McMahon Micro Machining

In-house complicated small device prototyping, precision assembly and testing. Mechanical component design and manufacture, precision machining and small component machining in Adelaide, South Australia.

Complicated precision device assembly and testing within ISO 5/6 cleanrooms.

McMahon Micro Machining Adelaide University Mawson Lakes CAD design studio and precision micro machining centre. Tonsley Innovation District labs and prototyping workshops.

Richard McMahon, rapid prototype designer and manufacturer. Industry Representative at the Future Industries Institute Adelaide University. Proudly manufacturing in Adelaide, not outsourcing overseas as many of our local competitors do.

Fast quality precision prototyping specialising in demonstration devices for venture capital meetings and proof of concept, at a high quality and factory finish level. Not just plastic 3D printed demonstration pieces. Stainless steel, aluminium and titanium solid working mechanical and electromechanical devices that will stand out as professional and well made precision devices. Micro medical, aerospace, mining and defence services in Adelaide. One off and small batch prototype specialist.

Precision device prototyping service Adelaide

McMahon Micro Machining has a well equipped Adelaide, South Australia based micro engineering facility specialising in small volume mechanical and electro mechanical prototyping, assembly and testing. All carried out in-house at our Tonsley Innovation District workshop and Adelaide University Mawson Lakes, South Australia teaming up with the Australian National Fabrication Facility recourses. Stainless steel, titanium, aluminium and brass small parts machined. Mechanical and electro/mechanical devices assembled and tested. Prototype development. Process engineering advice. Bringing manufacturing back to South Australia.

Our micro-machining work in most cases do not allow us to publish photos or our work. We are asked often, "Why don't you showcase on your website parts you have made, micro device development work or post photos on socials? People would love to see them".

To answer this, small precision-manufacturing companies like ours do not publish case studies, cannot disclose which defence programs we support or medical companies we consult with. We by default only provide general descriptions of our capabilities. This is why advanced micro parts and device experts like McMahon Micro Machining only use broad industry terms like "defence", "aerospace", "government"' and "medical devices". If we were given express permission, we would happily share our work.

Our core consulting and engineering business works by default with, and not limited to -

  • NDAs
  • Secrecy provisions
  • Non-disclosure related to clients (Primes, Government, Aerospace, Med-tech, etc.)
  • Restrictions around imagery, components, testing, and supply chain details.

Precision parts machining, Adelaide SA

Precision milling machines, lathes and diamond micron lapping and polishing equipment. Ultrasonic and mechanical cleaning equipment. The advantage of the combined Tonsley and Mawson Lakes workshops gives us a range of machines from rapid prototyping on manual machines to precision repeatable parts manufacture on the Robodrill, Willemin-Macodel 8 axis or DMG Mori precision mills. Device troubleshooting and rapid small volume custom parts manufacture. Olympus OLS 5000 laser measuring microscope for final quality control and surface quality testing. Our own small device pressure test equipment and electronic diagnostic test machinery. Richard McMahon as a certified master watchmaker has the ability to design, machine and assemble micro machinery himself, this is a huge advantage in vertical integration. Keeping tight control of the prototype and manufacture process from start to finish. We can identify issues and quickly adapt design and manufacture changes in hours, not weeks or months. Our own fabrication and prototyping facility and partnering with Adelaide University and the University of South Australia at Mawson Lakes South Australia. McMahon Micro Machining do NOT outsource our machining or parts design overseas as many of our local Adelaide competitors fail to disclose. We work with our clients to source as many materials, and component elements we can use in the prototype development chain as possible.

Australian medical device prototyping and assembly

Prototype design, manufacture, quality control and testing.

McMahon Micro Machining facilities include clean assembly spaces for complicated small machinery and instruments. All in secure spaces in the Tonsley Innovation District, South Australia and Future Industries Institute at Mawson Lakes, South Australia. CAD using Autocad Inventor and Fusion in-house. Precision assembly work carried out in our environmentally controlled micro-engineering workspaces. Complicated machinery assembled by qualified and certified horologists and watchmakers. We have access to clean rooms for assembly at both our Tonsley and Mawson Lakes machining centres for device assembly. Decades of experience manufacturing precision parts for the medical and defence industries. We have a network of advisors and experts in many engineering and design disciplines. We have a proven track record of designing, prototyping and testing devices for our clients in IVF, cardiology and ophthalmology disciplines. Members of AusBiotech biomedical organisation. We work closely with our clients offering quick modifications to our components and devices made by us, in-house. Our client feedback shows our strength is speed and communication. Keeping costs low by using a vertically integrated lab and workshop like ours can save months in development and many thousands of dollars. We have the capability to work on multiple devices in parallel to fast track testing and evaluation. ISO documentation and processes at early stages of fast prototyping are not necessary and can greatly increase cost and slow projects by months/years. We specialise in proof of concept, high quality working devices for venture capital demonstration meetings, potentially enabling access to funding quicker than other methods. Once a device is functioning, ISO and other certification processes can be carried out. This is how many successful companies work today and is an advantage in the fast moving medical and tech industries.

