CNC Milling Metal – CNC Milled Parts and 5-Axis Milling

Are you looking for a reliable partner for CNC milling metal?

We manufacture precision CNC-milled metal parts to drawing and CAD data – from simple plates, brackets and housings to complex components with multiple machining sides. In addition to classic CNC milling, we offer 5-axis milling for demanding geometries and spatial contours. Materials machined include steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper, bronze and other machinable materials – from prototype to series production.Would you like metal milling carried out? Send us your drawing or STEP file, material, quantity and tolerances. We will check the technical feasibility and provide you with a customised quote.

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CNC Milling Metal

Professional CNC milling and turning at competitive prices

Advantages

Materials

Machines

CNC milling of metal to drawing

In CNC milling, a rotating cutting tool removes material from the workpiece in a targeted way. The movements along the CNC axes are programmed and enable precise and repeatable machining.

The process is particularly suitable for components with:

flat surfaces
pockets
slots
contours
hole patterns
threads
fits
steps
freeform surfaces
multiple machining sides

Typical CNC milled parts include for example:

Mechanical engineering components
Housings
brackets
mountings
fixtures
Flanges
Base plates
Mounting plates
Guide elements
Connecting parts
Prototypes
Custom special parts

For predominantly rotationally symmetrical parts such as shafts, bushes or pins, however, often CNC turning is the more economical process.

→ CNC turning metal

5-axis milling for complex components

At the 5-axis milling a component or tool can be positioned simultaneously or indexically relative to five axes.

The decisive advantage is that even complex surfaces and multiple sides of a workpiece can be machined without having to completely remount the component for each machining step.

This is particularly relevant for:

complex machine components
components with multiple machining sides
inclined surfaces
three-dimensional contours
freeform surfaces
deep or hard-to-reach areas
complex hole patterns
components with high requirements for the positional relationship of different features to one another

Fewer reclamping operations can also help reduce positional deviations between individual machined sides.

However, 5-axis milling is not automatically more economical for every workpiece. For simple components, conventional 3-axis machining can be faster and more cost-effective.

The appropriate strategy is therefore selected on the basis of geometry, batch size, tolerances and accessibility.

3-axis or 5-axis milling?

3-axis milling

In conventional 3-axis milling, the tool moves along the X, Y and Z axes.

It is particularly suitable for:

Plates
pockets
hole patterns
flat contours
Housings
brackets
simpler prismatic parts

5-axis milling

5-axis milling expands the range of movements by two additional rotational axes or corresponding workpiece positioning.

The process is particularly interesting when several surfaces of a component are in close geometric relation to one another or tool accessibility would be difficult with conventional clamping.

Which metals can be CNC milled?

Milling steel

We machine various steels for mechanical engineering, plant engineering and industrial constructions.

The optimum milling strategy depends, among other things, on strength, heat treatment and alloying elements.

Milling stainless steel

Due to its material properties, stainless steel places increased demands on tools, cooling and machining parameters.

Typical applications are:

Mechanical engineering components
Components for plant engineering
Housings
brackets
Connecting parts
technical components with increased requirements for corrosion resistance

Milling aluminium

Aluminium has good machinability and is suitable, among other things, for:

light machine parts
Housings
fixtures
Mounting plates
electronic components
Prototypes

Brass, bronze and copper

Non-ferrous metals are used for example for:

electrical engineering
mechanical engineering
fittings
bearing components
fasteners

used.

Titanium and other materials

Titanium, cast materials and other machinable materials can also be machined depending on the alloy and component requirements.

We assess the technical feasibility based on your specific enquiry.

Request a quote

Our CNC milling processes

Depending on the geometry, different machining operations can be combined:

face milling
contour milling
profile milling
form milling
pocket milling
slot milling
Drilling
Countersinking
Reaming
Thread cutting
Machining of bearing surfaces
Multi-side machining
5-axis milling

Not every theoretically possible milling process is suitable for every component. What matters is a machining strategy that combines quality, process reliability and manufacturing costs.

CNC milled parts according to drawing and CAD data

For CNC manufacturing, we work to your technical documents.

Ideal are:

3D model as STEP
technical drawing as PDF
Material
Material number
Quantity
Tolerances
fits
form and positional tolerances
threads
Surface specifications
Requirements for post-processing
delivery date

For complex components, a 3D model is particularly helpful for planning tool paths, clamping strategy and accessibility.

Design tips for cost-effective CNC milled parts

Even small changes to a design can have a major impact on manufacturing effort.

Define tight tolerances only where they are needed

Very tight tolerances can require additional machining and inspection steps.

