What is CNC Milling

CNC milling metalworking

CNC MILLING

World-class CNC Milled parts delivered to your door in days

Order high-quality CNC Milled parts with Geomiq

Whether you’re looking for 3 axis or 5 axis CNC Milled parts, you can trust that we’ll connect you with the right manufacturer for the job. Our partners’ expertise – combined with the power of our data-driven software and the 1400+ machines on our network – will ensure your parts are affordably quoted, quickly delivered and made right the first time, every time.

Why order CNC Milled parts from Geomiq?

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BENEFIT

Rapid turnaround

We’re committed to reducing friction at every stage, so you can be as delighted with the speed of your CNC Milled parts’ arrival as you are with their exceptional quality. Order now to receive your parts in as little as 5 days!

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BENEFIT

High accuracy

Our standard CNC tolerance is +/- 0.127mm, and when you use our tolerance configurator, you can expect precision machining down to +/- 0.005mm.

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BENEFIT

Unmatched scalability

Whether you’re after a one-off prototype or 10,000 units at the most competitive price, CNC Milling is a go-to manufacturing method for rapid scalability.

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BENEFIT

The perfect finish

We offer high-quality finishing processes for most CNC Milled parts; including anodising, polishing and plating, heat treatment, powder coating and more.

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BENEFIT

A wide variety of materials

We offer over 100+ metal and plastic materials, and take great care to ensure the right material is used for every part.

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BENEFIT

A wide range of industries

From aerospace and energy products to electronics and automotive goods, we’re proud to create beautifully CNC Milled parts for any and every industry.

CNC MILLING MATERIALS

Click on each material to find out more

Available aluminium varieties:

  • Aluminium – Grey (6061)
  • Aluminium – Grey (6082)
  • Aluminium – Grey (7050)
  • Aluminium – Grey (7075)

Available stainless steel varieties:

  • Stainless Steel – Grey (303)
  • Stainless Steel – Grey (304)
  • Stainless Steel – Grey (304L)
  • Stainless Steel – Grey (316)
  • Stainless Steel – Grey (316L)

Copper – Red/Bronze

  • Brass – Yellow (CZ 121)
  • Brass – Yellow (CZ 131)

Magnesium – Grey (Magnesium AZ31)

Steel Alloy – Grey (Allow 4140)

Titanium – Grey (Grade 5 Ti6AI4V)

  • ABS, Black
  • ABS, White
  • ABS, Natural
  • ABS, Clear
  • ABS/PC, Black
  • Copolymer, Grey
  • Copolymer, Natural
  • Homopolymer, Black
  • Homopolymer, Natural
  • Homopolymer, Black 20% glass fibre-UV
  • Homopolymer, Black UV stabilisted
  • CVPC on request
  • HDPE, Natural
  • LDPE, Natural
  • PA6, Natural
  • PA6, Black 30% Glass Fibre
  • PA6, Natural 30% Glass Fibre
  • PA6/6, Natural 20% Glass
  • PA6/6, Black 25% Glass
  • PA6/6, Black 30% Glass Fibre
  • ABS/PC, Black
  • PEEK, Natural 
  • PEI, Black
  • PEI, Natural 
  • PET, Natural 
  • PMMA, Clear 
  • PMMA, Frosted
  • PP, Homopolymer Black
  • PP, Homopolymer Natural
  • PP, Copolymer Natural
  • PP, Natural 
  • PP, Natural 20% Glass
  • PPSU, Black
  • PS, (HIPS) White
  • PSU Natural
  • PTFE, White
  • PVC, Grey
  • UHMW

Primary and secondary finishing options

Click on each option to find out more

  • As Machined
  • Bead Blasted
  • Polished 

  • Standard Polishing
  • Electropolishing
  • Mirror Polishing

  • Sulphuric Anodising 
  • Hard Anodising
  • Plating
  • Powder Coating
  • Wet Painting

  • Nickel Plating
  • Chrome Plating

What is CNC Milling?

This subtractive method of manufacturing starts with a fixed billet of plastic or metal, with material removed using a spinning cutting tool to produce the end part. At Geomiq, we’re proud to offer 3 axis, 4 axis and 5 axis high-precision CNC Milling capabilities for even the most complicated of part geometries.

The Geomiq process:

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UPLOAD YOUR DESIGNS

It takes just seconds to upload your design files to the G-Quote engine. We benchmark a minimum of 3 quotes from trusted partners and deliver you the best price within one business day.

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MANUFACTURE

Once the best quote for price, quality and speed is selected, our trusted partners will get to work creating you the highest quality of mechanical parts – and your parts will be manufactured in days!

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QUALITY ASSURANCE

Our expert team of engineers carry out two stages of rigorous Quality Control to ensure thorough inspections of your parts and ensure they are right the first time.

