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Get an instant CNC quote All uploads are secure and confidentialProtolabs Network uses state-of-the-art technology to bring custom CNC machining online. We work with a large network of manufacturing partners that together have over 1,600 milling and turning machines, which means we always have capacity and very competitive prices. It also means we can produce both complex prototypes and low-volume production runs of precision machined parts, in a broad range of metals and plastics and with many surfaces finishes too. It’s like having an entire supply chain team for free.
For cost-efficient prototypes and production
3-, 4- & 5-axis milling
Lead times from 5 business days
Lathes and live tooling ideal for cylindrical parts
60+ metals & plastics, including 10+ aluminum & 20+ steel
Lead times from 5 business days
CNC machining is the most common subtractive manufacturing technology and a hugely flexible and robust method for producing custom metal and plastic parts. Converting 3D models into G-code, CNC machines remove material from a solid block with various cutting tools. The most popular type of CNC machining is CNC milling, which combines the same computer numerical control (CNC) with a multi-point cutting tool or milling cutter to produce parts with tight tolerances and impressive mechanical and material properties. CNC milling, available in 3-, 4- and 5-axis machines, involves mounting a workpiece to a machine bed and letting automated tools do the rest. It’s ideal for complex design, being one of the most accurate manufacturing techniques on the market. Engineers turn to CNC milling for a huge range of applications, including parts for the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics and medical technology industries, as well as prototypes and models. While 3D printing offers more design freedom, CNC machining outclasses most additive technologies for low- to medium-volume production, especially with the material range including aluminum, bronze, copper, steel and other engineering metals and polymers.
CNC turning is another popular type of CNC machining, which uses state-of-the-art lathes and turning centers to produce complex, robust custom metal and plastic parts. Using CNC lathes and turning centers, our manufacturing partners can provide cost-efficient parts with simpler geometries. Live tooling is available for more complex geometries and is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Experienced operators use CNC turning machines for operations including parting, boring, facing, drilling, grooving and knurling, in contrast to how CNC milling machines are used. In general, CNC turning is a more affordable alternative to CNC milling and can outspeed milling in cases where the cutting tool’s range of motion is a mitigating factor. It’s important to note that CNC turning isn’t optimal for material conversation, but this is often a necessary trade-in for speed and price. Thanks to the high speed of turning tools, parts will have a lower roughness than milled components.
CNC machining is an ideal process for producing custom parts with tight tolerances and high levels of precision. The only potential downside is that CNC parts often require post-processing to erase tool marks and improve their surface finishes for cosmetic and functional purposes. Applying the right surface finishes can improve your part’s surface roughness, cosmetic and visual properties, wear and corrosion resistance and a lot more. Protolabs Network offers a wide range of surface finishing options, including smooth and fine machining, anodizing, polishing, bead blasting, brushing, black oxide, chromate conversion coating, electroless nickel plating and powder coating, as well as many other more specialized post-processing methods for niche industry applications. Every surface finish has its advantages and drawbacks, so choosing the right one depends on several factors. It’s important to evaluate how your part will be used and in what kind of environment to make the best determination. You can choose from a variety of surface finishes in Protolabs Network's quote builder and contact networksales@protolabs.com for more information.
Here’s a small selection of the CNC machined prototypes and end-use parts we’ve produced for our customers.
We can instantly quote a wide variety of post-machining surface finishes.
As machined
(Ra 3.2μm / Ra 126μin)
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Smooth machining
(Ra 1.6μm / Ra 63μin)
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Fine machining
(Ra 0.8μm / Ra 32μin)
See details
Polishing
(Ra 0.8μm / Ra 32μin)
See details
Brushed
(Ra 1.2μm / Ra 47μin)
See details
Bead blasted
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Powder coated
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Black oxide
See details
Electroless Nickel Plating
See details
Bead Blasted + Chromate Conversion Coating
See details
Bead Blasted + Anodized type III
(Hardcoat)
See details
Bead Blasted + Anodized type II
(Glossy)
See details
As machined + Anodized type II
See details
Brushed + Anodized type II
(Glossy)
See details
Bead blasted + Anodized type II
(Matte)
See details
As machined + Anodized type III
(Hardcoat)
See details
Instead of traditional, rules-based quoting, we use machine learning algorithms to compare your CAD to millions of previously manufactured parts and generate a quote instantly.
