Custom CNC parts
CNC Machined Enclosures & Housings
One-piece housings with controlled datums, sealed interfaces and assembly-ready finishes.
Direct answer
CNC milling is a strong route for custom enclosures when the part needs precise connector locations, bearing or seal interfaces, threaded inserts, and better stiffness than a formed enclosure. FabVector machines one-off prototypes and repeat batches, with inspection tied to the drawing rather than a blanket tolerance claim.
Typical applications
- Electronics and sensor enclosures
- Robot joint and gearbox housings
- Optical instrument bodies
- Pump, valve and actuator housings
Recommended manufacturing route
- 01
Machine primary mounting datums and rough the cavity before thin walls are released.
- 02
Finish bearing bores, seal grooves and connector faces from controlled setups.
- 03
Deburr internal intersections and protect critical faces before finishing.
- 04
Inspect interface dimensions, then install inserts or seals only when specified.
Controls to put on the drawing
| Control | Quote guidance |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | Keep walls uniform where possible; identify flexible walls that need a free-state inspection method. |
| Internal corners | Use realistic tool radii; deep square corners require EDM or a design change. |
| Sealing faces | State flatness, surface finish and gasket or O-ring requirements together. |
| Cosmetic surfaces | Mark Class-A faces and define plug or masking zones before anodizing or coating. |
Recommended materials
Aluminum 6061-T6
General-purpose housings with good machinability and anodizing response.
Aluminum 7075-T6
Higher stiffness-to-weight for loaded aerospace and robotics housings.
Stainless Steel 304
Corrosion resistance where weight and cycle time are secondary.
POM (Delrin / Acetal)
Lightweight electrical or mechanism housings with low friction.
Related processes
CNC Milling
3- and 4-axis vertical machining for housings, brackets, manifolds and structural parts.
5-Axis Machining
Simultaneous 5-axis machining for impellers, freeform surfaces and compound-angle features.
Wire EDM
Electrical discharge wire cutting for hardened steels, sharp internal corners and zero-force profiles.
Inspection scope to define in the RFQ
- CMM report for mounting datums, bores and connector locations
- Flatness and surface-finish verification on sealing faces
- Thread gauges and fit checks for inserts and mating hardware
Related engineering guides
CNC Machined Enclosures & Housings buyer questions
01What files are needed to quote a machined enclosure?
Send a STEP model plus a PDF drawing that identifies datums, toleranced interfaces, threads, finish, quantity and inspection requirements. The drawing controls where the model is nominal only.
02Can deep enclosure cavities be machined without distortion?
Usually, but the route may need staged roughing, stress relief, soft jaws and a final free-state inspection. Wall thickness, depth and material condition determine the risk.
03Can anodizing be included with the machining quote?
Yes. Specify anodize type, color, cosmetic faces, masked threads and any dimensions that apply after coating so machining allowance and inspection are planned together.
04What enclosure quantity can FabVector quote?
The published minimum is one piece. Prototype and repeat-production quantities can use the same RFQ, but final lead time and price depend on geometry, finish and documentation scope.
Other custom CNC part families
CNC Machined Brackets & Mounts
Structural parts that keep interfaces aligned without carrying unnecessary mass.
CNC Machined Manifolds
Cross-drilled flow paths, clean intersections and sealing geometry controlled as one part.
CNC Machined Shafts & Pins
Turned geometry with bearing fits, threads and runout controlled from a common datum axis.
CNC Machined Bushings & Sleeves
Bore-first turned components for controlled clearance, wear and alignment.
Have a part in mind?
Upload CAD or drawings. Eligible CNC work gets an instant estimate; other processes move to engineer review. NDA-protected from the first byte.
Start an RFQ