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DELIVERY

Utilising our proprietary software and our on-site teams, we ensure on-time delivery and communicate project status at every stage from order through to delivery.

An overview of the cnc milling process

When you choose to use a CNC milling service, you are opting to use a subtractive manufacturing process that makes use of computerised controls to operate cutting tools at high speed. The function of these tools is to manipulate and remove sections of the stock material to produce your desired parts. 

The service is carried out using a similar manufacturing process to that used in CNC machining. The process uses a detailed CAD model to design a CNC program which is then run as part of the manufacturing stage. 

Before the program is executed, the machine is prepared by selecting the correct workpieces and milling tools. When the machine has been successfully set up, the milling service is carried out. This process involves the rotation of the cutting tool at high speeds.

The CNC milling service works by feeding the workpiece into the rotating tool. The tool can also be moved across the material or by manipulating both the tool and the workpiece relative to each other. The final stages of the manufacturing process are finishing, quality control, and post-processing services. 

How does CNC milling work?

CNC milling works by using a range of tools to shape and define a workpiece. The milling service uses a moveable tabletop, although in some cases, the individual cutters are also moved relative to the workpiece. 

This process is different from the traditional manual milling process as the moveable workpieces are fed into the high-speed rotations of the cutting tools rather than against them. 

You may choose to use a CNC milling service as a secondary process for a part that has already been machined. This is because the service provides enhanced definition to workpieces, such as manufacturing intricate details like holes, slots, and threads. However, it is also an effective choice for designing parts from scratch. The process offers high precision and accuracy and is an efficient choice for producing many identical designs. 

At Geomiq, we offer a choice of 3, 4, or 5-axis CNC milling services, meaning that no matter how complex your design, you can be sure it will be produced accurately and to a high standard. We match you with trusted partners who will deliver your parts within days of submitting your order, meaning that you don’t need to compromise on price, accuracy, or efficiency when choosing a manufacturing service.

Why Use CNC milling for your project?

Our CNC milling service saves your business time and money, as we match you with only the best partners for the job. You will receive a quote in far less time than from a traditional manufacturing shop. We aim to deliver a minimum of three quotes for your designs within one business day. 

The manufacturing method is particularly notable for the high-accuracy results and high-tolerance parts it can produce. It is a highly versatile manufacturing process, as it is capable of producing excellent results for both bulk designs and one-off prototype parts. 

In addition to this, the manufacturing process consistently provides high-quality surface finishes and can be carried out quickly, allowing you to easily meet tight production deadlines. 

A CNC milling service is particularly useful if you require parametric or cubic designs for your parts. However, you can also produce contoured surfaces and complex, detailed features, such as engravings or intricate surface designs. It is also a good choice for creating pockets, threads, and walls. 

Overall, it is a more cost-effective way of achieving these results than other manufacturing processes. Services such as 3D printing and injection moulding are often unable to produce features like threads accurately, but this can easily be achieved with CNC milling to produce your parts. 

What are the benefits of CNC milling?

There are many benefits in choosing a CNC milling service to aid in the creation of your designs.

Firstly, the process is known for producing consistently accurate results and high precision design details. The reason for this is that the service works based on computer-aided designs from 3D CAD files and is carried out based on automated instructions, eliminating the need for manual input. This considerably reduces the likelihood of manufacturing errors.

The manufacturing process is also beneficial as an option for creating many parts at high volume, allowing you to benefit from economies of scale in the production process. By using a CNC milling service, you can ensure that your parts are produced with a consistent finish and degree of quality.

Choosing this manufacturing method means that the production process will be less labour intensive, which is a more cost-effective option in the long run. In manual processes, a higher degree of human intervention is needed, which is more expensive and increases production time. As a highly automated design process, extra time and expense are saved when manufacturing your parts. It is also an excellent choice due to its versatility, as there is a wide range of applications across many industries worldwide.

Applications of CNC milling

CNC milling is applicable to many different industries, making it a popular choice for a wide range of manufacturing processes. The production of lightweight and high-performance plastics using this method is crucial to a variety of sectors.

Noted for its precision and accuracy, it is widely used in the aerospace and automotive industries for producing parts such as engines, bushings, exhaust components, bearings, wall panels, and ventilation ducts. Other popular applications are in the healthcare and medical industries for manufacturing intricate and highly complex parts, including prototype devices.

CNC milling services are also popular in the oil and gas industry for manufacturing essential parts for extrusion and other important industrial equipment such as jigs, tractor parts, and other niche fixtures. It is particularly essential for threading applications in this industry, as it can produce threads with ease in a way that many other automated processes struggle to do.

CNC milling is also widely used for metal fabrication and to prepare metal for later stages of the manufacturing process. The process is also applicable to a wide variety of packaging types, as the machines are capable of creating precision grooves allowing for grip and protection of various items and parts.