Fathom CNC Manufacturing //
Nationwide Locations
Certified and Secure High-Precision
CNC Machining Facilities Across the Country
Cost-Effective, Precision
Manufacturing Of
Plastic Or Metal Parts
Part Of A Secure Facility
And Follows Processes To
Protect Your IP
Extensive Certifications Including
ISO 9001:2015,
ISO 9001:2015 Design,
ISO13485:2016, AS9100:2016,
AS9102, NIST 800-171 and ITAR
Chosen By Top Companies
Across The Us Including 8 of
The Top 10 Fortune 500
Industrial Companies
*Excluding Service Companies
Our Fathom Experts recognize the value of having design and manufacturing collaboration at any stage in the product development process, and a DfM analysis is available with every quote. Our diverse group of engineers, designers and builders help you navigate the right process, materials and more for each stage of your product development – from design and prototype, to validation for mass-production.
And with easy quoting and intuitive project management tools through our SmartQuote platform, you can move rapidly and confidently through your product’s lifecycle, navigate supply chain distruptions, and to deliver to market blazingly fast.
With over 530+ machines across 25+ manufacturing processes, Fathom scales with your needs, from prototype, to bridge, to production qualities.
Easy Quoting and Project
Management in SmartQuote
Platform, with Access to
Engineering Feedback
Comprehensive and Diverse
Manufacturing Processes,
with 25+ Different
Manufacturing Processes
Across the Fathom Brand
MATERIAL | OPTIMAL QUANTITY |
TOLERANCES (+/-) |
ADVANTAGES & CONSIDERATIONS |
FINISH & APPEARANCE |
Stainless Steel |
1 – 1,000 | +/- 0.005” |
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Material Details
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Low Carbon Steel |
1 – 1,000 | +/- 0.005” |
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Material Details
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Aluminum | 1 – 1,000 | +/- 0.005” |
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Material Details
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Brass | 1 – 1,000 | +/- 0.005” |
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Material Details
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MATERIAL | OPTIMAL QUANTITY |
TOLERANCES (+/-) |
ADVANTAGES & CONSIDERATIONS |
FINISH & APPEARANCE |
HDPE | 1 – 100 | +/- 0.008” |
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Material Details
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PC | 1 – 100 | +/- 0.008” |
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Material Details
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ABS | 1 – 100 | +/- 0.008” |
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Material Details
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Acrylic | 1 – 100 | +/- 0.008” |
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Material Details
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Nylon 6/6 | 1 – 100 | +/- 0.008” |
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Material Details
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Acetal (Delrin®) | 1 – 100 | +/- 0.008” |
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Material Details
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ULTEM® | 1 – 100 | +/- 0.008” |
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Material Details
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Tooling Board / Precision Foam | 1 – 100 | +/- 0.008” |
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Material Details
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Fathom provide leading CNC machining services with a national footprint offering both metal CNC machining and plastic CNC machining. Need a material not listed? Talk to a Fathom Expert!
Depending on your project needs, let’s talk about which CNC is best suited for your project. Fathom’s machine list ranges from 3-5 axis mills and lathes, to swiss screw machines for fast turn precision and medical-grade projects, using the latest software programming, and operated by highly skilled CNC technicians.
TOLERANCES BY MACHINE |
3-AXIS | 5-AXIS | EDM | TURNING | WATER JET | PLASMA |
PART SIZE MAXIMUM |
X 4191mm (165in) Y 1600mm (63in) Z 762mm (30in) |
X 762mm (30in) Y 508mm (20in) Z 508mm (20in) |
X 698.5mm (27.5in) Y 393.7mm (15.5in) Z 393.7mm (15.5in) |
DIA 609.6mm (24in) X 381mm (15in) Y 381mm (15in) Z 355.6mm (14in) |
X 3048mm (120in) Y 1524mm (60in) |
X 3048mm (120in) Y 1524mm (60in) |
MATERIAL CHOICE |
Metal or Plastic | Metal or Plastic | Metal | Metal or Plastic | Metal or Plastic | Metal |
STANDARD TOLERANCE |
Metal // 0.13 mm 0.005 in Plastic // 0.2 mm 0.008 in |
Metal // 0.13 mm 0.005 in Plastic // 0.2 mm 0.008 in |
Metal // 0.13 mm 0.005 in |
Metal // 0.13 mm 0.005 in Plastic // 0.2 mm 0.008 in |
Metal // 0.13 mm 0.005 in Plastic // 0.2 mm 0.008 in |
Metal // 0.13 mm 0.005 in |
LEAD TIME |
As Soon As 5 Days |
As Soon As 5 Days |
As Soon As 5 Days |
As Soon As 5 Days |
As Soon As 5 Days |
As Soon As 5 Days |
The final step in any CNC machining project will be finishing. Some CNC machines, like the CNC mill, may leave visible tool makrs on the piece after production. Tool marks may vary from slight to obvious, depending on the material and CNC process. Post processing is available for plastic and metal parts. This can include bead blasting to remove tool marks, or painting to achieve a desired color.
Fathom’s manufacturing network has several locations across the United States with CNC capabilities. Our CNC locations are:
Yes, see the materials list.
Yes, our CNC machining team is part of a secure facility and follows processes to protect your IP. Fathom’s extensive certifications include ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001:2015 Design, ISO 13485:2016, AS9100:2016, NIST 800-171, and ITAR.
Our SmartQuote online platform allows companies to quickly upload a CAD file into our system to receive a quote, tracks quotes, view order progress, and consult directly with Fathom experts.
Depending on complexity, CNC quotes can be returned as quickly as 1 hour, and CNC parts delivered as soon as 5-days.
