Rotating cutting tools remove material from a fixed or repositioned workpiece. A practical starting point for pockets, slots, flat faces and non-round profiles.
A lathe rotates the workpiece while a cutting tool forms the profile. Turning is suited to cylindrical features, bores, grooves and external or internal threads.
Additional rotary axes let the tool approach a part from more directions. Consider this route for angled features or complex surfaces when access and setup count matter.
Not sure which process to choose? Send the drawing and describe how the part will be used. A part can combine turned and milled features; the machining route should follow its geometry, material and critical requirements.
Pocketed enclosures for equipment and assemblies, with mounting holes and internal features defined by the drawing.
Key drawing detailsWall thickness, pocket radii, mating faces and cosmetic surfaces.
Cylindrical parts with inner and outer diameters that need to work with a mating shaft or housing.
Key drawing detailsFit type, bore size, surface finish and length tolerance.
Support components with holes, slots and reference faces positioned around your assembly requirements.
Key drawing detailsHole location, flatness and the relationship between mounting faces.
Round components combining a center bore, mounting face and bolt-hole pattern. Some features may need a second machining operation.
Key drawing detailsBore fit, bolt-circle location and face-to-bore alignment.
Blocks with intersecting passages, ports or mounting features, specified for a particular fluid or pneumatic assembly.
Key drawing detailsPort details, intersecting holes, burr removal and any required testing.
Simple-looking components whose length and mating dimensions can be important to an assembly stack-up.
Key drawing detailsEnd-face condition, parallelism, bore clearance and quantity.
6 part examples shown.
| Material | Specify in your RFQ | Part requirements to consider | Request a quote |
|---|---|---|---|
Aluminum AlloysMetal | Alloy grade and temper | For lightweight housings, brackets and machined structures. Specify the grade and any anodizing requirements. | |
Stainless SteelMetal | Grade and surface condition | Define the operating environment, corrosion-resistance requirement and final surface treatment. | |
SteelMetal | Steel grade and hardness | Include the supplied material condition and any heat treatment required before or after machining. | |
Titanium AlloysMetal | Grade and material specification | Call out the exact grade, critical features and any required material traceability. | |
BrassMetal | Alloy and composition requirements | State the application, thread details and any restrictions on material composition. | |
CopperMetal | Grade and material condition | Specify the electrical or thermal function, contact surfaces and finish requirements. | |
Inconel AlloysMetal | Exact alloy and condition | Identify the alloy, service environment and documentation requirements for the proposed part. | |
PEEKEngineering plastic | Grade, fillers and color | Specify unfilled or reinforced material and the operating temperature, load and chemical exposure. | |
POM / AcetalEngineering plastic | Homopolymer or copolymer grade | Identify the material grade, mating features and any wear or low-friction requirements. | |
NylonEngineering plastic | Nylon grade and conditioning | Include the operating humidity, moisture conditioning, fillers and critical dimensional requirements. | |
Acrylic / PMMAEngineering plastic | Stock type and optical requirements | State which surfaces need clarity or polishing, plus any appearance and handling requirements. |
11 materials shown.
| Requirement | What to provide or agree |
|---|---|
| General dimensions | Identify the drawing units and the general tolerance specification to apply to dimensions without individual limits. |
| Critical fits | Mark the mating dimensions and acceptable limits. Describe whether the joint needs clearance, a transition fit or an interference fit. |
| Geometric tolerances | Identify the relevant datums and controls for position, flatness, runout or other functional relationships. |
| Part envelope | Provide overall length, width and height, or diameter and length. Tool access and fixturing also affect feasibility. |
| Threads & holes | Specify thread standard, size, pitch, class where required and usable depth. Distinguish through holes from blind holes. |
| Surface roughness | State the required roughness and measurement convention on the surfaces that need it, including whether it applies after finishing. |
| Acceptance criteria | Agree the inspection scope, sampling or full inspection, report format and any special functional checks before ordering. |
Selected finish: Not specified
Swatches are indicative only, not finish acceptance samples.
Industry certification, special testing and program-specific approvals are not implied. Include these requirements in the RFQ for confirmation.
Keep the model, drawing and purchase specification on the same revision. Confirm which document governs geometry, tolerances, material and finish if the files differ.
Identify the dimensions that determine fit and function. Agree the measurement approach and reporting needs for those features, not just a general statement that the part will be checked.
List the records you require, such as material certificates, dimensional results or finishing documentation. Their availability, scope and cost must be confirmed in the quotation.
Use the first parts to check fit, assembly and the design before committing to a larger order. Identify any prototype-only compromises explicitly.
Include in the RFQ: Current drawing revision, test purpose and the quantity needed for evaluation.
Review the order as a batch, not as repeated one-off parts. Setup, material purchasing and inspection requirements all influence the total cost.
Include in the RFQ: Batch quantity, approved specifications and any planned follow-on orders.
For repeat orders, keep the drawing, material, finish and acceptance criteria controlled. A revision change may require a fresh review of pricing and lead time.
Include in the RFQ: Release quantities, revision control, documentation and packaging requirements.
A lower unit price is not a complete comparison when one quotation excludes finishing, inspection or shipping. Define the same requirements before comparing suppliers or order quantities.
For repeat production, share the expected release quantities as well as the initial order. Treat future volume as planning information, not as a guaranteed purchase.
