Auckland CNC Processing Services for Production Parts

Most machine shops quote whatever is on the RFQ without asking what the part does. That is backwards. Geometry and tolerance call the process, not the other way around. A bracket with three flat faces and a couple of through holes runs fine on a three-axis mill. A hydraulic manifold with cross-drilled passages that meet at compound angles does not. Send the drawing and we will tell you which machine it belongs on before anyone cuts metal.

The tightest band we hold on production work is ±0.005 mm, and that number only means something when the datum scheme supports it. Parts with a clean primary datum, a secondary that locks rotation, and features dimensioned from those references machine predictably. Parts dimensioned from three different edges with no stated datum stack up differently on every setup. We flag that in the DFM review, usually within 12 hours of getting the file.

For parts that need features on four or five faces, one setup on a five-axis center beats three setups on a three-axis. Every re-fixture adds stack-up error and adds a day. When the feature count is low and the faces are reachable, a three-axis with soft jaws is cheaper and just as accurate. Our shop runs both, so the recommendation is not tied to what is free on the floor.

Material matters less than people expect. Aluminium 6061 and 7075, 303 and 316 stainless, 4140 steel, and PEEK all cut cleanly at our tolerances. What changes is tool wear, cycle time, and how much you pay. Titanium and Inconel need slower passes and more coolant, so budget accordingly.

• 1
  Three-axisFlat plates, pockets, and holes on one face. Lowest cost per part.
• 2
  Four-axisCylindrical parts with cross features. One rotary position, fewer setups.
• 3
  Five-axisCompound angles, undercuts, and multi-face work in a single setup.
• 4
  Mill-turnShafts and housings that need turning and milling without re-chucking.

We run 127 high-precision CNC machines across 3 wholly-owned plants, with 7,600 m² of floor space and 150 technicians. The fleet includes 16 simultaneous 5-axis machining centers, 12 four-axis mills, 27 three-axis machines, and 16 mill-turn centers. That mix matters because a job does not get forced onto the wrong machine just to keep a spindle busy.

Maximum processing size is 4,000 mm, with a large travel envelope of 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm. Medium envelopes run 750 × 1,150 × 550 mm and 600 × 600 × 600 mm. Compact envelopes run 500 × 500 × 450 mm and 500 × 310 × 200 mm. If your part fits one of those boxes, we can quote it without asking you to split it into sections.

Surface finish is quoted with the part, not added later. As-machined surfaces sit at Ra 1.6–3.2 μm. High-finish surfaces reach Ra 0.8–1.6 μm. Fine finishes go to Ra 0.2–0.8 μm when the application needs it, such as sealing faces or optical mounts. Specify the finish per face on the drawing and we will hold it there instead of polishing the whole part.

Inspection is 100% before shipment. That includes a raw material check on incoming stock, in-process monitoring during the run, and a final inspection before parts are packed. Reports are available on request. For parts with a critical feature, we will tell you which gauge we used and what the actual readings were.

We machine aluminium 6061, 6061-T6, 2024, 5052, 5083, 6063, 6082, 7075, and ADC12. Stainless grades include 303, 304, 316, 316L, 420, 430, 431, 440C, and 17-4PH. Steel covers 1018, 1045, 4130, 4140, 4340, A36, and tool steel. Copper and brass run from C101 through C36000. Titanium grades TA1, TA2, and TC4 are available, along with Inconel and magnesium AZ31B and AZ91D. Plastics include ABS, PC, PMMA, POM, PA, PEEK, PP, HDPE, and carbon fibre.

Post-processing happens in-house, which removes the back-and-forth that usually eats a week. Anodizing is available in clear, colour, hardcoat, and conductive. Plating covers electroless nickel, zinc, silver, and gold. Powder coating and black oxide are standard. Bead blasting, tumbling, brushing, and polishing handle surface prep. Laser marking and engraving go down to a minimum character height of 1.5 mm, so part numbers and logos stay legible.

If your part needs heat treatment, passivation, or a finish we do not run, we will say so at quote time rather than after the parts are cut. Subcontracted steps add days, and you should know that before you commit to a schedule.

One more thing worth checking: masking. Anodizing and plating change dimensions on tight-tolerance features. If a bore must stay at size after coating, mark it on the drawing. We mask and plug accordingly.

Quotation and free DFM analysis come back within 12 hours. Production can start within 24 hours of approval, and parts ship in 3–5 days for standard jobs. Historical late-delivery probability is below 2%. Those numbers are for typical work, not a guarantee on every part. Complex geometry, exotic material, or a large batch moves the schedule, and we will tell you which one applies when we quote.

There is no minimum order quantity. We run one prototype and we run 10,000+ part runs on the same floor. A single part gets the same inspection as a production batch. For engineers between design revisions, that means you can test a concept without committing to tooling.

Uploads are secure and confidential. An NDA is available on request if your drawings cannot leave your building without one. We do not share files, part photos, or customer names. For Auckland teams working with overseas suppliers, that is usually the first question, and it should be answered before the first file is sent.

To get a quote, send the 3D model, 2D drawing with tolerances and finishes, quantity, and material. If the drawing is incomplete, the DFM review will flag it and ask. That is faster than guessing and re-cutting.