Custom Online CNC Machining Services - Xometry

CNC milling and turning are highly accurate and repeatable processes. Tight tolerances between +/-0.001″ – 0.005″ can be achieved, depending on specifications. Machines can be programmed to reliably run for 24 hours, 7 days a week if necessary, so CNC milling is a good way of getting parts produced on demand.

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Using standard tooling, a CNC machining service is particularly valuable for creating one-off parts, custom CNC parts, i.e., for replacing legacy components or delivering a specialized upgrade to a customer. It is also conceivable to scale single-part production to runs exceeding 10,000 units. Depending on the unit number, size, and complexity, the turnaround for CNC machined parts can be as short as one day. With shipping and delivery, deadlines can be met within a week.

Another primary advantage of CNC technology is its achievable mechanical properties. By cutting away from bulk material, rather than thermally transforming it as in injection-molding or additive manufacturing, all desirable mechanical properties of the metal or plastic of choice are retained. More than 50 industrial-grade metals, alloys, and plastics can be machined using CNC milling and turning. This selection includes aluminum, brass, bronze, titanium, stainless steel, PEEK, ABS, and zinc. The only material requirement for CNC machining is that the part has an adequate hardness to be fixtured and cut.

One trade-off when taking advantage of the high performance of CNC manufacturing services is that geometric complexity comes at a cost. Simple, chunky parts are the best designs for CNC milling and turning. There will always be some design limitations due to tool access, although the degree of this effect is relative to the number of axes on the machine. In other words, the more axes used, the more complex the features can be achieved.

Another trade-off is that start-up CNC machining costs can be expensive. It is necessary to have a trained professional perform the setup, tool loading, and programming on CNC mills and lathes. Luckily this cost is fixed, so by taking advantage of the same setup for multiple parts, it becomes more economical. Saving money is also achieved by keeping part repositioning to a minimum. Machining at 5-axis and above can sometimes be more economical on multi-faceted geometries because it eliminates the need to manually reposition the part.

The wire EDM method of machining can be slow and expensive relative to other processes, and the range of materials that can be used is shortened as they must be electrically conductive.

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CNC Machining

Leverage the same speed, precision, and reliability in machining that you’re accustomed to at Protolabs but unlock advanced machining capabilities like tighter tolerances and volume pricing through our manufacturing network.

The company is the world’s best CNC prototyping for engineering solutions supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

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3D Printing

Want quality parts and additive expertise at a single 3D printing source? Choose from seven different additive manufacturing technologies for cost-effective prototyping and highly precise, repeatable production parts.

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Sheet Metal Fabrication

From easy quoting to quick-turn production and finishing options, get up to 500 quality sheet metal parts in your hands in days from a single supplier.

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MANUFACTURE LIKE A PRO™

We're your single resource from prototyping to production. Partner with Protolabs to accelerate product development and get to market faster than ever before. When you're ready for production, get complete program management with a team of manufacturing experts who will help optimize your project around cost, quantity, and quality.

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Design and Engineering Support

We offer both automated and live manufacturing support. With every quote, you get free interactive manufacturability analysis to quickly improve part design, but if you have additional questions, applications engineers are always available to talk through your project at 877-479- or [ protected].

Contact us to discuss your requirements of CNC machining for Optical Communication. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.