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Online CNC Machining Service

Machined prototypes and production parts in as fast as 1 day. Request an online quote today.

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Certifications ISO 9001:2015 | AS9100D | ITAR

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CNC Machining Capabilities

CNC Milling

CNC milling is a subtractive manufacturing process that uses 3-axis milling and 5-axis indexed milling processes to cut solid plastic and metal blocks into final parts.

[Capabilities →](/content/services/cnc-machining/cnc-milling/ "CNC Milling"/index.html) [Design Guidelines →](/content/services/cnc-machining/cnc-milling/design-guidelines/ "Design Guidelines"/index.html)

CNC Turning

CNC turning with live tooling combines both lathe and mill capabilities to machine parts with cylindrical features from metal rod stock.

[Capabilities →](/content/services/cnc-machining/cnc-turning/ "CNC Turning"/index.html)

[Design Guidelines →](/content/services/cnc-machining/cnc-turning/design-guidelines/ "Design Guidelines"/index.html)

Protolabs Network

Our manufacturing network provides advanced CNC machining capabilities like tighter tolerances, volume pricing, and anodizing options.

Capabilities →

Design Guidelines →
### CNC Machining Services for End-Use Parts
Get high‑quality machined parts faster with our expanded automated CNC milling—parts ready in as fast as 4 days
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CNC Machining Materials

Metals

Aluminum

Aluminum is a popular choice for machining due to its low density, good mechanical properties, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and resistance to corrosion. Aluminum alloys, such as 6061-T651, 7075-T651, and 2024-T351, are commonly used in CNC machining because they offer a good balance of strength, machinability, and cost.

Brass

Brass is an alloying consisting of both copper and zinc. The gold materials is a weather- and corrosion- resistant metal with tensile strength similar to mild steel. It's also an easy to machine material, so feedrates can remain high and coolant need is minimal.

Copper

Copper is a metal that is corrosion-resistant, extremely electrically conductive, and highly ductile. Its glossy orange-reddish appearance is instantly recognizable, and the metal looks attractive even when it goes through a natural oxidation process that forms a bluish-green coating called patina in response to its environment. Note, however, that copper weldability is considered moderate to poor.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is well-suited for a wide array of CNC machining projects, due to its excellent machinability and outstanding uniformity. It also has good workability and weldability to match your specific machining needs, as well as high ductility and formability to meet the specification requirements of any project.

Steel Alloy

Steel Alloy 4140 is a low alloy steel containing chromium, molybdenum, and manganese. It is widely used across numerous industries and is an excellent material choice for machining due to its toughness, high fatigue strength, and abrasion and impact resistance.

Steel Mild Low Carbon

Low carbon steel, also known as mild steel, contains up to 0.30% carbon. This gives the material low strength while making it more malleable and ductile compared to high carbon steels.

Titanium

Titanium is a popular material for CNC machining due to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. However, titanium presents unique challenges in machining due to its high strength, low thermal conductivity, and tendency to work harden during cutting.

Plastics

ABS

ABS is a low-cost engineering plastic that is easy to machine. ABS is an ideal material for structural applications when impact resistance, strength, and stiffness are required. It’s widely used for pre-production prototypes since it has excellent dimensional stability and is easy to paint and glue.

Acetal

Delrin 570 is a homopolymer acetal containing 20% glass fiber filler. It has very high stiffness, low warpage, and low creep for superior performance at elevated temperatures.

CPVC

CPVC, also known as Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride provides excellent corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures making it ideal for self-supporting constructions where high temperatures are a concern.

Delrin

Delrin, also known as Polyoxymethylene (POM), is a high-performance plastic with numerous advantageous features. Its high stiffness, low friction, and excellent wear resistance make it a popular choice for applications requiring high mechanical strength, such as gears, bushings, and bearings.

HDPE

HDPE is a high-density polyethylene that is lightweight, has low moisture absorption, is chemical and corrosion resistant, and has high strength. It is great for applications such as orthotic and prosthetic devices, water storage, and tanks.

Nylon

Nylon is a versatile and widely used material in CNC machining due to its exceptional properties. Its high tensile strength, low coefficient of friction, and resistance to wear and abrasion make it an excellent choice for applications requiring durability and reliability, such as gears, bushings, and bearings. Additionally, nylon's low moisture absorption and good dimensional stability ensure consistent performance even in humid or varying temperature conditions.

PEEK

Using PEEK materials (chemically known as polyetheretherketone) is ideal for a wide spectrum of CNC machining applications where thermal, chemical, and combustion properties are critical to performance.

PEI

ULTEM is an amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimide (PEI) material that combines exceptional mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Natural ULTEM is a translucent amber color. Key attributes include excellent mechanical strength, ability to retain strength at elevated temperatures, high heat resistance, and high stress resistance.

PET

PET, also known as Polyethylene Terephthalate, is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyester with excellent wear resistance, low coefficient of friction, high flexural modules, and superior dimensional stability. It it a very versatile option for mechanical and electro-mechanical parts.

PMMA (Acrylic)

Acrylic, also known as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), is a versatile plastic material widely used in CNC machining for its remarkable properties. Acrylic's optical clarity, light transmission, and UV resistance make it a popular choice for a wide range of applications, from signage and display products to lenses and lighting fixtures.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate (PC) is an engineering plastic with excellent dimensional stability and good strength and stiffness. It's a go-to material for parts that need clarity and impact strength.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene (PP) Copolymer is a common thermoplastic often used for its versatility. It is easy to fabricate, will not crack with vibration or wear, and can also be used in applications that require chemical resistance and/or FDA compliance.

