01
You keep adding setups to reach the back of the part
Every refixturing step adds stack-up error. On a housing with six faces, four setups can push true position past the tolerance band before the first chip is cut.
5-Axis CNC Machining
Precision 5 Axis CNC Machining Services
Five axes move at once, so a complex part comes off the table in one setup. We hold ±0.005 mm on thin walls and deep pockets, from a single prototype to 10,000+ part runs.
±0.005 mm tolerance16 five-axis centers40+ metal gradesISO 9001 / IATF 16949No MOQ12-hour quote
16Five-axis machining centers
127High-precision CNC machines
99.99%Qualification rate
3–5 daysTypical part shipping
Where 3-axis jobs go wrong
Four problems engineers bring to us
02
The tool cannot reach the pocket floor
Long reach tools chatter. Deep cavities, undercuts and blended radii need the tool tilted into the cut, or the surface finish drops and you spend hours hand polishing.
03
Thin walls move after unclamping
Clamping force distorts a 0.8 mm wall. The part measures good on the machine and out of tolerance on the CMM. Scrap cost lands on the next batch.
04
Your supplier quotes 6 weeks, then slips
Design reviews stall, tooling waits, and the build window closes. A late bracket can hold up an entire assembly line and force expedited freight.
How we machine it
One setup, five axes, fewer places for error to enter
The workholding and the toolpath are planned together, before the first cut.
Setup reduction
Complex geometry finished in one or two setups
A five-axis center rotates the part and tilts the spindle at the same time. Angled faces, compound holes and contoured pockets are cut without pulling the part off the table. Fewer setups means less stack-up error and a shorter route from blank to finished part.
We plan the datums and the fixture before programming. On a typical aluminum housing with features on five sides, we cut it in one setup instead of four, which keeps true position inside ±0.005 mm and removes three chances to misload.
- 1Simultaneous motionAll five axes move in the same cut for contoured surfaces.
- 2Short tool overhangThe table tilts to the tool instead of reaching with a long cutter.
- 3Stable datumsOne reference face carries through the whole operation.
Accuracy control
Tolerances held on the parts that usually move
Thin walls, long bores and tall bosses are where accuracy is lost. We control clamping force, take light finishing passes and check the part relaxed rather than clamped. In-process probing catches drift before a batch runs long.
Materials behave differently. Titanium and Inconel push back with heat and tool wear, so we slow the feed and re-check the cutter. Aluminum 7075 and 6061 cut fast but spring after unclamping. Each material gets its own finishing strategy.
- 1±0.005 mmAchievable tolerance on stable features and good datums.
- 2Ra 0.2–0.8 μmFine finish where sealing faces or bearings demand it.
- 3100% inspectionEvery part checked before it leaves the floor.
Choosing the right route
When five-axis helps, and when it does not
A quick guide to picking the process for your part.
| Part situation | Best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Prismatic block, holes on two faces | 3-axis | Cheaper per part, simple fixturing. |
| Features on four or five faces | 5-axis | One setup beats three or four. |
| Deep pocket, undercut, blended radii | 5-axis | Tool tilts in, shorter reach, less chatter. |
| High volume simple turning part | Mill-turn | Turning cycle is faster than milling. |
| Thin wall, tight flatness | 5-axis, light passes | Fewer clamps and less distortion. |
| Large frame over 2,000 mm | 5-axis, 4,000 mm travel | Fits one machine, no re-setup. |
What we run
Machining and finishing under one roof
01
5-Axis CNC Machining
Simultaneous five-axis milling for complex parts, one setup, tight geometry.
02
4-Axis CNC Machining
Rotary indexing for cylindrical parts with features around the diameter.
03
3-Axis CNC Machining
Cost-effective milling for prismatic parts and simple hole patterns.
04
CNC Milling and Turning
Mill-turn centers for parts that need both turning and milling.
05
Rapid Prototyping
Fast first articles so you can test fit and function early.
06
Surface Finishing
Anodizing, plating, bead blasting and laser marking to spec.
