In today’s manufacturing industry, CNC (computer numerical control) machining technology has been widely used in many industries due to its advantages of high precision, high efficiency and flexibility. However, for many enterprises, how to quickly produce products and save costs while ensuring the accuracy of parts has become a problem that needs to be overcome urgently. Next, this article will share how to achieve this goal in a custom CNC machining service through a specific case study, which has resulted in a 30% cost savings.
What Are Custom CNC Machining Services?
Custom CNC machining services are a service model that uses computer numerical control (CNC) technology to manufacture precision parts according to the specific needs of customers. Relying on pre-programmed instructions, CNC machine tools can automatically control tools to perform a series of processing operations such as cutting, drilling, and milling raw materials, so as to produce high-precision parts that meet customer design requirements. This service model can not only meet the individual needs of customers in terms of part shape, size and material, but also ensure that the parts have high precision and high quality.
What Are the Features of Custom CNC Machining Services?
Highly personalized
Custom CNC machining services are able to produce one-of-a-kind parts based on customer-provided drawings or samples. Whether it’s a simple geometry or a complex curved structure, it can be achieved with the help of CNC machining technology.
High precision and high quality
CNC machine tools have high-precision positioning and control capabilities, which can ensure that the machining accuracy of parts reaches the micron level. Through advanced cutting technology and strict quality control system, the surface quality and dimensional accuracy of the parts are guaranteed.
Material diversity
Custom CNC machining services support the machining of a wide range of materials, including metals (e.g., aluminum alloys, stainless steels, titanium alloys, etc.), plastics (like ABS, PC, PEEK, etc.), and composite materials. Customers can select the most suitable material according to the use environment and performance requirements of the part.
Flexible production capacity
Whether it’s low-volume prototyping or large-scale mass production, custom CNC machining services have the flexibility to handle it. Increase productivity and reduce costs by optimizing production processes and rationalizing resources.
What are the application areas of custom CNC machining services?
- Aerospace:It is used to manufacture high-precision, high-performance parts such as aircraft parts, engine blades, and spacecraft structural parts.
- Automobile manufacturing:It is used in the production of key parts such as automobile engine block, cylinder head, crankshaft, camshaft, etc.
- Medical devices:It is used to manufacture high-precision and high-reliability medical devices such as surgical instruments, implants, and prostheses.
- Electronic Equipment:It is used in the production of housings and internal structural parts of electronic products such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
- Mould making:It is used to manufacture injection molds, die-casting molds, stamping molds and other molds.
What are the processes for customized CNC machining services?
| Processes | Description |
| Demand communication | Communicate with customers to learn more about key information such as part design requirements, material selection, production quantities, and more. |
| Schematic design | According to the customer’s needs, the machining plan is designed, including machining technology, tool selection, cutting parameters, etc. |
| Programming & Simulation | Write the CNC machining program and carry out simulation verification to ensure the correctness and feasibility of the program. |
| Processing and manufacturing | The raw materials are clamped onto the CNC machine tool and processed and manufactured in accordance with the processing procedures. |
Quality inspection | The quality inspection of the processed parts covers dimensional accuracy, surface quality, performance and other aspects. |
Delivery & After-sales | Deliver qualified parts to customers and provide necessary after-sales service and technical support. |
Why Do 73% of Custom Projects Fail?
In the world of custom machining, 73% of projects fail because companies ignore many pitfalls. Here are five common pitfalls and strategies to deal with them.
Pitfall 1: Design Unmanufacturability (DFM)
Problem description
Designers focus on the appearance and performance of products, and tend to ignore the limitations of the manufacturing process, resulting in difficult parts processing and increased costs. For example, the wall thickness of aluminum parts of a drone company was set to 0.3mm, which was seriously deformed during processing, resulting in a loss of $12,000.
solution
Ask suppliers to provide a free DFM analysis report with machining simulations, risk points, and recommendations for improvement. Strengthen communication between design and manufacturing teams to jointly optimize design and improve manufacturability.
Pitfall 2: Hidden costs skyrocket
Problem description
There are hidden costs that are easy to be overlooked in custom processing, such as the increase in the price of special tools and non-standard fixtures, and the minimum purchase limit of materials, which will greatly affect the project budget. For example, special tools may rise by 150 yuan per piece, non-standard fixtures may rise by 300-800 yuan, and special materials need to be purchased as a whole, and the cost has increased dramatically.
solution
Sign a “total price cap agreement” with the supplier to lock in the cost fluctuation range. Before purchasing, do a good job of inquiry, price comparison, and comprehensively consider the selection of cost-effective suppliers and solutions. Request a “Process Capability Matrix” from your supplier for machining capabilities and review a sample CNAS or ISO 17025 certification test report to ensure they have a quality control system in place.