Dimensions that are not function-critical should therefore not be specified too tightly.

Allow for internal radii

Rotating milling tools inherently create a radius in internal corners.

Very small internal radii require correspondingly small tools, which are less rigid and can cause longer machining times.

Avoid very deep pockets

The deeper a pocket is in relation to its width, the more difficult tool access, chip evacuation and stable machining become.

Prefer standard tools

Designs that can be manufactured with standard milling cutter diameters, drills and threads are often more economical.

Reduce set-ups

Components that can be fully machined with just a few set-ups can often be produced more quickly and with a lower risk of errors.

For more complex components, this 5-axis milling can offer an advantage in this respect.

Tolerances in CNC milling

A blanket statement such as „CNC milling always achieves ±0.01 mm“ would not be technically credible.

The achievable accuracy depends, among other things, on:

Component dimensions
Material
Wall thicknesses
Tool length
Clamping concept
Machining direction
Temperature
Machine configuration
Surface requirement
Position of the toleranced feature

Functionally relevant dimensions should therefore be specified individually and clearly.

General linear and angular dimensional tolerances can, for example, be defined according to ISO 2768 provided this is specified in the drawing. Geometric tolerances such as flatness, parallelism, position or run-out are specified in the GPS system, among others, according to ISO 1101 spezifiziert.

Machines for CNC milling

HAAS VF-2SSYT-EU - Precise CNC milling centre for versatile applications

HAAS VF-2SSYT-EU

The HAAS VF-2SSYT-EU is a fast vertical CNC machining centre for versatile milling tasks.

Key manufacturer data:

X travel: 762 mm
Y travel: 508 mm
Z travel: 508 mm
Spindle speed up to 12,000 rpm
30+1 tool positions
3-axis basic configuration

The combination of work area, spindle speed and tool capacity makes the machine suitable for a wide range of industrial milled parts.

Technical data from the manufacturer: HAAS VF-2SSYT-EU

FANUC ROBODRILL α-D28LiB5ADV Plus Y500 - Maximum performance and flexibility

The FANUC ROBODRILL is a fast vertical machining centre for milling, drilling and tapping.

Key manufacturer data:

X/Y/Z travel: 700 × 500 × 400 mm
Table: 850 × 500 mm
Maximum table load: 400 kg
28 tool positions
Spindle variants up to 24,000 rpm
maximum of 5 axes controllable simultaneously

This also makes the ROBODRILL platform suitable for demanding multi-side and multi-axis machining tasks.

Technical data from the manufacturer: FANUC ROBODRILL

From a milled part to a complete assembly

CNC milling can be combined with other manufacturing processes.

At BlechProfis, the following are available, among others:

Laser cutting
Bending
Punching
CNC turning
Welding
Spot welding
Deburring
Powder coating
Metal construction

This is particularly interesting for components where milled parts are joined with sheet metal parts or welded constructions.

→ Sheet metal processing
→ Metalworking
→ Deburring

Prototypes, single parts and series production

Prototypes

CNC milling enables the production of functional metal parts directly from CAD data and is therefore well suited to development and validation phases.

Single parts

Spare parts, fixture parts and customer-specific special parts can also be manufactured to drawing.

Small series

For small series, programming, tools and clamping can already be optimised for recurring components.

Series

For larger quantities, automated processes, optimised tool paths and reproducible clamping concepts become more important.

What does CNC milling cost?

The price of a milled part does not depend solely on the material weight.

Important cost factors are:

Raw material
Material
Component size
Machining volume
Machine running time
Number of tools
Number of setups
3-axis or 5-axis machining
Tolerances
surface requirements
Inspection effort
Quantity
Post-processing

For larger quantities, programming and setup costs are spread across more components.

Request CNC milled parts

For a quick quotation, please send us as much of the following as possible:

STEP file + drawing + material + quantity + tolerances + required surface finish + delivery date.

We check the geometry and decide whether classic CNC milling or 5-axis milling is technically and economically more sensible.

Frequently asked questions about CNC milling

What is CNC milling?

In CNC milling, a rotating cutting tool removes material from the workpiece. Tool paths and axis movements are controlled by a CNC programme.

What is 5-axis milling?

In 5-axis milling, the tool or workpiece can be positioned or moved relative to each other across five axes. This makes it possible to manufacture complex components and machine multiple sides with fewer re-clampings.

When is 5-axis milling worthwhile?

Especially with complex geometries, multiple machining sides, angled surfaces or hard-to-access areas. For simple workpieces, 3-axis milling may be more economical.

Which metals can be CNC milled?

Among others, steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, bronze and copper. Titanium and other materials are possible depending on the alloy and project.