CNC Machining Service
Machined prototypes and production parts in as fast as 1 day
Looking for a reliable, quick-turn supplier of machined plastic and metal components? With hundreds of mills and lathes, our unmatched in-house capacity ensures your parts are shipped on-time, every single time. At Protolabs, our CNC machining service is designed for both rapid prototyping and low-volume production of end-use components.
Which Machining Process Should I Use?
Milling
CNC milling is a subtractive manufacturing process that uses 3-axis milling and 5-axis indexed milling processes to rapidly cut solid plastic and metal blocks into final parts.
Turning
CNC turning with live tooling combines both lathe and mill capabilities to machine parts with cylindrical features from metal rod stock.
Why Machining at Protolabs?
Infinite Capacity
Eliminate downtime spent waiting for parts and safeguard in-house machining with on-demand relief.
Single Supplier
Maintain consistent quality and guaranteed lead times from a single supplier with in-house part production.
Material Selection
Get prototypes machined from more than 30 different metal and plastic materials.
On-time Delivery
Iterate part designs quickly and accelerate product development with quick-turn parts.
Plastic and Metal Materials
Quick-Turn CNC Milling
Custom machined parts all begin with a simple plastic or metal block. But once that block is introduced to one of our automated mills, that all changes fast. Step inside a high-speed CNC machine to see what’s possible with rapid manufacturing.
Sample Quote for Machining
To get a good idea of how ProtoQuote works, check out a sample quote for machining. You can make adjustments to things like materials and turnaround time, and even manipulate a 3D CAD model with manufacturability analysis.
"We primarily use Protolabs to test new ideas...as we consider a potential design improvement, we want the ability to create parts and see how they perform as quickly as possible.”
Resources
How to Design Efficient Parts for CNC Machining
6 Ways to Optimize Part Design for CNC Machining
Rapid Manufacturing for Metal Prototypes and Production Parts
How to Reduce CNC Machining Costs
