01
A quote that takes a week
You send drawings Monday and hear back the next Monday. The project window is already half gone, and the buyer has started talking to another shop. Slow quoting kills timelines before a chip is cut.
15 years in precision machining
CNC Machining Experience
GreatLight has machined custom parts since 2011. 127 CNC machines, 150 technicians, 3 wholly-owned plants. We quote in 12 hours, hold ±0.005 mm, and ship in 3–5 days.
15 years127 CNC machines±0.005 mmISO 9001:2015IATF 16949No MOQ
2011Machining parts since
16Simultaneous 5-axis centers
99.99%Qualification rate
< 2%Historical late-delivery risk
Where jobs go wrong
Have you hit these before?
Most bad machining jobs fail for the same reasons. Here is what each one costs you.
02
Parts that measure out of tolerance
A batch arrives and the bore is 0.03 mm over. You rework, scrap, or argue. One bad dimension can stall an assembly line and force a full incoming inspection on every future shipment.
03
Small runs nobody wants
You need 5 pieces for a test fixture. The shop only wants 5,000. You end up paying prototype prices for parts that should be cheap, or waiting weeks for someone to fit you in.
04
Silence after the PO
The order is placed and then nothing. No status, no photos, no ship date. You chase the supplier instead of doing your own job, and the promised date turns out to be a guess.
How we work
Experience shows up in the process, not the brochure
Fifteen years of quoting, fixturing, cutting and inspecting is what makes a shop predictable.
Quoting and DFM
A real quote in 12 hours, with DFM notes
Send a STEP file and we return a quotation plus a free DFM analysis within 12 hours. The analysis points out thin walls, tight internal corners, threads too close to an edge, and features that need a second setup. Catching those early usually saves more money than the machining rate itself.
Production can start within 24 hours of approval. For repeat work we keep the setup sheets and inspection plan on file, so the second order does not repeat the first order's questions.
- 112-hour quoteQuotation and free DFM analysis back within 12 hours.
- 224-hour startProduction can begin within 24 hours of approval.
- 3No minimumFrom one prototype to 10,000+ part runs.
Machining capability
Right machine for the part, not the default machine
We run 127 high-precision CNC machines: 16 simultaneous 5-axis centers, 12 four-axis mills, 27 three-axis machines, and 16 mill-turn centers. A part with angled holes and a sculpted face goes on a 5-axis center and comes off in one setup. A simple turned bushing goes on a lathe and costs what a bushing should cost.
Maximum processing size is 4,000 mm, with travels of 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm on the large machines, 750 × 1,150 × 550 mm and 600 × 600 × 600 mm in the mid range, and 500 × 500 × 450 mm or 500 × 310 × 200 mm on the compact cells. A Ø400 mm rotary table handles parts that need positions on multiple faces.
- 15-axis in one setupAngled holes and contoured faces without re-fixturing error.
- 2Mill-turnMilled features and turned diameters on the same part.
- 3Up to 4,000 mmLong parts stay on one machine instead of being split.
Pick the process
Which setup fits your part
Use this as a first filter before you send the file. If two rows fit, we will tell you which one is cheaper.
| Part feature | Machine type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Prismatic part, 3 faces | 3-axis mill | One setup, lowest hourly rate |
| Undercuts and angled holes | 4-axis mill | Rotary indexing without re-fixturing |
| Sculpted surface, 5 sides | 5-axis center | One setup, fewer datums to trust |
| Shaft with cross holes | Mill-turn | Turning and milling in a single cycle |
| Part over 1,200 mm | Large 3-axis | 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm travel |
| Round part under Ø400 mm | CNC lathe | Best surface finish per minute |
What we run
Services behind the experience
Most projects need one machining service plus a finish. Some need several.
01
5 Axis CNC Machining
Complex geometry in one setup. 16 simultaneous 5-axis centers for parts with angled features and tight position tolerances.
02
4 Axis and 3 Axis Machining
12 four-axis mills and 27 three-axis machines for prismatic parts, plates, housings and brackets where the geometry stays accessible.
03
CNC Milling and Turning
16 mill-turn centers plus lathes turn and mill the same part without moving it. Good for shafts, fittings and connectors.
04
Rapid Prototyping
One-off parts for fit checks and design reviews. No minimum order quantity, so you can test before you commit to tooling.
05
Sheet Metal and Die Casting
Bent, punched and formed enclosures, plus die-cast housings when the volume makes casting cheaper than cutting.
06
Surface Finishing
Anodizing, plating, powder coating, bead blasting and laser marking, applied in-house or through qualified finishing partners.
