Low volume CNC machining · Bridge production
Low-volume CNC machining and bridge production
Low-volume CNC machining for batches of 10 to around 1,000 parts: the same process as your approved prototype, first-article approval before the run, an inspection report with every order and express shipping with DDP pricing on request.
Small batch CNC machining between prototype and mass production
Most hardware products spend months in the zone between "it works" and "we need tooling". You need 50 units for a pilot, 200 for a beta program, or 500 a quarter for a product whose volume does not justify die casting or injection molds. Low volume CNC machining covers that zone: no tooling cost, no long tooling lead time, and design changes cost a CAD edit instead of a mold modification.
Bridge production is the same idea used deliberately: machine parts while production tooling is being built, so sales and field testing can start months earlier. When the tooling arrives, the machined part becomes the reference for the first molded or cast samples.
We make batches from 10 to around 1,000 pieces in milled, turned and sheet metal parts, with finishing in the same order. Above roughly that range, dedicated production methods usually make more sense, and we will say so in the quote.
How price per part falls with quantity
A CNC part's price has two kinds of cost. One-time costs happen once per batch regardless of quantity: reviewing the drawing, writing the CNC program, designing and making fixtures or soft jaws, setting tool offsets, and proving out the first part. Per-part costs repeat for every piece: material, cycle time on the machine, deburring, finishing and inspection.
For a single prototype, one-time costs are often the majority of the price. Spread over 10 parts they shrink to a tenth each; over 100 to a hundredth. Per-part costs barely change. That is why the curve drops steeply between 1 and roughly 50 pieces, then flattens: past a certain point you are paying mostly for material and machine minutes.
| Quantity range | What dominates the price | How to lower it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 5 | Programming and setup | Simplify geometry, relax non-critical tolerances |
| 10 – 100 | Setup spread thin; fixtures start to pay off | Order the full quantity at once instead of in small releases |
| 100 – 1,000 | Cycle time and material | Reduce setups per part, standard stock sizes, faster-cutting grades |
Quotes can show prices at several quantities so you can see where the curve flattens for your part. For more on cost drivers, read how much CNC machining costs.
Splitting 300 parts into three orders of 100 pays setup three times. If storage allows, one larger batch is usually cheaper per part.
First-article approval before the batch
The biggest risk in a batch order is not one bad part; it is 500 identical bad parts. So for batches, one part is made first and measured. You receive photos and measurements of the critical dimensions and approve before the rest are machined. If something on the drawing was ambiguous, this is where it surfaces, at the cost of one part.
Every order then ships with an inspection report recording critical dimensions. Material certificates are available on request. If parts are out of tolerance against the approved drawing, we remake them free. See quality and inspection for the full process.
Repeat orders and revision control
Low-volume products are reordered, and reorders are where suppliers often drift: an older drawing gets used, a finish color changes slightly, a dimension that was "fixed by phone" last time is forgotten. To avoid that:
- Put a part number and revision letter on every drawing (for example BRKT-014 Rev C), so every quote and reorder points to one exact version.
- Approved drawings are the reference. Any change agreed during an order goes into a new revision, not an email side note.
- Reorder by part number and revision. We repeat the approved material, process and finish. If you send a new revision, it is reviewed and quoted as a change, with a first article if the change affects critical features.
- Specify finish precisely: anodize type and color, or a RAL number for powder coat, so batches match. See anodizing.
Shipping batches
Batches ship by DHL, FedEx or UPS express in 3–5 days with tracking. If you need part of a batch early, say so when you request the quote. Ask for DDP pricing to receive parts with duties paid. Payment is by PayPal, card via PayPal or bank transfer, with invoices in USD or EUR.
Related
Processes for your batch
FAQ
Low-volume production questions
What counts as low-volume CNC machining?
Usually from about 10 to 1,000 parts per batch. That is the range we produce, from a first sample up to small production runs.
Why is the price per part lower at higher quantities?
Programming, fixturing and setup are paid once per batch. Spread over more parts, that one-time cost per piece shrinks, while material and machine time per part stay roughly the same.
Do I get to approve a sample before the full batch?
Yes. For batches we make one part first and send photos and measurements of critical dimensions for your approval before the rest are machined.
Can I reorder the same part later?
Yes. Reorder by part number and revision and we repeat the approved material, process and finish. A new revision is reviewed and quoted as a change.
What is bridge production?
Machining parts to cover the gap while production tooling such as injection molds or die-casting dies is being made, so builds and sales can start before tooling is ready.