Machined parts that fit the first time.
Walt’s first manual mill, bought in 1987. It still runs.
A second-generation machine shop with 31 machines, two shifts and one rule: the part matches the drawing.
Walt Brenner opened Datum in a rented bay in 1987 with two manual mills. Today his daughter Karen runs a 52,000 sq ft shop that makes flight hardware, surgical instrument parts and hydrogen valve bodies, still measured on a granite table before they ship.
About the shop
±0.0002
inch, the tightest tolerance we hold
48 h
from drawing to written quote
98.7%
on-time delivery, last 12 months
Six ways we turn a drawing into a part
Parts for industries where a bad part costs more than a good one
31 machines, listed with their real work envelopes
Buyers ask what we run before they ask what we charge. Here is the list, updated when a machine comes in or goes out.
Units
3
2
4
2
4
4
Final inspection on granite plate 3.
Every first article is measured and signed before the run starts.
Two CMMs, a temperature-controlled lab and an inspector who can stop any job. You get the report, not just a promise.
ISO 9001:2015
Quality management
Certified since 2004
AS9100D
Aerospace quality
Certified since 2016
ITAR
Registered with DDTC
Registration current
NIST 800-171
Controlled data
Self-assessed, score on file
How we inspect
From drawing to dock in five stations
Every order follows the same line. You always know which station your parts are at, and who is responsible for them.
What buyers say after the second order
“
They caught a tolerance stack on our drawing before quoting. That one phone call saved us a failed first article.
Rachel Moreno
Supply chain manager
Regional aircraft supplier
“
We send a model on Monday and have parts on the bench two weeks later. The CMM reports come with every lot.
James Whitaker
Mechanical engineer
Surgical robotics company
“
Datum built production fixtures for our prototypes. When we scaled to 500 a month, nothing had to change.
Priya Natarajan
Head of hardware
Warehouse robotics startup
We are hiring machinists
Two shifts, paid training on our 5-axis machines, health cover from day one and a 401(k) with a 4% match. Apprentices get a raise every six months.
From the shop floor
·
Shop news
Two new 5-axis machines are on the floor
We added two 5-axis machining centers this summer. Here is what they change for lead times.
·
Engineering
How we quote in 48 hours
What happens between the moment your drawing lands and the moment a quote comes back.
·
Quality
We passed our AS9100D surveillance audit
Zero major findings and one minor on calibration records, closed the same week.
Before the first order
Talk to an engineer
(815) 555-0187
Mon to Fri, 7:30am to 5pm Central. You reach a person who can read a drawing.
What files do you need for a quote?
Is there a minimum order?
How long does a quote take?
Can you sign an NDA?
What inspection comes with my parts?
Do you ship outside the US?
Send a drawing. Get a quote in 48 hours.
STEP, IGES, PDF or DXF. We sign your NDA before you send anything, and an engineer reads every request.
Reply within 48 hours. NDA on request.
Full quote form