01
The quote comes back with a tolerance you cannot meet
A part modeled at ±0.05 mm gets priced as if it were ±0.005 mm, or the reverse. Either way, the first article fails inspection and the release schedule slips while the shop re-quotes.
CNC Basics
CNC Meaning: What It Actually Means for Your Part
CNC stands for computer numerical control: a program reads coordinates and spins a cutting tool to remove material. That is the short answer. The useful answer is what it changes for your design, tolerance and order size.
16 simultaneous 5-axis centers±0.005 mm toleranceFrom one prototype upwardQuote within 12 hours
127High-precision CNC machines
16Simultaneous 5-axis centers
4,000 mmMaximum processing size
99.99%Qualification rate
Common Problems
Where CNC Programs Go Wrong Before Metal Moves
Most CNC problems start on the drawing and the order, not on the machine.
02
A feature looks fine in CAD but cannot be reached
Deep pockets, undercut walls and sharp internal corners force long, thin tools that deflect. The drawing says Ra 0.8 μm. The cutter chatter says otherwise, and the part is scrapped at final inspection.
03
Setup count drives cost more than cycle time
A part designed for one orientation gets machined in five. Each additional setup adds fixture time, re-datum risk and stack-up error. The price climbs before the spindle ever starts.
04
The order is too small, or too late, for the process
Prototype quantities get pushed toward tooling that needs weeks of lead time. Production quantities get quoted on a prototype route. Matching order size to process is half the job.
How We Work
CNC Meaning in Practice: Program, Fixture, Cut, Measure
Four steps, and every one of them is documented before the part ships.
Step 1
From CAD model to G-code in one review loop
A CAM programmer reads your STEP file, sets the work coordinate system, and chooses tool paths based on the geometry, not on habit. Feeds and speeds follow the material: 6061-T6 cuts differently from 17-4PH, and both cut differently from PEEK.
We run a DFM check before programming starts. If a corner radius is too small for the tool that can reach it, or a wall is thin enough to sing, we flag it and propose a change. That conversation costs an hour. A scrapped batch costs a week.
- 1Material-specific feeds and speedsAluminum, stainless, titanium, Inconel and engineering plastics each get their own cutting parameters.
- 2DFM feedback within 12 hoursTolerance, tool reach and datum strategy are reviewed before the first cut.
- 3Simulation before spindle timeTool holder and fixture collisions are checked in software, not discovered on the machine.
Step 2
Fixtures and 5-axis setups that hold the datum
A 3-axis machine needs the part repositioned for every face. A simultaneous 5-axis center tilts the tool and the table together, so five faces can be cut in one setup. Fewer setups means less stack-up error and a datum that does not move.
We hold ±0.005 mm on features that matter and ±0.0002 in when your drawing is in inches. For large parts, the working envelope reaches 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm. A Ø400 mm rotary table handles round and prismatic work that would otherwise need a second fixture.
- 1One setup, five faces16 simultaneous 5-axis centers cut compound angles and contoured surfaces without re-datuming.
- 2Tolerance to ±0.005 mmHeld on critical features and verified with in-process monitoring, not assumed.
- 3Large and small envelopesFrom 500 × 310 × 200 mm compact work up to 4,000 mm long parts.
Selection Guide
Which CNC Route Fits Your Part
Match the geometry and the quantity to the process before you commit to a quote.
| Part situation | Recommended route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Prismatic part, 3 visible faces, tight tolerance | 3-axis CNC milling | Simplest setup, lowest cost per part at moderate volume |
| Cylindrical features plus milled flats | Mill-turn center | Turning and milling in one setup, no second datum |
| Compound angles, deep contoured pockets | 5-axis simultaneous machining | Tool reaches in one orientation; fewer setups, less stack-up |
| Rotational part, no off-axis features | CNC turning | Fast cycle, good roundness, low tool cost |
| Large frame or plate, 4,000 mm class | 3-axis or 5-axis on large travel | Envelope up to 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm |
| One prototype, geometry still moving | 3-axis or 5-axis milling | No tooling cost, design changes absorbed between runs |
Capabilities
What We Machine, and What We Machine It On
Six routes, one shop floor, one quality system.
01
5 Axis CNC Machining
Simultaneous 5-axis centers for contoured surfaces, compound angles and parts that would otherwise need three or four fixtures. One setup protects the datum.
02
4 Axis and 3 Axis Machining
Twelve four-axis mills and twenty-seven three-axis machines for prismatic work, plates, housings and brackets where a simpler setup is the cheaper answer.
03
CNC Milling & Turning
Sixteen mill-turn centers combine turning and milling so cylindrical parts with cross features come off one machine without a second datum.
04
Rapid Prototyping
Machined prototypes from one piece upward. Useful when you need the real material and the real tolerance before committing to a production route.
05
Sheet Metal and Die Casting
Fabricated enclosures and cast housings for programs where material removal is not the cheapest path. We machine the critical faces after forming or casting.
06
Surface Finishing
Anodizing, plating, powder coating, bead blasting and laser marking, applied after machining and checked against the same drawing.
