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Top left & Top Middle - Five years ago Vanderhulst purchased Universal Microsystems, a company that sells gas flow restrictors. Vanderhulst manufacture everything on- site along with testing and assembly inside their clean room. Bottom Left - Similar pump heads made from different types of materials. Their multi angle fluid ports are machinined in a single operation. Bottom Middle - Vanderhulst machine brass inserts with .010 thick sapphire swaged into them. Right - This monster of a part begins as a 162 pound block of 304 and after 22 hours on the Makino is machined down to only 17lbs. Forged 304 SST UHV 1x10^-11 Torr.
machining thanks to the generous look ahead. It does a better job on accuracy when you are trying to run it as fast as you can, and we run most jobs as quick as we can.”
Vanderhulst Associates. Inc. are in a unique position for an operation of their size. They have their own product line of gas flow restrictors. Companies like Lam Research, Applied Materials and Novellus Systems all procured through a dedicated dealer network. Hank purchased Universal Microsystems 5 years ago and sales have doubled. By producing, assembling and testing the products inhouse they are able to make a decent margin. An added benefit is more exposure to the machining aspects at Vanderhulst Associates. Inc. “Companies go to the flowrestrictor.com, and that draws them into the shop.” Adds Hank. “They see our quality firsthand, and it earns us business. We just produced a job for Lam with a one-day turnaround because they knew us from Universal Microsystems. The larger companies in the area were quoting them a 12-14 week delivery time, and we did it in a day. They were happy, and happy customers keep the spindles turning.”
The future is going to be an exciting place for Hank, Sandy and the awesome team at Vanderhulst Associates. Inc. “We are making a name for ourselves doing jobs other won’t or can’t,” concludes Hank. “Working with difficult and exotic materials is not something everyone likes doing.
75 percent of what we machine is stainless, titanium, peak, or MP35n. We are working more and more with MP35n material. It is 10x the price of 304, and it’s tricky. We picked up quite bit of work because we were willing to experiment in drilling these tiny .0035 port holes on multiple angles. I like doing niche work that others can’t. You come through the doors here at Vanderhulst Associates. Inc. for prototype or production and we will deliver above and beyond.”
Vanderhulst Assoc. Inc. are ISO9100 certified. Their quality lab includes multiple Mitutoyo CMMs with Renishaw heads as well as a vision system.
CNC WEST June/july 2022 www.CNC-West.com 43