Straight answers on tolerances, materials, finishes, lead time and inspection at GreatLight. Read the question that matches your part, then send the drawing for a 12-hour quote.
A drawing with ±0.01 mm across a 900 mm aluminum frame will be quoted high or rejected. Datum choice, wall thickness and hole depth decide whether the callout is realistic on a 3-axis mill or needs 5-axis work.
Aluminum 6061 and 7075 cut clean. Titanium and Inconel move under heat, so feeds, speeds and coolant have to be set per part. No test cut means scrapped blanks and weeks lost.
Anodize, plating and heat treat are separate processes. If nobody tracks masking, rack marks and post-machining distortion, the parts come back out of tolerance and the whole batch is rework.
Splitting prototype and production across two suppliers means re-qualifying the process. Fixtures, tooling and inspection plans get rebuilt, and the second article never matches the first.
Each faq below maps to a real step in our workflow, from DFM review to final inspection.
We work to ±0.005 mm (±0.0002 in) on features that fit inside the machine envelope. That number is not a blanket value for the whole part. It applies to a bore, a shaft diameter or a locating face with a clear datum. Long thin walls, deep pockets and unsupported overhangs push the practical limit looser, and we say so before quoting.
Our DFM analysis comes back with the quote, usually inside 12 hours. If a callout will drive extra setups or a second operation, we mark it and propose an alternative rather than hiding the cost in the price.
We machine aluminum 6061, 2024, 5052, 6063, 6082, 7075 and ADC12; stainless 303, 304, 316L, 17-4PH and 440C; steel 1018, 1045, 4130, 4140 and 4340; plus copper, brass, titanium grades TA1 to TC4, Inconel, magnesium and engineering plastics from POM and PEEK to carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber is the exception worth calling out. It machines, but the dust is abrasive and the laminate can delaminate at the edge. Every new geometry needs a test cut to lock feeds and speeds, so it adds a step rather than fitting a standard cycle.
Finishing is handled through long-standing outside partners: anodizing, passivation, plating, polishing, grinding and heat treating. We control the sequence so the finish never lands before a final machining pass.
Use this table to sanity-check a callout before you send it.
| Feature type | Realistic tolerance | Typical finish |
|---|---|---|
| Turned shaft, supported | ±0.005 mm | Ra 0.8–1.6 μm |
| Bored hole with clear datum | ±0.005 mm | Ra 0.8–1.6 μm |
| Pocket floor, thin wall | ±0.025 mm | Ra 1.6–3.2 μm |
| Long aluminum frame, 900 mm+ | ±0.05 mm over length | Ra 1.6–3.2 μm |
| Ground face after heat treat | ±0.010 mm | Ra 0.2–0.8 μm |
| Laser marked text | 1.5 mm min character height | As marked |
16 simultaneous 5-axis centers for contoured surfaces, deep cavities and parts that would otherwise need four setups.
12 four-axis mills with Ø400 mm rotary tables for shaft work, cross-drilled holes and multi-face parts.
27 three-axis machines handle prismatic plates, housings and brackets at the lowest cost per part.
16 mill-turn centers combine turning and milling in one cycle. Fewer setups, tighter concentricity.
One-off parts in 3–5 days so you can test fit and function before committing to tooling.
Anodize, plating, powder coat, black oxide, bead blast, brushing, polishing and laser marking.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| File formats | STEP, IGES, X_T, DWG, DXF, PDF, STL |
| Quantity | 1 prototype to 10,000+ parts, no MOQ |
| Max part size | 4,000 mm processing length |
| Quote turnaround | 12 hours with free DFM analysis |
| Production start | Within 24 hours of approval |
| Shipping window | 3–5 days after production |
| Inspection | 100% before shipment, reports on request |
| Confidentiality | Secure uploads, NDA on request |
Fifteen years on the same floor in Dongguan, plus a Singapore plant. The process knowledge sits with the people running the machines.
