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CNC Prototype Machining
Welcome to Istar Machining’s world of CNC prototype machining! We help turn your ideas into real parts that you can touch, test, and use. Our machines can make parts from many materials with amazing accuracy. Let’s learn how we can help bring your designs to life!
- Accurate (within 0.001 inches)
- Strong enough to test
- Made from real materials (not just plastic)
- Ready in days (not weeks)
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Supports uploading of the following file formats: .STEP .STP .SLDPRT .STL .IPT .3MF .3DXML .PRT .SAT .DXF .X_T .X_B .JT .CATPART
- All uploads are secure and confidential.
20+ Years
Istar Machining's years in the industry
300,000 square feet
The size of Istar Machining's factory
856 CNC machines
Our CNC equipment count
2000+ skilled workers
Istar's number of skilled machinists/operators
Why Choose CNC for Your Prototypes?
There are many ways to make test parts. Here’s why CNC machining is often the best choice:
Speed When You Need It Most
When you need parts fast, we deliver! Our rapid CNC machining service can make your prototypes in just:
- 2-5 days for most parts
- 24-hour rush for urgent needs
This means you can test your ideas and make changes quickly. No more waiting weeks to see if your design works!
Engineer Advice to Save Money
Every prototype at Istar Machining comes with free Design for Manufacturability feedback. Our engineers look at your design and tell you:
- How to make it easier to machine
- Where you might have problems
- How to save money on the final parts
This advice can save you from expensive mistakes before you make thousands of parts!
Super Accurate Parts
Our precision CNC machining can make parts with tight tolerances (±0.001″) that fit perfectly with other components. This level of accuracy means:
- Parts that snap together correctly
- Holes that line up perfectly
- Smooth surfaces that don’t need more work
Materials We Use for CNC Prototypes
Below is a table showing the materials we can use and what they’re best for:
Metals
Aluminum
Stainless Steel
Steel (Mild/Carbon & Alloy)
Brass
Copper
Titanium
Aluminum
Common Grades: 6061-T6, 7075-T6, 5052, MIC-6
Key Characteristics:
- Excellent strength-to-weight ratio
- Good machinability
- Good corrosion resistance
- Relatively cost-effective
- Good thermal and electrical conductivity
Common Prototyping Applications: Housings, brackets, heat sinks, automotive parts, aerospace components, consumer electronics casings.
Finishing Options: Anodizing (various colors), bead blasting, powder coating, polishing, brushing.
Stainless Steel
Common Grades: 303, 304/304L, 316/316L, 17-4 PH
Key Characteristics:
- High strength and hardness
- Excellent corrosion resistance (especially 316L)
- Good temperature resistance
- Hygienic and aesthetic appeal
Common Prototyping Applications: Medical devices, surgical instruments, food processing equipment, marine components, durable fixtures, high-wear parts.
Finishing Options: Passivation, electropolishing, bead blasting, brushing, polishing.
Steel (Mild/Carbon & Alloy)
Common Grades: 1018 (Mild), 1045 (Carbon), 4140 (Alloy)
Key Characteristics:
- High strength and toughness
- Good machinability (especially 1018)
- Cost-effective for high-strength needs
- Can be heat treated for increased hardness
- Susceptible to rust without coating/plating
Common Prototyping Applications: Jigs, fixtures, structural components, tooling, machine parts requiring high strength where corrosion isn’t the primary concern.
Finishing Options: Black oxide, zinc plating, nickel plating, painting, powder coating.
Brass
Common Grades: C360 (Free-Machining Brass)
Key Characteristics:
- Excellent machinability (often the standard)
- Good corrosion resistance
- Good electrical conductivity
- Attractive gold-like appearance
- Low friction properties
Common Prototyping Applications: Fittings, connectors, gears, musical instrument parts, decorative hardware, electrical contacts.
Finishing Options: Polishing, brushing, plating.
Copper
Common Grades: C101 (OFHC), C110 (ETP)
Key Characteristics:
- Superior electrical and thermal conductivity
- Good corrosion resistance
- Good machinability (though gummy compared to brass)
- Antimicrobial properties
Common Prototyping Applications: Heat exchangers, electrical connectors, busbars, high-conductivity components, artistic elements.
Finishing Options: Polishing, protective coatings.
Titanium
Common Grades: Grade 2 (Commercially Pure), Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V Alloy)
Key Characteristics:
- Highest strength-to-weight ratio of common metals
- Excellent corrosion resistance (especially to saltwater)
- Biocompatible (Grade 5 & specific alloys)
- High-temperature resistance
- More challenging/costly to machine
Common Prototyping Applications: Aerospace components, medical implants, high-performance automotive parts, marine hardware, lightweight structural parts.
Finishing Options: Anodizing (Type II), passivation, bead blasting.
Plastics
ABS
Polycarbonate
Nylon
POM
Acrylic
PEEK
HDPE / UHMWPE
PTFE
ABS
Key Characteristics:
- Good toughness and impact resistance
- Good rigidity and dimensional stability
- Easy to machine and finish
- Cost-effective general-purpose plastic
- Can be easily painted or glued
Common Prototyping Applications: Enclosures, housings for electronics, consumer product shells, automotive trim components, concept models.
Finishing Options: Smoothing, painting, vapor polishing (limited).
Polycarbonate
Key Characteristics:
- Excellent impact strength (very tough)
- Good temperature resistance
- Naturally transparent (optical clarity possible)
- Good dimensional stability
Common Prototyping Applications: Lenses, light pipes, protective guards, durable housings, medical device components, visors.
Finishing Options: Machine polishing, vapor polishing (for clarity).
