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At AT-Machining, we provide precision CNC turning services for global customers. Based in China, we combine cost-effective manufacturing with international quality standards.
Choose AT-Machining for reliable CNC turning with stable quality and competitive pricing worldwide.
At AT-Machining, our CNC turning services are built to meet demanding engineering requirements across aerospace, medical, automotive, robotics, and industrial applications. With advanced CNC lathes and experienced machinists, we deliver stable accuracy, smooth surface finishes, and repeatable results from prototype to full production. Our capabilities cover both simple turned components and complex precision parts requiring tight dimensional control.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Max Diameter | Up to 300 mm (12 inches) |
| Max Length | Up to 1000 mm (40 inches) |
| Tolerance Standard | ISO 2768-m (standard), up to ±0.005 mm for precision parts |
| Surface Roughness | As-machined Ra 1.6–3.2 μm, polished finishes down to Ra 0.4 μm |
| Production Volume | From 1 prototype to 100,000+ production parts |
By combining CNC turning and milling in a single setup, live tooling reduces secondary operations, improves accuracy, and lowers total machining cost.
Ideal for small-diameter, high-precision parts such as medical components, electronic pins, and connectors. Excellent for tight tolerances.
Our multi-axis and 5-axis CNC turning capabilities allow machining of complex geometries, undercuts, and features that traditional lathes cannot achieve.
Our CNC turning services support a full range of metals, plastics, and technical ceramics. From standard aluminum alloys to high-performance engineering plastics, we deliver precise parts tailored to your material requirements.
We regularly machine 60+ engineering-grade materials. If your material is not listed, we can source custom materials within 48 hours.
Lightweight with excellent machinability. Ideal for aerospace housings, brackets, and structural components.
Corrosion-resistant and strong. 303 is ideal for turning, while 316L fits medical and marine applications.
High strength and wear resistance. Common for shafts, gears, and heavy-duty industrial parts.
Enables fast machining cycles. Excellent for fittings, instruments, and decorative components.
Superior thermal and electrical conductivity. Widely used in electronics and heat exchangers.
High strength-to-weight ratio and biocompatibility. Essential for aerospace and medical implants.
Extremely lightweight structural metal. Used in weight-critical automotive and electronics parts.
High melting point and thermal stability. Ideal for defense, aerospace, and high-temp applications.
Excellent stability and machinability. Perfect for precision gears, bushings, and sliding parts.
Impact-resistant and easy to machine. Cost-effective for prototypes and functional housings.
Tough and wear-resistant. Ideal for rollers, mechanical parts, and noise-dampening components.
High-performance plastic with exceptional heat/chemical resistance. Used in medical and aerospace.
Extremely low friction and chemical inertness. Standard for seals, gaskets, and insulators.
High chemical and moisture resistance. Common in fluid handling, piping, and valve components.
High optical clarity and weather resistance. Used for transparent manifolds, screens, and lenses.
Excellent dielectric strength and rigidity. Preferred for electrical connectors and medical devices.
Retains strength at extreme temperatures. Used for precision parts in severe industrial environments.
High impact strength and low moisture absorption. Suitable for food processing and marine parts.
Extreme toughness and temperature resistance. Used for safety guards, windows, and structural parts.
Hard, stiff, and dimensionally stable. Often used for food machinery parts and bushings.
Extreme hardness and electrical insulation. Widely used in electronics and semiconductor components.
Higher fracture toughness than most ceramics. Suitable for pump components and medical applications.
Machinable glass ceramic. Can be turned with standard tools; ideal for complex insulating parts.
At AT-Machining, we offer a full range of surface finishing options for CNC turned parts to meet functional, cosmetic, and corrosion-resistance requirements.
All finishes are suitable for precision CNC turning services supplied to US customers across automotive, aerospace, medical, and industrial markets.
This is the standard finish directly from CNC turning. Tool marks may be visible, but dimensional accuracy is maintained.
It is the lowest-cost option, ideal for internal parts or prototypes where appearance is not critical.
Bead blasting creates a uniform matte surface and removes visible tool marks from turned parts.
It improves visual consistency without changing part dimensions, making it popular for exposed CNC turned components.
We provide both Type II anodizing (color anodizing) and Type III hardcoat anodizing for aluminum turned parts.