Pitfall 3: Miscommunication and expectation management
Problem description
Customized projects have many links and many participants, which is prone to miscommunication and improper management of expectations, resulting in project delays or failures. Failure to clearly communicate part performance requirements by the customer, or underestimation of the difficulty of machining by the supplier, can result in delivery delays.
solution
Establish a regular communication mechanism, and the project team will meet regularly to share progress and discuss problems. At the beginning of the project, clarify the project objectives, expectations and acceptance criteria with customers and suppliers to avoid inconsistencies in later understanding.
Pitfall 4: Insufficient quality control and inspection
Problem description
Quality control and inspection are very important to customized projects, but there are often problems such as unclear inspection standards and lax implementation of processes, resulting in the inflow of substandard products and affecting the overall quality.
solution
According to the characteristics of the parts and customer requirements, a detailed inspection plan is formulated, and the inspection items, methods and frequencies are clarified. Strengthen the process inspection and final inspection, regular inspection during processing, and final inspection before delivery to ensure that the parts are qualified.
Pitfall 5: Lack of risk management and emergency plans
Problem description
Customized projects face risks such as raw material supply interruptions, equipment failures, and personnel changes, and the lack of effective management and plans will lead to project failure or expanded losses.
solution
In the early stage of the project, we will comprehensively identify and assess risks and formulate countermeasures. Formulate an emergency plan for risk events, and clarify the response process, responsible persons and resource allocation methods, so as to quickly respond to risks and reduce losses.
If you want to streamline some parts further, or have new ideas for how to express them, such as making the language more understandable, feel free to let me know.
Which Custom CNC Supplier Fits Your Needs?
When it comes to custom CNC machining services, choosing the right supplier is key to a successful project. Different types of suppliers have their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of response speed, processing accuracy, cost and delivery stability. The following is an analysis of the characteristics of the three types of mainstream suppliers, combined with the advantages of LS Company, to help you choose the right supplier.
Local small and medium-sized processing plants
- Advantage:The response time is fast, and the quote is usually available within 24 hours, and it can quickly cooperate with urgent modifications. High flexibility for small batch production of non-critical components.
- Limitations:The machining accuracy is generally only up to IT8, which is difficult to meet the requirements of high precision. The equipment and technology are limited, and the ability to handle complex processes is insufficient.
- Price range:The rate of aluminum alloy equipment is about 25 – 50 yuan / hour, and the price is close to the people.
- Applicable scenarios:It is suitable for projects with low precision requirements, small production scale, and cost and time sensitivity, such as general product housings, simple bracket manufacturing.
Multinational manufacturing service provider
- Advantage:Provide a one-stop service, from 3D printing to post-processing. Global quality assurance, high delivery stability, suitable for industries with strict quality requirements.
- Cost:15% to 25% higher costs than regional suppliers, but 40% more consistent delivery.
- Case:A German company provides EMC compatibility testing to medical device customers to ensure that products meet international standards.
- Applicable scenarios:It is suitable for aerospace, medical equipment and other projects that require high precision and quality and sufficient budget.
Online CNC platform
- Innovation Highlights:With AI automatic quotation function, you can quickly get a quotation by uploading drawings, which is convenient and conducive to small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups to find processing resources.
- Risk Warning:The platform commission is high, up to 18% – 30%, and the actual processor may subcontract multiple times to affect the quality, and the on-time delivery rate is only 78%.
- Applicable scenarios:It is suitable for projects with a small number of parts, low complexity, and low requirements for delivery time.
How to choose the most suitable supplier?
Supplier Scorecard
Based on the needs of the project, the following dimensions (sample weights) are scored for the supplier:
- Quality (40%): processing accuracy, quality inspection ability.
- Cost (30%): price competitiveness, cost performance.
- Communication efficiency (20%): response speed, technical support.
- Certifications (10%): Industry certifications (e.g. ISO 9001, AS9100).
Red Line List
- Suppliers without NC simulation software (such as VERICUT) are directly eliminated: lack of simulation capabilities may lead to processing failure or delay.
- Suppliers without strict quality control system are eliminated: the consistency and reliability of parts cannot be guaranteed.
Why choose LS?
LS Company combines the advantages of three types of suppliers while circumventing their limitations, making it the ideal choice for your custom CNC machining needs. The following are the core strengths of LS:
1. High-precision machining capability
The processing accuracy can reach ±0.005mm, which meets the needs of high-demand industries such as aerospace and medical equipment.
Equipped with a five-axis linkage CNC machine and CNC simulation software (such as VERICUT) to ensure the one-time molding of complex parts.
2. Quick response and flexible support
Quotation within 24 hours, support urgent modification and small batch production.
A team of professional engineers provides customized process optimization suggestions to shorten the processing cycle.
3. Cost control and cost performance
Through process optimization, material replacement and intelligent production, we help customers save up to 30% of costs.
Transparent quotation, no hidden fees, better cost performance than multinational manufacturing service providers and online platforms.
4. One-stop service and global warranty
From design optimization to post-processing, we provide complete manufacturing solutions.
ISO 9001 and AS9100 certifications ensure consistent quality worldwide.