Upload a CAD to start (STEP, STP, IGES, IGS, SLDPRT, 3DM, SAT, STL, OBJ or X_T)
Price updates in real-time as you change materials, lead time, etc..
No hidden costs. Our instant quotes are not just indications, but the actual price, and include shipping and customs up front.
We can generate instant machining quotes for 50+ metals and plastics.
Aluminum 7075-T7351 | 3.4365 | 76528 | AlZn5.5MgCu Aluminum 6061-T651 | 3.3211 | 65028 | AlMg1SiCu Aluminum 7075-T651 | 3.4365 | 76528 | AlZn5.5MgCu Aluminum 6082-T651 | 3.2315 | 64430 | AlSi1MgMn Aluminum 6060 | 3.3206 | AlMgSi Aluminum 5052 | EN AW-5052 | 3.3523 | AlMg2,5 Aluminum 2017A | 3.1325 | 24530 | AlCu4MgSi Aluminum 2014 | 3.1255 | 24345 | AlCu4SiMg Aluminum 6063 | EN AW-6063 | 62400| AlMg0,7Si Aluminum 7050 | EN AW-7050 | 3.4144| AlZn6CuMgZr Aluminum 2024-T351 | 3.1355 | 24530 | AlCu4Mg1 Aluminum MIC6 Aluminum 7075-T6 | 3.4365 | 76528 | AlZn5,5MgCu Aluminum 5083-H111 | 3.3547 | 54300| AlMg4.5Mn0.7 Aluminum 6082 | 3.2315 | 64430| AlSi1MgMn Aluminum 6061-T6 | 3.3211| 65028| AlMg1SiCu Show all alloys
Stainless steel 416 | 1.4005 | X12CrS13 Stainless steel 15-5 | 1.4545 | X5CrNiCu15-5 Stainless steel 301 | 1.4310 | X10CrNi18-8 Stainless steel 430 | 1.4016 | X6Cr17 Stainless steel 440C | 1.4125 | X105CrMo17 Stainless steel 420 | 1.4028 | X30Cr13 Stainless steel 304/304L | 1.4301/1.4307 | X5CrNi18-10/X2CrNi18-9 Stainless steel 2205 Duplex | 1.4462 | 2205 | X2CrNiMoN 22-5-3 Stainless Steel 17-4 PH | 1.4542 | X5CrNiCuNb16-4 - Annealed state Stainless steel 303 | 1.4305 | X8CrNiS18-9 Stainless steel 316/316L | 1.4401/1.4404 | X5CrNiMo17-12-2/X2CrNiMo17-12-2 Show all alloys
Mild steel S275JR | 1.0044 | Fe430B | IS2062 Mild Steel S235JR | 1.0038 | Fe 360 B Carbon steel C45 | 1.0503 | 1045 | EN8 Mild steel S355J2 | 1.0577 | 1522H | Fe 510 D Mild steel 1045 | 1.0503 | C45 | EN8 Mild steel A36 | 1.025 | Fe 410 Mild steel 1018 | 1.1147 | C18 |16Mn Show all alloys
Brass Cz121 | C38500 | 2.0401 | CuZn39Pb3 Brass C360 | 2.0375 | CuZn36Pb3 | 319 grade 2
Copper C101 | CU OFE Copper C110 | CU ETP
Alloy steel 1.7131 | 16MnCr5 Alloy steel 1215 | EN1A | 1.0715 Alloy steel 4340 | 1.6511 | 36CrNiMo4 | EN24 Alloy steel 4140 | 1.7225 | EN19 | 42CrMo4
Tool steel A3 - Annealed state Tool steel H13 | 1.2344 | X40CrMoV5-1 - Annealed state Tool steel S7 | 1.2355 | 50CrMoV13-15 - Annealed state Tool steel O1 | 1.2510 | 100MnCrW4 - Annealed state Tool steel A2 | 1.2363 | X100CrMoV5-1- Annealed state Tool steel D2 | 1.2379 | X153CrMoV12-1 - Annealed state Show all alloys
Titanium Grade 5 | 3.7164 | Ti6Al4V Titanium Grade 2 | 3.7035 Titanium Grade 1 | 3.7025
Inconel 718
Invar
“high service and support quality. nice”
“Good and fast communication. Prompt quotion. Parts (milled) were made and delivered in 10 days after ordering. Excellent Quality.”
