CNC Processes
CNC Milling
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- Tight Tolerances
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A2 Tool Steel
ABS
Acrylic
Aluminum
Brass
Bronze
Cast Iron
Copper
Delrin
Garolite G-10
HDPE
Nylon
PEEK
Polycarbonate
Polypropylene
PPS
PTFE
Stainless Steel
Steel
Titanium
UHMW
Ultem
A2 Tool Steel
| Name | Applicable Materials | Colors | Can be applied with | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alodine | Aluminum | Clear, gold | Media Blasting, Tumbling, Type II Anodizing* Type III Anodizing*, Type III Anodizing with PTFE* |
 | Anodizing | Aluminum | Clear, black, grey, red, blue, gold | Media Blasting, Tumbling, Alodine* |
 | Black Oxide | Steel, Stainless Steel | Black | Media Blasting, Tumbling, Passivation |
 | Electroless Nickel Plating | Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel | — | Media Blasting, Tumbling |
 | Electropolishing | Steel, Stainless Steel | — | — |
 | Hand Polishing | Acrylic | — | Enhanced cosmetic appearance |
 | Media Blasting | Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel, Brass, Bronze, Copper | — | All post processes except Electropolish and Powdercoat |
| | Nickel Plating | Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel | — | Media Blasting, Tumbling |
 | Passivation | Steel, Stainless Steel | — | Black Oxide, Electroless Nickel Plating, Zinc Plating, Tumbling, Media Blasting |
 | Powder Coating | Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel | Black (20% or 90% gloss), white (20% or 90% gloss) | — |
 | Tumbling | Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel, Brass, Bronze, Copper | — | All post processes except Electropolish and Powdercoat |
 | Vapor Polishing | CNC Polycarbonate (Clear, Black) | — | Enhanced cosmetic appearance, near optically clear applications |
 | Zinc Plating | Steel, Stainless Steel | Clear: light blue coating, black: glossy black coating | Media Blasting, Tumbling, Passivation |
* = requires masking
| Metals, PEEK, And ULTEM With Drawing | Other Plastics With Drawing | No Drawing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linear Dimension | +/- 0.01 mm+/-0.0003 inch | +/- 0.05 mm +/- 0.002 inch | ISO 2768 Medium |
| Hole Diameters (Not Reamed) | +/- 0.008 mm+/- 0.0003 inch | +/- 0.05 mm+/- 0.002 inch | ISO 2768 Medium |
| Shaft Diameters | +/- 0.004 mm +/-0.00016 inch | +/- 0.05 mm+/- 0.002 inch | ISO 2768 Medium |
Depending on the machining process, Fictiv accepts parts up to 48" in length. If you have larger parts, please chat with our team. Also note that the tolerances listed here are minimums for an ideal case and looser tolerances may be required depending on the process, material choice, or part geometry.
Download Tolerance ChartProduction Location
AS-9100 Certified Overseas Manufacturing Partner
Secondary Processes
Heat Treating, Anodizing Type II, Media Blasting
Quantity of Parts Made
14,500
“Working with Fictiv, we can get instant communication. It really helps us quickly iterate, talk through things on our parts that may need to change, and even get updates on parts and shipments.”
Andrew Willing, Mechanical Engineer at Hebi Robotics
With milling, the stock that the part will be cut from is usually a six-sided bar or sheet of material (though it can be also a cylindrical rodi). This stock is fixtured to the bed of the machine and the features of the part are cut using a rotating tool such as a drill or endmill.
Does Fictiv vapor polish ABS or other plastics?
At this time, we do not vapor polish ABS, we only vapor polish Polycarbonate and manual polish Acrylic
What minimum thickness can I incorporate into my design to prevent warpage?
Typically, we recommend a minimum wall thickness of 0.5mm for metals and 1mm for plastics. However, these values largely depend on the size of the part; therefore the larger the part size, the higher the recommended minimum wall thickness should be. Please keep in mind that this does not imply that wall thicknesses with lesser values are unachievable. These recommendations are simply thresholds to limit the risk of warpage.
What size of fillets are added when no specific fillet is specified by the 3D model or drawing?
If a specific fillet radius is required, please specify. If not, the fillet radii that allow for easy machining will be added based on the machinist’s discretion. For a general idea, internal vertical edge radii could be >1/3*Depth and internal horizontal edges may be left sharp or have a 0.5mm to 1mm radius.
What is tool offset in CNC milling?
CNC machines must be programmed to allow offsets for the diameter and length of the tool to cut the part. By knowing the exact tool offsets a machinist can find the precise machining starting point.
What is the difference between CNC turning and CNC milling?
The CNC milling process involves a rotating tool that carves away excess material from a stationary workpiece.
CNC turning uses a rotating workpiece, typically used to make cylindrical parts.
What is 5-axis CNC machining?
A 5-axis CNC milling machine can move a cutting tool in 5 axes, which allows the operator to simultaneously hit five different sides (or more) of a part depending on the design complexities. Resultantly, the tool is highly capable of creating highly complex products and parts.
With a 5-axis machine, the X, Y, and Z-axes are similar to a 3-axis machine layout. The table then rotates along the A-axis, as it does with the 4-axis. However, the 5-axis machine involves the pivoting action at the joint of the table, followed by rotation along the C-axis, which defines the fifth movement.
What is the difference between a CNC router and a CNC mill?
A CNC router moves the spindle around a stationary table and is primarily designed to operate at high speeds.
A CNC mill typically moves the workpiece along a linear axis, making cuts through the driving force of rotational speed.
What types of materials do CNC mills use?
The most commonly used materials in CNC milling are metals, such as aluminum, brass or steel and plastics such as ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate, and polypropylene.
