Low setup
CNC Machining
Parts cut from solid metal or plastic. A program and a fixture are the only setup, so small runs stay affordable.
Start a designOverview
CNC machining
A CNC machine cuts a part out of a block or a bar, following the CAD model. The setup is a program and a way to hold the stock, which costs far less than a mold. That makes machining the usual choice for the first tiers of a waitlist, and for metal parts with tight features.
| Setup cost | Low: a program and a fixture |
|---|---|
| Best at | Low to mid quantities, metal parts |
| Input | STEP model, plus a drawing for tight tolerances |
| Common materials | Aluminum, steel, stainless, brass, engineering plastics |
Cheap to start
There is no mold to buy. A run of ten and a run of a thousand both make sense.
Tight features
Bores, threads, and flat faces can hold the tolerances an assembly needs.
Where it hands off
At higher counts the price curve may move a part to casting or molding, and the page shows that break.
Who uses it
Designers who need CNC machining
Related
More processes
Need CNC machining?
Publish the design. The platform matches each part to a shop that runs the process.