Quick answer
Precision metal CNC machining for aerospace and industrial work comes down to one thing: the part matches the drawing on the dimensions that matter. We machine aluminium, stainless steel, titanium, carbon and alloy steel, brass and copper to customer drawings. ISO 2768-m is the default for dimensions with no callout, ±0.01 mm is held on features you mark as critical, and we quote within 48 hours in the normal case. Standard lead time is 2–4 weeks; rush orders are confirmed case by case.
The parts that come out of this work are mostly not exotic — brackets, housings, shafts, manifolds, fixtures and mounting plates. What makes them “precision” is that the fits, the datum faces and the hole patterns are right the first time, and repeatable on the next order.
What “precision” means in practice
“Precision” on a supplier website usually means nothing. On a drawing it means a number, and the number has to be one the process can actually hold. Ours are set out below — and they are the same numbers we print on the quote, so there is no gap between what is advertised and what is committed to.
| Tolerance | How it is achieved | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 2768-m (default) | Standard machining, no extra operation | Dimensions with no individual callout — brackets, plates, covers |
| ±0.01 mm | Finishing pass, in-process measurement | Bore and shaft fits, datum faces, hole patterns |
| ±0.005 mm | Wire EDM with skim passes | Hardened profiles, narrow slots, sharp internal corners |
| ±0.002 mm | CNC grinding | Ground shafts, seal faces, sliding fits |
Asking for a tighter number than the feature needs is the fastest way to inflate a quote — a tolerance that costs nothing on a milling centre can double the price once it forces a second operation or a dedicated setup. The full breakdown, including where the cost inflection points sit, is on our CNC machining tolerances page.
Materials for aerospace and industrial parts
Grade selection is usually settled by the environment before the geometry is: load, temperature, corrosion, weight, and whether the part will be welded or hard anodised. These are the metals we run most often.
| Material | Common grades | Why it gets chosen |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | 6061-T6, 7075-T6, 6082, 2024 | Weight, machinability, anodising response. 7075 when the part is strength-limited |
| Stainless steel | 303, 304, 316, 17-4PH | Corrosion resistance and cleanability; 17-4PH where hardness is needed after heat treatment |
| Titanium | Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5), Grade 2 | Strength-to-weight and corrosion resistance where aluminium will not carry the load |
| Carbon & alloy steel | 1018, 1045, 4140, 4340, A2, D2 | Wear resistance and hardness after heat treatment; tool steel for dies and wear parts |
| Brass & copper | C360, C110 | Electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance in fluid handling |
Detail on each family — machinability notes, finishing behaviour and the grades we hold stock of — sits on the individual pages: aluminium, stainless steel, titanium, carbon and alloy steel, and brass and copper.
Where these parts actually go
Industrial automation and robotics
This is the bulk of the work: fixtures, jigs, brackets, sensor and motor housings, bearing blocks, coupling hubs, and end-of-arm parts. These are usually aluminium or steel, in quantities from one to a few hundred, and the requirement is repeatability rather than a single heroic tolerance — the twentieth part has to assemble like the first.
Aerospace and ground support
On the aerospace side we build the parts around the aircraft rather than in it: ground support equipment, test and assembly fixtures, tooling, jigs, housings and prototype hardware. That work is machined the same way as everything else and inspected against the drawing.
Instrumentation and test equipment
Laboratory and optical instruments, test rigs and measurement equipment. Small batches, tight datums, and often a mix of processes — milling and turning with wire EDM or grinding on the features that need it.
Process capability, if you need to pick one: 3-axis and 4-axis milling to 1000 × 600 × 500 mm, 5-axis to Ø 500 × 400 mm typical, turning to Ø 300 mm swing with Ø 42 mm bar capacity.
How parts get checked before they ship
Every drawing is reviewed before it is quoted. If a feature cannot be machined as drawn, or one that adds cost without adding function, we point it out and suggest an alternative for you to confirm. If the drawing is machinable as it stands, we quote it as-is — we do not redesign parts that already work.
- First article inspected against the drawing before the rest of the batch runs.
- Dimensional report — full layout or critical features only, on request.
- Material traceability — mill certificates kept against the order, supplied on request.
- Heat treatment and finishing handled as part of the same order, not handed back to you to arrange. See surface finishes.
Parts are produced in Guangdong and packed to whatever the drawing or your inbound process requires. If you need a specific inspection format, say so when you send the drawing and we will build it into the quote rather than bolting it on afterwards.
Quantities and lead time
There is no minimum order quantity. A single prototype, a pilot run of twenty, and a repeat order of two hundred all go through the same route — and the prototype is machined on the same process as production, so the part you approve is the part you receive. More on that on the rapid prototyping page.
Standard lead time is 2–4 weeks. Rush orders are confirmed case by case — tell us your deadline up front and we will tell you straight away whether it is achievable rather than agreeing first and missing it later.
What to send us
- 3D model in STEP, IGES or DWG, plus a dimensioned PDF with GD&T callouts.
- Material grade, and any material documentation you need with the parts.
- Quantity — prototype, pilot run, and estimated annual volume.
- Surface finish, including Ra callouts where they matter (a rough guide is in our Ra values article).
- Your target date, and whether an NDA needs to be signed first.
Send the drawing and you get a priced quote within 48 hours in the normal case, with tolerance and lead time stated on it.
Frequently asked questions
What tolerance do you hold if my drawing has no callouts?
ISO 2768-m by default. That covers dimensions without an individual tolerance. Anything tighter needs to be marked on the drawing — mark the dimensions that are functional and we will quote and inspect against those.
Can you machine titanium and Inconel?
Titanium routinely — Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) and Grade 2. Nickel alloys are quoted case by case: send the grade and the geometry and we will tell you whether it is a job we should take.
What is the minimum order quantity?
One. There is no minimum. Prototypes are machined on the same process as production runs, so a single part is quoted and made the same way as two hundred.
Can you rush an order?
Sometimes. Standard lead time is 2–4 weeks and rush orders are confirmed case by case — tell us your deadline with the drawing and we will confirm or decline up front.
Do you supply inspection reports and material certificates?
Yes, on request. Dimensional reports, first article inspection and mill certificates are kept against the order; tell us what format you need when you send the drawing.
Where are the parts made and shipped from?
Machined and finished in Guangdong, China, and shipped from there. Registered office is in Shenzhen.
