CNC Turning
Shafts, pins, bushings and fittings on CNC lathes and Swiss machines, from one piece.
- ±0.02 mm
- Typical tolerance
- Ø1–500 mm
- Diameter range
- 1,000 mm
- Max turned length
- From 1 pc
- No minimum order
CNC turning spins the bar stock while a fixed tool cuts diameters, grooves, tapers and threads. It is the fastest route for round parts. Mill-turn centers add cross holes and flats in the same setup, and Swiss machines hold long, thin parts steady for tight tolerances.
Commonly used for:
- Shafts and axles
- Pins, bushings and spacers
- Threaded fittings and connectors
- Knobs, rollers and pulleys
- Nozzles and valve parts
What we turn
Parts that are mostly round, with or without milled features.
Shafts and axles
Stepped diameters, keyways and bearing seats held to tight fits.
Pins and bushings
Press-fit diameters, chamfers and grooves, batch after batch.
Threaded fittings
External and internal threads, sealing faces and hex flats.
Spacers and standoffs
Short turned parts in aluminum, brass or plastic.
Rollers and pulleys
Concentric bores and outer diameters in one setup.
Nozzles and valve parts
Small bores, tapers and seats, often Swiss-turned.
Turning capabilities
What the standard order holds. Tighter values are quoted per feature from your drawing.
Tolerances
Diameters and lengths that carry a tolerance are held to ±0.02–0.05 mm. Untoleranced dimensions follow ISO 2768-m.
Part size
Long, slender parts are turned with a tailstock or on a Swiss machine to stay straight.
| Machine | Size range |
|---|---|
| Lathe with live tooling | Ø1–500 mm, 1,000 mm long |
| Swiss lathe | From Ø1 mm, long and slender |
Threads
External and internal threads, cut or tapped. Add a thread relief groove when the thread runs up to a shoulder.
Milled features
Live tooling adds off-axis features without moving the part to a mill, keeping them true to the turned axis.
Surface finish
Turned surfaces come out smoother than milled ones. Ground finishes are quoted for bearing seats.
Edges
Specify chamfers on the drawing where a part must start into a bore or a thread.
Lead time
The quote shows the standard and expedited ship dates for your part and quantity.
Materials
Common turning grades, all quoted instantly. Each links to its datasheet.
Steel and stainless
Brass, copper and titanium
Compare grades side by side
| Material | Machinability | Cost | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum 6061 | Very good | $ | General CNC machined parts; Aerospace and structural brackets; Hydraulic manifolds and valve bodies |
| Aluminum 7075 | Excellent | $$$ | Aerospace components; Defense equipment; Gears |
| Aluminum 2024 | Excellent | $$$ | Aircraft skins and fuselage panels; Wing and fuselage structural members; Aerospace fittings and brackets |
| Steel 12L14 | Excellent | $ | Machined fittings; Fasteners; Valve bodies |
| Steel 1045 | Good | $ | Gears; Axles; Shafts |
| Steel 4140 | Good | $$ | CNC machined gears; Transmission and drive shafts; Machine tool spindles |
| Stainless Steel 303 | Very good | $$$ | CNC turned shafts; Valve bodies and stems; Nuts and threaded fittings |
| Stainless Steel 316 | Fair | $$$ | Marine deck hardware and fasteners; Chemical process piping and tanks; Food and pharmaceutical processing equipment |
| Copper Alloy C36000 | Excellent | $$$ | CNC turned threaded parts and fasteners; Hydraulic and pneumatic fittings; Valve stems and valve cores |
| Copper Alloy C11000 | Fair | $$$$ | Electrical busbars; Grounding straps and connectors; Terminals and cable lugs |
| Titanium Grade 5 | Poor | $$$ | Aircraft turbine blades and engine hardware; Medical implants and instrument bodies; Airframe structural fittings and lugs |
| POM-C | Excellent | $$ | Chemical-resistant gears; Bearings and bushings; Slide plates and wear guides |
| PTFE | Good | $$$ | Seals; Gaskets; Liners |
| PEEK | Very good | $$$$$ | Spinal fusion implants; Aerospace seals and back-up rings; Downhole oil and gas seals |
| UHMW-PE | Fair | $$ | Chute and hopper liners; Conveyor wear strips; Conveyor guide rails and curves |
Machinability and weldability are the library’s 0–100 scores (Excellent ≥ 85 … Poor < 35); cost is the relative tier, not a price. Every grade links to its datasheet with tempers, heat treatments and the finishes it takes.
Surface finishes
Pick the finish in the quote. Threads and fits are masked where needed.
What is CNC turning?
The part spins in a chuck and a stationary tool cuts it, so every turned surface is concentric to one axis.
A lathe makes diameters, faces, grooves and threads. When a round part also needs holes or flats off the axis, a mill-turn center cuts them in the same setup. A Swiss lathe feeds the bar through a guide bushing, so long thin parts stay supported right at the tool.
| Machine | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| CNC lathe2-axis | Part spins, tool moves along and across the axis. | Shafts, bushings and spacers that are fully round. |
| Mill-turnlive tooling | Adds driven tools for holes, flats and slots. | Round parts with cross holes, hex flats or keyways. |
| Swiss lathesliding headstock | Bar slides through a guide bushing next to the tool. | Small, long and thin parts with tight tolerances. |
How to order
- 1Upload a STEP file.Pick material, finish and quantity. Add a PDF drawing for fits and threads.
- 2Review price and DFM.Standard and expedited ship dates side by side, with flags for thin walls.
- 3Order online.Every order is first-article inspected before it ships.
Questions about CNC turning
What tolerance does CNC turning hold?
Typically ±0.02 mm on toleranced diameters and lengths, and ±0.005 mm on Swiss-turned parts. Untoleranced dimensions follow ISO 2768-m.
What size parts can you turn?
Diameters from 1 mm to 500 mm and lengths up to 1,000 mm. Larger parts are reviewed by an engineer.
When should I choose Swiss turning?
For small, long or thin parts with tight tolerances, such as pins, screws and medical components. The guide bushing supports the bar right at the tool.
Can turned parts have holes and flats?
Yes. Mill-turn centers add cross holes, flats, slots and hex features in the same setup, so they stay true to the turned axis.
How fast can I get turned parts?
As fast as 3 business days. The quote shows standard and expedited ship dates for your exact part and quantity.
Is there a minimum order?
No. Order one part or a few thousand. The unit price drops with quantity because setup is paid once per order.
Price your turned part now
Upload a STEP file and get a price, ship date and DFM notes in minutes.