Richard McMahon

Richard McMahon has worked in the fields of micro machining, micro machine development and as a master watchmaker in Europe and Australia for over 35 years. After completing training at technical college studying machining using lathes, milling machines and welding in Adelaide, Richard was accepted as a micro machining/watchmaking apprentice in 1989. After completing training was accepted as an Executive Member of the Horological Guild of Australasia, moved to Australia’s most respected and best equipped horological micro machining centre in Sydney Australia to manufacture high precision micro parts for scientific devices, medical, defence and the watch industry. Richard was engaged many times by universities, government agencies and private engineering companies to manufacture precise micron tolerance components. It is a little known fact for decades before digital flight decks it was a requirement aircraft instruments were serviced to watchmaking standards, watchmakers were highly sought after as they had the skills, and ability to maintain precision aircraft instruments. This has always been true for micro medical device manufacture and service, aerospace prototyping and complex military devices. Training a technician from scratch can take year, to master level well over 10 years, certified master watchmakers like Richard McMahon adapt very quickly to new technical challenges, with delicate motor skills, clean and efficient work discipline and the ability to rapidly fault find. Richard’s career progressed to trouble shooting micro machine issues and eventually taking on complete design and manufacturing projects. After 3 years in Europe working in micro machine consulting and as a restoration consultant and micro machining expert working on Rolex and Breitling. Richard then returned to Australia. For more than two decades Richard has assisted many industries helping with small machine and device issues and process engineering efficiency work. With the skills of a designer, prototype developer and the ability to personally assemble highly complicated micro machines, Richard has built a rare vertically integrated business. He spends time mentoring young engineers and machinists to help them on their career path.

Richard is an Industry Representative at the Future Industries Institute Adelaide University. He has been a guest speaker on micro machining at the Australian National Fabrication Facility UniSA Microengineering Winter School 2025 alongside DSTG defence and MDPP medical experts. He now also assists start ups and small medical and engineering companies build very high quality prototypes. He consults in precision complicated device assembly and process efficiency for Adelaide University and Flinders University and members of Flinders New Venture Institute on small medical and mining device projects. His main aim is to help bring high quality design and manufacturing back to Adelaide, South Australia. Richard McMahon and McMahon Micro Machining are listed on the official South Australian Government Defence SA industry suppliers directory. Australian Industry and Defence Network Member. Richard McMahon is a member of AusBiotech and part of Australia's growing domestic medical technology sector. Focusing on Australian design, prototyping and advanced manufacture.

He still builds one off, custom watches, from scratch.

McMahon Micro Machining capabilities and equipment

  • Laser welding
  • Multi axis CNC micro machining to 2 micron tolerance
  • Mills, turn mill and lathes
  • Kiln for enameling
  • Olympus OLS 5100 for QC and precision measurements
  • 4 prototyping precision assembly spaces, North and South of Adelaide. (2 are ISO 5/6)
  • 5 levels of cleaning and ultrasonic precision instrument cleaners.
  • Small component electroplating in platinum, gold, rhodium, silver
  • Small component anodising
  • Photolithography for micron level complicated silicone parts manufacture and semiconductors
  • Diamond precision lapping and surface profiling machinery. Tungsten carbide surface polishing
  • Small device pressure testing equipment.
  • Electronic diagnostics and magnetic flux detection and de-magnetising equipment
  • Additive manufacture at micron scale for medical grade micro fluidics, (UpNano)
  • Additive manufacturing in metal and many plastics
  • Micro photography for documentation

Contact and postage

By appointment only. McMahon Micro Machining.

Richard McMahon, Founder and director.

Industry Representative at the Future Industries Institute Adelaide University and University of South Australia.

Micro-mechanical machining expert and certified independent horologist. Mechanical and electro mechanical device and small machine Master watchmakers and in house custom watch manufacture.

Proudly partnering with the Australian National Fabrication Facility.

Tonsley Innovation District. Prototype engineering workshop and process engineering centre.

Lower Ground.
1 Tonsley Boulevard, Tonsley SA 5042.
Email info@rmcmahon.com.au
Phone [0404117186)

Our head office, CAD design centre and micro machining workshop. ANFF Precision Engineering Centre at the University of South Australia and Adelaide University, Building IW, Mawson Lakes, South Australia.

McMahon Micro Machining and Richard McMahon specialises in early stage rapid prototype development, mechanical and electro mechanical device design and manufacture. We are not a high volume manufacturing facility, but a niche boutique advice and rapid prototyping facility at Tonsley and Mawson Lakes. Any certifications for the commercial market or export are not carried out in-house at McMahon Micro Machining or R. McMahon Watchmakers PTY LTD. We are happy to refer clients to MDPP or ANFF for advice on certification and regulatory approval for medical or other devices manufactured and designed at our facilities. We may in the future apply for relevant ISO standards if our manufacturing expands and we will list on our relevant ISO or other certifications if they are pending or approved.

Helping bring back precision manufacturing to Australia and mentoring the next generation of precision machinists.

Postage from interstate please contact us before sending any items.

We ONLY accept courier and Australia Post deliveries to Suite 2106, 3 Denham Avenue Morphettville, SA 5043.