Three-axis to simultaneous 5-axis, mill-turn and turning. The right machine for the geometry, not the one that happens to be free.
Held on ground and bored features with a clear datum. Verified with calibrated instruments, not assumed.
Raw material check, in-process monitoring and final inspection on every run before parts ship.
Programmers, machinists and inspectors across 7,600 m² of manufacturing space in three wholly-owned plants.
ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 27001:2022 cover quality, automotive, medical and data security.
Thin-wall aluminum and titanium brackets with documented inspection.
Housings, busbars and fixtures under IATF 16949 process control.
Stainless and titanium components machined under ISO 13485 controls.
End-effector plates and gearbox parts held to bore-to-bore alignment.
CNC means computer numerical control. A programmer takes your CAD model, builds the toolpaths and posts code that drives the machine's axes, spindle speed and feed rate. The operator sets the workholding and tools, then runs the first article and checks it against the drawing.
The practical difference from manual machining is repeatability. Once the program and fixture are proven, part 500 matches part 1. That is why we ask for a stable datum and a model that matches the print.
±0.005 mm (±0.0002 in) on features with a clear datum, such as a bore, shaft diameter or locating face. Surface finish on those features typically lands at Ra 0.8–1.6 μm, and finer at Ra 0.2–0.8 μm after grinding or polishing.
Long spans, thin walls and unsupported overhangs are different. A 900 mm aluminum frame will not hold ±0.005 mm over its full length, and we will tell you the realistic number during DFM review.
Aluminum 6061, 2024, 5052, 6063, 6082, 7075 and ADC12; stainless 303, 304, 316L, 17-4PH and 440C; steel 1018, 1045, 4130, 4140 and 4340; copper and brass grades including C36000; titanium TA1, TA2 and TC4; plus Inconel and magnesium.
On the plastic side we run ABS, PC, PMMA, POM, PA, PEEK, PP and HDPE. Carbon fiber composites are machinable, but each new geometry needs a test cut to set feeds and speeds, and the tooling is specific to the material.
We handle it. Anodizing in clear, color, hardcoat and conductive; electroless nickel, zinc, silver and gold plating; powder coating and black oxide; bead blasting, tumbling, brushing and polishing; plus laser marking and engraving down to 1.5 mm character height.
These run through outside partners we have used for years. We keep the process sequence under our control, so masking and rack marks are checked before the parts ship rather than discovered at your incoming inspection.
Quote and free DFM analysis come back within 12 hours. Production can start within 24 hours of approval, and parts usually ship in 3–5 days.
Single samples carry a setup charge because programming and fixturing do not scale down to one piece. For batch production we provide a free sample for your check before the run continues. We do not quote a fixed delivery date before the drawing is reviewed.
No MOQ. We run from one prototype to 10,000+ part runs on the same floor.
That matters for two reasons. First, you can validate the design on a real machined part instead of a print review. Second, when the design freezes, the fixture and program from the prototype carry into production, so the second article matches the first without re-qualification.
Yes. STEP, IGES, X_T and native CAD files all work. If you have a drawing, send it too, because tolerance callouts, datums and finish notes live in the 2D document, not in the solid.
If you only have a model, we machine to the model's nominal geometry and flag any feature that needs a tolerance decision. That is part of the DFM feedback. For assemblies, send the full stack so fits and clearances can be checked together.
Every job goes through raw material verification, in-process monitoring and final inspection. We inspect 100% of parts before shipment, and dimensional reports are available on request. Our quality system is certified to ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 27001:2022.
Uploads are handled as confidential and an NDA is available on request. If your program requires controlled documentation or traceability to a specific lot, tell us at quoting so the inspection plan is built for it rather than added later.
Upload your CAD file and we return a quote with DFM notes within 12 hours. No minimum order quantity, and every part is inspected before it ships.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo MOQNDA on request
Trusted by engineers and manufacturers worldwide
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
Material: not selected Machine: not selected Post-process: not selected
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