We machine 6061-T6 parts from one prototype to 10,000+ runs. 16 simultaneous 5-axis centers, ±0.005 mm tolerance, anodizing and plating in house.
Each one costs time, money, or a scrapped lot.
6061-T6 is stress-relieved but not immune to cutting load. A 2 mm wall held in a hard vise can spring 0.05 mm once released. We plan clamping and roughing passes before the finish cut, so the part sits flat on the granite after unclamping.
Type II anodizing adds 5–10 μm per surface and shows every scratch. If the finish is specified as Ra 0.8–1.6 μm but parts leave the mill at Ra 3.2 μm, the dye looks blotchy. We machine to the finish the anodizer needs, not to the print minimum.
Prototypes made on a 3-axis mill are often re-CAMed for production. Hole positions shift, and the first article no longer matches the approved sample. We keep the same setup and fixture from prototype through the production run.
A wrong tool or feed on an 800-piece run wastes material and weeks. We cut one part, inspect it, and send the measurement report before the rest of the lot is released.
Setup, cutting data, and inspection planned around one alloy.
6061-T6 cuts fast, which makes it easy to remove metal and hard to hold position. Every extra setup adds a datum shift. Our 16 simultaneous 5-axis centers and 16 mill-turn centers cut pockets, angles, and bores in one clamping, so the feature positions come from one coordinate system.
Mill-turn work covers Ø400 mm rotary parts and shafts that need both turning and cross-drilling. A valve body with ports on four faces runs as one program, not four.
6061-T6 has a yield strength around 275 MPa, roughly triple that of 6061-O. Tools wear differently and chatter starts earlier on deep ribs. We pick carbide geometry, spindle speed, and depth of cut per feature instead of running one recipe across the part.
For surfaces that will be anodized or used as sealing faces, we leave stock for a finishing pass at Ra 0.8–1.6 μm, and go to Ra 0.2–0.8 μm when a bore or face needs it. Fine measurement happens on a CMM with reports on request.
Pick by strength, finish, and cost, not by habit.
| Alloy | Typical use | What changes on the shop floor |
|---|---|---|
| 6061-T6 | Brackets, housings, fixtures, heat sinks | Machines cleanly; anodizes evenly |
| 7075-T6 | Aerospace structures, high-load fittings | Higher strength; tool wear up, finish harder |
| 2024-T4 | Aircraft skins, fatigue-loaded parts | Poor corrosion resistance; needs coating |
| 6082-T6 | Structural frames, European drawings | Similar to 6061; slightly higher strength |
| 5052-H32 | Panels, enclosures, formed parts | Not for tight-tolerance machining |
| ADC12 | Die-cast housings | Cast, not machined from plate |
Machining is the core. These are the steps that follow or feed it.
Simultaneous 5-axis for impellers, angled ports, and parts with features on five faces. One setup keeps datums tight.
3-axis and 4-axis milling plus mill-turn for shafts, bushings, and housings that need both operations.
Machined prototypes in days so you can test fit and function before tooling or a production run.
Anodizing (clear, color, hardcoat, conductive), bead blasting, brushing, polishing, laser marking.
Enclosures and chassis in 5052 and 6061 sheet, matched to machined inserts and brackets.
CMM checks, first article reports, and material certificates on request with every shipment.
Sizes are work envelopes, not part limits.
| Machine type | Work envelope | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Large 3-axis | 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm | Extrusions, rails, long plates |
| Medium 5-axis | 750 × 1,150 × 550 mm | Housings with angled faces |
| Compact 5-axis | 500 × 500 × 450 mm | Small complex parts, batches |
| Mill-turn | Ø400 mm rotary table | Shafts with cross features |
| 3-axis (27 units) | 500 × 310 × 200 mm | Plates, covers, simple pockets |
15 years on aluminum and stainless parts, with 3 wholly-owned plants and 7,600 m² of floor space in Dongguan and Singapore.
16 simultaneous 5-axis centers, 12 four-axis mills, 27 three-axis machines, and 16 mill-turn centers. Capacity is in-house, not brokered.
Programmers, machinists, and quality staff work from the same drawing revision and the same inspection plan.
±0.0002 in on critical features, with Ra 0.2–0.8 μm available where a surface has to seal or slide.
100% inspection before shipment: incoming material check, in-process monitoring, final inspection with reports on request.
Send a STEP file and get a quotation plus a free DFM analysis within 12 hours. Production can start within 24 hours after approval.
Machined frames and heat-sink plates kept flat through anodizing.
Robot and fixture brackets with cross-drilled bores on one datum.
Prototype to 10,000+ runs without re-qualifying the fixture.
EMI-shielded enclosures with conductive anodizing and laser marks.
Use it when you need good strength, easy machining, and a clean anodized finish. It is the default for brackets, housings, fixtures, and heat sinks.
Choose 7075-T6 instead when the part carries high load or sees fatigue, and 2024-T4 when fatigue life matters more than corrosion resistance. For welded frames, 6061-T6 loses strength in the heat-affected zone, so design the joint for the as-welded condition.
±0.005 mm ( ±0.0002 in ) on critical features under normal production conditions. That depends on feature size, wall thickness, and how many setups the part needs.
Tighter values are possible on specific bores and faces. Send the drawing and we will say which callouts are realistic and which ones drive cost without adding function.
Type II anodizing builds roughly 5–10 μm per surface, so a Ø10 mm pin grows by about 0.01–0.02 mm on diameter. Type III hardcoat builds more.
For mating threads and press fits, mask the feature or machine it undersize before coating. Tell us the fit class and we will adjust the pre-plate dimensions.
Yes, with the right sequence. We rough with extra stock, let the part relax, then finish with light radial cuts to control deflection.
Walls below about 0.8 mm get risky over long spans. If your design needs them, expect more inspection and possibly a support fixture.
A STEP or IGES file, a PDF drawing with tolerances and finishes, the quantity, and any surface treatment notes. Material callout helps but we can suggest one.
Quotation and a free DFM analysis come back within 12 hours. If a feature is hard to machine or a tolerance is tighter than it needs to be, the report says so.
No. We run from one prototype to 10,000+ part runs. The first article is inspected before the rest of the lot is released.
For repeat orders we keep the program, fixture, and inspection plan on file, so the second run starts from the approved setup.
Uploads are secure and confidential, and we sign an NDA on request before reviewing files. Access is limited to the engineers and machinists on your job.
We do not put customer names, logos, or part photos in public materials.
Quotation and DFM within 12 hours, production start within 24 hours after approval, and parts shipping in 3–5 days for most jobs.
That assumes material is in stock and the drawing is released. Historical late-delivery probability is below 2%, but we quote dates per job rather than promising a blanket turnaround.
Upload a STEP file and get a quotation plus free DFM analysis within 12 hours. No minimum order quantity, 100% inspection before shipment.
12-hour quoteNo MOQ100% inspectionNDA on request
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Upload your 3D model or 2D drawing and get a quotation with a free DFM analysis. Maximum processing size 4,000 mm.
CNC Metals 13 grades
CNC Plastics 10 grades
Machines & processes 12 options
Surface & post-processing 10 options
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