Send us your CAD file. We quote and return a DFM analysis within 12 hours, machine the first article on 5-axis centers, and carry the same program into 10,000+ part runs. One shop, one tolerance, no re-qualification between stages.
Most delays are not machining problems. They are handoff problems.
You validate a design at a prototyping house, then move to a second supplier for the production order. New fixtures, new feeds and speeds, a fresh first-article report. The part that passed validation is not the part you ship. Weeks disappear in the gap.
A ±0.05 mm print gets quoted as ±0.01 mm because the RFQ never listed which features matter. The first parts arrive out of spec on a bore that carries a bearing. Rework, re-inspection, and a schedule slip that the design team has to absorb.
You need three parts to test a bracket before committing tooling. Most shops set a minimum that makes a three-part order uneconomical, so you either over-order or wait. Either way the test loop stretches from days into weeks.
Thin walls, deep pockets, sharp internal corners, a thread that cannot be cut with the tool you planned. None of this surfaces at quote time. It surfaces at inspection, when the fix costs a redesign instead of an email.
The prototype and the production part come off the same machines, from the same program, checked against the same tolerance.
Upload a STEP file and we return a quotation plus a DFM analysis within 12 hours. Production can start within 24 hours of approval. For machined prototypes, parts typically ship in 3–5 days. That covers functional test parts, fit checks, and small bridge builds before tooling is committed.
We machine prototypes from the real material whenever the design allows: 6061-T6, 7075, 304 stainless, 17-4PH, PEEK, and others from our stock list. A prototype in the production alloy tells you more about wear, weight, and thread strength than a substitute ever will. When a machined part is the wrong call, we say so and route the job to vacuum casting or 3D printing instead.
When the design freezes, nothing about the setup changes. The 5-axis program that cut the prototype runs the production batch. Fixtures carry over. The inspection plan carries over. This matters most on parts with multiple datum references, where re-fixturing at a new shop is the single biggest source of dimensional drift.
Capacity for volume work sits at 127 high-precision CNC machines across three wholly-owned plants, including 16 simultaneous 5-axis machining centers, 12 four-axis mills, 27 three-axis machines, and 16 mill-turn centers. Maximum processing size reaches 4,000 mm. Cycle times, tool life, and in-process checks get locked down before the first production lot, not after.
Pick the route by geometry, material, and how many parts you actually need.
| Process | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| 5-axis CNC | Complex geometry, tight tolerance, metal parts | Higher unit cost at very high volumes |
| 3-axis / 4-axis CNC | Prismatic parts, bores, faces, simple profiles | Undercuts need extra setups |
| Vacuum casting | 20–50 cosmetic or functional plastic parts | Not for structural load or high heat |
| 3D printing | Fast form checks, internal channels, jigs | Layer lines and weaker Z-axis strength |
| Sheet metal | Enclosures, brackets, panels, chassis | Not for thick or heavily machined features |
| Die casting | Aluminium or zinc parts above roughly 1,000 pieces | Tooling lead time and upfront cost |
Machining, casting, forming, printing, and finishing sit under one quality system.
5-axis, 4-axis, and 3-axis milling plus mill-turn work in aluminium, stainless, steel, titanium, copper alloys, and engineering plastics. Tolerances to ±0.005 mm and surface finishes from Ra 0.2 μm.
Functional prototypes in production material, machined from your STEP file. Quote and DFM in 12 hours, parts in 3–5 days, no minimum quantity.
Brackets, panels, and enclosures with laser cutting, forming, and hardware insertion. A practical route for chassis parts that would waste machine time.
Silicone tooling for 20–50 plastic parts per mold. Good for pre-tooling fit checks, cosmetic samples, and small pilot batches in ABS, PC, or PMMA-like resins.
Form and fit checks with internal channels that machining cannot reach. Used when speed matters more than final material properties.
Aluminium and zinc casting with tooling for parts above roughly 1,000 pieces. We machine the critical features after casting to hold the tolerances that matter.