Anodizing improves corrosion resistance, surface hardness, and appearance, commonly required for US industrial and consumer products.
Passivation is essential for stainless steel CNC turning services. It removes free iron from the surface and significantly improves corrosion resistance.
This process meets ASTM standards and US industry expectations for longevity and hygiene.
Available electroplating options include zinc, nickel, and chrome plating.
These finishes enhance corrosion protection, wear resistance, and conductivity for precision turned metal parts.
Laser engraving is used for part numbers, serial numbers, and logos on CNC turned parts.
It is permanent, precise, and does not affect tolerances—ideal for traceability in US manufacturing supply chains.
Need a specific finish? Our team can recommend the optimal option based on part function, material, and end-use requirements.
Get a Free QuoteWe don’t just ship parts — we ship confidence.
At AT-Machining, quality is built into every stage of our CNC turning services, ensuring consistent, reliable results for US customers.
Every order includes a free FAI report, helping you approve CNC turned parts with confidence before production.
All CNC turning services follow our ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, delivering stable quality and reduced supply risk.
From intricate medical and aerospace designs to complex industrial parts, our ISO 9001-certified company creates precision components with the highest level of accuracy. We utilize CNC turning lathes for complex machining projects requiring tight tolerance specifications up to ±0.005” – as close as a few thousandths of an inch! Our standards for metals follow ISO 2768-m while plastics adhere to requirements set by ISO 2768-c.
| Feature / Material | Standard Applied | Typical Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Metals (e.g., Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel, Brass) | ISO 2768-m (Medium) | ±0.125 mm (±0.005") |
| Plastics (e.g., ABS, POM, Nylon, PEEK) | ISO 2768-c (Medium) | ±0.250 mm (±0.010") |
| Surface Roughness (As Milled / Turned) | Standard | Ra 3.2 μm (125 μin) |
| Tighter Tolerances (Requires drawing review) | Per Drawing Specification | Available upon request |
To ensure your parts are manufactured with the highest quality, on time, and at the most effective cost, we recommend following these Design for Manufacturability (DFM) guidelines. Adhering to these principles will reduce machining time, minimize complexity, and lower the overall cost of your project.
| Guideline | Recommendation | Why It Matters (In 30 words or less) |
|---|---|---|
| Specify Tolerances Wisely | Only apply tight tolerances to critical features. For non-critical dimensions, use the standard tolerance of ISO 2768-m. | Tighter tolerances are a primary cost driver, requiring special tools and more inspection. Applying them only where necessary is the most effective way to reduce production costs. |
| Design Generous Internal Corner Radii | Avoid sharp internal corners. We recommend adding an internal corner radius of at least 0.5mm or larger. | Cutting tools cannot create sharp internal corners. This requires slow, expensive secondary operations. Adding a radius allows for faster machining, saving significant time and money. |
| Maintain a Uniform Wall Thickness | Avoid designing parts with very thin walls. For metals, we recommend a minimum wall thickness of 1.0 mm (0.04"). | Thin walls are prone to vibration and warping during machining, which compromises accuracy. Sturdy, uniform walls ensure greater stability, better precision, and a higher quality final part. |
| Keep Hole Depths Reasonable | Limit the depth of a hole to less than 10 times its diameter (a 10:1 ratio). | Deep holes slow down the machining process and risk tool breakage. They also make achieving a good internal surface finish difficult, ensuring faster production and higher quality. |
| Use Standard Thread Sizes | Whenever possible, design with standard thread sizes (e.g., M2, M4, M6 for metric or UNC/UNF for imperial). | Standard threads use common, inexpensive tools. Custom threads require expensive, specialized tooling and longer setups, significantly increasing your part's cost and lead time. |
| Simplify Part Geometry | The most cost-effective turned parts are those with simple, symmetrical geometries that can be machined in a single setup. | Turning excels at cylindrical shapes. Adding complex features requires secondary milling operations, which increases setup time and cost. A simpler design is always faster and more affordable. |
We machine rapid prototypes and low & large-volume production orders for customers in multiple industries: medical devices, aerospace, automotive, defense, electronics, hardware startups, industrial automation, machinery, marine and robotics, and many more.
