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Fabrication directe
Impression 3D et CNC
Du prototype à la production.
Fabrication directe
Impression 3D et CNC
Du prototype à la production.

Usinage CNC

CNC Machining Services

Subtractive manufacturing for tight-tolerance metal and plastic parts — from first articles to production lots.

CNC machining removes material from solid stock with computer-controlled mills, lathes, and multi-axis centers. AIHFABS manufactures custom CNC parts with process planning, material selection and inspection requirements reviewed by our manufacturing team. Choose CNC when you need production-grade alloys, crisp machined finishes, and tolerances that additive methods alone cannot hold.

CNC CNC machining on AIHFABS

What is CNC machining?

CNC machining is a subtractive route: mills, lathes, and multi-axis centers cut a finished part from solid metal or plastic stock. Toolpaths follow your CAD, so holes, pockets, threads, and sealing faces can be held to drawing callouts that additive processes usually cannot match on their own.

On AIHFABS you pick milling, turning, 5-axis, Swiss, routing, or a mixed route after the file is reviewed. Use CNC when the alloy, the as-machined finish, or the tolerance stack is the reason the part exists — not when you only need a cheap visual model.

CNC machining center cutting a metal workpiece on the AIHFABS shop floor

CNC machining capabilities

Figures below are planning values. Instant quote after CAD upload is the live source for price and lead time.

Lead time

From 1–5 business days depending on complexity and finish

Typical tolerance

±0.05 mm standard; tighter on request with drawing callouts

Max part size

Project dependent — large-format machining available

Surface finish

As-machined, bead blast, anodize, plating, powder coat, polish

Quantity

Prototype through low- to mid-volume production

CNC surface finishes

As-machined is the default. Call out cosmetic faces and coating specs when they matter to fit or appearance.

As-machined CNC metal part

As machined

Visible tool marks, typically Ra 1.6–3.2 μm unless a finer pass is specified. Fastest path for functional prototypes.

Precision CNC parts prepared for finishing

Bead blast + anodize

Aluminum faces evened with blast media, then Type II or Type III anodize for wear and color.

CNC workshop where secondary finishes are scheduled

Plate, powder, or polish

Nickel, zinc, powder coat, or polish on faces that see customers or corrosive environments.

How CNC machining compares on AIHFABS

Same upload can be quoted as milling, turning, 5-axis, or Swiss when the geometry fits more than one cell.

Procede Delai Tolerance Tarif
CNC Machining ServicesMetals & plastics From 1–5 business days depending on complexity and finish ±0.05 mm standard; tighter on request with drawing callouts Instant quote · typical prototype from $45
CNC Milling ServicesMetals & plastics Simple 1–3 days; complex 3–7 days; batch 5–15 days ±0.01 mm standard; ±0.005 mm high precision Instant quote · typical prototype from $40
CNC Turning ServicesMetals & plastics Simple 1–3 days; complex 7–10 days ±0.01 mm standard; ±0.001–0.002 mm high precision Instant quote · typical prototype from $35
CNC Routing ServicesPlastics & composites From 2–4 business days Medium precision (~±0.025 mm class) Instant quote · typical panel job from $30
5-Axis CNC MachiningMetals & plastics From 3–7 business days depending on complexity ±0.02–0.05 mm on critical features when specified Instant quote · typical prototype from $80
Precision Machining ServicesMetals & plastics From 3–8 business days (complexity dependent) ±0.005–0.01 mm; Ra 0.4–1.6 μm; CPK ≥ 1.33 Instant quote · quoted to drawing / inspection grade
Large Part CNC MachiningMetals & plastics Quoted per project (fixturing and logistics driven) Around ±0.025 mm on critical features; large spans project-dependent Project quote · fixturing and logistics driven
Swiss CNC MachiningMetals & plastics From 3–7 business days; faster on repeat batches ±0.005 mm standard; down to ±0.0025 mm when specified Instant quote · most economical in batch runs

How we run CNC jobs

CNC machining center cutting a metal workpiece on the AIHFABS shop floor
  1. 1

    Step 1

    Upload STEP, IGES, or other CAD with drawings for critical dimensions and finishes.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    We match your geometry to milling, turning, routing, 5-axis, Swiss, or hybrid mill-turn capacity.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Toolpaths remove stock in roughing and finishing passes while holding your specified tolerances.

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Deburring, inspection, and optional surface treatments complete the part before shipment.

