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Included with every order

  • Standard QC inspection
  • Material certification (mill certs)
  • ISO 9001 documentation
CMM report and DFM analysis on request

CNC milling services for custom metal parts

Housings, brackets, plates and manifolds milled from solid metal to your drawing, inspected against it, and documented. Photos and QC reports reach you before the parts do.

Quote requested for We'll send the price and lead time to .
See how we work
Face mill cutting the top of a round aluminum part
Capability
Up to 5-axis
Tolerance
Down to ±0.005 mm, on request
Confidentiality
NDA as standard
Replies
Within 6 hours

What is CNC milling?

CNC machine shop with machining centers, tool carts and workbenches

CNC milling is a subtractive process: a spinning cutter removes material from a fixed workpiece while the machine moves it in X, Y and Z under computer control. It suits parts with flat faces, pockets and features on several sides.

Milling produces these features well:

  • Faces and shoulders: flat reference surfaces and steps.
  • Pockets and slots: open or closed cavities, keyways and T-slots.
  • Holes and bores: drilled, reamed or bored, including located bore patterns.
  • Threads: tapped or thread-milled holes.
  • Contours: profiles, chamfers and 3D surfaces.

If your part is mostly round, such as a shaft, pin or bushing, it usually belongs on a lathe instead. Our CNC turning page covers those parts, and many parts use both processes. For the full picture of how a drawing becomes a part, see our guide to how CNC machining works.

Applications

Milled parts we make

Parts with flat faces, pockets and features on several sides, in metal, plastic and other materials, from one part to production batches.

  • Housings and enclosures

    Pocketed bodies with bores, threads and sealing faces.

  • Brackets and mounts

    Mounting brackets, sensor mounts and support arms.

  • Mounting and adapter plates

    Flat plates with located hole patterns and counterbores.

  • Manifolds

    Blocks with drilled cross-holes and ported faces.

  • Fixtures and jigs

    Locating fixtures and jigs for your own production line.

  • Adapter blocks

    Blocks that connect two components, machined on several faces.

Industries we supply

View all industries
  • Industrial machine line inside a factory hall

    Industrial machinery

    Frames, housings, shafts, plates and brackets for machine builders.

  • Blue industrial robot arm on an automated line

    Automation and robotics

    Mounts, grippers, adapter plates and guards.

  • Robotic arms working on a car body in white

    Automotive and transport

    Fixtures, brackets and machined components.

  • Industrial pipes and valves in a process plant

    Oil, gas and process

    Flanges, manifolds, fittings and valve parts.

Our capabilities

Everything your milled part needs, from one supplier

Choose the metal, the finish and the paperwork. The exact grade, tolerance and finish are confirmed in your quote.

A wide range of metals

Metals, plastics and other materials (plastics: see `plastics`; Vivek, 24 Oct 2026). Listed by alloy series; the exact grade is confirmed in your quote.

  • Aluminum

    1xxx · 2xxx · 3xxx · 4xxx · 5xxx · 6xxx · 7xxx · 8xxx

  • Stainless steel

    200 series · 300 series · 400 series · PH grades

  • Mild steel

    10xx · 11xx · 12xx

  • Tool steel

    A series · D series · H series · M series · O series · S series · W series

  • Titanium

    Grades 1 to 4 · Grade 5

  • Brass

    C2xxxx · C3xxxx

  • Copper

    C1xxxx

From as-machined to anodized

A milled surface carries fine tool marks. If a surface needs a specific roughness, put the Ra value on that surface in the drawing. Anodizing adds a thin layer, so tell us if a bore or fit must be held after finishing.

  • As-machined
  • Bead blasting
  • Anodizing Type II
  • Anodizing Type III (hard anodizing)
  • Powder coating
  • Brushing
  • Passivation
  • Electroplating (nickel, chrome, zinc)
  • Painting

Machining capability

Down to ±0.005 mm

±0.0002" · on request, depending on the part

No standard tolerance. Yours.

