01
A tall wall that bows after clamping
Thin walls above 10:1 height-to-thickness ratios move under vise pressure. The part measures good on the machine and out of tolerance on the CMM. We plan support and rough/finish passes before quoting.
CNC Milling
Milling Machining Parts
We cut metal and plastic parts to ±0.005 mm on 16 simultaneous 5-axis centers, with 100% inspection before shipment and no minimum order quantity.
±0.005 mm4,000 mm travel16 five-axis centersRa 0.2–0.8 μmNo MOQISO 9001 / IATF 16949
±0.005 mmAchievable milling tolerance
16Simultaneous 5-axis centers
4,000 mmMaximum processing size
99.99%Qualification rate
Common problems
What Goes Wrong With Milled Parts
Four failures we see on incoming RFQs and production parts.
02
Features that no 3-axis setup can reach
Undercuts, cross holes and angled faces on one part mean three or four setups. Each setup adds a datum shift. Tolerance stacks up and the assembly no longer fits.
03
Material that work-hardens during cutting
Stainless 316L, Inconel and titanium work-harden if the feed is too light. The surface hardens, the next pass chips the edge, and tool life drops fast. Feed and speed need to match the alloy, not the drawing.
04
A finish callout nobody can hold
Ra 0.4 μm across a 300 mm face needs the right cutter, spindle speed and coolant. A generic as-machined pass lands at Ra 1.6–3.2 μm. We flag finish before the first chip.
How we machine it
One Setup, One Datum, One Inspection Report
What we control so the part in the box matches the model.
Setup strategy
Five-Axis Workholding for Complex Geometry
Parts with undercuts, cross holes or angled faces usually need three or four 3-axis setups. Every reclamp moves the datum. We put that geometry on a simultaneous 5-axis center instead, so one setup reaches five faces.
The rotary table is Ø400 mm on the compact machines, and our largest travel runs 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm for long extrusions and rails. For deep pockets we pick the smallest cutter that still clears chips, then step up to a larger one for the floor.
- 1One datumAngled faces and cross holes cut without reclamping.
- 2Ø400 mm rotary tableIndexed workholding for repeatable re-entry.
- 34,000 mm travelLong rails and profiles in one program.
Accuracy control
Holding ±0.005 mm on Real Parts
Tolerance is not a machine spec sheet. It is the result of workholding, thermal drift and how the cutter enters the material. We rough, stress-relieve where the geometry allows, then take a light finish pass with a sharp tool.
Thin walls get support from sacrificial tabs or soft jaws. We check the first part on the CMM, adjust the offset, then run the rest. Every batch ships with inspection records on request.
- 1±0.005 mmHeld on features the process can actually control.
- 2Ra 0.2–0.8 μmFine finish where the drawing calls for it.
- 3100% inspectionRaw material check, in-process monitoring, final check.
Selection guide
Which Machine for Which Part
How we route a job before it hits the floor.
| Part feature | Machine | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Long rail or extrusion | 3-axis, 4,000 mm travel | Length needs the big table, not 5 axes. |
| Undercuts, cross holes | 5-axis simultaneous | One setup, no datum shift. |
| Deep pocket, thin floor | 3-axis with support | Rigid setup beats reach here. |
| Round parts with flats | Mill-turn center | Turning and milling in one cycle. |
| Turned features both ends | 4-axis with indexer | Both ends cut without a second vise. |
Services
What We Mill
Milling sits inside a wider shop, so a part can move to turning, finishing or assembly without a new supplier.
01
5 Axis CNC Machining
Simultaneous 5-axis for complex geometry in one setup. Sixteen centers available.
02
4 Axis CNC Machining
Indexed milling for parts with features on more than one face.
03
3 Axis CNC Machining
Stable milling for plates, housings and long profiles up to 4,000 mm.
04
CNC Milling & Turning
Mill-turn centers combine both operations for round parts with flats.
05
Part Surface Finishing
Anodizing, plating, powder coating, bead blasting, polishing and laser marking.
06
Rapid Prototyping
One-off and low-volume milled parts to check fit before tooling.
