CNC machining of parts.

The price of a CNC machined part depends mainly on machine time: geometry, material, setups, tolerances, finish, and quantity. At Proto&Go! you upload the 3D model and receive the quote with price and lead time in 24 hours. The minimum order is 60 € and the minimum manufacturing cost for CNC machining is 46 €.

What influences most is the design. Leave general tolerances on non-functional dimensions, use internal radii of at least one-third the depth, avoid thin walls and very deep pockets, choose through-drilled holes, and reduce faces that require flipping the part. Ordering multiple units at once also spreads the preparation cost.

At Proto&Go!, you receive the quote within 24 hours and machined parts within 8 working days from order confirmation. The lead time for each part depends on geometry, material, finish, and quantity, and is displayed in the quote. Shipping is then added: 24 hours in Spain.

Proto&Go! machines from a single unit. When requesting a quote, you can compare up to three quantities to see how the price per part decreases in a short run. For long runs of machining, you can consult the machining team of i-mas.

If you do not specify tolerances, Proto&Go! applies the general ISO 2768-f tolerance for metals and ISO 2768-m for plastics. For a 25 mm dimension in metal, that means ±0.10 mm, the thickness of two sheets. This is sufficient for most functional parts, housings, supports, and prototypes.

A tighter tolerance than the general one requires slower finishing passes, more careful measurement, and more rejected parts. That is why it is best reserved for dimensions that truly need it, such as a bearing housing. For the rest, the general tolerance is already very fine and keeps the price low.

For specific functional dimensions, Proto&Go! can reach an IT7 quality in metals, about 21 microns for a 25 mm dimension, and IT11 for plastics. Plastics expand and absorb moisture, so it is not advisable to demand metal-level precision. If a part needs such a fit, mention it to the engineering team when requesting the quote.

A machined part shows fine tool marks. At Proto&Go!, surfaces up to Ra 1.6 µm are achieved, about forty times finer than a hair. If you are looking for a uniform appearance, sandblasting or anodizing masks the marks.

The end mill is round, so the internal corners of a pocket always have a radius. Design radii of at least one-third the depth and never less than 1 mm: this allows using a larger, more rigid, and faster tool. If another part with sharp corners must fit there, add relief at the corners.

As a reference, 0.8 mm for metal and 1.5 mm for plastic. Below this, the wall vibrates during cutting and can deform or break. The higher the wall, the more thickness is advisable.

L ≤ 6 × D: recommended depth for blind holes with a standard drill. Maximum in this guide: 20 × D, with a long drill and through-tool coolant. Minimum diameter: 0.5 mm. Through holes have no depth warning up to 9 × D; from 20 to 40 × D, drill from both sides. For a thread, a usable length of 3 times the diameter is enough, from M3, with an unthreaded margin at the bottom. Since the 3D model doesn't show the thread size, mark the threads in a PDF attached to the part.

Only if the tool reaches the area. Hidden or closed cavities cannot be milled directly, and the usual alternative is to divide the part into two pieces joined with screws. The Proto&Go! engineering team reviews manufacturability when preparing the quote.

CNC machining produces a part by removing material from a block or bar using computer-controlled cutting tools. From the 3D model, toolpaths are programmed, and the machine mills or turns until the geometry is achieved. It is suitable for functional parts in metal and engineering plastics, for both prototypes and short runs.

With 3-axis machining, the tool moves in X, Y, and Z over the fixed part: this is the most economical option for plates, pockets, and brackets. The fourth axis adds a rotation to machine multiple faces without re-clamping. With 5 axes, the table tilts and rotates, allowing complex geometries and free-form surfaces in a single setup. Proto&Go! selects the process based on the geometry to optimize the price.

Turning is the fastest and most economical option for rotational parts: shafts, bushings, bolts, or fittings. The part rotates and the tool advances in X and Z. If the round part also has flat surfaces, side holes, or grooves, turning and milling are combined.

CNC machining delivers the part in the final material, with better tolerances and finish: it is the option for functional prototypes in metal or engineering plastics. 3D printing is faster and more economical for complex geometries, hollow parts, or multiple design versions. At Proto&Go!, 3D printing in PA12 is delivered within 5 working days, while machining starts from 8.

For low quantities in metal or engineering plastics, CNC machining is the direct option. For short runs of plastic parts with a product-like appearance, silicone molds with polyurethane casting reduce the price per part. For thousands of plastic parts, injection molding is usually cost-effective because the mold cost is amortized. At Proto&Go!, we help you compare when preparing the quote.

Proto&Go! machines metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, brass, and bronze, and engineering plastics like POM, polyamide, polycarbonate, PMMA, PEEK, or PTFE. Each material has its datasheet with properties and applications in the materials catalog.

6082 and 6061 are the most common: they machine well, resist corrosion, and allow anodizing. 7075 is much stronger and is reserved for highly requested parts, with a higher price. 5083 stands out in marine environments. If you are unsure, 6082 is a good starting point.

POM or acetal machines very well, is stable, and works well in friction parts, such as gears or guides. Nylon withstands impacts and wear but absorbs moisture. Polycarbonate and PMMA are used for transparent parts. For high temperatures or demanding chemical environments, PEEK is the reference.

Proto&Go! delivers parts with no finish or with sandblasting, anodizing, polishing, bluing, zinc plating, chrome plating, nickel plating, or RAL color painting. Each finish depends on the material: anodizing is for aluminum, while bluing and zinc plating are for steel.

Yes, slightly. Conventional anodizing forms a layer of 5 to 25 microns that grows about half outward and half inward into the metal: each face gains between 2.5 and 12.5 microns and a diameter, double, so a shaft thickens and a drilled hole narrows. Hard anodizing forms layers of 25 to 75 microns and changes dimensions more. For most parts it doesn't matter, but for a precise fit it's advisable to consider it when designing.

One 3D model per part in STEP or a native format: SLDPRT, X_T, X_B, IPT, CATPART, PRT, SAT, or 3DM. STL is not suitable for machining, as it describes the surface with triangles and loses exact geometry. If you only have a sketch, the i-mas engineering team can create the model.

No. At Proto&Go!, the 3D model is sufficient for quoting and manufacturing, with general tolerances applied to all dimensions. A PDF is added only to indicate threads or inserts, which the 3D model does not show.

At Proto&Go!, the online manufacturing platform of the i-mas industrial group. You upload the 3D model to the Proto&Go! platform, select material, finish, and quantity, and receive the quote within 24 hours. An engineering team reviews each part, and all pass quality control before shipping.

Notify info@protoandgo.com within 48 hours of receipt and indicate which requirement is not met. Proto&Go! collects the parts, and if the issue is confirmed, they correct them or repeat the order at no cost for return or reprocessing.

Yes. Proto&Go! limits access to your files to the necessary personnel to manufacture the part, with non-disclosure agreements. If your project requires it, you can request a specific confidentiality agreement (NDA).