“Great”
“Great experience . Great work.”
“Great”
“amazing”
“Excellent dialog, excellent work”
“Looks great and the price was good”
“Everything looks good”
“Quick and to specifications with a vast choice of material to choose from and many file formats supported.”
“The service was done at a good quality with a reasonable price. Fast delivery as expected”
“Fast service at a resonable price”
“good quality and excellent delivery time”
“good quality, as expected.”
“Parts were made at a reasonable cost and arrived on time.”
“All parts arrived on time and were accurate to the drawings and 3D files provided. Very impressed with the service”
“Looks very nice, all measurements are correct”
“The quality and the precision of the parts are surprisingly fine”
“Easy to use, quick service and the fabrication within the tolerance”
“Very quick y within the tolerances.”
“Brilliant”
“After fighting for years with local providers, the network has been my salvation. Parts are of high quality.”
“It was well made and within the actual tolerances. I would definitely order again.”
“Exactly what was ordered. Great finish on the product aswell.”
“The parts we ordered were simple but in any case the finishing was good. We will order more complex parts in the future.”
Protolabs Network guarantees the quality of every part we manufacture. Along with thoroughly vetting the manufacturing partners we work with, every order is dimensionally and visually inspected according to The Protolabs Network Standard. Globally manufactured orders also undergo a second inspection at our cross-docks in Amsterdam and Chicago when necessary.
We use a rigorous set of protocols and procedures to maintain quality
Learn more
Our platform accelerates prototyping development cycles by reducing pre-production admin from weeks to minutes:
Instant quotes
Instant DFM feedback
Online quote and order management
Live delivery tracking
Our intuitive platform automates the ordering process, but if you ever need us, we're here to help.
For production orders, we have full-service teams ready to guarantee identical specs on every order for the best unit price:
Dedicated project managers in your time zone
Application engineers for DFM cost optimizations
First Article Inspection (FAI)
Manufacturing is about relationships, so we have staff on the ground wherever you are to help make sure everything runs smoothly and on time, every time.
We offer you the capacity and capabilities of dozens of local and global machine shops, with the ease of dealing with one. You get the experience and specialization of all our partner shops, we handle all the communications, delivery, quality control and customs.
Protolabs and its network work together to bring you the world's most comprehensive manufacturing solution. While the network can provide a large breadth of capabilities, Protolabs’ factories offer expedited manufacturing with automated in-house machines for the industry's fastest lead times.
Get quick-turn parts with Protolabs
As part of Protolabs’ global services, we are your comprehensive manufacturing solution from prototype to production. Here’s how we differ from traditional machine shops:
We have an incredibly broad range of capabilities–much more than most individual shops.
In most cases our quotes are instant. Request as many quotes as you like to find the best solution for your project.
There is no minimum order quantity.
We can scale with you from quick-turn prototypes with 1-day lead times to millions of production parts with volume pricing.
We leverage a global network to guarantee competitive pricing on every order.
We machine custom parts for customers in multiple industries: aerospace, automotive, defense, electronics, hardware startups, industrial automation, machinery, manufacturing, medical devices, oil & gas and robotics.
Protolabs Network combines its instant quoting tool and a global network of CNC machining centers to manufacture custom parts for applications ranging from rapid prototyping to serial production. You can use Protolabs Network's digital manufacturing platform to source high quality, complex metal and plastic parts efficiently and reliably.
To start sourcing CNC-machined parts with Protolabs Network, simply upload a CAD file and technical drawing to our free quote building tool. You’ll either receive an instant CNC quote and be able to start production in only a few clicks, or you’ll be directed to one of our engineers for potential design for manufacturability (DFM) guidance.
CNC machining is the most common subtractive manufacturing technology available today and an optimal method for producing custom metal and plastic parts for prototyping and production applications. Using CAD (computer-aided design) modeling software and G-code, CNC milling and CNC turning machines remove material from a solid workpiece with precision and speed.
CNC machines manufacture robust parts with tight tolerances and a range of impressive material properties (mechanical and chemical). Our custom CNC machining service is ideal for one-off jobs and low-to-medium volume production, thanks to automation and high repeatability.