The Basics Of CNC Lathes
CNC lathe machines sometimes referred to as live tooling lathes, are an excellent choice for creating symmetrical, cylindrical or spherical parts. These machines utilize a workpiece that rotates along a vertical or horizontal axis while a cutting instrument moves around it on a linear path. This cutting process is referred to as turning. As a result of their precision and efficiency, CNC lathes are often used in a variety of manufacturing environments.
How CNC Turning Works
CNC lathes use a subtractive method to achieve the desired shape, starting with the creation of G-Code. Once the G-Code is ready, a solid bar, or blank, of raw material is loaded into the chuck of the lathe’s spindle. The chuck securely holds the workpiece in place while the spindle rotates. Once the spindle reaches operating speed, a stationary cutting tool is introduced to the workpiece to remove excess material until the desired shape is achieved. This precise cutting method and advanced technology allow CNC lathes to create an array of shapes with high accuracy and consistency.
Types Of CNC Lathes
2-axis CNC lathes and Swiss-type lathes are the most prevalent types of lathes. However, Swiss-type lathes have unique features, such as stock material feeding through a guide bushing, which enables close-in cutting at the point of support. This attribute is suitable for slender, lengthy turned parts and micromachining. Additionally, some Swiss-type lathes are equipped with a second tool head that functions as a CNC mill. This feature saves costs since it allows the lathe to perform multiple machining operations without the need for another machine. As a result, Swiss-type lathes are cost-effective for complex turned parts.
CNC turning is commonly used in the automotive industry to produce precision cylindrical components such as engine crankshafts, drive shafts, and brake rotors.
With its vast material range, low unit cost, and swift production capabilities, CNC stands out as an excellent alternative for rapid prototyping.
CNC turning is an essential process in the aerospace industry for manufacturing precision cylindrical components like turbine parts, hydraulic components, and landing gear shafts.
CNC turning is used in the industrial machinery sector to produce high-precision cylindrical components such as gears, couplings, and shafts.
CNC turning is utilized in the medical device industry to create precision cylindrical components for various medical devices like surgical instruments, implants, and prosthetics.
CNC Turning is widely used in the defense industry to create highly accurate and cylindrical components like artillery shells, gun barrels, and missile casings.
CNC milling and CNC turning are two distinct machining processes that differ in how they operate, the types of machines used, and the parts they can produce.
CNC milling uses a rotating cutting tool that moves across a stationary workpiece to remove material from its surface. The milling process can produce a wide range of geometries, including flat and inclined surfaces, slots, and grooves.
CNC turning, on the other hand, rotates the workpiece while the cutting tool remains stationary, shaping the material into the desired shape. It is typically used to produce cylindrical parts and is ideal for creating symmetrical components like shafts, pins, and bushings.
In summary, CNC milling is ideal for producing parts with complex shapes and geometries, while CNC turning is perfect for creating cylindrical parts. Both processes provide high levels of precision, consistency, and efficiency while reducing the need for manual labor.
CNC lathes and turning centers are not just two names for the same machine – they actually perform different tasks! Lathes generally rotate a part to create circular shapes, but with more advanced features like facing, threading, knurling drilling and reaming as well as taper turning capabilities; Turning Centers can help you produce even more intricate pieces.
Rough turning and finish turning are the two stages of the turning process used to make machined parts. Here are the primary differences between them:
Both stages are essential in the turning process, with rough turning used to remove bulk material and produce the desired shape, and finish turning used to refine the size and surface finish of the machined part.
Through the power of CNC turning, a multitude of parts necessary for production in a variety of industries can be crafted – from automotive components and aeronautical components to medical equipment pieces and toy parts. From hubs to flywheels, this technology is an invaluable tool that continues — day after day — powering countless essential items we use daily.
Higher Precision: CNC turning offers significantly higher precision than manual turning, allowing for extremely accurate machine parts.
Greater Efficiency: CNC lathes can complete multiple operations in a single setup, reducing the time and cost involved in producing machined parts.
Versatile Applications: CNC turning can be applied to an extensive range of materials, from metals to plastics, allowing for a diverse range of applications.
Consistent Quality: CNC turning ensures that every machined part is identical in design and output, guaranteeing consistent quality throughout production.
Lower Costs: With its high efficiency, automated operation, and consistent quality, CNC turning offers lower manufacturing costs in the long run, as compared to traditional methods.