There is no standard tolerance that applies to every part. What we can hold depends on the part: geometry, size, wall thickness, material, process, finish and how the feature is inspected. We work to the tolerances on your drawing and confirm them in the quote.

Paperwork your customer will ask for

Critical features are measured against your drawing before the parts ship. A coordinate measuring machine (CMM) report suits complex parts and tight tolerances; ask for it with your quote.

With every order

  • Standard QC inspection
  • Material certification (mill certs)
  • ISO 9001 documentation

On request

  • CMM inspection report
  • DFM analysis
  • Geometric and dimensional metrology reports (FAIR, ballooned drawing, 3D scan, manual, Ra)
  • Material verification and chemistry reports (MTC, PMI)

More on request

  • Non-destructive testing reports (LPI, MPI)
  • Process capability and compliance reports (SPC, PPAP)
  • Other reports, on request

Technical specs

What we work to on every order, unless your drawing says otherwise.

Max dimensions
2134 × 1016 × 762 mm (84 × 40 × 30")
General tolerances
ISO 2768 or ±0.127 mm (±0.005"), unless your drawing says otherwise
Precision tolerances
Below ±0.025 mm (±0.001"), to your drawing and GD&T callouts
Threads and tapped holes
Any standard thread size; custom threads reviewed in the quote
Edge condition
Sharp edges broken and deburred by default
Surface finish
As-machined, Ra 3.2 µm (126 µin) or better; other finishes on request

Manufacturing process

How your milled part is made

The sequence every milled part follows, from your drawing to an inspected, packed part.

  1. DFM review

    An engineer checks the drawing for anything that adds cost or risk, and notes it in the quote.

  2. CAM programming

    Toolpaths are programmed from your 3D model, with the tools and setups chosen for the part.

  3. Material with certificate

    Stock is cut from the grade on your drawing and arrives with its mill certificate.

  4. Machining

    The part is set up, milled to size and deburred, then anodized, plated or finished as ordered. 5-axis parts need fewer setups.

  5. Inspection and packing

    Critical features are measured against the drawing, documents are prepared and the parts are packed.

3-axis or 5-axis: which does your part need?

Machinist operating the control panel of a CNC machine

Most milled parts need a 3-axis machine. Add axes when the part has features on several faces or at compound angles, so it can be made in fewer setups.

Setup How it works Best for
3-axis (VMC) The cutter moves in X, Y and Z; the part is re-clamped to reach other faces Plates, brackets, housings with features on one or two faces
3+2 (positional 5-axis) Two rotary axes tilt the part to a fixed angle, then it is milled as 3-axis Features on five sides in one setup; angled holes; shorter, stiffer tools
Simultaneous 5-axis All five axes move at once during the cut Complex contoured surfaces

Fewer setups mean fewer chances for a datum to shift between operations. You don’t need to choose the setup yourself. Send the drawing, and our engineers pick the route and explain it in the DFM notes.

What tolerances can we hold on milled parts?

Machined metal parts laid on a technical drawing

There is no single standard tolerance for every milled part. What a feature can hold depends on its geometry, size, wall thickness, material and finish, and on how it is inspected. We work to the tolerances on your drawing and confirm them in the quote. Where a part needs it, we can hold down to ±0.005 mm (±0.0002”) on request.

For dimensions without their own tolerance, most drawings carry a general tolerance note. ISO 2768-1, from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), is the common one, in four classes: f (fine), m (medium), c (coarse) and v (very coarse). The table shows the standard’s values for linear dimensions.

Nominal size (mm) f, fine (±) m, medium (±) c, coarse (±)
over 6 to 30 0.1 0.2 0.5
over 30 to 120 0.15 0.3 0.8
over 120 to 400 0.2 0.5 1.2

Values in millimeters. This explains the note; it isn’t a Maketeq default. For geometric tolerances such as flatness and position, ASME Y14.5-2018, from ASME, is the reference most drawings follow.

