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darius@combinationtechnologies.com 1990 Pandora Street, Vancouver, BC

Making · Vancouver, BC + Richmond, BC

Design. Make. Measure. Change.

We design in Vancouver, BC. When a prototype needs real parts, we make and measure them with our partner Spark Laser in Richmond, BC. Then we change the design and go again.

Combination + Spark Laser

Talk to us about a machine or test rig How the loop works 
A five-axis machining centre in a workshop, with two machinists at its control panel.
FIG. 3 · Photo DMG Mori DMU 75 full 5-axis machining centre at Spark Laser, Richmond, BC. Photo: Spark Laser

The loop

Go round until it works.

Each turn of the loop is a new version. The hard parts show up on the bench, while they are still cheap to change.

  1. 01 Design · Vancouver, BCMechanical, electrical and software design, done together.
  2. 02 Make · Richmond, BCParts machined, routed, cut, printed or welded at Spark Laser.
  3. 03 MeasureParts checked against the drawing, on a wide-area CMM when it matters.
  4. 04 ChangeWe change the design and go round again.
FIG. M1 · Diagram The loop: design in Vancouver, BC; make and measure in Richmond, BC; change; repeat.
Polished machined aluminum brackets and links with bronze bushings, laid out on a table.
FIG. M2 · Photo Machined aluminum parts at Spark Laser, Richmond, BC. Photo: Spark Laser

At Spark Laser, Richmond, BC

What's on the floor.

Source: Spark Laser's published equipment list, sparklaserinc.com ↗. The shop and equipment are Spark Laser's.

Equipment at Spark Laser, with its published specification
EquipmentPublished spec
DMG Mori DMU 75, full 5-axis840 × 500 mm, 0.01 mm
CNC router5 × 10 ft
Trotec Speedy 400 CO₂ laserCutting and engraving
Fiber galvo marker60 W
Steel fabrication and weldingFrames, weldments, structures
KEYENCE WM-6000 wide-area CMM3D scanning and inspection
3D printingPrototyping

“Owning both means faster iterations, tighter tolerances and no waiting on outside vendors.”

Spark Laser, on its two shops

Who does what

Two companies, one loop.

  1. A

    Combination

    Vancouver, BC

    The engineering: science, mechanical, electrical, firmware and software, from the first sketch to prototypes, pilot builds and low-volume builds.

  2. B

    Spark Laser

    Richmond, BC

    Custom machines and laser automation, built in Richmond, BC. Fabrication and metrology.

  3. Hand-off

    C

    Manufacturing partners

    Volume

    Volume production.

Combination works with Spark Laser Inc., a separate company in Richmond, BC.

Our own machine projects, from a salad and bowl robot to a bike lock station, are on the Work page. See the machine projects →

In the shop

Sixteen seconds on Spark's floor.

Five-axis machining, routing, laser work and parts in hand, filmed by Spark Laser in Richmond, BC. It plays only when you press Play.

FIG. M3 · Video Machining, routing and laser work at Spark Laser, Richmond, BC. Video: Spark Laser

Contact

Have a part, a rig or a machine to make?

Talk to us about a machine or test rig Book a call

Free. 30 minutes. Bring the drawing, the part or the problem.