Nylon
Common Grades: PA6, PA66 (often glass-filled variants for increased stiffness)
Key Characteristics:
- Good mechanical strength and toughness
- Excellent wear and abrasion resistance
- Good chemical resistance (to oils, fuels)
- Low coefficient of friction
- Can absorb moisture, affecting dimensional stability
Common Prototyping Applications: Gears, bearings, bushings, rollers, high-wear components, structural parts.
Finishing Options: Dyeing (limited).
POM
Key Characteristics:
- High stiffness and strength
- Excellent dimensional stability (low moisture absorption)
- Excellent machinability, producing clean finishes
- Low friction and good wear resistance
- Good chemical resistance
Common Prototyping Applications: Precision gears, bearings, bushings, rollers, snap-fit closures, electrical insulators, fluid handling components.
Finishing Options: Usually used as-machined due to excellent finish.
Acrylic
Key Characteristics:
- Excellent optical clarity and transparency
- Good rigidity and weather resistance
- More brittle than Polycarbonate
- Good machinability (can be polished to clarity)
Common Prototyping Applications: Light guides, lenses, display cases, transparent covers, aesthetic models, signage.
Finishing Options: Flame polishing, machine polishing, vapor polishing.
PEEK
Key Characteristics:
- High-performance thermoplastic
- Excellent mechanical strength, stiffness, and creep resistance, even at high temperatures
- Outstanding chemical and hydrolysis resistance
- Good wear and abrasion resistance
- Biocompatible grades available
- Higher cost and more challenging to machine
Common Prototyping Applications: Aerospace components, medical implants, semiconductor handling parts, high-temperature seals and bearings, demanding industrial applications.
Finishing Options: Typically used as-machined.
HDPE / UHMWPE
Key Characteristics:
- Excellent chemical resistance
- Low coefficient of friction (especially UHMWPE)
- High impact strength (especially at low temperatures)
- Good wear resistance (UHMWPE)
- Low moisture absorption
- Cost-effective
Common Prototyping Applications: Bearings, wear strips, chain guides (UHMWPE), chemical tanks, cutting boards, low-stress mechanical parts.
Finishing Options: Generally used as-machined.
PTFE
Key Characteristics:
- Extremely low coefficient of friction (very slippery)
- Outstanding chemical resistance
- Wide temperature range tolerance
- Excellent electrical insulation
- Relatively soft, can be difficult to machine to tight tolerances
Common Prototyping Applications: Seals, gaskets, low-friction bearings, non-stick surfaces, insulators, chemical handling components.
Finishing Options: Used as-machined.
CNC Prototypes Produced by Istar Machining
Industries We Help
At Istar Machining, we make prototypes for many different fields:
Medical Devices
We make surgical tool prototypes and medical device housings using FDA-compliant materials. Our quality control meets ISO 13485 standards for medical parts.
Aerospace Components
Our aerospace CNC machining service creates flight-critical parts from aluminum 7075 and titanium. We follow AS9100 standards for aerospace quality.
Automotive Parts
Car and truck parts need to be strong and precise. We make engine parts, sensor housings, and lightweight brackets for testing new vehicle designs.
Consumer Electronics
Electronics need cases and internal parts that fit perfectly. We make enclosures, heat sinks, and brackets with tight tolerances for perfect assembly.
Robotics & Automation
Robots need precise parts that move smoothly. We create robot arms, grippers, and sensor mounts from aluminum and engineering plastics.
Industrial Equipment
Heavy machinery parts need to be tough. Our steel CNC machining creates valve bodies, pump housings, and hydraulic components that can handle pressure and wear.
Comparing CNC Prototyping to Other Methods
Not sure if CNC is right for your prototype? Here’s how it compares:
Feature | CNC Machining | 3D Printing | Injection Molding |
Material Strength | Very High | Medium | High |
Surface Finish | Excellent | Fair | Excellent |
Accuracy | ±0.001″ | ±0.005″ | ±0.002″ |
Material Options | Many metals & plastics | Limited plastics | Many plastics, some metals |
Speed for 1-10 Parts | 2-7 days | 1-3 days | 2-6 weeks |
Cost for 1-10 Parts | Medium | Low | Very High |
Scalable to Production | Yes (1-500 parts) | No | Yes (1000+ parts) |
As you can see, CNC machining gives you the best balance of strength, accuracy, and real materials for functional testing.
Why Choose Istar Machining for Your Prototypes?
When you need prototypes that work like real parts, Istar Machining delivers:
- Speed: 2-5 day turnaround for most parts
- Quality: ISO 9001 certified manufacturing
- Materials: Huge selection of metals and plastics
- Experience: 10,000+ prototypes delivered
- Service: Engineer support included with every order
- Value: Competitive pricing with no hidden fees
How We Make Your Prototypes
When you send us your design, here’s what happens:
Upload Your CAD File
Send us your 3D model (STP, IGES, SolidWorks)
Quick Review
Our engineers check if we can make it (24 hours)
Cutting Your Part
Computer-controlled tools shape your part
Quality Check
Every part is measured to make sure it's perfect
Fast Shipping
We send your parts using tracked delivery
Frequently Asked Question
Most parts take 3-5 days. Simple parts in aluminum can be as fast as 2 days. Complex parts might take 7 days.
CNC machined parts are stronger, more accurate, and use the same materials as production parts. 3D printed parts are often cheaper but not as strong or precise.
Yes! We specialize in making 1-10 prototypes quickly. Unlike injection molding (which needs expensive tools), CNC machining is perfect for making just one part.
We can help you move to low-volume production of 10-500 parts. For larger volumes, we can help you transition to other methods like die casting.
Yes! Our engineers can review your design and suggest changes to make it more manufacturable. This service is included with every prototype order.
CNC prototype machining is a way to make test parts before you make lots of them. We use computer-controlled tools to cut and shape materials into the exact parts you need. These parts work just like the final ones you’ll make later.
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