Scope
Milling Capability at a Glance
Numbers we can commit to before the quote.
| Item | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerance | ±0.005 mm / ±0.0002 in | Tighter on selected features after review. |
| Surface finish | Ra 0.2–3.2 μm | As-machined default at Ra 1.6–3.2 μm. |
| Max part size | 4,000 mm | Travel 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm. |
| Materials | Aluminium, stainless, steel | Copper, brass, titanium, plastics too. |
| Lot size | 1 to 10,000+ | No minimum order quantity. |
| Lead time | Parts ship in 3–5 days | Quote and DFM in 12 hours. |
Why GreatLight
What You Get With the Quote
15Y
Machining since 2011
Fifteen years on metal and plastic parts, across three wholly-owned plants.
127
High-precision CNC machines
Five-axis, four-axis, three-axis and mill-turn centers under one roof.
24h
Production start
Once the drawing and material are set, the job can start within 24 hours.
12h
Quote and DFM analysis
Free manufacturability review with the quotation, not after the order.
<2%
Historical late-delivery rate
Measured across shipped orders, not a target number.
NDA
Confidential uploads
Secure file handling and an NDA on request.
7,600 m²Manufacturing space
150Technicians
3Wholly-owned plants
4ISO certifications held
Industry fit
Where Milled Parts Go
Aerospace brackets
Lightweight pockets and stiffening ribs in aluminium and titanium.
- ±0.005 mm
- Ra 0.8–1.6 μm
- 100% inspection
Medical instrument housings
Small milled bodies with tight bores and clean finishes.
- ISO 13485
- Ra 0.2–0.8 μm
- Deburred edges
Automotive and EV fixtures
Production fixtures and brackets that survive repeated clamping.
- IATF 16949
- 1 to 10,000+ parts
- 12-hour quote
FAQs
Milling Machining Parts: Questions Engineers Ask
What part sizes can you mill?
Our largest travel is 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm for long profiles and rails. Medium and compact travels cover 750 × 1,150 × 550 mm, 600 × 600 × 600 mm, 500 × 500 × 450 mm and 500 × 310 × 200 mm.
If a part is longer than the table, we review whether splitting it into two milled sections and joining is acceptable. That decision belongs in the DFM review, not on the shop floor.
Which materials do you mill most often?
Aluminium 6061, 6061-T6, 7075, 6082 and 2024 cover a large share of jobs. Stainless 303, 304, 316L and 17-4PH follow, along with steel 1018, 1045, 4140 and 4340.
We also cut copper and brass grades such as C36000, titanium TA2 and TC4, magnesium AZ31B, and plastics including POM, PEEK, PC and ABS.
When should a part go on 5-axis instead of 3-axis?
Use 5-axis when the part has undercuts, cross holes, angled faces or features on five sides, because one setup removes the datum shift between operations.
Stay on 3-axis when the part is a flat plate, a housing with one open face, or a long rail. More axes do not improve accuracy on simple geometry, and the simpler setup is usually stiffer.
How do you hold ±0.005 mm on thin walls?
Thin walls need support during cutting. We use soft jaws, sacrificial tabs or fixtures that back the wall, and take light finishing passes with sharp tooling.
We also control heat. A spindle that runs hard all day moves the part as much as the cutter does, so we check the first part, adjust the offset, and keep the process steady.
What surface finishes are available?
As-machined finish lands at Ra 1.6–3.2 μm. Fine milling reaches Ra 0.8–1.6 μm, and Ra 0.2–0.8 μm is available where the drawing calls for it and the geometry allows.
After machining we can anodize, plate with electroless nickel, zinc, silver or gold, powder coat, black oxide, bead blast, polish or laser mark. Laser marking has a minimum character height of 1.5 mm.
Can you mill one prototype and then the production run?
Yes. There is no minimum order quantity, so the same program can run one part for fit check and 10,000+ parts later.
Keeping the same process for both stages means the prototype tells you something useful about the production part instead of only about the prototype.
How fast can I get a quote and parts?
Quotation and free DFM analysis come back within 12 hours of receiving drawings and material details. Production can start within 24 hours after that.
Milled parts ship in 3–5 days for typical jobs. The historical late-delivery probability across shipped orders is below 2%.
How do you handle my drawings and IP?
Uploads are secure and confidential. We can sign an NDA on request before files are shared.
Access to drawings is limited to the engineers and machinists who need them for the job, not the whole shop.
Send Your Milled Part for a Quote
Upload the model and material. You get a quotation, a DFM review and a routing plan within 12 hours.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo minimum order quantityNDA on request
