CNC milling service

Our CNC milling services allow you to create industrial-grade parts and components with automated speed and precision.

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CNC milling close up

What is CNC milling?

CNC milling is a computer-controlled, subtractive machining process that uses rotating cutting tools to remove material from a solid, stationary workpiece in order to create custom-designed parts. During the milling process, the workpiece is cut along a number of axes to achieve a variety of shapes and geometries.   

Our CNC milling service is simple: upload your CAD file to our Cloud Manufacturing Platform™, work with us to optimize your design and choose your material, and then take your project to production quickly and efficiently. 

Our CNC milling services

Our CNC machining capabilities include both 3-axis, and 5-axis mills:

3 Axis CNC milling close up

3-axis milling

3-axis CNC milling involves cutting a stationary workpiece along three linear axes: left-to-right, back-and-forth, up-and-down. Easy to program and operate, 3-axis mills are effective for simple geometric designs and can be used for a wide variety of parts.

5 Axis CNC milling close up

5-axis milling

5-axis CNC milling expands the design potential of the machining process by adding 2 axes of movement to the workpiece itself. With no need to reposition between operations, 5-axis milling allows for the faster production of more complex parts.

For more on-demand manufacturing options, browse our CNC machining capabilities, including our CNC turning services.

Design considerations

The Fast Radius CNC milling process takes your project from prototype to production quickly and simply. Optimize your milled parts with the following design considerations, material choices, and finishing and post processing options:

CNC milling general process information
3-Axis Milling5-Axis Milling
Maximum part size​1800 x 1000 x 500 mm
70.9 x 39.4 x 19.7 in
1000 x 900 x 600 mm
39.4 x 35.4 x 23.6 in
Minimum part size12.7 x 12.7 x 12.7 mm
0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 in
12.7 x 12.7 x 12.7 mm
0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 in
Minimum feature sizeØ 1 mm
Ø 0.039 in
Ø 1 mm
Ø 0.039 in
Standard toleranceMetals: +/-0.13 mm (0.005 in)
Plastics: +/-0.20 mm (0.008 in)
Minimum wall thicknessRecommended size: 0.8 mm (0.031 in) for metals and 1.5 mm (0.059 in) for plastics
Feasible size: 0.5 mm (0.019 in) for metals and 1.0 mm (0.039 in) for plastics
HolesRecommended size:
Diameter: standard drill bit sizes
Depth: 4 x diameter

Feasible size:
Diameter: Ø 0.5 mm (0.019 in)
Depth: 8 x diameter
ThreadsRecommended size:
Size: M6 or larger
Length: 3 x diameter

Feasible size:
Size: M2.5
Lead timeAs low as 8 days for less than 50 partsAs low as 10 days for less than 50 parts
CNC milling materials
PlasticAluminumStainless SteelOther SteelOther Metal
ABS2024303Mild steelBrass
Nylon 66061304Alloy steelCopper
Acetal (Delrin)6082316Tool steelTitanium
Polycarbonate705017-4Contact us for additional
metal machining options
PVC7075420
HDPE
PTFE (Teflon)
PEEK
Nylon 30%GF
UHMW
CNC milling finishing and post-processing options
As machined (standard)Bead blastingPolishingHeat treatingBlack oxide
AnodizingBrushingScreen printingPassivating
Powder coatingPaintingEngravingPlating

Ready to make your parts with Fast Radius?

Use our quoting platform for quick quotes on production parts and prototypes.

Why choose CNC milling?

The CNC milling process is flexible and cost effective, and offers the following key benefits and challenges:

Benefits
  • Excellent design precision
  • Production consistency
  • Suitability for niche products
  • Established technology
  • Wide variety of materials
  • Scalability
  • Speed
Cross icon Challenges
  • Upfront design costs
  • Limited part geometry
  • Potential unused material waste

CNC milling applications

From single, speciality parts to full production runs, CNC milling can be used to create a variety of industrial parts with applications that include:

Tooling

Manufacture parts with complicated cuts and different angles using a variety of cutting, drilling, and lathing tools.

Metal fabrication

CNC milling is a safe, effective way of creating high quality metal parts with exceptional tolerance levels.

Niche manufacturing

CNC milling is capable of creating a range of niche, durable metal or plastic products that alternative manufacturing processes cannot.

Hybrid manufacturing

CNC milling is not just a process suited to working with metals: molded and 3D printed parts can also be machined.

Medium-to-high-volume production

The CNC milling process is particularly useful for high-volume manufacturing runs, offering automated speed and cost benefits.

Rapid prototyping

The CNC milling process is fast, automated, and useful for the production of prototype parts.

Fast Radius manufacturing solutions

Fast Radius manufacturing solutions, including CNC milling, serve customers across the world. Learn more about our capabilities:

3D printing

Fast, scalable, and cost-effective 3D printing technology for a variety of industrial applications.

CNC machining

Precision computer-controlled machining processes, utilizing rotating drills, end mills, and lathes.

Injection molding

Cost-effective plastic injection molding for precision, high-volume production runs.

Urethane casting

Versatile mold-casting for the production of urethane parts customizable with colors and textures.