CNC Milling: Definition, Processes, Applications
CNC milling involves cutting a workpiece using computerized and multipoint cutting tools. Known for its accuracy and precision, the process is …
Provide efficient production and faster design to delivery.
Produce precision parts that exceed industry standards.
Create and test products quickly to bring them to market.
Bring new, affordable products to market faster.
Empower to innovate faster, maximizing performance.
Innovation in enclosures for low-volume production.
Deliver machinery that beats the competition.
Speed up innovation and development.
Build prototypes and products that adhere to medical safety.
Improve efficiency with precise, fast, and constant part quality.
Drive time-to-market through on-demand production.
The extremely high level of precision needed within the aerospace industry makes CNC machining a suitable manufacturing process for the sector.
This article provides you with a complete guide to aerospace machining and its importance.
Whitepaper, design guide, materials, and finishing.
Different finishing options enhance part appearance and functionality.
Discover our library of educational videos.
If you want to produce high-quality machined parts with a sleek appearance, it’s essential to consider some critical factors related to CNC machining.
Here, we’ve gathered some basic information and important considerations to help you achieve the desired results.
Our vision, mission, development history, and dedicated team.
Real feedback on experiences and opinions of our services.
Company news, platform updates, holiday announcement.
Get instant quotes with our smart online platform.
Rapid prototyping, and on-demand production.
Deliver quality parts that meet requirements and exceed expectations.
Attention! We have exciting news to share with you. We have just launched the latest online platform, version 3.0!
The updated platform boasts a fresh and intuitive design, along with enhanced functionality that streamlines and accelerates the quoting process, like a new manufacturing process, streamlined quoting summary page, and improved checkout page.
Reliable on-demand CNC milling services for rapid prototypes and production parts. Get top-notch custom milled parts from various high-quality metals and plastics at competitive prices.
Effectively bring your products to market faster with a reliable CNC milling company. From rapid prototyping to custom production runs, take advantage of quality 3-axis, 4-axis, and full 5-axis CNC milling for highly accurate and quality CNC milling products. RapidDirect offers quality CNC milling services to help transform your designs into complex geometric shapes. Take control of your CNC milling projects by working with our in-house machining team and receive custom parts that meet your strict requirements.
A profitable and efficient solution to your CNC milling needs! We ensure the machining of parts with complex geometrical shapes, including undercut features, threaded holes, sharp edges, and planar profiles. Complete multiple operations through effective integration with an automatic tool changer. We can also design 3-axis milling centers to meet the unique requirements of each client.
Get more complex CNC milled parts with our 4-axis CNC milling. We consistently produce precise and accurate results, with greater control and more flexibility, even with complex shapes. Ensure cost-effective machining of angled features that are rather impossible with 3-axis machines. With more power, greater control, and higher precision, 4-axis milling is your ideal solution.
Machine complex custom CNC milled parts with a single setup. Our 5-axis CNC milling machines save time, improve efficiency, and reduce cost, ensuring that you meet market demands faster and cost-effectively. We can reach higher cutting speeds without excessive pressure on the cutter. Get rapid prototypes and low-volume production parts with better surface finishes.
At RapidDirect, we are committed to helping you reach your manufacturing goals. We constantly strive for effective solutions through our progressive technological approaches and machining techniques. Our CNC milling services ensure you get highly precise prototypes and production parts with superior quality.
No need to write a quote request email, get instant CNC quotes by simply uploading your design files. Our digital quoting platform analyzes your part geometry, and provides real-time & competitive pricing and comprehensive DFM feedback.
We implement strict quality management to ensure consistent high quality on your CNC milled parts. Provide full-dimensional and material inspection reports on your request. With strong CNC milling capabilities and technological implementations, all your custom CNC milled parts will meet tolerances as tight as ±0.01mm.
Not only do we have a digital CNC machining services platform that provides faster ordering process, we also own domestic workshops and state-of-the-art machinery to accelerate the production of your prototypes or parts.
No matter where you are, you can get our 24/7 engeering support all year around. Our experienced engineer can provide you with the most appropriate solution to your part design, material selection, and surface finishing options and even lead time.
Upload your design and experience smart CNC milling quotes in seconds and all-in-one management for rapid and digital manufacturing without hesitation.
Get instant CNC quotes in a minute by simply uploading your design files. Our big data quoting engine calculates CNC machining quotes instantly and provides you with competitive prices.
