Order CNC milling parts online from FACTUREE
FACTUREE – The Online Manufacturer provides you with the state-of-the-art procurement of CNC milling parts made of metal and plastics.
As an online manufacturer with a large network of manufacturing partners, we have access to an almost unlimited number of CNC milling machines and thus always have free capacities and secure supply chains for your projects - from prototype to large-batch production.
In addition to the broadest manufacturing spectrum on the market, you benefit from individual offers, short delivery times and competitive prices.
Let us convince you and request a free quote via our easy online inquiry.
Fast
- Short delivery times of 9-12 working days.
- Same-day quote in most cases.
- Quick response to questions.
- Free Europe-wide express shipping.
Versatile
- Prototyping, small and large scale production.
- Turning, milling, surface treatments and more.
- Extensive selection of materials immediately available.
- Everything from one source.
How Online Manufacturing at FACTUREE works
Inquiry
- Easy upload of your 3D models and drawings
- Inquiries also possible by email
- Telephone customer service
Quoting process
- Same-day express-offer in most cases
- Two-stage technical feasibility check
- Flexible offer optimization regarding price or delivery time
Order placement
- More than 500 manufacturing partners and 6000 CNC machines
- AI-backed selection of the best possible manufacturer
- FACTUREE is the sole contracting party
Manufacturing
- Wide production range (incl. many finishes)
- Extensive selection of materials
- Data-driven quality management
Shipment
- Delivery already possible after 9-12 working days
- Free Europe-wide express shipping
- 100% carbon-neutral shipping
Find out more about the advantages of Online Manufacturing and how you can benefit from it in our latest white paper
„The future of parts procurement“
Service overview CNC milling
Manufacturing techniques:
- 3-axis milling
- 5-axis milling
- Metal and plastics
- incl. surface treatments
Specifications for milling parts:
- Max. dimensions: L: 7500mm x W: 3000mm x H: 2200mm
- Wall thickness: from 0.2mm
- Quantity: starting from 1 pcs.
- Other dimensions possible on request
What is CNC milling?
CNC milling is a machining manufacturing process in which material in the form of chips is removed from a body. In contrast to CNC turning, the workpiece does not rotate quickly around its own axis, but the milling tool that usually has several cutting edges moves to process it. The chipping of the raw piece is carried out either by driving the milling head across its surface or by moving the body itself along a static tool.
The abbreviation CNC stands for Computerized Numerical Control and indicates that the numerical control is carried out via a computer and that even complex workpieces can be manufactured automatically with high precision and in large quantities.
Since most CNC milling machines work independently, the personnel costs are comparatively low. The sum of all these factors allows CNC milling machines to produce parts faster and at the same time cheaper and more precisely than conventional methods.
CNC milling is particularly well suited for producing flat surfaces. However, modern 5-axis milling processes also make it possible to produce complex geometric shapes.
In the FACTUREE production partner network CNC milling machines of all common manufacturers such as Hermle, Mazak, FANUC and DATRON are used.
3-axis machining vs. 5-axis machining
3-axis machining vs. 5-axis machining
CNC milling is a subtractive manufacturing process in which material is removed from a blank. The principle is most similar to that of a drilling machine. While drilling is only carried out along one axis, CNC milling allows movements along several axes.
3-axis milling
In 3-axis milling, a drilling head is advanced along the X, Y and Z axes - horizontally, vertically and in depth - to machine the workpiece. In this way, even surfaces (e.g. grooves) and vertical bores can be created. A natural consequence of the CNC milling process is that the inner edges of a part are rounded off.
If these resulting radii impair the functionality of the production part, it is also possible to resort to the spark erosion (EDM) process, in which electrical discharges from an electrode tool cause specific material evaporation on the workpiece. This also enables the creation of sharp inner edges and other shapes.
