01
Tolerance drifts after the first article
The prototype fits. Production parts do not. Thermal growth, worn tooling, or a fixture that was never re-qualified pushes critical bores out of range. You find out at assembly, not at incoming inspection.
Precision manufacturing
Custom CNC Machining Products for Metal and Plastic Parts
GreatLight machines custom parts from prototype to 10,000+ piece runs. Tolerances to ±0.005 mm, 127 machines, and 100% inspection before every shipment.
±0.005 mm toleranceNo minimum order quantity12-hour DFM feedbackISO 9001 / IATF 169493–5 day shipping
127High-precision CNC machines
16Simultaneous 5-axis centers
±0.005 mmAchievable tolerance
99.99%Qualification rate
Common problems
Where CNC Projects Slip
These are the failures we hear about most from engineering teams.
02
Quotes come back in a week
You send a drawing and wait. Then a round of clarifying questions. By the time pricing lands, the program schedule has already moved and the design has changed twice.
03
Small quantities get refused
Many shops quote 500 pieces or nothing. Your pilot build needs 20 parts to prove the design, and the volume order comes later. A refusal here costs you weeks of schedule.
04
Finish spec fails on arrival
Anodize color shifts between lots. A bead-blasted surface reads Ra 3.2 μm when the drawing says Ra 1.6 μm. Rework means shipping parts back across an ocean.
How we machine
One Shop From First Article to Production
Machining strategy, material, and inspection plan are set before the spindle turns.
Machining strategy
Choose the Axis Count That Fits the Part
A three-axis cut is the cheapest way to make a plate with holes on one face. It stops being cheap when the part has features on five sides, because every extra setup adds fixture error and labor. We run 27 three-axis machines, 12 four-axis mills, and 16 simultaneous five-axis centers, so the process matches the geometry instead of forcing the geometry into one machine.
Five-axis work pays for itself on parts with compound angles, deep pockets, or tight true-position callouts between features on different faces. One setup holds the datum. That removes the stack-up you get from flipping a part four times.
- 1One setup, one datumCompound angles and side features cut without re-fixturing.
- 2Reach into deep pocketsShort, rigid tooling holds tolerance on long cavities.
- 3Prototype and production on the same processNo re-qualification between the pilot run and the volume run.
Material and finish
Match Alloy and Surface Treatment to the Load Case
Alloy choice drives both the cut and the cost. 6061-T6 machines fast and takes a clean anodize, which makes it the default for brackets, housings, and fixtures. 7075 carries roughly twice the yield strength of 6061, so it suits robotic joints and aerospace fittings, but it cuts slower and anodizes darker. 6082 behaves close to 6061 with slightly better corrosion resistance.
Plastics follow a different rule. ABS and PC are dimensionally stable enough for enclosures and covers. POM and PEEK hold tolerance in sliding contact and high-temperature service. HDPE is tough but moves with temperature, so we hold the tight dimensions on the features that matter and leave the rest loose.
- 1Aluminum 6061, 6082, 7075Structural parts, housings, robotic and aerospace components.
- 2Stainless 303, 304, 316L, 17-4PHCorrosion service, food contact, and high-strength shafts.
- 3Engineering plasticsABS, PC, POM, PEEK, HDPE for insulators and wear parts.
Selection guide
Which Process Fits Your Part
Pick by geometry and quantity, not by habit.
| Part condition | Recommended process | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Flat plate, holes on one face | 3-axis milling | Lowest setup cost, fastest cycle |
| Features on four sides | 4-axis milling | Indexed table, one datum retained |
| Compound angles, deep pockets | 5-axis simultaneous | One setup, short rigid tooling |
| Round part, milled flats | Mill-turn | Turning and milling in one program |
| Thin wall under 1 mm | 5-axis with light finishing passes | Controlled radial load, less deflection |
| Prototype, 1 to 20 pieces | 3-axis or 5-axis, no hard tooling | Design changes cost nothing to absorb |
What we make
CNC Machining Products and Support Services
Machining is the core. These services cover the steps around it.
01
5-Axis Machining
16 simultaneous five-axis centers handle compound angles, deep cavities, and multi-face parts in one setup. Maximum part envelope reaches 4,000 mm on our large-travel machines.
02
4-Axis and 3-Axis Milling
12 four-axis mills and 27 three-axis machines cover prismatic parts, plates, and housings where five axes would add cost without adding value.
03
CNC Turning and Mill-Turn
16 mill-turn centers cut shafts, bushings, and fittings with cross features, holding concentricity without a second operation.
04
Rapid Prototyping
Machined prototypes in the production alloy, so the fit check reflects the real material and the real process.
