Get quotes for custom 5-axis machined parts
Complex, contoured, and multi-face parts cut in a single setup. Fewer refixtures means tighter true position across features and faster cycles on organic geometry. Upload your model and we'll source competitive quotes from qualified manufacturing partners.
STEP · STL · IGES · DWG · DXF · PDF · and more
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How OpenSpindle works
We tap our partner network. You get the best-match quote.
Upload your part and we tap our network of partner shops to get you a competitive, all-in quote that is the best match for the job.
One upload
A CAD file or a sketch. That is the whole ask on your end.
Your best-match quote
Sourced from the partner shops set up for your exact part.
All-in, on your timeline
Machining, finishing, and shipping detailed to your turnaround.
Stock our 5-axis shops machine from solid
Nearly everything is cut from solid block or plate. Common materials are below; if yours is not here, ask when you request a quote.
Specs
Tolerances you can expect
| Feature | With a drawing | No drawing supplied |
|---|---|---|
| Linear dimension | ±0.002 in | ISO 2768 Medium |
| Feature true position | ±0.003 in | ISO 2768 Medium |
| Profile of a surface | ±0.005 in | ISO 2768 Medium |
| Hole diameter (not reamed) | ±0.003 in | ISO 2768 Medium |
| Surface finish | 32-125 Ra | 125 Ra as-milled |
Cutting multiple faces in one setup keeps features referenced to the same datum, so true position across faces holds tighter than it would with refixturing. Call out the datum and the features that must relate to it.
Design rules
How to design for 5-Axis CNC Machining
Five-axis reaches geometry a 3-axis mill cannot, within the limits of tool reach.
| Design rule | Typical spec | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tool reach vs deflection | keep stickout minimal | Long tools flex and leave a poorer finish on deep features. |
| Min accessible feature | smallest tool that reaches | Five-axis reaches undercuts a 3-axis cannot, within tool reach. |
| Min internal corner radius | >= radius of the reaching tool | Truly sharp internal corners still need EDM. |
| Min wall thickness | 0.030 in metal | Thin walls flex under tool pressure. |
| Standard tolerance | +/- 0.005 in | Single-setup work improves feature-to-feature accuracy. |
Typical starting points; a shop confirms reach and access against your model.
Reference
Related reference charts
Free spec + tolerance charts for designing these parts.
Secondary operations
Inserts, hardware and finishing
Threads and inserts
Tapped and cross-drilled holes, threaded bosses, counterbores, and pressed or heat-set inserts, cut in the same setup or as a secondary op.
Finishing
Applied after machining. As-milled ships fastest; anodize, passivation, and plating are common on 5-axis metal parts.
| Finish | Materials | Adds | Can be applied with |
|---|---|---|---|
| As-milled | All | +0 days | Anything |
| Bead blast | Metal, most plastics | +1-2 days | Before anodize |
| Anodize | Aluminum, titanium | +3-5 days | Bead blast |
| Passivation | Stainless only | +2 days | Bead blast |
Contoured surfaces on a 5-axis part often carry a cosmetic requirement. Note where finish matters and where it does not so the shop does not chase a spec you do not need.
Process comparison
5-axis vs other processes
When another process fits better than machining in five axes.
| Process | Best for | Typical volume | Choose it over 5-Axis CNC Machining when |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Axis CNC Machining | Prismatic parts in 1 to 3 setups | Prototype to production | The part does not need contoured surfaces or single-setup access. |
| EDM | Sharp internal corners, hardened material | Prototype to production | You need sharp internal corners or to cut hardened steel. |
| 3D Printing | Complex geometry, fast prototypes | One-off to low volume | Geometry is too complex to reach even in five axes, or you need it fast. |
Get a better quote
Getting a quote that comes back fast
| Instead of | Send this |
|---|---|
| "Complex part, need 5-axis" | "6061 aluminum impeller, 4 in dia, ±0.003 true position on the blade roots, qty 10" |
| "Machine all over" | "Profile of ±0.005 on the contoured face, ISO 2768-M elsewhere" |
| "Some holes to tap" | "6x 1/4-20 UNC on the angled boss face, referenced to datum A" |
Name the datum and the features that must relate to it. That is what makes single-setup 5-axis worth the price over 3-axis with refixturing.
Applications
Industries we serve
5-axis shops on OpenSpindle produce impellers, manifolds, structural brackets, and contoured housings for demanding industries, including AS9100 and ITAR-registered shops.
More on OpenSpindle
Need a different process?
Get a quote for these capabilities too.
Designing for this process
What actually changes your quote
Not a definition of 5-axis. The design choices that move your price and lead time.
3+2 beats simultaneous when it can
Positional 3+2 reaches multiple faces without the programming and cycle-time cost of full simultaneous motion. Reserve continuous 5-axis for true contours like blades and impellers, not flat faces at an angle.
One datum scheme, referenced everywhere
The whole advantage is holding the part once. Tie your critical features to a single datum so the shop can inspect them from the same reference the machine cut from.
Tool reach sets the wall
A 5-axis machine can tilt to shorten the tool reaching into a deep pocket, but a long, thin tool still deflects. Generous fillets and reachable geometry keep the shop off special tooling.
Model quality drives programming
Toolpaths are generated off your solid model. A clean STEP or Parasolid with no gaps or slivers programs fast; a messy surface model adds hours before a chip is cut.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
3+2 (positional) machining tilts the part to a fixed angle, locks the two rotary axes, and cuts in 3 axes from that orientation. It reaches multiple faces in one setup at lower cost. Full simultaneous 5-axis moves all five axes at once to follow contoured or organic surfaces, like blades and impellers. Many parts only need 3+2; shops pick the right approach from your model.
Get 5-axis machining quotes
Upload your model and we'll source competitive quotes from qualified manufacturing partners.
STEP · STL · IGES · DWG · DXF · PDF · and more
Uploads are secure & confidential