Fathom has numerous CNC machines, including 3-, 4- and 5-axis vertical and high precision mills, Swiss screw machines and more. Request our full machine list.
Yes, we offer manufacturing across 25+ manufacturing processes including additive manufacturing, metal cutting & forming, injection molding and urethane casting, in addition to CNC machining. View our complete capabilities here.
Work Holding // The geometry of the part will dictate how it will be positioned on the CNC machine and the amount of setup required. Manually repositioning a part can increase the chance of error. Repositioning will impact not only accuracy but may increase the cost of the project.
Tool Stiffness // The tool used to cut the part may vibrate during operation. Tool stiffness may result in loose tolerances.
Work Piece Stiffness // Temperatures and cutting forces that arise during machining may cause the work piece to vibrate, resulting in deformities. Prevent work piece stiffness by ensuring the design specifications call for the minimum wall thickness and a maximum aspect ratio of tall features.
Tool Geometry // CNC machine cutting tools have a cylindrical shape and a flat or rounded end. This can restrict the possible geometry of CNC machined parts. The inside vertical corners of the part will have a radius, even if a small cutting tool is used. Sharp inside corners may be difficult to achieve.
Tool Access // The work piece cannot be machined if the cutting tool is unable to reach a surface. This places a limitation on parts that require hidden, internal geometries and sets a limit on the maximum depth of an undercut. Consider metal 3D printing using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) for parts with complex geometries, internal cavities, and deep undercuts. DMLS is capable of producing high-density metal parts in a variety of materials.
The cost of a custom CNC turning project depends on the complexity of the design, chosen materials, order quantity, turnaround time, and other factors. For an accurate quote, submit your file to our SmartQuote platform.
CNC machining is a manufacturing process capable of producing precision parts with tighter tolerances in metal and plastic. CNC machining is used across a wide variety of industries for prototyping and production runs. The advantages of CNC machining include:
Precise Parts // CNC machining is capable of precision manufacturing. CNC machines are computer controlled. This eliminates the possibility of human error. CNC machining has a standard tolerance of 0.005 in. (0.13 mm) for metal parts and 0.008 in. (0.2 mm) for plastic parts. Tighter tolerances can be achieved depending on the material and manufacturing process.
Large, Scalable Volumes // CNC machining can take a part from prototype to production very quickly. The manufacturing process is highly repeatable and can produce the exact same part over and over again.
Variety of Shapes, Sizes, and Textures // Parts of differing shapes, sizes, and textures can be made with CNC machining. All options will be material dependent.
Easy Reorders // Reorder is easy. Fathom will already have the CAD file from the previous order. Simply contact the experts at Fathom to get the process started. Production can begin almost immediately if the desired material is in stock and the required machine is available.
Quick Turnaround Times // CNC machining is a fast and efficient manufacturing process. CNC machining does not require expensive and time-consuming setup like some other manufacturing processes. Manufacturing can begin once the CAD file has been received and approved.
Lower Costs with Greater Efficiencies // CNC machining is extremely cost efficient and can be used to great advantage for prototyping or small production runs. There is no expensive tooling, no need for molds, and pieces can be put into use almost immediately after production.
The applications of CNC machining are nearly limitless. CNC machining can be used to produce a wide range of parts from a variety of materials. Fast turnaround times, efficient manufacturing and ease of use make CNC machining the ideal choice for prototyping and low volume production runs. CNC machining is commonly used in aerospace, automotive, consumer, industrial, medical, and technology sectors.
Aerospace // CNC machining is widely used in the aerospace industry. Aerospace applications require extremely precise and lightweight parts. CNC machining is capable of producing these parts in a variety of materials.
Automotive // Like the aerospace industry, the automotive sector also values parts that are precise and lightweight. CNC machining is used for automotive prototyping and production. Metal can be machined for various components including gear boxes, cylinders, and axels. Plastic can be machined for interior components for the dashboard, gauges, and trim.
Consumer // CNC machining is widely used for prototyping and production of consumer products. Both metal and plastic are produced for consumer products. CNC prototyping is an excellent way to provide physical examples for investors and advance marketing. Examples of CNC machining in consumer products includes housing, fixtures, and components. A popular example would be the bodies of some cell phones and laptop computers. These are typically machined out of aluminum.
Industrial // CNC machining is widely used for industrial purposes, both as a manufacturing method in itself and as a way to create components to aide industrial manufacturing. CNC machining is a mainstay in industrial manufacturing due to its ease of use, repeatability, and precision.
Medical // CNC machining is used in the medical sector to create components for medical devices and medical implants. CNC machining in plastic is used to create components for medical devices. CNC machines can work with a variety of materials that have been approved for close contact with the human body. CNC machining is an easy way to prototype medical devices before moving to full production. CNC machines can work with the same materials that are used in injection molding. CNC machining in metal is an ideal manufacturing method for creating medical implants. CNC machines offer the precision and repeatability necessary to manufacture medical implants. Examples include replacement hips and kneecaps, screws, pins, and rods. Fathom Digital Manufacturing is ISO 13485:2016 certified. This certification is required to machine medical implants.
Technology // CNC machining is widely used in emerging technology sectors for prototyping and small production runs. Fast turn around and low cost set up make CNC machining an ideal manufacturing technique for the fast-paced technology sector. CNC machining can be used to create prototypes to show potential investors and help raise venture capital. Design reiterations are easy to implement with simple changes to the CAD file.
Companies all over the world trust Fathom with CNC machining projects that are time-sensitive, production run related, need strict security and certifications, and involve high-complexity and/or require high-precision. We’re driven to provide a DIFFERENTIATED customer experience with speed, urgency & agility.
Start a quote today or talk with one of our experts!