Our platform built with an advanced machine learning algorithm can automatically identify part geometry that may be difficult to machine. Give you a comprehensive design-for-manufacturing analysis for your custom CNC parts within minutes.
Quickly check, search, and manage all your CNC orders in one place. What's even better is that you get visibility into all stages of the production process and every aspect of the manufacturing operation.
CNC machining is a computerized and versatile manufacturing process ideal for rapid prototyping and on demand production. Here are the custom CNC services available at the RapidDirect.
With our instant quotation platform and strong capacity, you can get excepted prototypes in short lead times. This allows you to quickly test prototype parts and get them to market.
Bridge-to-production is critical for closing the gap between the part design and the actual product rollout. No worries. Our professional engineering team is always ready to provide practical design suggestions for your low volume machined parts.
Our full service for on-demand production orders ensures that you get high precison and high standard of quality products. Enhanced production rate also allows for just-in-time delivery of production parts.
RapidDirect offers a range of CNC machining tolerances to suit your unique design requirements, including GD&T callouts. Based on your part’s geometry and chosen material, we can accommodate standard thread sizes, machine custom treads, and reach tolerances of up to ±0.001”. Our standard tolerances for CNC milled metals are ISO 2768-m and ISO 2768-c for plastics.
Type | Tolerance |
Linear dimension | +/- 0.025 mm
+/- 0.001 inch |
Hole diameters (not reamed) | +/- 0.025 mm
+/- 0.001 inch |
Shaft diameters | +/- 0.025 mm
+/- 0.001 inch |
Part size limit | 950 * 550 * 480 mm
37.0 * 21.5 * 18.5 inch |
Depending on your applications, our CNC milling process is compatible with an extensive range of materials. We stock over 30 production-grade metal alloys for producing various CNC milled parts for different industries. In addition to metals, RapidDirect’s high-precision CNC milling service is also compatible with many plastic materials. Check out some of the widely used materials for CNC milling parts.
Aluminum is a highly ductile metal, making it easy to machine. The material has a good strength-to-weight ratio and is available in many types for a range of applications.
Price: $
Lead Time: < 10 days
Tolerances: ±0.125mm (±0.005″)
Max part size: 200 x 80 x 100 cm
Copper displays excellent thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and plasticity. It is also highly ductile, corrosion resistant and can be easily welded.
Price: $$$
Lead Time: < 10 days
Wall Thickness: 0.75 mm
Tolerances: ±0.125mm (±0.005″)
Max part size: 200 x 80 x 100 cm
Brass has desirable properties for a number of applications. It is low friction, has excellent electrical conductivity and has a golden (brass) appearance.
Price: $$
Lead Time: < 10 days
Wall Thickness: 0.75 mm
Tolerances: ±0.125mm (±0.005″)
Max part size: 200 x 80 x 100 cm
Stainless steel is the low carbon steel that offers many properties that are sought after for industrial applications. Stainless steel typically contains a minimum of 10% chromium by weight.
Price: $$
Lead Time: < 10 days
Wall Thickness: 0.75 mm
Tolerances: ±0.125mm (±0.005″)
Max part size: 200 x 80 x 100 cm
Titanium has a number of material properties that make it the ideal metal for demanding applications. These properties include excellent resistance to corrosion, chemicals and extreme temperatures. The metal also has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
Price: $$$
Lead Time: < 10 days
Wall Thickness: 0.75 mm
Tolerances: ±0.125mm (±0.005″)
Max part size: 200 x 80 x 100 cm
Plastics are also very popular option for CNC machining because of its wide choices, relatively lower price, and significantly faster machining time needed. We provide all common plastics for CNC machining services.
POM | PEEK | HDPE | PET |
Nylon | PTFE | PVC | PP |
ABS | PC | PMMA |
Gain access to quality surface finishing for custom CNC milling parts to remove aesthetic flaws and improve the appearance of your products. We also provide rigid protection and additional resistance and strength to your parts through superior surface finishes.
