CNC milling
CNC milling is a machining process in which a rotating cutting tool removes material from a fixed workpiece, producing flat faces, pockets, slots, holes and contours. Machining centres with 3 to 5 axes mill prismatic parts such as housings, plates and brackets, and finish castings and forgings to drawing.
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Typical parts
- Gearbox, pump and valve housings
- Plates, base frames and mounting plates
- Brackets and supports
- Hydraulic manifolds and blocks
- Machined castings and forgings
- Fixtures and machine components
Quantities
- Prototypes to series
- No part-specific tooling apart from fixtures
Inspection
- Full first article on CMM
- Series parts to an agreed inspection plan
- Gauges for threads and bores
- Flatness, position and roughness if specified
Documents
- Dimensional report
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate
- First article inspection report
How CNC milling works
The workpiece is clamped on the machine table or in a fixture. A rotating tool moves along programmed paths and removes material layer by layer. On 3-axis machines the tool moves in X, Y and Z; 4-axis and 5-axis machines add rotary axes, so several faces can be machined in one setup. Drilling, tapping and boring are done on the same machine.
Dimensional and surface inspection
First articles are measured in full on a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and documented in a first article inspection report. Series parts are checked to an agreed inspection plan, with gauges for threads and bores. Flatness, position tolerances and surface roughness are measured where the drawing specifies them.
Standard documents are a dimensional report and a material certificate to EN 10204 3.1. More on the quality page.
Materials for CNC milling
Carbon and alloy steel
- S355
- C45
- 42CrMo4
Stainless steel
- 1.4301
- 1.4404
Aluminium
- EN AW-6082
- EN AW-7075
Cast iron
- EN-GJL-250
- EN-GJS-400-15
Engineering plastics
- POM
- PA
- PE-UHMW
There is no fixed size or tolerance limit. Send us your drawing and we will define the right production route and confirm feasibility.
Is this the right process?
When CNC milling is the right choice
- The part is prismatic, with flat faces, pockets, holes and threads
- The part is a casting or forging that needs machined mounting faces, bores and threads
- Quantities range from prototypes to series; no part-specific tooling is needed apart from fixtures
When another process is better
- Round parts such as shafts and bushings: CNC turning
- Large quantities of complex shapes where most of the material would be machined away: a casting or forging close to final shape is often cheaper
- Flat parts from sheet without 3D features: laser cutting or waterjet cutting
Related pages
- CNC turningCNC turned parts in steel, stainless steel, aluminium and brass from machine shops in Türkiye: shafts, pins, bushings and flanges, with dimensional reports.
- CNC grindingCNC cylindrical, centreless and surface grinding of shafts, pins, spools and plates from machine shops in Türkiye, usually after hardening, with reports.
- Secondary operationsHeat treatment, galvanising, powder coating, KTL e-coating, painting and assembly for cast, forged and machined parts, managed by QProcess in the same order.
- Sand castingSand castings in grey iron, ductile iron, cast steel, aluminium and bronze from foundries in Türkiye, supplied raw or machined, with EN 10204 3.1 certificates.
- Die castingHigh-pressure aluminium die castings for housings, covers and brackets, produced by die casters in Türkiye and supplied machined, coated and inspected.
- ForgingClosed-die and open-die steel forgings, rolled rings and shafts from forges in Türkiye, supplied raw, heat treated or machined, with EN 10204 3.1 certificates.
- Machinery and equipmentMachine bases, housings, shafts, gear blanks, guides and plastic wear parts for machinery and equipment manufacturers, produced by manufacturers in Türkiye.
- Construction and mining equipmentPins, bushings, hubs, housings, counterweights and wear parts for construction and mining equipment manufacturers, produced by manufacturers in Türkiye.
- Other industriesCast, forged, machined and plastic parts for pumps and valves, hydraulics, rail, material handling, industrial automation, robotics and marine equipment.
Frequently asked questions
When is 5-axis milling needed?
5-axis milling is used when a part has features on several faces or inclined surfaces that would otherwise need several setups. Fewer setups mean fewer clamping errors and shorter lead times. For simple prismatic parts, 3-axis machining is usually more economical.
Do you supply milled parts anodised or painted?
Yes. Milled aluminium parts are often anodised, steel parts painted, zinc plated or powder coated. These steps are included in the same order.
Send your drawing. You get a quotation in 3 to 5 working days.
Your drawings are handled confidentially; NDA on request.