Machine and material range
What fits on our five-axis centers
Pick your part size and material from the table below.
| Item | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Max part size | 4,000 mm | Long frames and rails fit in one setup. |
| Large travel | 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm | Long, shallow parts. |
| Medium travel | 750 × 1,150 × 550 mm | Housings and brackets. |
| Compact travel | 500 × 500 × 450 mm | Small precision components. |
| Rotary table | Ø400 mm | Round parts indexed around the axis. |
| Tolerance | ±0.005 mm (±0.0002 in) | On stable features with good datums. |
| Finish | Ra 0.2–3.2 μm | Depends on material and toolpath. |
| Materials | Aluminum, steel, stainless, titanium, copper, plastics | 40+ grades stocked or sourced. |
Why GreatLight
The numbers behind the work
15Y
Machining since 2011
Fifteen years of precision work, three plants in Dongguan and one in Singapore.
127
CNC machines on the floor
Sixteen five-axis, twelve four-axis, twenty-seven three-axis and sixteen mill-turn centers.
±0.005
Millimeter tolerance
Held on stable features, with in-process probing and relaxed-part checks.
12h
Quote turnaround
Quotation and free DFM analysis within twelve hours of receiving your file.
24h
Production start
Work can begin within a day of drawing approval and material release.
0
Minimum order quantity
One prototype or a 10,000-part run, same process discipline.
7,600 m²Manufacturing space
150Technicians on staff
99.99%Qualification rate
<2%Historical late-delivery rate
Industries and parts
What this process is asked to deliver
Medical device housings
Smooth radii and sealed faces, no hand polishing marks.
- Ra 0.2–0.8 μm
- ISO 13485
- 100% inspection
Polymer fluid manifolds
Deep channels and ports cut without chatter or burrs.
- HDPE / PEEK
- ±0.005 mm
- Deburred
Automotive brackets
Angled faces and compound holes in one setup.
- IATF 16949
- 3–5 day ship
- No MOQ
Robotics joint bodies
Concentric bores held across a long, thin body.
- 7075-T6
- Ø400 mm table
- First-article report
FAQs
Questions engineers ask before quoting
What part geometry actually needs five-axis?
If three or more faces carry toleranced features, or the tool cannot reach a pocket floor without a long cutter, five-axis usually wins.
Simple prismatic parts with holes on two faces are cheaper on a three-axis machine. We will tell you when a five-axis quote is not worth it.
Can you hold ±0.005 mm on every feature?
The tolerance applies to stable features with clear datums. Thin walls, long unsupported bores and soft plastics move more.
We review the drawing first and flag any feature we cannot hold at that limit, so the tolerance is agreed before cutting.
What do you need to quote?
A 3D file in STEP or IGES, a 2D drawing with tolerances, material, quantity and finish.
If the drawing is not ready, send the model and we will return a free DFM analysis pointing out features that will drive cost.
How fast can parts ship?
Quotation and DFM come back within 12 hours. Production can start within 24 hours of approval.
Typical parts ship in 3 to 5 days. Complex or large parts take longer, and we confirm the date before the job starts.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
No. We run one prototype or 10,000+ parts on the same machines and the same inspection routine.
Volume pricing applies at higher quantities, but there is no floor to get started.
How do you protect our design files?
Uploads stay secure and confidential. We sign an NDA on request before files change hands.
Our information security management is certified to ISO 27001:2022, covering how drawings and models are stored and shared.
Which materials do you machine most often?
Aluminum 6061, 7075 and 6082, stainless 303, 304 and 17-4PH, plus titanium Ti-6Al-4V and engineering plastics such as POM and PEEK.
Inconel and beryllium copper are available too. Both cut slow and cost more, so we only recommend them when the application needs it.
What inspection data comes with the parts?
Every part is inspected before shipment. Raw material certificates, in-process checks and final inspection records are kept for the job.
Inspection reports, including first-article reports, are supplied on request at no extra charge.
Send a 3D file, get a quote and DFM notes in 12 hours
Tell us the material, quantity and tolerance. We will confirm what the five-axis process can hold.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo minimum order