Scope
Materials, finishes and inspection
A short list of what we handle most often. Other grades are available on request.
| Category | What we run | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 6061-T6, 7075, 2024, 6082, ADC12 | Housings, brackets, heat sinks |
| Stainless | 303, 304, 316L, 17-4PH, 440C | Food, medical, marine parts |
| Steel | 1018, 4140, 4340, A36, tool steel | Shafts, plates, fixtures |
| Titanium | TA2, TC4 (Ti-6Al-4V), Inconel | Aerospace and high-temp parts |
| Plastics | POM, PEEK, PC, ABS, PA, PMMA | Insulators, covers, prototypes |
| Finishes | Anodizing, plating, powder coat, blasting | Corrosion and wear protection |
| Inspection | 100% before shipment, reports on request | Incoming and final QC |
Why GreatLight
Numbers from the shop floor
No slogans. These are the figures we are held to on every order.
15Y
15 years machining
Founded in 2011 in Dongguan. Three wholly-owned plants covering 7,600 m² and 150 technicians.
±0.005 mm
Held tolerance
±0.005 mm, or ±0.0002 in. Achievable on rigid setups with the right material and a stable temperature.
Ra 0.2
Finish range
Ra 0.2–0.8 μm on fine work, Ra 0.8–1.6 μm on standard, Ra 1.6–3.2 μm as machined.
99.99%
Qualification rate
100% inspection before shipment: raw material check, in-process monitoring, final inspection.
4 certs
Audited systems
ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 27001:2022.
1 to 10k
Order range
No minimum order quantity. One prototype for a fit check or a 10,000-piece production run.
127High-precision CNC machines
7,600 m²Manufacturing space
150Technicians and engineers
12 hQuote and DFM turnaround
Industries we serve
What these sectors require, and what we deliver
Automotive and EV
Brackets, bushing housings and motor mounts machined to IATF 16949 process control.
- IATF 16949
- ±0.005 mm
- 100% inspection
Medical devices
Instrument bodies and fixtures with documented material and dimensional reports.
- ISO 13485
- Reports on request
- Ra 0.2–0.8 μm
Robotics and automation
End effectors, joints and reduction housings held on one datum across 5-axis setups.
- 5-axis
- Ø400 mm table
- One setup
Aerospace and new energy
Lightweight aluminum and titanium parts where traceability matters as much as the cut.
- Ti-6Al-4V
- 4,000 mm
- Material certs
FAQs
Questions engineers ask before the first order
How do I know you can hold ±0.005 mm on my part?
Tolerance depends on geometry, material and setup as much as on the machine. A short, rigid part in aluminum or stainless with a clean datum can hold ±0.005 mm. A long, thin wall in soft plastic will not.
Send the drawing and we will tell you which features can hold that number and which need a different approach before you place the order.
What is the minimum order quantity?
There is no minimum. We run one prototype for a fit check and production runs of 10,000 pieces or more.
Small quantities cost more per part because setup time is spread over fewer pieces. We will show you the setup cost in the quote so the price makes sense.
How fast can you quote and start?
Quotation 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.
Complex parts with several setups or outside finishing take longer. We give the real date, not an optimistic one.
Which materials should I choose?
6061-T6 aluminum is the default for machined housings and brackets: easy to cut, good strength, takes anodizing well. Pick 7075 when you need more strength, or 304 and 316L stainless for corrosion resistance.
For high-temperature or high-load parts, TC4 (Ti-6Al-4V) and Inconel are options, but they cut slowly and cost more. We will flag that in the quote.
Do you inspect every part?
Yes. Inspection covers raw material check, in-process monitoring and final inspection before shipment. Material and full dimensional inspection reports are available on request.
Our historical qualification rate is 99.99%. If a dimension is critical, tell us on the drawing and it goes into the inspection plan.
Are my drawings kept confidential?
Uploads are secure and confidential. We can sign an NDA before you send files, and we are certified to ISO 27001:2022 for information security.
Your drawings are not shared outside the project team or shown to other customers.
Can you match a surface finish I already have?
Usually. Send a sample or a roughness number. Ra 0.8–1.6 μm is our standard machined finish, Ra 0.2–0.8 μm is available on fine work, and Ra 1.6–3.2 μm is what you get as machined.
Anodizing, plating, powder coating, bead blasting and laser marking are all available. Laser-marked text needs a minimum character height of 1.5 mm.
What do you need to give an accurate quote?
A STEP or IGES file, the 2D drawing with tolerances and finish callouts, material, quantity, and any inspection or certification requirements.
If the drawing is not finished, send what you have. We will point out what is missing during the DFM review rather than guessing.
Send the drawings. Get a real answer in 12 hours.
Upload your files and we will return a quotation with DFM notes, a machine recommendation and a ship date we can hold.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo minimum order quantityNDA on request
