CNC Milling: the route, the tolerances it holds, materials and design tips, with an indicative cost. One of 56 processes in the free finder.
MachiningFamily
+/-0.025mmTypical tol.
5Route steps
204Parts in finder
CNC milling removes material from a fixed blank with a rotating cutter moving on several axes, carving complex features to tight tolerance.
At a glance
When to use it, and when not
Best for
Precision prototypes and low to medium-volume parts of almost any shape and material.
Watch for
Per-part cost stays flat with volume; deep pockets, thin walls and sharp internal corners add cost.
Step by step
The typical route
Raw material to finished part. Steps vary with material, volume and tolerance; this is the free route from the finder.
Fixture
Fixture the stock/blank.
Tooling Fixture Tolerance - Lead -
Rough
Rough out the bulk material.
Tooling CNC mill Tolerance - Lead -
Finish
Finish-mill features to tolerance, maybe a second setup.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Deburr
Deburr all edges.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Inspect
CMM/inspect critical features.
Tooling CMM Tolerance - Lead -
Precision
Tolerances it can hold
TYPICAL TOLERANCE IT CAN HOLD
Where this process typically lands. Tighter is possible with extra operations like grinding, at higher cost.
Materials
Materials it suits
Grade
Why it suits this
Aluminium 6061/7075
Fast to cut, strong
Steel 1045/4140
Strong
Stainless 304/316
Corrosion, slower cut
Design
Design tips
A few general pointers for CNC Milling. The full, part-specific DFM list is in the dossier.
Deep pockets / thin walls.Limit depth-to-width, add radii.
Sharp internal corners.Add tool-radius corners.
Cost
What it costs
Prismatic parts; priced by machine time and setups. Fewer setups and looser tolerance drop the price fast.
PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for your part at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$57 to 160per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
GET THE FULL DOSSIER
Everything you need to quote and source it
The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on this process and buy it well:
Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
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CNC milling removes material from a fixed blank with a rotating cutter moving on several axes, carving complex features to tight tolerance. The typical route is: Fixture; Rough; Finish; Deburr; Inspect. Precision prototypes and low to medium-volume parts of almost any shape and material.
What does CNC Milling cost per part?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $57 to 160 per part at low volume and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. Model estimates, not quotes.
What tolerance can CNC Milling hold?
Typically about +/-0.025 mm, tighter with extra finishing operations at higher cost.
What materials suit CNC Milling?
Common choices are Aluminium 6061/7075 (Fast to cut, strong); Steel 1045/4140 (Strong); Stainless 304/316 (Corrosion, slower cut).
See the exact route and should-cost for your part
The free finder maps your part to its process and full route. Pro adds should-cost at your volume, sourcing and an RFQ draft.