Name | Description | Materials | Color | Texture | Link |
![]() |
Anodizing | Anodizing improves corrosion resistance, enhancing wear resistance and hardness, and protecting the metal surface. Widely used in mechanical parts, aircraft, and automobile parts, precision instruments, etc. | Aluminum | Clear, black, grey, red, blue, gold. | Smooth, matte finish. | Learn More>> |
![]() |
Bead Blasting |
Bead blasting results in parts with a smooth surface with a matte texture. Used mainly for visual applications and can be followed by other surface treatments. |
ABS, Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel |
n/a | Matte | Learn More>> |
![]() |
Powder Coating | Powder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. Unlike conventional liquid paint which is delivered via an evaporating solvent, powder coating is typically applied electrostatically and then cured under heat or with ultraviolet light. | Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Steel |
Black, any RAL code or Pantone number |
Gloss or semi-gloss |
|
![]() |
Electroplating | Electroplating can be functional, decorative or corrosion-related. Many industries use the process, including the automotive sector, in which chrome-plating of steel automobile parts is common. |
Aluminum, steel, stainless steel |
n/a |
Smooth, glossy finish |
|
![]() |
Polishing |
Polishing is the process of creating a smooth and shiny surface, either through physical rubbing of the part or by chemical interference. The process produces a surface with significant specular reflection, but in some materials is able to reduce diffuse reflection. |
Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel |
n/a |
Glossy |
|
![]() |
Brushing |
Brushing is a surface treatment process in which abrasive belts are used to draw traces on the surface of a material, usually for aesthetic purposes. |
ABS, Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel |
n/a | satin |
Check out our extensive gallery that shows precision milled prototypes and parts from our valued customers.
A customer’s words have a more substantial impact than a company’s claims – and see what our satisfied customers have said regarding how we fulfilled their requirements.
From the instant and accurate quotation to production process to the timely delivery of parts, RapidDirect responded to our demands with complete professionalism. They handled every aspect of this CNC machining project quickly and cost-effectively. We will surely work with them again in the future.
Mark Alford
– Chief Engineer
RapidDirect has been our quality supplier of CNC machined parts. Fast delivery is very important for our business, and RapidDirect always offers short lead time and competitive pricing. Andy responds fast to all our emails and questions. This has improved our working relationship, and we continue to value this partnership.
Piscary Herskovic
– Product Designer
Hi, Fiona. I’d like to thank you and everybody at RapidDirect for contributing to the great service we received. You constantly handle our difficult CNC machining projects, and offer instant quotation and free DFM analysis for the part design. Best of all, you show superior quality in short lead times. Our department supervisor confirmed that you will continue making these parts now. The quality is outstanding!
Luc Szorc
– Mechanical Engineer
Our small R&D group requires high precision CNC machined parts within short periods. RapidDirect consistently delivers these parts at great values and quick turnarounds. The reliability of this company places them above our other part suppliers.
Kayne Espinosa
– Project Manager
We asked RapidDirect to fabricate parts for a critical supplier demo, and you came through with a short lead time. Your work is always high quality, and we are grateful for your precision in machining components. The help in checking our designs and material selection has also saved our company from making expensive errors. We look forward to doing future projects with you guys.
Hari Mackenzie
– Engineer
CNC milling parts have seen significant use in a variety of industries. With our advanced facilities and refined CNC milling technologies, we can create precision and quality CNC milled parts in a rapid manner.
RapidDirect works with vertical, horizontal, and multi-axis milling machines. The vertical milling machine is highly accurate equipment that carries out 3-axis milling, suitable for vertical surfaces and angular shapes.
Our horizontal milling machines perform 4-axis milling and are suitable for heavy milling operations. Our multi-axis milling machines can move along different axes and cut at various angles. They include 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-axis CNC milling machines.
Yes, you can combine both manufacturing processes to reinforce your custom parts. Printed parts can be milled to achieve dimensions with tight tolerances or to meet surface quality requirements. Intelligently combining these two methods can ensure faster manufacturing, less waste, and lower costs. It even achieves higher accuracy and precision, repeatability, and sustainable production.
At RapidDirect, we can produce highly complex and intricate rapid prototypes and low-volume production parts. The CNC milling process is suitable for a wide selection of materials for various applications. Our CNC milling service can achieve standard tolerances of +/- 0.05mm. However, tighter tolerances of up to +/- 0.01mm are also possible.
The major difference between CNC milling and CNC lathe is in their machining process. CNC milling involves rotating the cutting tools against a stationary bar stock or workpiece. In contrast, a CNC lather works by rotating the bar stock or workpiece against a stationary tool. CNC milling is more suitable for machining irregular and flat surfaces, while CNC lathes work best for cylindrical or conical parts.
CNC milling involves cutting a workpiece using computerized and multipoint cutting tools. Known for its accuracy and precision, the process is …
Milling is a common manufacturing process where a rotating tool removes material from a stationary workpiece and delivers you parts …
CNC machining remains one of the most cost-effective methods for on-demand production to date despite advancements in technologies like 3D …