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CNC machining guides
Practical articles for engineers, buyers, and product teams — on materials, tolerances, design for manufacturability, and getting parts made right the first time.
Guides · 3 min read
What Is CNC Machining? A Practical Guide for Buyers
How CNC machining works, what it is good at, where it is not the right choice, and what to expect when you order machined parts for the first time.
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Guides · 2 min read
How to Prepare Drawings and CAD Files for a CNC Machining Quote
Which file formats to send, what to put on the drawing, and the details that get you an accurate quote faster, even if all you have is a sketch.
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Design Tips · 2 min read
Design for Manufacturability: 10 Ways to Reduce CNC Machining Cost
Small design choices have a big effect on machining time. These ten practical tips help you get the same function for less money and a shorter lead time.
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Quality · 2 min read
Understanding Tolerances: How Tight Do Your Parts Really Need to Be?
Tolerances tell the machinist how much variation is acceptable. Specify them well and you get parts that fit at a sensible price; over-specify them and costs climb fast.
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Guides · 2 min read
CNC Milling vs CNC Turning: Which Process Does Your Part Need?
Milling and turning are the two workhorses of CNC machining. Here is how they differ, which shapes suit each one, and why some parts need both.
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Materials · 2 min read
Choosing the Right Metal for CNC Machined Parts
A practical comparison of aluminium, mild steel, stainless steel, tool steel, brass, copper and titanium: where each one fits and what it means for machining cost.
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Materials · 2 min read
Machining Engineering Plastics: Delrin, Nylon, PTFE, UHMW and Polycarbonate
Machined plastic parts can replace metal in many applications. Here is how the common engineering plastics compare and what to consider when designing with them.
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Guides · 2 min read
3-Axis, 4-Axis and 5-Axis CNC Machining Explained
What the number of axes really means, which parts each machine type suits, and why a well-planned 3-axis job is often all you need.
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Guides · 2 min read
From Prototype to Production: Scaling a Machined Part
How to move a part from a first prototype to repeatable batches: what to validate, what to lock down, and how costs change as quantities grow.
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Guides · 2 min read
Fixtures and Jigs: Why Good Workholding Matters
Fixtures and jigs turn a part you can make once into a part you can make a thousand times. Here is what they are, how they differ, and when they pay for themselves.
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Materials · 2 min read
Surface Finishes for CNC Machined Parts
From as-machined to anodising, plating and blackening: what each common finish does, which materials it suits, and how to specify it on your drawing.
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Guides · 2 min read
Reverse Engineering a Replacement Part Without a Drawing
When a machine part breaks and no drawing exists, it can still be measured and remade. Here is how the process works and how to get the best result.
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