GreatLight runs 127 high-precision CNC machines in Dongguan and Singapore. Send a 3D file and we return a quote with free DFM analysis within 12 hours, then machine prototypes or production parts to ±0.005 mm.
Most late parts are not a machining problem. They are a communication and process problem. Here is what we see on incoming projects.
You send a STEP file on Monday and still have no price on Friday. Tooling, material and setup questions bounce back one email at a time. Every day spent clarifying is a day the machine is not cutting, and your launch date does not move.
Article one measures well. Article 200 does not, because the fixture was never re-checked and the operator changed. On a 50-part pilot run, a 0.03 mm shift on a bearing bore means rework, not shipment.
Aluminum parts with 0.8 mm walls and pockets deeper than 6× the cutter diameter move under clamping stress. If the shop runs them on a 3-axis mill with a single setup, flatness and parallelism fall outside print.
Machining marks on a visible housing surface, or a bead-blast finish that reads different between two batches, forces a reject at your line. Rework adds days and the finish rarely matches the first shipment.
Fast machining is a scheduling result. It comes from quoting quickly, choosing the right machine, and inspecting before the part leaves the floor.
Send a STEP, IGES or X_T file with a 2D print for critical dimensions. We return a price, a lead time, and a free DFM analysis within 12 hours. If a corner radius is too small for the cutter or a hole is deeper than 8× diameter, we say so in that first reply instead of after the setup.
Production can start within 24 hours of approval. For most parts, machined components ship in 3–5 days.
Complex geometry is the reason 5-axis exists. A single setup cuts five faces with one datum, which removes the re-fixturing error that shows up on 3-axis parts. We hold ±0.005 mm on machined features and Ra 0.8–1.6 μm on standard finishes.
For larger frames and long extrusions, travel reaches 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm. A Ø400 mm rotary table covers round parts that also need milled flats. If the geometry is simpler, a 3-axis machine is cheaper and we will quote it that way.
Use this as a starting point. The quotes we send always name the machine and the reason.
| Part feature | Machine | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Five faces, one datum | 5-axis | Removes re-fixture error |
| Deep pockets, thin walls | 5-axis with trochoidal paths | Lower radial cutting force |
| Round part plus milled flats | Mill-turn | One setup, one concentricity datum |
| Prismatic bracket | 3-axis | Lower cost, faster setup |
| Long extrusion, 4,000 mm | Large-travel mill | Fits in one pass |
| Tight bore, Ra 0.2–0.8 μm | Mill-turn plus honing | Finish held after turning |
A part rarely needs only one process. Keeping them together shortens the handoff between steps.
Simultaneous 5-axis for contoured surfaces, undercuts and parts that need five faces on one datum. Ideal for aerospace and robotics housings.
3-axis and 4-axis milling plus turning and mill-turn. Covers brackets, shafts, bushings and round parts with milled features.
Machined prototypes from your CAD file, useful when the material and surface must match the production part.
Enclosures, panels and brackets where a machined block would waste material and time.
For higher volumes where the geometry is stable and tooling cost can be spread across the run.
Anodizing, plating, powder coating, bead blasting, brushing and laser marking to match your cosmetic spec.
Values below are what we quote against. Ask if your part sits near an edge.
| Item | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerance | ±0.005 mm (±0.0002 in) | On machined features |
| Fine finish | Ra 0.2–0.8 μm | Turning and honing |
| Standard finish | Ra 1.6–3.2 μm | As-machined surfaces |
| Largest travel | 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm | Long parts and frames |
| Rotary table | Ø400 mm | Round parts with flats |
| Inspection | 100% before shipment | Reports on request |
We are a 15-year-old factory, not a broker. Every figure here maps to something you can audit on a drawing or in a report.
Three wholly-owned plants, 7,600 m² of floor, 150 technicians. Dongguan, China and a Singapore factory at No.3 Joo Koon Circle.
A price, a lead time and a manufacturability note come back within 12 hours. Production can begin within 24 hours of approval.
Raw material check, in-process monitoring and final inspection on every order. Inspection reports supplied when the print calls for them.
ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 27001:2022. Your drawings stay under NDA on request.
One part. The same inspection routine applies whether the run is a single prototype or more than 10,000 pieces.
Parts ship in 3–5 days on standard work. We track delivery against promise and review the misses.
Brackets, housings and fixture plates where PPAP discipline and repeatability across batches matter more than the first article.
Instrument bodies and small mechanisms in 316L and titanium, with the machining records an audit trail expects.
Joint housings and end-effector plates that need five faces on one datum and bores that stay concentric after assembly.
A 3D file in STEP, IGES or X_T format, plus a 2D drawing for any dimension with a tolerance, a thread callout or a surface finish requirement.
If the drawing is not ready, send the model and note which features are critical. We will quote a reasonable tolerance and tell you where the risk sits.
Quote and free DFM analysis come back within 12 hours. Production can start within 24 hours of approval.
Standard machined parts ship in 3–5 days. Complex 5-axis work or parts that need outside finishing may take longer, and we state that in the quote rather than after the order.
Yes. There is no minimum order quantity. A one-off prototype and a 10,000+ part run go through the same material check, in-process monitoring and final inspection.
Unit price is naturally higher on a single part because the setup is spread over one piece. If the design will go to production, say so and we will quote both quantities together.
Match the production material if the part will be tested for strength, weight or thermal behavior. For fit checks only, 6061 aluminum is fast to cut and inexpensive.
For wear surfaces, 17-4PH or 440C stainless holds up better than aluminum. For chemical exposure or low friction, PEEK and POM are common choices.
The tolerance is a result of the setup, not the machine spec alone. We fix the datum, the fixture and the inspection method before the first cut.
In-process monitoring runs through the batch, and any tool wear that shifts a dimension is corrected before more parts are cut. Final inspection happens on 100% of parts before shipment.
Yes, but it changes the process. Thin walls and pockets deeper than 6× the cutter diameter need trochoidal paths, lighter radial engagement and sometimes a stress-relief step between roughing and finishing.
Send the model and we will tell you at quote stage whether the geometry is machinable as drawn or needs a small change.
Anodizing in clear, color, hardcoat and conductive types; electroless nickel, zinc, silver and gold plating; powder coating and black oxide; bead blasting, tumbling, brushing and polishing.
Laser marking and engraving are available down to 1.5 mm character height. If the finish is cosmetic, send a sample or a target photo so the first batch matches.
Uploads are secure and confidential. We hold ISO 27001:2022 for information security, and an NDA is available on request before you send any file.
If your program requires it, we can restrict the project to named staff and keep the files off shared drives.
Upload your STEP file and drawing. You get a price, a lead time and a DFM note back within 12 hours, with no minimum order quantity.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo minimum orderNDA 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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