Protolabs Network connects you with experienced manufacturing partners operating 2-, 3-, and 5-axis CNC machines. Our machinists work with a huge range of materials, including aluminum, stainless steel, mild, alloy & tool steels and production-grade polymers. We also offer many different surface finishing options such as anodizing, electroless nickel plating, powder coating and custom part marking with laser engraving and silk screening. For certain types of parts, you can also request rapid machining to get your parts manufactured in as few as five days.
We guarantee that our manufacturing partners follow ISO 2768 standards for all CNC machined parts. Parts machined with metal will follow ISO 2768-m (medium) or ISO 2768-f (fine). Parts machined with plastics will follow 2768-m (medium). Geometric tolerances down to ± 0004 in. (0.010 mm) are possible but must be clearly indicated in technical drawings. We can achieve tighter tolerances on shafts with up to H7 fits with manual quoting and on occasion tighter.
Read more about our standards for tolerances here
At Protolabs Network we offer CNC milling (3-axis, 3+2-axis and 5-axis) and turning. Milled parts can be machined up to 2000 x 1500 x 200 mm (78.7 x 59.0 x 7.8 in.) for 3/3+2 axis CNC milling. For 5-axis milling, the maximum part size is 650 x 650 x 300 mm (25.5 x 25.5 x 11.8 in.). The maximum diameter for CNC turning is 431mm (17 in.), length 990 mm (39 in). Minimum part dimensions recommended are around 0.39 x 0.39 x 0.39 in. (10 x 10 x 10mm).The minimum for feature dimensions is 0.5 mm.
We are limited to a 1000 mm (39 in.) maximum size for parts on our platform. If you need higher dimensions, you can place the request through your account manager.
Deburring and edge breaking are standard procedures for all CNC machined parts. If there are any critical edges that should be left sharp, they must be clearly indicated in technical drawings. Surfaces will be free of defects such as scratches, dents, stains, blemishes, hanging marks, minor defects. Surfaces indicated as critical (primary (a) side, as indicated on the technical drawing) will be free of mill steps and other marks. For the secondary (b) side, minor hanging marks and up to 2 minor defects are acceptable. A number of post-processing and finishing methods can be applied to improve the surface roughness, visual properties and wear resistance of machined parts.
We use machine learning algorithms to calculate the exact cost of any machinable part directly from a CAD file, based on millions of CNC machining orders we’ve previously processed. No more waiting for technicians to get back to you via email, we can generate an exact quote for you instantly (well, in about 5 seconds).
This means you always know the price up front. Simply upload a CAD file to generate a quote: get an instant CNC machining quote. Our quotes are completely free, you only need to create an account so we can protect your IP.
It’s so easy to use that we encourage mechanical engineers to use it constantly as they optimize their designs for cost. Whenever you’ve made a new design iteration, simply load both the old and the new design into our quoting tool and see if the price is different.
This technology means our manufacturing partners also don’t need to do their own machining quotes, which means less overhead for them. This makes the whole process less expensive, which translates into lower prices for our customers.
The main costs associated with CNC machining can be grouped into machining time, start-up costs, material costs, and feature costs. To reduce costs you need to understand the impact of these factors on cost.
The best way to reduce machining time is to design features that can be machined quickly, for example by choosing the correct radii for internal corners, reducing cavity depth, increasing wall thicknesses, limiting thread length and designing holes with standard sizes.
Material costs can be reduced by considering the size of the blank required, and the cost and machinability of the bulk material (softer alloys are faster to machine).
Start-up costs can be reduced by reducing the number part rotations or repositioning required to finish the part, for example by separating geometries into multiple parts that can be assembled later.
Feature costs can be reduced by only using tolerances when strictly necessary, removing all text & lettering, and avoiding multiple surface finishes.
These tips can be read in more detail in our full guide to reducing the cost of CNC machined parts.
We use algorithms to identify the best manufacturer in our network for your specific order, based on their proximity to you, their experience with similar parts and their available capacity right now. This allows us to balance our customers’ demands for speed, cost and quality better than ever before.