The practical rule: put a general class in the title block and tighten only the features that locate or fit another part. Every tight tolerance adds finishing passes and inspection time.

Quality assurance

From the first part to repeat production, quality is guaranteed

We guarantee consistent quality from first order to repeat production.

  • ISO 9001 certified quality system
  • Every order inspected against your drawing before it ships
  • Standard QC inspection, material certification (mill certs) and ISO 9001 documentation with every order
  • CMM inspection report and DFM analysis on request
  • NDA as standard. Files shared only with our production team.
Hands measuring a machined metal part with a digital caliper
ISO 9001Certified

How we work

From inquiry to satisfaction

The same path on every order, so you always know what happens next and what you'll receive.

  1. 01

    Inquiry and drawing

    You send your CAD file or drawing. We log the design and an engineer reviews it for manufacturability (DFM).

  2. 02

    Quote with DFM notes

    One quote with the price, the lead time and notes on anything that adds cost.

  3. 03

    Sample part for reference

    A sample part is made and sent to you for reference before production starts.

  4. 04

    Production

    The batch is made to the approved sample and inspected against your drawing.

  5. 05

    Proof before the parts arrive

    Photos of your parts, the QC reports and proof of dispatch reach you before the parts do.

  6. 06

    Delivery and satisfaction survey

    Parts arrive by standard delivery, and we ask how we did with a short customer satisfaction survey.

Why Maketeq

Why buyers choose Maketeq for CNC milling

  • Lower cost, same standard

    More than 50% below typical US and European machining prices and online manufacturing platforms. The saving comes from a geographic cost advantage, not from less inspection.

  • Precision when you need it

    Tolerances down to ±0.005 mm (±0.0002") on request, depending on the part, on VMC and 5-axis machines.

  • Quality you can check

    ISO 9001 certified. QC inspection, mill certificates and ISO 9001 documentation come with every order.

  • Proof before the parts arrive

    Photos of your parts, the QC reports and proof of dispatch reach you before the parts do.

  • Engineers who reply

    Technical team on email and WhatsApp. Reply within 6 hours, whatever your time zone.

  • Delivered worldwide

    Usually DHL or FedEx, local carriers where it suits the country, and customs paperwork handled.

Questions buyers ask about CNC milling

What drives the price of a milled part?

Price depends on the material, the machining time, the number of setups, the tolerances and finish, and the quantity. Setup and programming are a fixed cost per job, so the price per part falls as quantity rises. Your quote breaks this down for your part.

How long does CNC milling take?

Lead time depends on the part’s complexity, the quantity, the material, the finish, the inspection required and the destination. Every quote states the lead time, and that’s the date we work to.

Do you send a sample before production?

Yes. A sample part is made and sent to you for reference before production starts, so you can check it against your drawing and your assembly.

What do I receive before the parts arrive?

Photos of your parts, the QC reports and proof of dispatch reach you before the parts do. Mill certificates and ISO 9001 documentation come with every order, and a CMM inspection report is available on request.

Who makes my part?

Maketeq manages your part from quote to delivery, to one ISO 9001 quality standard, and every order is inspected before it ships. NDA as standard: your files are shared only with our production team. Read more about Maketeq.

Is there a minimum order quantity?

No. You can order one part or a production batch.

How do payment and currency work?

A partial advance on order and the balance before dispatch. We accept payment in all currencies.

Do you ship worldwide and handle customs?

Yes. We usually ship with DHL or FedEx, use local carriers such as DPD in the UK where it suits the country, and handle customs paperwork where required.

Do you mill plastics?

Yes, on request. We work in metals, plastics and other materials; see the materials we machine. We don’t offer 3D printing or injection molding.

Ready to start? Upload your drawing for a CNC milling quote.

Send the drawing for your milled part

An engineer reviews it, flags anything that adds cost and sends one quote with the price and lead time.

Quote requested for We'll send the price and lead time to .