Prepare Your RFQ| Cost driver | Why it matters | What you can clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Grade, stock size and material condition affect purchasing and machining. | Specify the required grade and clearly mark any acceptable alternatives. |
| Geometry & setups | Deep features, difficult access and extra workholding add operations. | Keep functional constraints clear so noncritical features can be reviewed. |
| Tolerances | Tight limits can require extra machining and measurement. | Apply special limits to the features that actually need them. |
| Quantity | Setup costs are spread across the order; repeat quantities may change the approach. | Request comparable prices at the quantities you genuinely expect to buy. |
| Finishing & inspection | Additional processes, masking and records add work beyond cutting the part. | Include finishing, inspection and documentation in every quote comparison. |
| Delivery scope | Material availability, secondary operations, packing and shipping affect the schedule. | Provide the required delivery date and destination, not just a desired machining time. |
The model communicates geometry. The drawing communicates the requirements that make the part acceptable.
Milling cutters leave a radius in internal corners. Where a sharp mating corner is essential, discuss an appropriate relief or a different process instead of assuming a smaller cutter solves every feature. Make sure the cutting tool can reach the required surfaces.
Deep, narrow cavities need longer tools, while thin walls can deflect during cutting. Review the relationship between depth, width, wall thickness and material. There is no single minimum wall thickness that applies to every part.
Include usable thread depth, not only overall hole depth. Identify counterbores, countersinks and cross-holes. Specify the treatment of sharp edges and burrs, especially where passages intersect or parts contact seals.
Mark the features that control assembly or function, and distinguish them from noncritical dimensions. Identify sealing, sliding, bearing and cosmetic surfaces individually so finishing is applied where it is actually needed.
Use a neutral 3D model for geometry and a matching drawing for requirements that the model alone may not communicate. Keep units, revision identifiers, material, threads and finishing instructions consistent across the package.
Brackets, housings and other drawing-defined components.
Specify program requirements and traceability.Parts for diagnostic equipment, fixtures and device assemblies.
Define material, cleanliness and documentation.Development parts, test fixtures and mechanical components.
Identify test conditions and production intent.Program-specific mechanical and equipment components.
Agree eligibility and secure file transfer first.Equipment housings, mounts and handling components.
Specify cleanliness, finish and material controls.Examples describe potential applications, not customer references. Project eligibility and any industry-specific qualification must be confirmed before ordering.
Send a CAD model and matching drawing with material, quantity, finish and the requested delivery date. Flag critical features and special documentation.
Resolve drawing questions and confirm machining feasibility, the quoted scope, inspection needs and the proposed schedule.
Confirm the final revision, quantity, material and commercial terms before authorizing production. Keep any agreed changes documented.
Review the agreed inspection and documentation package. Confirm packaging, identification and shipping requirements for the finished parts.
CNC machining produces custom parts by removing material from solid stock using computer-controlled cutting tools. A project can include milling, turning or multi-axis machining, plus agreed secondary operations. The quotation should define the material, quantity, finish, inspection, documentation and delivery scope. Finishing or special reports should not be assumed to be included unless stated.
Send a 3D model or a fully dimensioned drawing, the required material and grade, quantity and target delivery date. Add a matching 2D drawing for critical tolerances, threads, surface requirements and other notes. Include the part number and revision, plus any inspection or documentation requirements. A complete file package helps avoid assumptions during quotation.
This service covers inquiries for prototypes, small batches and repeat production. State your initial quantity and any expected follow-on volume so the machining approach can be reviewed for the complete project. Minimum order acceptance, pricing and delivery are confirmed for the specific part; no universal minimum quantity is stated on this page.
Specify the tolerance required by each critical feature and the general tolerance for the remaining dimensions. Achievable results depend on material, geometry, part size, fixturing, finish and how the feature will be measured. The accepted tolerance should be confirmed against your drawing in the quotation. A single headline tolerance does not describe every feature or material.
The material families on this page include aluminum, stainless steel, steel, titanium, brass, copper and Inconel alloys, along with PEEK, POM, nylon and acrylic. Provide the exact grade, supplied condition and any filler, color or certification requirement. Material availability and compatibility with the proposed finish must be confirmed during quotation.
Lead time depends on drawing completeness, material availability, machining complexity, quantity, finishing and inspection. Identify the date you need parts at the delivery destination, and distinguish machining time from transit time. The schedule is confirmed after the part and order scope are reviewed; an urgent request is not automatically an accepted delivery commitment.
Keep noncritical geometry simple, allow workable internal radii, and use tighter tolerances only where the part needs them. Review difficult-to-reach features and unnecessary finishing with the supplier. Compare realistic order quantities and include the same material, inspection and delivery scope in each quote. Do not substitute material or relax a functional requirement without engineering approval.
Milling uses a rotating cutting tool to form features such as pockets, slots and flat faces. Turning rotates the workpiece and is commonly used for cylindrical profiles, bores and threads. A part with both round and non-round features may need more than one operation. The appropriate route follows the part geometry and requirements, not the name of the part alone.
Consider multi-axis machining for features at different angles, complex surfaces or parts that would otherwise require several setups. Distinguish indexed positioning from simultaneous 5-axis cutting when the process is important to your application. Additional axes do not remove all tool-access restrictions or automatically make every part cheaper; the drawing still needs a feasibility review.
A fully dimensioned drawing may be sufficient for an initial review, depending on the part. Complex surfaces are easier to communicate with a 3D model. The form accepts PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP/STP, IGES/IGS, SLDPRT and ZIP files up to 20 MB. Combine related files in a ZIP archive when needed, and keep the model and drawing revisions consistent.
Include the exact documents and confidentiality terms you need before placing an order. Inspection scope, material traceability, report format and any additional cost must be confirmed in writing. Agree confidentiality and the appropriate transfer method before sharing sensitive or restricted drawings. This page does not claim a specific industry certification or regulatory approval.
No. These are custom, drawing-based machining inquiries rather than purchases from a fixed product catalog. The part illustrations show typical geometries, not stock items or customer case studies. Use the form on this page to describe your own part, attach the relevant files and request a project-specific quotation.
Not ready to share confidential files? Start with a non-sensitive project description and state any confidentiality requirements.