Specifications
Machining Envelope, Tolerance and Materials
Numbers you can quote against.
| Parameter | Capability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General tolerance | ±0.005 mm ( ±0.0002 in ) | Held on critical features; verified before shipment |
| Surface finish | Ra 0.2–0.8 μm fine, Ra 0.8–1.6 μm high | As-machined Ra 1.6–3.2 μm when finish is not critical |
| Maximum part size | 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm | Large travel machines for long frames and plates |
| Rotary capacity | Ø400 mm rotary table | Round and prismatic work in one setup |
| Aluminum | 6061, 6061-T6, 2024, 5052, 5083, 6063, 6082, 7075, ADC12 | ADC12 for die-cast housings, then machined |
| Stainless and steel | 303, 304, 316L, 17-4PH, 4140, 4340, tool steel | Material certs available on request |
| Titanium and special | TC4 ( Ti-6Al-4V ), Inconel, magnesium AZ31B / AZ91D | Cutting parameters adjusted for heat and chip control |
| Plastics | ABS, PC, POM, PA, PEEK, PP, HDPE, carbon fibre | PEEK and carbon fibre need sharp tooling and controlled feed |
Why GreatLight
What You Get Beyond a Machine Tool
Six things that decide whether a CNC order arrives right.
15Y
Machining since 2011
Fifteen years on the same shop floor in Dongguan, with a Singapore factory for programs that need a second location.
±0.005
Millimeters, held and checked
Tolerance is measured with in-process monitoring and final inspection, not assumed from the program.
12h
Quote and DFM turnaround
A quotation and a free DFM analysis come back within 12 hours of upload. Production can start within 24 hours.
100%
Inspection before shipment
Raw material check, in-process monitoring and final inspection on every order. Reports on request.
4
Quality systems in place
ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 27001:2022 cover quality, automotive, medical and information security.
0
Minimum order quantity
Order from one prototype to a 10,000+ part run. The process route changes with volume, not the paperwork.
7,600 m²Manufacturing space across 3 plants
150Technicians on the shop floor
3–5 daysTypical shipping after production
<2%Historical late-delivery probability
Industry Fit
What These Industries Require, and How We Machine It
Robotics & Automation
Joint housings and end-effector plates need tight bore alignment across several faces. Simultaneous 5-axis work cuts them in one setup.
- ±0.005 mm
- One-setup 5-axis
- 100% inspection
Aerospace & New Energy
Brackets and busbar components mix thin walls with large envelopes. We machine up to 4,000 mm and control deflection with support fixtures.
- 4,000 mm envelope
- Thin-wall fixtures
- Material certs
Medical Devices
Instrument bodies and fixture plates need clean surfaces and traceable inspection. ISO 13485:2016 covers the quality route from raw stock to final check.
- ISO 13485:2016
- Ra 0.8–1.6 μm
- Reports on request
Automotive & EV
Housings and mounting plates move from prototype to production without a tooling jump. IATF 16949:2016 governs the automotive quality route.
- IATF 16949:2016
- Prototype to 10,000+
- No tooling cost
FAQs
Questions Engineers Ask About CNC
What does CNC actually stand for, and why does the definition matter?
CNC means computer numerical control. A program holds coordinates and feed rates; the machine reads them and moves a cutting tool along that path.
The definition matters because the program is only as good as the setup and the tool choice behind it. Two shops can run the same file and produce different parts.
Is CNC the same as 3D printing?
No. CNC removes material from a solid block. 3D printing adds material layer by layer.
CNC usually wins when you need the real material, tight tolerances and a machined surface finish. Additive wins for internal channels and lattice geometry that a cutter cannot reach.
What tolerance can you hold, and on what features?
We hold ±0.005 mm ( ±0.0002 in ) on critical features. That is not a blanket tolerance across every surface.
Tolerance is applied where the drawing calls for it. Features that only need clearance are machined to a looser band, which keeps the price down.
When is 5-axis machining worth the extra cost?
When the part has compound angles, contoured pockets or features on four or five faces. One setup replaces three or four, and the datum stays fixed.
If the part is a simple plate with holes on one face, 3-axis milling is cheaper and just as accurate. We will tell you which one your geometry needs.
What order size makes sense for CNC?
Any size, from one piece upward. There is no minimum order quantity, and runs of 10,000+ parts are quoted on the same quality system.
CNC is often the better route below the volume where tooling pays for itself. Above that, casting or molding may cut the piece price.
Can you machine parts from my STEP file only?
Yes. A STEP file plus a drawing or a tolerance callout is enough to start. The DFM check comes back within 12 hours with any geometry or tolerance questions.
If the model is missing critical dimensions or datums, we ask before programming rather than guess after the cut.
How do you handle surface finish requirements?
As-machined surfaces come off in the Ra 1.6–3.2 μm band. Finer work reaches Ra 0.8–1.6 μm, and Ra 0.2–0.8 μm is available where the drawing demands it.
Anodizing, plating, powder coating and bead blasting are applied after machining. Laser marking needs a minimum character height of 1.5 mm to stay legible.
How is my design kept confidential?
Uploads are secure and confidential. An NDA is available on request, and ISO 27001:2022 covers how information is managed.
If your program needs it, we sign before files move and keep the project on a restricted folder.
Send the File. Get a Quote and a DFM Review.
Upload your STEP file and drawing. A quotation and a free DFM analysis come back within 12 hours, with no minimum order quantity and inspection on every part.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo minimum order quantityNDA on request