5. Delivery stability and punctuality
The on-time delivery rate is 92%, far exceeding the 78% of the online platform.
The intelligent production system ensures 24-hour uninterrupted production to meet the needs of urgent orders.
How to Optimize Custom CNC Costs?
The seven strategies for optimizing custom CNC costs include:
1.Design optimization
Unified hole diameter standard, reduce the number of tool changes, and save 15% of processing time.
Replace sharp corners with rounded corners to reduce stress concentration and extend tool life by 2 times.
2.Process combinations
Using 3D printing (such as SLS nylon) + CNC finishing, the cost is reduced by 32% compared with pure cutting.
Case: The robot joint parts are first cast blanks, and then the key surfaces are milled on five axes.
3.Supply chain geography strategy
Japan/Germany is selected for high-complexity parts (accuracy is preferred).
Select China/Southeast Asia for simple structural parts (cost-sensitive).
Nearshoring in Mexico (25% cheaper than U.S.) for local compliance in North America.
4.Bulk segmented purchasing
The first 100 pieces were produced in China (validation process) and transferred to a highly automated plant in Vietnam during the expansion phase.
5.Material optimization
Choose a lower-cost alternative (e.g., high-strength aluminum alloy instead of titanium alloy).
Optimize nesting design, improve material utilization, and reduce waste.
6.Intelligent production
Introduce automated equipment and real-time monitoring system to improve efficiency and reduce scrap rate.
7.Supplier cooperation and price comparison
Get the price comparison report of China, the United States and Europe (48-hour delivery) and choose the best solution.
Establish long-term cooperation with core suppliers and strive for volume discounts.
Through the above strategies, enterprises can significantly reduce the cost of custom CNC machining, while improving efficiency and quality.
LS company success story sharing
Case 1: Lightweight design of engine block in the automotive industry
A well-known automobile manufacturer developed a new generation of high-efficiency engines, and the engine block was lightweight without reducing strength. Traditional machining methods are durable, costly, and time-consuming, making it difficult to meet the requirements of the project to deliver the first prototypes in 8 weeks, save 30% of the cost, and ± 0.01mm machining accuracy.
After careful analysis of the design, the engineer team of LS company proposed to adopt high-speed cutting technology and multi-axis simultaneous machining optimization process, proposed to replace cast iron materials with high-strength aluminum alloy, and introduced intelligent CNC machining centers. In the end, the first prototypes were completed in 3 weeks and delivered 5 weeks ahead of schedule, resulting in a 35% cost savings and full accuracy to ensure engine performance and reliability.
Case 2: Machining design of superalloy for turbine blades in the aerospace industry
An aerospace company needed to process superalloy turbine blades for a new aero engine, which required high precision and surface finish, and required the first prototypes to be delivered within six weeks. The accuracy of the blade profile should be ±0.005mm, and the surface roughness of Ra≤0.4μm.
LS uses a dedicated coated tool and optimized cutting data, uses a five-axis CNC machine, and introduces an in-line inspection system. As a result, the first prototypes were completed in 4 weeks and delivered 2 weeks ahead of schedule, resulting in a 32% cost savings and rigorous quality checks for blade accuracy and surface finish.
Case 3: Biocompatible material processing of orthopedic implants in the medical industry
A medical device company needed to process titanium alloy orthopedic implants with good biocompatibility and high surface finish, and required the first prototype to be delivered within 4 weeks. Titanium alloys are difficult to machine, prone to work hardening and tool wear, and the surface roughness of the implant needs to reach Ra≤0.2μm.
LS uses special titanium machining tools and high-efficiency coolant, precision grinding processes and rapid prototyping technology. In the end, the first prototypes were completed in 3 weeks and delivered 1 week ahead of schedule, resulting in a 30% cost savings, and the implant surface roughness and biocompatibility met the requirements and passed the quality inspection.
Conclusion
From the above cases, we can see that LS’s professional ability and efficient execution in customized CNC machining services can help customers obtain high-quality precision parts in a short period of time and significantly reduce costs. Choosing LS means not only choosing efficiency and precision, but also choosing a reliable and cost-effective solution.
If you are looking for a partner who can provide efficient, accurate, and economical CNC machining services, LS will be the best choice for you. Contact us to learn more about our customized services and let us work together to drive your project success.
Contact us now to get exclusive CNC machining solutions!
📞 Phone: +86 185 6675 9667
📧 Email: info@longshengmfg.com
🌐 Website: https://www.longshengmfg.com/
Disclaimer
The content appearing on this webpage is for informational purposes only. LS makes no representation or warranty of any kind, be it expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or validity of the information. Any performance parameters, geometric tolerances, specific design features, quality and types of materials, or processes should not be inferred to represent what will be delivered by third-party suppliers or manufacturers through LS’s network. Buyers seeking quotes for parts are responsible for defining the specific requirements for those parts. Please contact to our for more information.
Team LS
This article was written by various LS contributors. LS is a leading resource on manufacturing with CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, 3D printing, injection molding,metal stamping and more.
