Reference material for engineers who need real process limits, not marketing copy. Material behavior, tolerance data, DFM rules and finishing choices, written by people who run the machines.
Most rejections trace back to a decision made before the first cut.
A ±0.01 mm callout on a 300 mm aluminum bracket invites scrap. The machine can hold ±0.005 mm on a stable setup, but thermal growth across a long part eats the margin. We flag it in DFM, before tooling is cut.
A 1.5 mm wall in 6061 looks fine on screen. In the vise it deflects, then springs back. You get a part that measures correctly unclamped and fails when assembled. Wall thickness and support strategy belong in the drawing review.
A 17-4PH pin running in a 316L bushing will gall without a specified clearance or surface difference. Ra 1.6–3.2 μm on both surfaces is a recipe for seizure. Finish and clearance are one decision, not two.
If two dimensions reference different features, inspection tells a different story than the model. We ask which features locate the part in the assembly and build the datum scheme around that. It takes one email.
Every number on this page comes from a setup we actually run.
Aluminum 6061 and 7075 cut fast and take heavy radial engagement. Titanium TC4 (Ti-6Al-4V) does not. Heat stays in the cut, so we slow surface speed, keep the tool moving, and flood coolant. Same drawing, two different programs.
Stainless 316L work-hardens at the surface. A dwelling tool turns the top 0.05 mm into a hard skin that dulls the next pass. We keep feed per tooth up and radial engagement constant instead.
Every extra setup adds a stack-up error. On a 5-axis center we can reach five faces of a part without re-clamping, which keeps position tolerance tight on parts with bores on different axes.
Inspection follows the same logic. We check raw material certificates on arrival, monitor critical dimensions in process, and run a final inspection on 100% of parts before shipment. Reports come on request. If a dimension matters, it gets measured, not assumed.
Start from geometry and quantity, not from the machine list.
| Process | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| 3-axis milling | Prismatic parts, open pockets, flat faces | Undercuts need a second setup |
| 4-axis milling | Cylindrical parts with features on the side | Indexing adds cycle time |
| 5-axis milling | Complex contours, deep cavities, one-setup parts | Higher hourly rate, needs a clean model |
| CNC turning | Shafts, bushings, threaded fittings | Off-axis holes need milling after turning |
| Mill-turn | Turned parts with milled flats and cross holes | Programming time is longer |
| Sheet metal | Enclosures, brackets, panels under 6 mm | Tight radii depend on tooling |
One supplier from prototype to production, with the same inspection standard on both.
16 simultaneous 5-axis centers for contoured surfaces, deep cavities and parts that need five faces in one setup. Up to 4,000 mm of travel on the large machines.
27 three-axis machines, 12 four-axis mills and 16 mill-turn centers cover prismatic parts, shafts and fittings. Tolerances to ±0.005 mm on stable setups.
Machined prototypes from one piece, with no minimum order quantity. Production can start within 24 hours of an approved program.
For geometry that milling cannot reach or for early form checks. Used alongside machining when a hybrid approach saves a step.
Brackets, chassis and panels, with forming and finishing handled in the same plant to keep tolerance stack-up controlled.
Anodizing, plating, powder coating, bead blasting, polishing and laser marking. Finish specified by function, not by appearance alone.
Numbers you can put into a tolerance stack-up.
| Item | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General tolerance | ±0.005 mm (±0.0002 in) | On rigid setups, stable material |
| Fine finish | Ra 0.2–0.8 μm | Polishing or fine boring |
| Standard finish | Ra 0.8–1.6 μm | Typical milled or turned surface |
| As-machined finish | Ra 1.6–3.2 μm | Non-critical faces |
| Maximum part size | 4,000 mm | Long parts on large travel machines |
| Rotary table | Ø400 mm | 4-axis work on cylindrical parts |
| Laser marking | 1.5 mm minimum character height | Below this, legibility drops |
| Order quantity | 1 pc to 10,000+ parts | No minimum order quantity |
Three wholly-owned plants and 7,600 m² of manufacturing space in Dongguan, plus a factory in Singapore. Same process control at both sites.
