CNC Micromachining
at ±10 µm in Polymers,
±20 µm in Metals.
CNC micromachining is a high-precision subtractive manufacturing process that produces features, holes, channels, and threads at the microscopic scale, with tolerances held to ±10 µm in polymers and ±20 µm in metals and features as small as 100 µm. Goodfellow Microfabrication delivers 4-axis CNC capability combined with laser micromachining for medical, aerospace, photonics, and electronics applications.
Upload STEP, STL, or PDF, our engineers review it for manufacturability.
No redesign required to start, we’ll help optimise your part.
Why choose Goodfellow Microfabrication for CNC micromachining
We deliver precision CNC micromachining for micro-scale components, supporting projects from early prototyping through to full-scale production with engineering-led manufacturing and in-house quality control.
Tight tolerance machining, achieving micro-scale tolerances for precision components in metals and polymers.
In-house quality control, full inspection and validation for consistent CNC machining results.
Scalable manufacturing, from prototype to production, maintaining accuracy and repeatability.
Multi-process capability, CNC micromachining combined with laser and hybrid fabrication methods.
Engineering support, guidance on design, tolerances, and material selection to improve manufacturability.
Upload STEP, STL, or PDF, our engineers review it for manufacturability.
No redesign required to start, we’ll help optimise your part.
Explore our precision capabilities
Choose the manufacturing route that fits your geometry, material, and production need.
CNC Micromachining
4-axis CNC milling and drilling for fine-feature and engineering plastics where repeatable tolerance control matters.
Laser Micromachining
UV, IR and structured polymer film for nozzles incredibly ultra-fine, perfectly uniform backlit micro-holes.
Rapid Prototyping
Fast-turn prototype paths for teams that need DFM feedback, material parts on compressed timelines.
Hybrid CNC + Laser
A medical-grade stainless steel stent part, CNC macro structural feature machined and laser-cut.
Bonding & Assembly
Precision alignment, bonding, micro-assembled components flawlessly bonded and aligned data.
Explore Applications
Choose your sector to get started, or upload your CAD file if your design is ready.
Microfluidics
Chips, manifolds, diagnostic cartridges, and bonded polymer substrates with fine channel geometry, optical access, and fluid-path precision.
Next step for Microfluidics
Continue into the materials library or upload your CAD file if your design is already fixed.
- DFM review included
- No minimum order
- 24 to 48 hr prototype turnaround
Aerospace
Sensor hardware, lightweight structures, thermal-control components, and precision metallic parts where traceability and setup accuracy matter.
Next step for Aerospace
Continue into the materials library or upload your CAD file if your design is already fixed.
- DFM review included
- No minimum order
- 24 to 48 hr prototype turnaround
Semiconductor
Wafer tooling, chamber hardware, package fixtures, and test supports that need fine features, stable geometry, and clean process fit.
Next step for Semiconductor
Continue into the materials library or upload your CAD file if your design is already fixed.
- DFM review included
- No minimum order
- 24 to 48 hr prototype turnaround
Photonics & Optics
Lens mounts, apertures, alignment structures, and beam-management hardware where finish, concentricity, and thermal stability matter.
Next step for Photonics & Optics
Continue into the materials library or upload your CAD file if your design is already fixed.
- DFM review included
- No minimum order
- 24 to 48 hr prototype turnaround
Electronics / MEMS
RF shielding, sensor housings, flex-circuit supports, and MEMS-adjacent components with compact geometry and conductive materials.
Next step for Electronics / MEMS
Continue into the materials library or upload your CAD file if your design is already fixed.
- DFM review included
- No minimum order
- 24 to 48 hr prototype turnaround
CNC Micromachining Capabilities
Engineering guidance, not fixed spec promises.
Material selection supported, customers often work with engineering to optimise for manufacturability.
Material support available
Work with your own material or select from 170,000+ options.
Broader material matching and traceability support are available through the wider Goodfellow library.
CNC vs. Laser vs. Conventional Machining
Use this guide to identify the right process, or combine them for the best result.
Choose the right process for your part, based on geometry, tolerance, and material.
CNC Micromachining
Best when you need:
- Tight tolerances and structural geometry
- Threads, undercuts, or deep features
- Consistent precision across parts
Tolerance: ±10 µm (plastics) / ±20 µm (metals)
See CNC capabilities →Laser Micromachining
Best when you need:
- Ultra-fine features or micro-holes
- Thin materials or delicate substrates
- Non-contact processing
Feature range: 5 to 50 µm
See laser capabilities →Conventional CNC
Best when you need:
- Larger parts (>500 µm features)
- Simpler geometries
- Cost efficiency at scale
Tolerance: ±25 to 50 µm typical
See conventional CNC capabilities →Our Micro-CNC Process: From Concept to Finished Part
A clear engineering workflow from first brief through material selection, DFM review, fabrication, validation, and delivery.