Numbers you can check a print against before sending an RFQ.
| Item | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerance | ±0.005 mm (±0.0002 in) | On critical features, with report on request |
| Fine finish | Ra 0.2–0.8 μm | Polished or lapped sealing surfaces |
| Standard finish | Ra 0.8–1.6 μm | Typical machined mating faces |
| As-machined | Ra 1.6–3.2 μm | Non-critical faces and clearance areas |
| Large travel | 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm | Long frames, rails, structural parts |
| Medium travel | 750 × 1,150 × 550 mm | Most plate and housing work |
| Compact travel | 500 × 500 × 450 mm | Small precise components |
| Rotary table | Ø400 mm | 4-axis and 5-axis positioning |
| Laser marking | 1.5 mm minimum character height | Serial numbers, logos, traceability |
| Inspection | 100% before shipment | Material, in-process, and final checks |
Capability is easy to claim. Repeatability is the part that shows up in your incoming inspection.
15 years of machining and prototyping for aerospace, automotive, medical, robotics, electronics, and industrial machinery programs.
16 simultaneous 5-axis centers, 12 four-axis mills, 27 three-axis machines, and 16 mill-turn centers across 7,600 m² of floor space.
You get a price and a manufacturability review within 12 hours. Production can start within 24 hours of approval.
The same ±0.005 mm capability runs from first article to the 10,000th part. A 99.99% qualification rate backs it.
One prototype or a 10,000+ part run. Small test builds are treated as normal work, not exceptions.
ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016, and ISO 27001:2022 cover quality, automotive, medical, and data security.
Thin-wall aluminium and titanium parts with traceable material and inspection records on request.
Engine, drivetrain, and thermal parts run under IATF 16949 with in-process monitoring.
Stainless and titanium components with fine surface finishes for cleanable, mating surfaces.
End-effector plates and fixture parts machined to match the production print from day one.
Upload your CAD file and we return a quotation plus a manufacturability analysis within 12 hours. The review covers wall thickness, tool reach, tolerance callouts, and features that will need a second setup.
If the design has a problem that would show up at inspection, we flag it at quote time so you can change the model instead of the schedule.
There is no minimum order quantity. A single functional prototype is a normal job, and so is a 10,000+ part production run.
Small test builds let you check fit and function before committing to tooling or a volume order. That is usually cheaper than over-ordering parts you will revise anyway.
Yes, whenever the geometry allows. We stock aluminium 6061, 6061-T6, 2024, 5052, 7075, and ADC12; stainless 303, 304, 316L, 17-4PH, and 440C; steels including 1018, 1045, 4130, and 4140; titanium TC4 (Ti-6Al-4V); and plastics such as POM, PEEK, PC, and HDPE.
A prototype cut from the final alloy gives you real data on weight, thread strength, and wear. If a plastic or cast substitute is the better route for the stage you are at, we will tell you.
Vacuum casting makes sense for roughly 20 to 50 plastic parts, especially cosmetic samples or pilot batches where silicone tooling is cheaper than machining each piece. It is not the right choice for structural load or high-temperature service.
3D printing wins when you need a form check in a day or two, or when internal channels cannot be reached by a cutting tool. Layer lines and weaker Z-axis strength are the trade-offs you accept.
The production batch runs on the same 5-axis program and the same fixtures as the approved prototype. Nothing gets re-fixtured, so datum relationships do not shift.
Inspection follows the same plan at both stages: raw material check, in-process monitoring, and final inspection. Reports are available on request.
Options include anodizing in clear, colour, hardcoat, and conductive types; electroless nickel, zinc, silver, and gold plating; powder coating and black oxide; and bead blasting, tumbling, brushing, or polishing.
Laser marking and engraving handle serial numbers, logos, and traceability codes. Minimum character height for legible marking is 1.5 mm.
GreatLight holds ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016, and ISO 27001:2022. The first three cover quality management, automotive, and medical device work respectively.
ISO 27001:2022 covers information security, which is relevant if your drawings and models are sensitive. Uploads are kept secure and confidential, and we sign an NDA on request.
Inspection runs at 100% before shipment, so a non-conforming feature is caught before it leaves the plant rather than at your receiving dock.
If a dimension is out of tolerance, we machine a replacement against the same program and fixtures. The historical late-delivery probability across our work is below 2%.
Upload your CAD file and we return a quotation with manufacturability feedback within 12 hours. From one prototype to 10,000+ parts, on the same machines and the same tolerance.
12-hour quote and DFMNo minimum order quantity100% inspection before shipmentNDA available 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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