05
Surface Finishing
Anodizing, plating, powder coating, black oxide, bead blasting, and laser marking, all coordinated before shipment.
06
Inspection and Reports
Raw material check, in-process monitoring, and final inspection on 100% of parts. Dimensional reports on request.
Capability range
Machine Capacity at a Glance
| Category | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Machines on floor | 127 high-precision CNC | Across 3 wholly-owned plants |
| Largest travel | 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm | Long structural parts |
| Medium travel | 750 × 1,150 × 550 mm | Enclosures and plates |
| Compact travel | 500 × 500 × 450 mm | Small precision components |
| Rotary table | Ø400 mm | Indexed and simultaneous work |
| Achievable tolerance | ±0.005 mm (±0.0002 in) | On qualified features |
| Surface finish | Ra 0.2–3.2 μm | Depending on operation |
| Order size | 1 to 10,000+ pieces | No minimum order quantity |
Why GreatLight
Numbers Behind the Parts
Every claim here maps to a machine, a certificate, or a measured result.
15Y
Machining Since 2011
Fifteen years of production work in Dongguan, with a second plant in Singapore for regional supply.
±0.005
Tolerance in Millimeters
Qualified features hold ±0.005 mm, or ±0.0002 in, with the inspection record to prove it.
127
CNC Machines
16 five-axis centers, 12 four-axis mills, 27 three-axis machines, and 16 mill-turn centers.
99.99%
Qualification Rate
Parts that pass final inspection on the first submission across production runs.
12H
Quote Turnaround
Quotation and free DFM analysis returned within 12 hours of receiving your files.
4
Quality Certifications
ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016, and ISO 27001:2022.
7,600 m²Manufacturing space
150Technicians on staff
3Wholly-owned plants
<2%Historical late-delivery rate
Industry results
What Each Sector Requires, and How We Hit It
Aerospace Brackets
Thin ribs and tight hole patterns in 7075 and Ti-6Al-4V.
- ±0.005 mm
- Ra 0.8–1.6 μm
Automotive and EV Housings
Cooling channels and sealing faces held across production runs.
- IATF 16949
- 10,000+ piece runs
Robotic Joints
Harmonic drive housings and arm segments cut in one setup.
- 5-axis
- Ø400 mm table
Medical Instrument Parts
Stainless and PEEK components with documented inspection.
- ISO 13485
- 100% inspection
FAQs
Questions Engineers Ask Before Ordering
What file formats do you need for a quote?
Send STEP or IGES for the solid model, plus a 2D drawing if any dimension carries a tolerance, datum, or surface callout.
PDF drawings are fine. We review the geometry and the tolerances together and flag anything that cannot be held before quoting.
How tight a tolerance can you actually hold?
We quote ±0.005 mm, or ±0.0002 in, on qualified features. That figure depends on the material, the feature size, and how the part is fixtured.
Very thin walls, deep narrow slots, and long unsupported bores are harder. We tell you which features we can hold and which need a design change, and that answer comes with the quote.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
No. We run one prototype or 10,000+ pieces. Setup cost is spread over the order, so the per-piece price drops as quantity rises, but there is no floor.
Pilot builds of 10 to 50 parts are normal for us and use the same process as the volume run.
How fast can parts ship?
Quotation and DFM analysis come back within 12 hours. Production can start within 24 hours of approval.
Standard parts ship in 3 to 5 days. Larger runs and multi-operation parts take longer, and we state the schedule in the quote rather than after.
Which materials do you machine most often?
Aluminum 6061-T6, 6082, and 7075 cover most structural work. Stainless 303 and 316L handle corrosion and food-contact parts.
For plastics, ABS, PC, POM, and PEEK are the common choices. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel are available for high-temperature and high-strength applications.
How do you handle confidentiality?
Uploads stay secure and confidential. We sign an NDA on request before you send drawings.
Files are not shared outside the project team, and tooling or fixtures made for your part are not reused for anyone else.
What inspection data comes with the parts?
Every part passes raw material check, in-process monitoring, and final inspection before shipment. Inspection covers 100% of the order.
Dimensional reports and material certificates are available on request. Tell us which dimensions matter and we will record them.
Can you work from a drawing without a 3D model?
Yes, if the drawing is complete. We rebuild the geometry from the views and send a model back for your confirmation before cutting.
If the drawing is ambiguous, we ask instead of guessing. A wrong assumption on a datum costs more than a day of clarification.
Send Drawings, Get Machined Parts
Upload your files and receive a quotation with DFM analysis within 12 hours. One prototype or ten thousand, same process and same inspection.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo minimum order quantityNDA on request
