Online CNC Machining Service: Instant quotes and ordering

As part of Protolabs’ global services, we are your comprehensive manufacturing solution from prototype to production. Here’s how we differ from traditional machine shops:

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• We have an incredibly broad range of capabilities–much more than most individual shops.

• In most cases our quotes are instant. Request as many quotes as you like to find the best solution for your project.

• There is no minimum order quantity.

• We can scale with you from quick-turn prototypes with 1-day lead times to millions of production parts with volume pricing. 

• We leverage a global network to guarantee competitive pricing on every order.

We machine custom parts for customers in multiple industries: aerospace, automotive, defense, electronics, hardware startups, industrial automation, machinery, manufacturing, medical devices, oil & gas and robotics.

At Protolabs Network we offer CNC milling (​​3-axis, 3+2-axis and 5-axis) and turning. Milled parts can be machined up to x x 200 mm (78.7 x 59.0 x 7.8 in.) for 3/3+2 axis CNC milling. For 5-axis milling, the maximum part size is 650 x 650 x 300 mm (25.5 x 25.5 x 11.8 in.). The maximum diameter for CNC turning is 431mm (17 in.), length 990 mm (39 in). Minimum part dimensions recommended are around 0.39 x 0.39 x 0.39 in. (10 x 10 x 10mm).The minimum for feature dimensions is 0.5 mm. 

We are limited to a mm (39 in.) maximum size for parts on our platform. If you need higher dimensions, you can place the request through your account manager.

Deburring and edge breaking are standard procedures for all CNC machined parts. If there are any critical edges that should be left sharp, they must be clearly indicated in technical drawings. Surfaces will be free of defects such as scratches, dents, stains, blemishes, hanging marks, minor defects. Surfaces indicated as critical (primary (a) side, as indicated on the technical drawing) will be free of mill steps and other marks. For the secondary (b) side, minor hanging marks and up to 2 minor defects are acceptable. A number of post-processing and finishing methods can be applied to improve the surface roughness, visual properties and wear resistance of machined parts.

Read more about surface finishes for CNC machining. 

We use machine learning algorithms to calculate the exact cost of any machinable part directly from a CAD file, based on millions of CNC machining orders we’ve previously processed. No more waiting for technicians to get back to you via , we can generate an exact quote for you instantly (well, in about 5 seconds).

This means you always know the price up front. Simply upload a CAD file to generate a quote: get an instant CNC machining quote. Our quotes are completely free, you only need to create an account so we can protect your IP.

It’s so easy to use that we encourage mechanical engineers to use it constantly as they optimize their designs for cost. Whenever you’ve made a new design iteration, simply load both the old and the new design into our quoting tool and see if the price is different.

This technology means our manufacturing partners also don’t need to do their own machining quotes, which means less overhead for them. This makes the whole process less expensive, which translates into lower prices for our customers.

For more information, please visit CNC machining for Automotive Industries.

Protolabs Network was started by mechanical engineers and we have many more engineers and technicians in our team. Together we’ve written a lot of content on CNC machining over the years. You can find a selection of resources below, or you can head to our knowledge hub and filter on CNC machining to read case studies, in-depth design guidelines and explanations of different surface finishes.

We’ve also written a complete engineering guide to CNC machining. Here you can learn about how the many different kinds of mills and lathes work and the different materials available, so you can easily compare their benefits & limitations. You’ll also learn the basic design rules for machining and the most common applications of each material and surface finish, so you can make the right choices every time.

CNC machining: The manufacturing & design guide

Learn about how the many different kinds of CNC machines work, the materials available, the benefits & limitations, basic design rules and the most common applications.

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What is CNC machining?

What is CNC machining and how does it work? Learn the basic principles and fundamental mechanics, as well as the key benefits and limitations, of this subtractive manufacturing process.

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How to design parts for CNC machining

In this complete guide to designing for CNC machining, we've compiled basic & advanced design practices and tips to help you achieve the best results for your custom parts.

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14 proven design tips to reduce the cost of CNC machining

Make the most of CNC machining by optimizing your design and making the right material choices. Read these 14 design tips to help you reduce CNC-machining costs and create the perfect parts for your project.

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How to prepare a technical drawing for CNC machining

How do you prepare technical drawings for CNC machining and why are they important? Technical drawings are widely used in manufacturing to improve the communication of technical requirements between the designer and engineer and the manufacturer.

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How do you select the right materials for CNC machining?

This comprehensive guide compares the 25 most common materials used in CNC machining and helps you choose the right one for your application.

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What are the types of surface finishes for CNC machining?

What surface finishes are available for CNC machining? You can apply post-processing and surface finishes to improve the surface roughness, cosmetic properties and wear resistance of metal parts. Learn about the most common ways to finish CNC machined parts, and how to select the best methods for your applications.

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What is heat treatment and how does it improve CNC-machined parts?

What are the different types of heat treatment and how do they affect CNC-machined parts? This article explores how heat treatments can be applied to many metal alloys to drastically improve key physical properties like hardness, strength and machinability.

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3D printing vs. CNC machining: Which is better for prototyping and end-use parts?

When it comes to custom part production, choosing between 3D printing and CNC machining can be challenging. This guide breaks down the key differences between these popular manufacturing technologies, helping you decide which is best suited for prototyping, low-volume production, or functional end-use parts.

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To prevent parts with easily deformable structures from deforming during transportation, as the gradual increase in weather temperature.
1. It's recommended to use the following Resin models with good heat resistant and strength: Somos® Ledo, Somos® Taurus, Somos® Perform, UTR , UTR Flex, UTR Therm.
2. Wall thickness is thicken into ≥2mm.

Non-metal parts with easily deformable structure would occasionally deform when squeezed by external force during transportation.
1. For those who choose Resin materials, it's recommended to use the following Resin models with good heat resistant and strength: Somos®Ledo, Somos®Taurus, Somos®Perform, UTR , UTR Flex, UTR Therm.
2.Wall thickness is thicken into ≥2mm.
3.Nylon is preferred over resin for parts with easily deformable structure.
4.Deformed parts can be corrected by heating process, like using hot air gun or hot water.

Due to the particularity and scarcity of the surface finish process, different batches of orders cannot be guaranteed to have the same finish. For example: Aluminum anodized color, there will be color difference more or less with each time, even though you choose the same opition of color.
If you need the totally same surface finish of batch products and samples, it is recommended to keep 1-2 samples at PCBWay, and then we can mass-produce the specified products according to the samples.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Injection molding and assembly service.