01
The quote comes back a week late
Engineers lose the schedule before the PO is even issued. We return a quotation and a free DFM analysis within 12 hours, so the cost question does not hold up your design review.
Turning, milling and mill-turn
Custom CNC Machining Turning for Robotics and Automotive Parts
From one prototype to 10,000+ part runs. We machine turned shafts, housings and mill-turn parts to ±0.005 mm, with free DFM analysis back within 12 hours and full inspection before every shipment.
12-hour quoteNo MOQ±0.005 mm100% inspectionISO 9001 / IATF 16949
127High-precision CNC machines
16Simultaneous 5-axis centers
99.99%Qualification rate
15 yearsIn CNC machining
Where turning jobs go wrong
Four Problems We See in Outsourced Turning Work
Most failures are not machining failures. They are quoting, setup and inspection failures.
02
Tolerances drift between the sample and the run
A first article that measures well is no guarantee. On a 50-piece run, the shop that hit ±0.005 mm on one turned shaft may drift to ±0.03 mm on part 30. We monitor dimensions in process, not only at the end.
03
Two setups, two vendors, one alignment problem
A robot joint housing often needs turning plus cross-drilled holes. Split between two suppliers, the bore and hole pattern rarely line up on assembly day. Mill-turn centers keep both features on one datum.
04
Surface finish fails after anodizing
A Ra 1.6 μm as-machined surface can turn blotchy once hardcoat anodizing is applied. We set the finish target with the coating in mind. The part arrives looking like the drawing, not like a repair job.
How we run the job
Turning, Milling and Mill-Turn on One Floor
One quote covers the turned features, the milled features and the finish.
Capability 1
Mill-Turn Centers for Parts That Need Both Operations
Robotic arm joints, gearbox housings and sensor mounts usually combine a turned bore with off-axis holes or flats. On separate lathes and mills, each setup adds a new datum and a new chance for stack-up error.
Our 16 mill-turn centers cut turning and milling in a single clamping. Bores, faces, cross holes and slots come off the same spindle reference. For a typical robot joint housing, that removes two setups and one inspection step.
- 1Single-datum machiningTurned bore and cross-drilled holes share one reference.
- 216 mill-turn centersØ400 mm rotary table for off-axis features.
- 3Repeatable across a runThe same setup runs part 1 and part 500.
Capability 2
Turning Cell Setup for Shafts and Small Precision Parts
Not every part needs five axes. Long shafts, bushings, fittings and threaded studs run faster and cheaper on dedicated turning machines, and the process is easier to hold stable over thousands of pieces.
We route each job by geometry, not by whatever machine is free. A Ø12 mm × 300 mm stainless shaft belongs on a turning center. A 600 × 600 × 600 mm aluminum plate belongs on a three-axis mill. Mixing those up is how cycle times and tolerances both suffer.
- 1Shafts and bushingsTurning centers hold concentricity over long parts.
- 2Threads and groovesCut in the same pass as the OD, no secondary op.
- 3Material range303 / 316 stainless, 6061 / 7075 aluminum, C360 brass, Ti-6Al-4V.
Choosing the process
Which Turning Route Fits Your Part
Match the geometry to the machine before you ask for a price.
| Part geometry | Recommended route | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Round part, no off-axis features | CNC turning | One setup, shortest cycle |
| Turned bore plus cross holes | Mill-turn center | One datum, no re-fixture |
| Long shaft, Ø under 50 mm | Turning center with steady rest | Concentricity holds over length |
| Complex 3D contour on a round body | 5-axis machining | Cuts angled faces without extra fixtures |
| Thin-wall aluminum housing | 3-axis mill with light passes | Less deflection, better wall control |
| Small batch, many variants | Mill-turn, no dedicated fixture | Changeover without tooling cost |
What we run
Services Behind Every Custom CNC Machining Turning Job
Turning is usually one step in a longer chain. We handle the rest in house.
01
CNC Turning
Shafts, bushings, fittings and threaded parts. Concentricity held across the full part length.
02
Mill-Turn
Turned bodies with cross holes, flats and slots. One clamping, one datum, fewer handoffs.
03
5-Axis Machining
Angled faces and contoured surfaces on complex housings. 16 simultaneous 5-axis centers.
04
Rapid Prototyping
One-off parts to validate fit before tooling. Same tolerances as production, no MOQ.
05
Surface Finishing
Anodizing, plating, powder coat, bead blasting and laser marking. Minimum character height 1.5 mm.
06
Inspection and Reporting
Raw material check, in-process monitoring and final inspection. Reports on request.