Submit Your Brief
Share your drawing, CAD file, application goal, tolerance needs, or early-stage project requirements.
Select Material
Use your own material or source precision metals, polymers, ceramics, and specialist grades through Goodfellow.
Engineering Review
Collaborative DFM review to align geometry, material, tolerances, process route, and manufacturability.
Manufacture & Validate
Precision CNC or hybrid fabrication with inspection, measurement, and optional validation support available.
Deliver or Scale
Move from prototype into repeat production with documented outputs, traceability, and scale-up support.
Supported by the Goodfellow Group’s integrated material, fabrication, and testing capabilities.
The Goodfellow Group
The Goodfellow Group brings together material supply, precision fabrication, and testing capabilities, giving you access to a complete engineering ecosystem.
Global supply of advanced metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, and compounds with research-quality flexibility and production-scale support across 170,000+ specialist materials.
170,000+ material grades
No minimum order
CNC micromachining
Laser micromachining
Hybrid manufacturing
Micro-assembly
Certified reference materials and analytical standards supporting calibration, laboratory QA, and regulatory compliance.
Calibration and QA support
Traceable standards
Trusted by engineers worldwide
“… The edges are consistently clean, even under magnification. They have turned orders around much more quickly than I am used to, and most importantly, communication is good. …”
“Potomac Photonics expertise and expediency enabled us to both deliver our flight unit calorimeter spectrometer insert on schedule and the opportunity to test in advance our proposed alignment method in Japan.”
“… I can’t tell you how much people appreciate the precision of the Tarsus Gauge you all made for us. I just sent some gauges down to Costa Rica and Argentina for researchers there and they are thrilled …”
Ready to move forward?
Upload your drawing or request a quote, our engineering team will review your design and respond within 24 hours.
No redesign required to start, we’ll help optimise your part.
Uploads stay confidential. We can sign your NDA on request before you share files.
You submit your request
Name, email, description, drawing. No commitment.
Engineer reviews your part
DFM check on geometry, tolerances, material fit.
Quote & process path confirmed
Feasibility, recommended process, next steps.
Step 1, Tell us about your part
Common questions
Direct answers to the engineering, materials, and process questions buyers most often ask when evaluating a microfabrication partner.
CNC micromachining is a high-precision subtractive manufacturing process used to produce features below 1 mm with tolerances measured in microns. Goodfellow Microfabrication uses CNC micromachining for medical, microfluidic, photonic, semiconductor, and electronics parts that require repeatable dimensional accuracy.
Goodfellow Microfabrication holds ±10 µm in polymers and ±20 µm in metals. Tighter tolerances may be achievable for specific geometries after DFM review, depending on material, feature type, and aspect ratio.
Yes. Goodfellow Microfabrication machines microfluidic features in PEEK and other high-performance polymers for manifolds, diagnostic devices, and lab-on-chip systems. Channel geometry, depth, and tolerance are reviewed during DFM to confirm the right CNC or hybrid CNC-laser process.
Goodfellow Microfabrication CNC micromachines metals such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminium, nitinol, and copper; engineering plastics such as PEEK, PMMA, COC, PTFE, and Kapton; and specialty substrates such as silicon, borosilicate glass, and Invar. Materials are sourced through Goodfellow’s wider library of 170,000+ grades.
Goodfellow Microfabrication machines CNC features down to roughly 100 µm, with finer detail available through laser or hybrid CNC-laser workflows. Minimum achievable feature size depends on the material, thickness, geometry, and tolerance requirement.
Use CNC micromachining for structural features, pockets, threads, and deeper cuts above roughly 100 µm. Use laser micromachining for very fine features, thin substrates, or dense hole arrays. Goodfellow Microfabrication combines both when a hybrid process is the best fit.
Goodfellow Microfabrication typically responds within 24 hours to new quote and drawing submissions. Once CAD, material, and tolerance requirements are reviewed, the team confirms feasibility, the recommended process path, and next quoting steps.
Yes. You can select a Goodfellow material, specify form and quantity, and submit it alongside your machining requirement in a single basket. Material supply is coordinated through Goodfellow Materials and machining through Goodfellow Microfabrication.
Ready to machine
at the micron scale?
Share your CAD and tolerance requirements. Engineers review every design for manufacturability and respond within 24 hours.