Protolabs Network was started by mechanical engineers and we have many more engineers and technicians in our team. Together we’ve written a lot of content on CNC machining over the years. You can find a selection of resources below, or you can head to our knowledge hub and filter on CNC machining to read case studies, in-depth design guidelines and explanations of different surface finishes.
We’ve also written a complete engineering guide to CNC machining. Here you can learn about how the many different kinds of mills and lathes work and the different materials available, so you can easily compare their benefits & limitations. You’ll also learn the basic design rules for machining and the most common applications of each material and surface finish, so you can make the right choices every time.
Customers in the US and EU can choose local or global manufacturing for CNC machined parts. Local orders are manufactured within your customs-clearance zones, allowing for shorter lead times (from 5 days) and faster delivery as there’s no need for shipments to clear customs. Global orders generally result in longer lead times at a lower price. The best option depends on the timeline and requirements of your project.
Learn about how the many different kinds of CNC machines work, the materials available, the benefits & limitations, basic design rules and the most common applications.
Read article
What is CNC machining and how does it work? Learn the basic principles and fundamental mechanics, as well as the key benefits and limitations, of this subtractive manufacturing process.
Read article
In this complete guide to designing for CNC machining, we've compiled basic & advanced design practices and tips to help you achieve the best results for your custom parts.
Read article
Make the most of CNC machining by optimizing your design and making the right material choices. Read these 14 design tips to help you reduce CNC-machining costs and create the perfect parts for your project.
Read article
How do you prepare technical drawings for CNC machining and why are they important? Technical drawings are widely used in manufacturing to improve the communication of technical requirements between the designer and engineer and the manufacturer.
Read article
This comprehensive guide compares the 25 most common materials used in CNC machining and helps you choose the right one for your application.
Read article
What surface finishes are available for CNC machining? You can apply post-processing and surface finishes to improve the surface roughness, cosmetic properties and wear resistance of metal parts. Learn about the most common ways to finish CNC machined parts, and how to select the best methods for your applications.
Read article
What are the different types of heat treatment and how do they affect CNC-machined parts? This article explores how heat treatments can be applied to many metal alloys to drastically improve key physical properties like hardness, strength and machinability.
Read article
Is 3D printing or CNC machining better for your custom part applications? Learn the practical differences between CNC machining and 3D printing and how to select the right technology for manufacturing prototypes, end-use parts and everything in between.
Read article
Learn about how the many different kinds of CNC machines work, the materials available, the benefits & limitations, basic design rules and the most common applications.
Read article
What is CNC machining and how does it work? Learn the basic principles and fundamental mechanics, as well as the key benefits and limitations, of this subtractive manufacturing process.
Read article
In this complete guide to designing for CNC machining, we've compiled basic & advanced design practices and tips to help you achieve the best results for your custom parts.
Read article
Make the most of CNC machining by optimizing your design and making the right material choices. Read these 14 design tips to help you reduce CNC-machining costs and create the perfect parts for your project.
Read article
How do you prepare technical drawings for CNC machining and why are they important? Technical drawings are widely used in manufacturing to improve the communication of technical requirements between the designer and engineer and the manufacturer.
Read article
This comprehensive guide compares the 25 most common materials used in CNC machining and helps you choose the right one for your application.
Read article
What surface finishes are available for CNC machining? You can apply post-processing and surface finishes to improve the surface roughness, cosmetic properties and wear resistance of metal parts. Learn about the most common ways to finish CNC machined parts, and how to select the best methods for your applications.
Read article
What are the different types of heat treatment and how do they affect CNC-machined parts? This article explores how heat treatments can be applied to many metal alloys to drastically improve key physical properties like hardness, strength and machinability.
Read article
Is 3D printing or CNC machining better for your custom part applications? Learn the practical differences between CNC machining and 3D printing and how to select the right technology for manufacturing prototypes, end-use parts and everything in between.
Read article
FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF
25+ plastics & 35+ colors
±0.5% dimensional accuracy with a lower limit down to ±0.0059 in (0.15 mm)
Lead times from 1 business day
Laser cutting, bending, post-processing
Tolerances down to ±.004 in (0.1 mm)
Lead times from 5 business days
Prototypes and production tooling
Wide range of part complexities and sizes
1 to 1M parts
Put your CNC parts into production today
Get an instant CNC machining quote
