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Core Machining & Kitting

What we offer

Core materials

MSA Manufacturing production facilities are equipped with cutting equipment to handle almost any type of closed cell foam core and honeycomb core material used in composite laminate part production, with grooves, perforations, scrims, contours and finish combinations as required.

Materials can also be bonded under vacuum to achieve greater thickness parts with a strong and reliable bond line.

Core materials cut and kitted include:

For more materials visit our Materials Processed page.

Core cutting capabilities

  • 3 Axis CNC Router – Bed envelope: 2450 x 1225 x 250 mm.
  • 5 Axis CNC Routers – Bed Envelope: 2450 x 1225 x 1200 mm.
  • 3 Axis (Small Parts) CNC Milling – Bed envelope: 400 x 300 x 250 mm.
  • Cutting volume (metric) – (W) 2200 × (L) 3000 × (H) 300 mm.
  • Ideal process for accurately cutting rigid, semi-rigid and flexible foams.

In contrast to a traditional router, the wire cutting frame remains stationary and foam core materials move along a motorised conveyor belt, which accurately positions the foam material to ensure precision cutting throughout the shaping process.

  • 3 & 5 Axis CNC waterjet cutting machine – Bed Envelope: (L) 3000 x (W) 2000 x 100mm (max) sheet thickness. Workable area reduces in 5 axis mode, dependent on part shape and size.
  • Intricate shapes can be accurately cut.
  • Fumeless, heat free cutting process, so no stress, dimensional change or heat damage to materials.
  • Complex shapes can be cut from sandwich panels and honeycomb core sheet materials.
  • Sheets can be ‘nested’ and waste can be minimized, so is a very cost effective process.
Radome reinforcement kitting

Kit Design & Kitting Services

Material cutting patterns are optimized to minimize material costs and waste. Kits are supplied by MSA with full traceability, with each part of a kit being clearly labelled. To save production time for customers, kits are sequentially packed to make it as quick and easy as possible to unpack and use on the shop floor.

All kits are based on customer supplied data in 2D or 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) model form. The design of each cut to shape piece in a kit takes into account the component core and laminate design of the part, any restrictions due to the materials specified, the final part’s end use and the manufacturing processes used by both MSA and the customer.

Surface Flattening

Surface Flattening is part of MSA Manufacturing’s Digital Engineering kit design process for producing accurately cut kits for complex, curved parts, such as boat hulls, aerofoils, or wind turbine blades; digitally flattening curved surfaces enables the exact material shape and dimensions needed for each kit part to be calculated and programmed for CNC machining and cutting.

What we offer

Core materials

MSA Manufacturing production facilities are equipped with cutting equipment to handle almost any type of closed cell foam core and honeycomb core material used in composite laminate part production, with grooves, perforations, scrims, contours and finish combinations as required.

Materials can also be bonded under vacuum to achieve greater thickness parts with a strong and reliable bond line.

Core materials cut and kitted include:

For more materials visit our Materials Processed page.

Core cutting capabilities

machining, slitting, cutting and kitting of roll and sheet materials
  • 3 Axis CNC Router – Bed envelope: 2450 x 1225 x 250 mm.
  • 5 Axis CNC Routers – Bed Envelope: 2450 x 1225 x 1200 mm.
  • 3 Axis (Small Parts) CNC Milling – Bed envelope: 400 x 300 x 250 mm.
  • Cutting volume (metric) – (W) 2200 × (L) 3000 × (H) 300 mm.
  • Ideal process for accurately cutting rigid, semi-rigid and flexible foams.

In contrast to a traditional router, the wire cutting frame remains stationary and foam core materials move along a motorised conveyor belt, which accurately positions the foam material to ensure precision cutting throughout the shaping process.

  • 3 & 5 Axis CNC waterjet cutting machine – Bed Envelope: (L) 3000 x (W) 2000 x 100mm (max) sheet thickness. Workable area reduces in 5 axis mode, dependent on part shape and size.
  • Intricate shapes can be accurately cut.
  • Fumeless, heat free cutting process, so no stress, dimensional change or heat damage to materials.
  • Complex shapes can be cut from sandwich panels and honeycomb core sheet materials.
  • Sheets can be ‘nested’ and waste can be minimized, so is a very cost effective process.

Kit Design & Kitting Services

Radome reinforcement kitting

Material cutting patterns are optimized to minimize material costs and waste. Kits are supplied by MSA with full traceability, with each part of a kit being clearly labelled. To save production time for customers, kits are sequentially packed to make it as quick and easy as possible to unpack and use on the shop floor.

All kits are based on customer supplied data in 2D or 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) model form. The design of each cut to shape piece in a kit takes into account the component core and laminate design of the part, any restrictions due to the materials specified, the final part’s end use and the manufacturing processes used by both MSA and the customer.

Surface Flattening

Surface Flattening is part of MSA Manufacturing’s Digital Engineering kit design process for producing accurately cut kits for complex, curved parts, such as boat hulls, aerofoils, or wind turbine blades; digitally flattening curved surfaces enables the exact material shape and dimensions needed for each kit part to be calculated and programmed for CNC machining and cutting.

Core Kitting
Deck Core Kit
Divinycell, Kerdyn, Armacell, Airex
PET foam
RNLI Shannon Hull Core
RNLI Shannon Hull Core Kit detail
Hull Core Shannon Class Lifeboat
Vac bonding foam sheets
Foam kit finish
machining, slitting, cutting and kitting of roll and sheet materials
Wire cutting scrim back
Rohacell Wing
Corecell S1800 Sub foam
Gurit S1800 machined
Gurit S1800 machined
Gurit S1800 machined
PVC foam machined
Rohacell core with G10 and alloy inserts
Rohacell core with G10 and alloy inserts
Kerdyn foam, 5 axis machined

What we give our customers

Reliable, consistent quality service

A consistently high quality, reliable service is provided by the MSA team using robust ISO 9001 management systems and QA processes. From initial contact right through to the unpacking of kits and using parts on the shop floor, MSA ensures that it provides customers with positive ’Moments of Truth’ outcomes at every key touch point.

Time & cost saving material solutions

As part of the project scoping and assessment process, MSA looks at clever ways to save customers time and money where possible.

Independent UK supplier benefits

Being independent, MSA is able to offer complete supply chain flexibility to fulfil orders, using either approved materials sourced by MSA, or free issued materials from a customer’s supply chain.

MSA Manufacturing combines cost and time saving benefits with hassle-free materials outsourcing

+44 1202 850440