5-axis milling
For the creation of complex geometric shapes, three movement axes often do not suffice, which is why modern 5-axis milling machines have two additional axes (A and C) on which the milling tool or alternatively the workpiece holder is rotated. The milling cutter can therefore be positioned at any angle to the workpiece.
In the case of 5-axis simultaneous machining, all five axes can be moved at the same time. The workpiece can therefore usually be machined in a single operation. 3-axis milled parts can also be produced with 5-axis milling machines. In addition to the extended production spectrum of 5-axis milling, a further advantage is that workpieces can be machined from different angles and that thus less time-consuming and error-prone clamping is required than with 3-axis milling. This also enables the production of complex 3D objects. With the help of Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software, the data of the objects designed with Computer Aided Design (CAD) is transferred to the NC code which CNC milling machines can read. All production-relevant information can thus be planned during the design phase and then transferred to the CNC milling machine.
Typical applications of CNC milling
The production of components using CNC milling is just as suitable for series production as for creating prototypes. Many of our customers choose us because of our express delivery times to test their prototypes of individual parts regarding their function and accuracy of fit for final applications. Another major advantage of our services is the assurance of the production chain by delivering the milled parts within 9 to 12 working days.
Production based on demand
Facing megatrends such a digitalization and globalization, production and manufacturing are under the increasing pressure to work as effectively as possible. Supply chain management therefore already plays a central role in day-to-day production. Production cycles will be further shortened by the development towards Industry 4.0.
In order to secure long-term market opportunities, production requires maximum flexibility. However, this also always leads to risks, for example in the timely processing of production peaks. With the On-Demand Service of FACTUREE you protect yourself against such risks, because we are able to implement your orders quickly and thus give you the necessary degree of flexibility to succeed in your markets.
Milled metal parts
Steels, stainless steels, aluminum alloys as well as copper, brass, bronze and titanium are among the materials most frequently requested by our customers for CNC-milled parts. With a large number of production partners, we can constantly provide you with a wide range of metals for the production of CNC parts. Your advantage: You save the costs of ordering and storing materials and at the same time benefit from particularly favorable material prices, as our manufacturing plants receive volume discounts.
Since large forces are exerted when milling hard metals and metal alloys, the stability of the CNC machines plays a particularly important role in preventing deviations from the specified milling paths. The stable and robust CNC milling machines of our production partners are optimally equipped for this task and master the machining of all metals with the same high precision.
The milling cutter used is set to the selected metal and the machining method. For example, roughing cutters are used for rough machining, finishing cutters for fine machining or, depending on the desired type of work, profile cutters, angle cutters, radius cutters, etc.
Cooling lubrication is of central importance in the milling of metal parts. As the name suggests, this serves to keep the temperature of the milling cutter as low as possible during production. At the same time, cooling lubrication ensures that edges are machined cleanly and without burrs. Last but not least, the cooling lubrication also transports chips from the working area, so that production can run smoothly and does not have to be interrupted for cleaning.
Milling aluminum
Aluminum, a silvery-white light metal, is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust. In materials engineering, the term “aluminum” refers to all materials based on the element aluminum. The group of materials includes pure aluminum, ultra-pure aluminum and various aluminum alloys.
Of technical importance are above all the different alloys, which can have a strength similar to steel at a significantly lower weight. In aluminum milling, the alloying elements make it possible to improve the machinability of the material. In machining, the standardized alloys EN AW-2007 and EN AM-6012 are regarded as typical machining alloys that are ideally suited for milling aluminum. The high-strength aircraft aluminum EN AW-7075 can also be machined very well on well-adjusted milling machines. Since aluminum is a rather soft material, the perfect compromise between cutting load and good chip removal must be found during machining. Typical application areas for milled aluminum parts are mechanical engineering, sealing surfaces of engine and gear housings or lightweight components in aircraft construction.