Each job is matched to a mill, lathe, or multi-axis cell after a DFM pass on the solid and the drawing. Critical fits, threads, and cosmetic faces need to be marked — the model alone is not the inspection plan.

Deburr, wash, and dimensional checks happen before any coating. First-article or CMM reports are available when the drawing calls for them.

Advantages and Trade-offs

Advantages

  • Wide material catalog: aluminum, steel, stainless, titanium, brass, copper, and engineering plastics
  • Tight tolerances suitable for mating interfaces, bearings, and sealed assemblies
  • Excellent as-machined or post-processed surface finishes for functional and cosmetic parts
  • Scales from one-off prototypes to repeat production with consistent process control

Trade-offs

  • Internal channels and lattices that a tool cannot reach still need additive or a split design.
  • Deep pockets, thin walls, and tiny internal radii add cycle time and risk of chatter.
  • Buy-to-fly is poor on bulky billets — consider near-net or printed preforms when stock waste dominates cost.

Design guidelines for CNC

These are shop-ready defaults. Tighten only the features that actually locate or seal.

Feature Recommended practice
Drawings Put GD&T and critical fits on a 2D drawing; do not rely on the solid alone.
Pockets & walls Avoid ultra-thin walls and unnecessary deep pockets that drive deflection.
Threads & cosmetics Call out threads, inserts, and show faces before CAM so fixtures can plan for them.
Internal corners Use radii that match common end-mill diameters (typically 1–3 mm).

CNC machining FAQ

When should I choose CNC instead of 3D printing?

Choose CNC when you need production alloys, sealing faces, bearing seats, or tolerances tighter than typical as-built additive. Printing is usually faster for lattices, internals, and one-off plastics.

What files do you need for a useful CNC quote?

STEP or IGES plus a drawing for datums, threads, and finishes. Quantity, material, and destination help the instant quote stay close to the shop route.

How tight can you hold?

Standard planning tolerance is about ±0.05 mm. Tighter values are quoted when the drawing marks those features and the process (grind, Swiss, or precision milling) can hold them.

Can one upload cover milling and turning?

Yes. Prismatic parts usually go to a mill; shafts and bores go to a lathe or mill-turn. We pick the cell after the file is opened, not from the page you started on.

Do you anodize or plate in-house?

Secondary finishes are scheduled with the same order. Specify color, spec, and masking so the quote includes them instead of adding a second PO later.

CNC Machining Services — engineering review before production

Use these process-specific checks when preparing your model, drawing and quote request. The confirmed quotation and approved drawing define the requirements for your part.

Plan the complete operation sequence

Separate rotational, prismatic and angled features before choosing milling, turning or multi-axis operations. A part may need more than one setup. Critical relationships between features should share a clear datum scheme so the workholding and inspection plan can preserve them.

Stock and finished-part requirements

Specify material grade, temper or hardness, thread details and surface requirements. Consider both tool access and clamp access. Plating or anodizing may change fits, so identify surfaces to mask and state whether a dimension applies before or after finish.

Acceptance checklist

Supply a STEP model and revision-controlled drawing. Mark critical fits and GD&T, request the required reports and confirm the final inspection basis before production begins.

Besoin de pièces imprimées 3D ou CNC similaires ?

AIHFABS chiffre impression 3D et usinage CNC à partir d’un upload CAO. Comparez SLA, SLS, MJF, SLM, FDM, DLP, fraisage et tournage, puis ajoutez lissage vapeur, teinture, anodisation, polissage ou thermolaquage à la même commande.

Devis instantané

Le devis instantané convient aux prototypes, gabarits, boîtiers et petites séries. Matière, procédé, quantité et délai s’affichent ensemble.

Plusieurs procédés

Matière, procédé, quantité et délai s’affichent ensemble, pour éviter un nouveau tour de mails fournisseurs à chaque modification.

  1. Téléverser les fichiers

    Téléversez STL, STEP et formats CAO courants pour un devis en ligne.

  2. Comparer les options

    Comparez technologies d’impression 3D et options CNC sur la même pièce.

  3. Matières et finitions

    Choisissez polymères ou métaux, puis ajoutez une finition hardware 3D Plus si besoin.

  4. Confirmer la commande

    Vérifiez prix et délai avant paiement, ou demandez un devis manuel.

Si cette page décrit un procédé, un secteur ou une pièce à reproduire, partez de l’upload et alignez technologie et finition sur votre plan.

Obtenir un devis instantané

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