Chinese
DMG 5-axis and rows of 3-axis CNC in a 5,000 m² Chang'an base
Dongguan · Chang'anIn-house + partnersPrototypesLow volumeMass production
CNC machiningUrethane / vacuum castingSheet metal fabrication3D printing
English-speaking salesSource ↗
PR-01 · Process hubs
CNC machining CNC加工
A computer-controlled machine carves your part out of a solid block of metal or plastic. Precise, strong, and no mold needed.
- Typical lead time (how long it takes)
- 3–7 days for prototypes; 2–4 weeks for batches
- Typical cost
- Driven by machine time, setups and material; tight tolerances and 5-axis work cost more
- Minimum order (MOQ: the smallest order a shop will accept)
- 1 piece
- Best for
- Metal enclosures, brackets, heat sinks, precision parts, low-volume production
What is it?
CNC stands for "computer numerical control". A computer-driven cutting tool carves your part out of a solid block of metal or plastic, a bit like a very precise, automated sculptor. You send a 3D file, the shop programs the machine, and it removes material until only your part is left. It's accurate and strong, and needs no mold, so it's great for prototypes and small batches of metal parts.
Design tips (DFM: designing so it's easy to make)
- 01Only put tight tolerances on features that need them
- 02Add inside corner radii larger than the cutter radius
- 03Avoid deep, narrow pockets and thin walls
- 04Specify the finish (anodizing colour, bead blasting) and thread standards
Shops for this process
Foreign-owned
Proprietary zinc multi-slide die casting, invented in 1936
Dongguan · DalangIn-house + partnersMass production
Die castingInjection moldingCNC machiningSurface finishing
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
Silver contacts and electrical contact assemblies, riveted or welded in the mold
Dongguan · FenggangMakes in-housePrototypesLow volumeMass production
Metal stampingCNC machiningSheet metal fabricationInjection molding
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Sino-British founders (CEO Vader Yu and James Murphy) and English-speaking project managers
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-housePrototypesLow volumeMass production
CNC machining3D printingUrethane / vacuum castingSheet metal fabrication
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
Five-axis machining, including a new 800 mm-travel five-axis centre
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-housePrototypesLow volumeMass production
CNC machiningSheet metal fabricationSurface finishingFactory
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
Custom screws and fasteners at scale: 120 screw machines, about 1.2 million pieces a day
Shenzhen · LonghuaMakes in-housePrototypesLow volumeMass production
CNC machiningInjection moldingFactory
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
Automotive white-body stamping prototypes and full-size show-car models
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-housePrototypesLow volume
Rapid prototyping (multi-process)CNC machiningSheet metal fabricationMetal stamping
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Kaierwo
凯尔沃New-energy prototypes: battery packs, charger housings, inverters, cooling modules
Shenzhen · GuangmingMakes in-housePrototypesLow volumeMass production
Rapid prototyping (multi-process)CNC machiningUrethane / vacuum casting3D printing
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Open-hardware maker brand (400+ own boards) that also assembles customers' PCBs
Shenzhen · Bao'anIn-house + partnersPrototypesLow volume
PCB assembly (SMT/PCBA)PCB fabricationElectronic component sourcing3D printing
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Get 3 quotes
Get 3 quotes: CNC machining
Describe the part once. We send it to up to 3 shops that fit, and they quote you directly.
17 guides
Guides & articles
Everything we've written about CNC machining, starting with the basics.
Start here11 min
What is CNC machining? A plain-English guide
How CNC machining works, what it's good (and not good) for, what it costs, and how to get CNC parts made in Shenzhen. Written for first-timers.
→
01Choosing · 6 min3-axis vs 5-axis CNC: which does your part need?
What "axes" means on a CNC machine, when 5-axis machining is worth paying for, and how to tell from your design which one a shop will use.
02Cost · 9 minHow much does CNC machining cost? (and how to lower your quote)
What actually drives the price of a CNC part, rough price ranges for first-timers, and simple design and ordering changes that make quotes cheaper.
03Design · 8 minChoosing a material for CNC parts
A beginner's guide to the most common CNC materials (aluminum, steel, brass and engineering plastics), what each is good for, and how they affect price.
04Design · 8 minHow to prepare files for a CNC quote
Exactly what to send a CNC shop to get a fast, accurate quote. 3D files, 2D drawings, and the details first-timers forget.
05Design · 7 minTolerances explained for first-timers
What "±0.05 mm" means, why tighter tolerances cost more, and how to decide which features of your part actually need them.
06Basics · 9 minWhat is anodizing? A plain-English guide
How anodizing works, why it looks and wears the way it does, the difference between Type II and hard anodizing, and how to order anodized parts in Shenzhen. Written for first-timers.
07Design · 9 minWhat is DFM? Design for manufacturing explained
What design for manufacturing (DFM) means, why it decides most of your product's cost, the core rules, when to do a DFM review, and how DFM feedback from Shenzhen suppliers works.
08Basics · 10 minWhat is die casting? A plain-English guide
How die casting works, which metals it uses, what it's good and bad at, what drives the cost, and how to get die-cast parts made in Shenzhen and Dongguan. Written for first-timers.
09Basics · 10 minWhat is rapid prototyping? A plain-English guide
What rapid prototyping means, the main methods (3D printing, CNC machining, urethane casting), how many rounds to expect, and how Shenzhen's prototype shops work.
10Choosing · 7 min3D printing vs CNC for prototypes
Should your prototype be 3D printed or CNC machined? A plain-English comparison of cost, speed, strength, materials, looks and design freedom, with a simple decision guide.
11Choosing · 8 minAnodizing vs powder coating vs painting
Three common ways to finish a part, compared in plain words. What each one is, which materials it works on, how it looks and wears, and how to choose for your product.
12Choosing · 7 minChoosing a prototyping method: 3D printing vs CNC vs urethane casting
A simple comparison of the three main prototyping methods by speed, cost, strength, look and quantity, plus a quick way to pick the right one for each part.
13Choosing · 7 minDie casting vs CNC machining
When should a metal part be CNC machined, and when is it worth paying for a die-casting tool? A plain-English comparison of cost, quantity, quality and finish, with a simple break-even method.
14Design · 8 minHow to specify colour and finish
How to tell a factory exactly what colour, gloss and texture you want, using colour codes, physical samples, texture standards and a simple written spec. For first-time hardware teams.
15Choosing · 8 minHow to write an RFQ
What a request for quotation (RFQ) is, what to put in it, and how to write one that gets clear, comparable quotes from Shenzhen suppliers. With a checklist you can copy.
16Basics · 6 minLooks-like vs works-like prototypes
Why most hardware teams build two different kinds of prototype, what each one is for, and when to combine them into a single "looks-like, works-like" build.
Common questions
What tolerance can Shenzhen shops hold?
Many quote ±0.05 mm as standard and tighter on request. Confirm on the drawing and ask for an inspection report.
Is 5-axis necessary?
Only for complex geometry or to reduce setups. Most enclosures and brackets are 3-axis.