PPSU

RADEL R polyphenylsulfone resins offer exceptional hydrolytic stability and toughness that is superior to other commercially available, high-temperature engineering resins. It offers high deflection temperature and outstanding resistance to environmental stress cracking. The polymer is inherently flame retardant, has excellent thermal stability, and good electrical properties.

PSU

PTFE

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known by its trade name Teflon, is a versatile and highly desirable material for CNC machining due to its unique properties. It is a type of fluoropolymer and is best known for its non-stick and low-friction properties. This makes it an excellent choice for applications that require a low coefficient of friction, such as bearings, bushings, and seals. PTFE also has excellent chemical resistance, making it ideal for use in harsh environments.

PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is an extremely versatile polymer and used widely across many industries due to its exceptional corrosion resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio, and cost efficiency.

Surface Finish and Post-Processing Options

Protolabs offers a variety of CNC machining surface finishing options to meet your part requirements. More advanced coating and plating options are also available.

Surface Finish Options

Coating and Plating Options

[Learn more about post-processing options for CNC machining](/content/services/cnc-machining/post-processing/ "Post Processing"/index.html)

Why Choose Us for Custom CNC Machining?

Fast and Reliable Delivery

Iterate part designs quickly and accelerate product development with quick-turn parts delivered on time and to spec, every time.

Manufacturing Analysis and Online Quotes

When you upload your 3D CAD file to request a quote, our automated design analysis identifies any features that may be difficult to machine such as tall, thin walls or holes that cannot be threaded, to save you from costly reworks further down the product development cycle.

Domestic Production and Support

For ITAR-controlled parts, partner with a trusted U.S.-based manufacturer to help maintain compliance throughout production. We provide a single point of contact for optimizing your design, and managing the progress of your order.

Infinite Capacity

Reduce downtime and alleviate pressure on your in-house machining by using our automated process, which provides on-demand, cost-effective manufacturing capacity.

Material Selection

We stock more than 30 engineering-grade plastic and metal materials that are suitable for various part applications and industries. Materials range from plastics like ABS, polycarbonate, nylon, and PEEK to aluminum, stainless steel, platinum, and copper.

Advanced Capabilities

Benefit from cost-effective pricing by using our manufacturing network, which offers expanded production capabilities such as tighter tolerances, volume discounts, more material choices, and machining for complex designs. Gain flexibility with a mix of international and local vendors for everything from prototypes to final products. Plus, access extra finishes like smoother surfaces, brushed finishes, black oxide, and other custom requests.

What is CNC Machining and How Does it Work?

CNC machining is an automated manufacturing process that transforms a solid block or rod of material into a part using end mills. The end mills are controlled by software (G-code) which references a 3D CAD model to reduce the stock material into a desired geometry. Parts can be manufactured relatively quickly due to the level of automation.

There are many types of CNC machines, which include CNC milling and CNC turning. CNC machining is a suitable manufacturing process for one-off prototypes or custom components as well as mid-volume production quantities.

Advantages of CNC Machining

The subtractive process of CNC machining provides multiple benefits for both prototyping and production parts.

CNC Machining Applications

CNC machining is widely used throughout the aerospace, medical, automotive industries for its ability to rapidly manufacture precise parts in production-grade materials. Typical CNC parts, include:

Get an Instant CNC Machining Quote

Upload a 3D CAD file of your machined part and in seconds to hours, we'll send you manufacturing analysis and quote specific to your request. In the automated factory, within your quote you can modify materials and quantities, see pricing updates in real-time, and assign threading with a click of your mouse. In the semi-automated workflow that accepts technical drawings, you’ll receive a quote specific to the expanded needs you’ve uploaded.

View a Sample Quote

CNC Machining FAQs

How much does CNC machining cost?

CNC machining is a very effective solution for limited runs and lower quantity parts. Price depends on the material chosen, complexity, quantity, and required lead time. Prices for geometry manufacturable by CNC versus 3D printing are relatively comparable, but typically machining offers improved material properties and surfaces. The best way to find your exact price is to submit a 3D CAD model and get an interactive quote with design for manufacturability (DFM) feedback.

What types of threading options are available?

At all our fulfillment locations, we offer UNF, UNC, and metric threads. Our automated factory can machine parts for coil and key inserts without supplying or installing them. In our semi-automated factory and Protolabs Network, we provide the same threading options, plus SM1, SM2, and SM3 lens threads. We can also install hardware like standard coil inserts, key inserts, and heli-coils at these locations. [View this page to see our complete threading options](/content/services/cnc-machining/threaded-holes-guidelines/ "Threaded Holes Guidelines"/index.html).

What is the maximum part size for CNC machining?

Maximum part size will vary based on your selected material. Our largest part size offered is 22 in. x 14 in. x 3.75 in. (559mm x 356mm x 95.25mm) and is available in Aluminum 6061 and 7075. [View this table to see maximum dimensions by material](/content/services/cnc-machining/cnc-machining-maximum-extents/ "CNC Machining: Maximum Extents"/index.html).

Where can I learn more about CNC design?

We have a variety of resources on CNC machining and how to design parts for the process. Here are some of our favorites:

Get your guide

If you have any issues getting your guide, [click here to download](/content/media/1020108/cnc_design_essentials_wp_18.pdf "CNC Design Essentials WP 18"/index.html).