimming
By machining features at the appropriate stage, we reduce handling, shorten lead times, and improve dimensional accuracy. This integrated approach delivers parts that meet specification without unnecessary secondary operations or added cost.
Laser-Cut Features on Spun Parts
For parts requiring trimmed edges, slots, holes, or other features, Church Metal utilizes 5-axis and modified 4th-axis laser systems. This capability is reserved exclusively for parts spun in-house, where consistency of the formed geometry can be tightly controlled.
Laser cutting spun parts provides excellent repeatability, improving downstream processes such as embossing or welding. Feature cutting may include customer-specific requirements, emboss feature preparation, or pre-weldment cutting to simplify final assembly. Industry research consistently shows that laser processing improves accuracy and reduces rework in complex formed components.
Press Forming as a Complement to Spinning
Press forming plays a key supporting role in our manufacturing strategy. It may be used to pre-form features prior to spinning, emboss details after spinning, or form finished flanges once feature cutting is complete.
By combining press forming with spinning and laser processing, features can be placed where they are most efficiently and reliably formed. This approach avoids forcing all geometry into a single process and allows each operation to contribute where it adds the most value.
Welding and Fabrication of Complete Assemblies
Beyond individual components, Church Metal provides in-house welding of couplings, tubes, cylinders, and other fabricated subassemblies. Because all upstream processes are controlled internally, fit-up is precise, resulting in higher-quality welds and lower assembly costs.
Customers benefit from receiving complete fabricated parts rather than managing multiple vendors. Fewer handoffs reduce risk, simplify communication, and improve accountability. Integrated manufacturing has been shown to improve consistency and reduce total production cost in fabricated assemblies.
A Pro-Customer Manufacturing Philosophy
Combining complementary capabilities is not about offering more services—it is about taking responsibility for outcomes. When a single manufacturer controls critical steps from blank preparation through final fabrication, customers gain confidence in both the process and the finished part.
Good business happens when people deal confidently with one another. By integrating laser blanking, metal spinning, machining, press forming, and welding, Church Metal Spinning Company delivers reliable, efficient solutions that reduce complexity and create lasting value for our customers.
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