Milling steel
Steel is probably the most versatile construction material. The production of steel exceeds the quantity of all other metallic materials together by more than ten times. Steel can be machined, welded or rolled, bent, drawn and forged. Its high availability also makes steel a very inexpensive material. When milling steel, the alloy is just as important as with other metals. While particularly soft steel grades with a high carbon content are hardly manageable during milling, hard steel grades tend to break out during steel milling.
When milling steel, it is therefore extremely important to use optimally suitable alloys or, alternatively, milling machines that are optimized for the respective steel grade. Steel is used in virtually every industry. In the construction industry, steel is used as a basic construction material; steel can be found just as readily in mechanical engineering and plant construction as in automotive engineering; we even use steel components on a daily basis in households and hobbies - consciously or unconsciously.
Milling stainless steel
Stainless steel is a group of alloyed steels with a minimum of 10.5% chromium and a maximum of 1.2% carbon by mass. When milling stainless steel, the alloying elements are particularly important. This is because iron companions such as phosphorus, sulphur, chromium and nickel have a direct effect on machinability. The well-known alloys 1.4301 (AISI 304) and 1.4401 (AISI 316) are frequently used for milling stainless steel. Due to the high cutting forces that occur during milling, robust, rigid machines are required for milling stainless steel. Optimized cooling is also indispensable when milling stainless steel, as 1.4401 stainless steel in particular loses its resistance to rust at excessively high temperatures. Stainless steel is always used when corrosion resistance and high-quality surfaces are required.
Typical fields of application are general mechanical engineering, marine technology and aviation.
Milling other metals
In addition to the three “main players,” aluminum, stainless steel and steel, many other metals and special alloys are used in production technology. Brass, bronze and copper are common “other” metals. Milling titanium is one of the tasks of machining especially in medical and aeronautical engineering.
It must be taken into account that each metal and each special alloy places very special demands on the processing machines. Brass milling is generally considered to be controllable to a reasonable degree. However, when milling brass, optimally calculated cutting speeds and the use of suitable milling cutters are important - because brass is quite brittle due to the copper alloy and therefore tends to get caught in the tool. Milling titanium requires optimized milling tools and cutting speeds - and a great deal of specialist knowledge during machining. Titanium is around 25 times more expensive than comparable, high-quality steel alloys and is therefore only used in special areas.
Technical titanium is used, for example, in implantology and aerospace technology. The so-called superalloys can be even more demanding when it comes to machining. The material Inconel is widely used here. Inconel is a soft, tough material with a high nickel content in the alloy, which has good mechanical properties especially at high ambient temperatures. For Inconel milling, true specialists are required, because a good results can only be achieved using machines and workpieces that are precisely matched to the material.
Milled plastic parts
Milling plastic is very popular in general mechanical engineering, model and mould making or in the production of prototypes. Plastic milled parts are manufactured from a wide variety of thermoplastics and thermosets. Common plastics for milling include PA, PP, POM or PTFE, often also identified under the brand name Teflon. In the field of model making, high performance plastics such as PEEK or glass reinforced (GFRP) or carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) are frequently processed.
Special requirements for the milling of plastics
When it comes to machining, plastic has its own special requirements that must be taken into account when milling. The basis for the best milling results is stress-free clamping of the raw parts. This is the only way to obtain distortion-free workpieces. The clamping of the parts by means of vacuum clamping plates is ideally suited. The milling cutter used for the plastic milled parts must be extremely sharp. The following applies: the softer the plastic, the more difficult the machining. Special flutes on the milling cutter reliably transport the chips away from the workpiece to avoid clogging of the cutting edges. Continuous cooling of the tool and workpiece is essential during plastic milling because plastics can melt at comparatively low temperatures.
In the case of thermoplastics, for example, the melting temperature is only 150° Celsius. Accordingly, tools and cutting data must always be perfectly adapted to the plastic in question. In order to achieve the best possible chip flow, the cutting speed should be as high as possible, while the milling cutter contact with the workpiece should be as small as possible.
Use our convenient inquiry form and you will receive a non-binding offer for your CNC-milled parts within 48 hours.