We machine C36000, C27400 and C110 brass parts on 16 simultaneous 5-axis centers. Tolerances to ±0.005 mm, finishes to Ra 0.2–0.8 μm, and runs from one prototype to 10,000+ pieces. Quote and DFM analysis back within 12 hours.
Brass cuts fast. It also moves, burrs and discolors fast. These are the failures we see most often.
Free-machining brass machines clean, then the plating line adds 5–8 μm per surface. A 2A thread becomes a 3A reject. We cut pre-plate dimensions on the plated-thread drawing instead of the nominal CAD model, so gauges pass on the first submission.
A 0.5 mm brass wall deflects under a standard vise. The part measures fine on the machine and out of round after unclamping. Soft jaws, low clamping pressure and a light finishing pass keep wall roundness inside 0.01 mm.
A Ø0.8 mm cross hole in a brass valve body can raise an internal burr that survives tumbling. Debris lodges in the gallery and blocks flow. We deburr with a controlled back-chamfer tool and verify with a bore scope.
Brass tools wear slower than steel, so operators stop checking. By piece 4,000 the OD has crept past the upper limit. In-process probing every 50 parts catches the drift while there is still time to offset.
Brass is not a harder aluminum. The alloy grade decides the tool, the speed and the deburring method.
C36000 leaded brass gives the best chip control and the longest tool life, which is why it dominates fittings, connectors and valve bodies. C27400 handles the same geometry with better corrosion resistance in marine and potable-water service. C110 is the choice when electrical conductivity matters more than machinability, such as busbars and RF housings.
Beryllium copper sits at the other end. It machines to tight detail but needs controlled tooling and coolant to keep beryllium dust out of the shop air. We machine it in a segregated cell with HEPA filtration.
A brass manifold with ports on five faces normally means four setups, four datum transfers and four chances to lose 0.02 mm. On a simultaneous 5-axis center with a Ø400 mm rotary table, we cut all ports in one setup from a single datum. Positional error stays inside ±0.005 mm.
High spindle speed and polished flutes matter more than raw power on brass. We run small-diameter end mills at 12,000–18,000 rpm with air blast to clear chips, which keeps recast and smearing off the finished surface.
Part size, feature count and annual volume decide the route.
| Part Profile | Recommended Route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ø6–50 mm turned connector | Mill-turn center | One cycle for turning, cross-drilling and slotting. |
| Multi-port valve body | 5-axis milling | Ports on five faces from one datum. |
| Thin-wall shell, 0.5 mm wall | 4-axis with soft jaws | Low clamp force and a light finishing pass. |
| Prototype, 1–20 pieces | 3-axis + manual deburr | Fastest route when geometry is simple. |
| 10,000-piece fitting run | Mill-turn with bar feeder | Lights-out running with in-process probing. |
| Beryllium copper RF part | 5-axis in segregated cell | Controlled tooling and HEPA filtration. |
One supplier from bar stock to packed parts.
Simultaneous 5-axis milling for multi-port brass bodies, angled faces and contoured surfaces. One setup, one datum, ±0.005 mm.
16 mill-turn centers handle turned connectors with cross-holes, slots and flats in a single cycle. Bar feeder for long runs.
One to twenty brass prototypes cut from bar stock, with DFM feedback inside 12 hours. Good for fit checks before tooling.
Bead blasting, tumbling, brushing and polishing, plus electroless nickel, silver and gold plating on brass contacts.
Part numbers, lot codes and logos on brass. Minimum character height 1.5 mm for legibility after plating.
Raw material check, in-process monitoring and final inspection. Dimensional reports on request.
Numbers you can plan a project around.
| Parameter | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerance | ±0.005 mm (±0.0002 in) | Held on critical diameters and hole positions. |
| Surface finish | Ra 0.2–0.8 μm fine | Bead blast and polish available after machining. |
| Maximum part size | 4,000 mm | Largest travel 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm. |
| Order quantity | 1 to 10,000+ pieces | No minimum order quantity. |
| Lead time | 3–5 days for parts | Production can start within 24 hours of PO. |
| Materials | C36000, C27400, C110, C101, C103 | Beryllium copper available in a segregated cell. |
Fifteen years in Dongguan, three plants, one quality system.
Three wholly-owned plants and 150 technicians in Dongguan, plus a Singapore factory for regional delivery.
Not just on the first article. In-process probing every 50 parts keeps dimensions inside the band across the run.
16 simultaneous 5-axis centers, 12 four-axis mills, 27 three-axis machines and 16 mill-turn centers.
Raw material check, in-process monitoring and 100% inspection before shipment. Reports on request.
Send a STEP file and a drawing. An engineer reviews it and returns a quote with manufacturability notes.
Production can start within 24 hours of order release. Historical late-delivery probability stays below 2%.
C110 contacts with tight position tolerance and clean plating adhesion.
C36000 bodies with cross-drilled galleries and burr-free bores.
C27400 hardware where corrosion resistance drives the alloy choice.
Thin-wall brass shells that hold roundness after unclamping.
Start with the service condition, not the datasheet. C36000 is the default when you need fast cutting and good chip control, which covers most fittings and connectors. Move to C27400 when the part sees water, salt spray or a marine environment.
Go to C110 or C101 only when electrical conductivity is a real requirement. You give up some machinability, so expect slightly longer cycle times and more attention to deburring.
Yes, on critical diameters and hole positions. The limiting factor is usually thermal growth across a long run, not the machine. We keep coolant temperature stable and probe every 50 parts.
If a feature is not functionally critical, we will tell you during DFM review. Opening a non-critical tolerance often cuts cost without affecting the part.
Back-chamfer tooling on the drill exit, followed by controlled tumbling. For holes below Ø1 mm we inspect with a bore scope, not just visually.
If a burr cannot be reached by tooling, we will flag it in the DFM report and suggest a geometry change, such as adding a flat at the exit.
It does. Electroless nickel and silver plating add roughly 5–8 μm per surface. A 2A thread cut to nominal will not pass a 2A gauge after plating.
Send us the plated-thread drawing or tell us the finish thickness. We cut the pre-plate dimension so the thread gauges correctly after the plating line.
A STEP or IGES model plus a 2D drawing with tolerances, material grade and finish. The 3D model alone does not tell us which dimensions matter.
If you only have a model, send it anyway. We will quote from the model and mark the dimensions we need confirmed.
We routinely run cross-holes down to Ø0.8 mm and features in that range. Below Ø0.5 mm, tool breakage risk rises and we will say so before quoting.
For micro features, tell us the functional requirement. If a hole only needs to pass flow, a slightly larger drill may be cheaper and more reliable.
There is none. We machine from one prototype to 10,000+ piece runs on the same quality system.
Prototype work uses the same inspection process as production. That way the first article data you approve is data you can rely on later.
Uploads are handled as confidential, and we sign an NDA on request before reviewing files. Our quality system is certified to ISO 27001:2022 for information security.
If your program requires it, we can restrict the drawing to named engineers and keep the part off the sample gallery.
Upload a STEP file and a 2D drawing. An engineer reviews manufacturability and returns pricing, lead time and DFM notes.
12-hour quoteNo minimum order quantity100% inspection before shipmentNDA on request
Trusted by engineers and manufacturers worldwide
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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