Held on stable setups in aluminum, stainless and steel. Tight callouts get reviewed before the program is released, not after.
Quotation with a free DFM analysis within 12 hours of receiving drawings. We tell you which features will cause trouble.
Raw material check, in-process monitoring and final inspection on every order. Reports issued on request.
ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 27001:2022 cover automotive, medical and data handling.
Below 2% across shipped orders. Parts typically ship in 3–5 days once production starts.
Lightweight ribs and fittings machined from 7075 and 6061, with traceable material and documented inspection.
Housings, bushings and fixtures in 6061, 4140 and 17-4PH. IATF 16949:2016 process control applies across the run.
316L and titanium parts with fine finishes and clean deburring. ISO 13485:2016 quality system covers the workflow.
End effectors, mounting plates and gearbox parts machined from aluminum and stainless, held to assembly fits.
Look at where the material has to come off. If the part is essentially a cylinder with features on the outside diameter or the face, turning is faster and cheaper. If it has pockets, slots and faces on multiple sides, milling wins.
Parts with both characters, like a shaft with milled flats and cross holes, usually go on a mill-turn center. That avoids a second setup and keeps the bore-to-flat relationship tight.
Yes, but the alloy matters. 6061 welds reasonably well, though heat-affected zones lose some strength in the T6 condition. 7075 is generally not welded for structural use because it cracks.
If the part will be welded, tell us before machining. We adjust the drawing allowance and can leave weld prep features. Welding after finishing usually damages anodized surfaces, so sequence matters.
We machine ABS, PC, PMMA, POM, PA, PEEK, PP, HDPE and carbon fiber. POM and PEEK cut cleanly with sharp tooling and hold tolerance well.
ABS and PC are softer and melt easily. Feed and speed have to be dialed back, and deep pockets need extra care because chips pack. Plastics also move more with temperature than metals, so we let parts stabilize before the final measurement.
It depends on the grade. 303 is free-machining and behaves well. 304 and 316 work-harden, so a tool that rubs instead of cuts will harden the surface and shorten tool life.
We keep feed per tooth high and radial engagement steady to stay ahead of the hardened layer. 17-4PH in the hardened condition needs lower speeds and more passes. None of this is unusual, but it does affect cycle time.
STEP and IGES for 3D models, plus PDF or DXF for 2D drawings. If a dimension or finish is critical, put it on the drawing. A model alone does not carry tolerance intent.
Uploads are handled as confidential. We can work under an NDA when you need one in place before drawings are shared.
Start from function. Wear resistance, corrosion, conductivity and appearance each point to different finishes. Hardcoat anodizing for wear, electroless nickel for uniform coverage on complex geometry, bead blasting for a matte base before coating.
Laser marking needs at least 1.5 mm character height to stay legible. Below that, we recommend a different marking method or a larger clear area.
We flag it in the DFM review that comes with the quote. You get a specific note: which feature, why it is a risk, and what we suggest instead.
Common calls are wall thickness, sharp internal corners, and tolerances tighter than the geometry supports. Catching these before programming saves a scrap cycle.
Material test reports and inspection certificates are available on request. We check raw material on arrival, monitor critical dimensions in process, and run final inspection on 100% of parts before shipment.
If your quality system needs a specific report format, tell us at the quoting stage and we will confirm it can be issued before the order is placed.
Upload your files and an engineer will come back with pricing, lead time and any features that need a closer look.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo minimum order quantityNDA on request
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Upload your 3D model or 2D drawing and get a quotation with a free DFM analysis. Maximum processing size 4,000 mm.
CNC Metals 13 grades
CNC Plastics 10 grades
Machines & processes 12 options
Surface & post-processing 10 options
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