Shop capacity
Machines, Sizes and Tolerances
Numbers you can check against your drawing.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Tolerance | ±0.005 mm (±0.0002 in) |
| Surface finish | Ra 0.2–0.8 μm fine, Ra 0.8–1.6 μm high |
| Maximum part size | 4,000 mm |
| Large travel | 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm |
| Medium travel | 750 × 1,150 × 550 mm |
| Compact travel | 500 × 500 × 450 mm |
| Rotary table | Ø400 mm |
| Order quantity | One prototype to 10,000+ parts |
Why GreatLight
What You Get Beyond the Machine Time
12H
Quote and DFM in 12 hours
You get a price and a manufacturability note the same working day. Design issues surface before the PO, not after.
±0.005
Tolerance held in millimeters
Tight limits are routine on our machines. We tell you when a feature is hard to hold instead of quoting it and hoping.
100%
Inspection before shipment
Every part is checked. Raw material, in-process and final. Inspection reports go out when you ask.
24H
Production start after PO
Material and programming are prepared during quoting, so the spindle can start within 24 hours.
0 MOQ
No minimum order quantity
One prototype or a 10,000-part run. The setup cost is the same either way.
NDA
Your drawings stay yours
Uploads are secure. We sign an NDA on request and never release files to a third party.
7,600 m²Manufacturing space
150Technicians on staff
3Wholly-owned plants
4,000 mmMaximum processing size
Industry requirements
What These Sectors Demand, and What We Deliver
Robotics and Automation
Joint housings, actuator shafts and sensor mounts. The sector needs repeatable bore-to-hole alignment across builds.
- ±0.005 mm
- Mill-turn
- Ra 0.8–1.6 μm
Automotive and EV
Engine and drivetrain parts in 6061, 7075 and 4140. IATF 16949 process control is expected, not optional.
- IATF 16949
- ±0.005 mm
- 100% inspection
Prototype Builds
One-off turned and milled parts for fit checks. No tooling cost, no minimum quantity, same tolerance band.
- No MOQ
- 3–5 day ship
- 12-hour quote
Industrial Machinery
Bushings, fittings and wear parts in brass, stainless and engineering plastics. Volume runs stay inside tolerance.
- 99.99% qualification
- 10,000+ parts
- ISO 9001
FAQs
Questions Engineers Ask Before Sending a Turning Job
What tolerances can you hold on turned parts?
Our standard working tolerance is ±0.005 mm, or ±0.0002 in. That applies to diameters, bores and critical lengths on turned and mill-turn parts.
Some features are harder than others. Long thin shafts deflect, and deep bores need the right tooling. Send the drawing and we will tell you which dimensions are comfortable and which need a design change.
When should I choose mill-turn instead of separate turning and milling?
If the part has a turned bore plus cross holes, flats or slots that must line up with that bore, use mill-turn. Cutting everything in one clamping keeps one datum and removes stack-up error between setups.
If the cross features are non-critical, separate operations are fine and often cheaper. We route by geometry, not by machine availability.
What is the smallest and largest part you can turn?
We run small precision parts in the millimeter range and turned features on parts up to 4,000 mm in maximum processing size.
Our largest travel is 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm. Compact cells cover 500 × 500 × 450 mm. If your part sits outside those envelopes, tell us and we will say so before quoting.
Which materials do you machine most often?
Aluminum 6061, 7075 and 5052, stainless 303, 304 and 316L, alloy steels 4140 and 4340, and copper alloys C360 and C110. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel come up on aerospace and robotics work.
On the plastic side, POM, PEEK, ABS, PC and HDPE are common. Material choice affects finish and cycle time, so it is worth settling early.
How do you handle surface finish before anodizing or plating?
We set the as-machined finish target with the coating in mind. A Ra 0.8–1.6 μm surface is a good base for most anodizing, and fine finishes go down to Ra 0.2–0.8 μm when the drawing calls for it.
Hardcoat and conductive anodizing can make tool marks more visible. If cosmetics matter, say so at quoting and we will adjust the cutting strategy.
Do you accept small orders or one-off prototypes?
Yes. There is no minimum order quantity. We run from a single prototype to 10,000+ part runs.
For a one-off, the setup cost dominates the price, and that is normal. The advantage is that the same process and inspection standards apply to a single part as to a full run.
How fast can you quote and ship?
Quotation and free DFM analysis come back within 12 hours. Production can start within 24 hours of the PO.
Parts typically ship in 3–5 days. That depends on material availability and finish. If a step like hardcoat anodizing adds time, we say so in the quote rather than after.
How is my design data protected?
Uploads go through a secure channel and stay confidential. We do not release drawings or models to a third party without your written permission.
An NDA is available on request, and we hold ISO 27001:2022 for information security management.
Send the Drawing, Get a Price and a DFM Note
Upload a STEP file and we will come back within 12 hours with pricing, lead time and any manufacturability flags.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo MOQNDA on request
