Aerospace & Aviation Manufacturing

Custom Aircraft Precision Components

Machined aircraft components built to your drawing — brackets, housings, fittings, shafts and structural hardware in aluminum, titanium and stainless steel. Send the print; we quote the material, process and inspection plan.

  • Made to your drawing — material, tolerances and finish to your specification
  • 3-, 4- and 5-axis milling and precision turning under one roof
  • Incoming, in-process and final inspection with documentation
See component types
Precision machined aircraft components including a bracket, housing and stainless steel fitting on a workbench

Materials

Aluminum · Titanium · Stainless steel

Machining

3 / 4 / 5-axis milling & turning

Tolerances

Quoted to your drawing

Documentation

Material certs & inspection reports

What this page covers

This is our component page: the aircraft part families we machine, the materials we work with, the design rules that keep a part manufacturable, and how each order is inspected and documented. Everything here starts from your drawing — we manufacture to your specification rather than to a house design.

Looking for the service overview?

If you want to understand how our aerospace machining capability and process controls are organised, start with Aerospace CNC Machining. This page handles the parts; that page handles the service.

Component families

Components We Manufacture

Aircraft hardware rarely fits a single category. These are the component families we routinely machine for airframe, equipment and ground-support applications — each one quoted and produced to the drawing you supply.

01

Mounting Brackets

Angle, L- and formed brackets that locate and support equipment, with lightening pockets and drilled or tapped mounting patterns.

02

Housings & Enclosures

Machined housings with internal pockets, ribs, sealing faces and bolt-hole flanges for sensors, actuators and electronics.

03

Fittings & Connectors

Fluid and hydraulic fittings, adapters and small manifolds with threaded ports and controlled sealing surfaces.

04

Shafts & Bushings

Turned shafts, pins, spacers and bushings held to diameter and concentricity requirements on the print.

05

Structural Brackets & Ribs

Load-path hardware with pocketed or ribbed geometry that trades part weight against stiffness.

06

Equipment Mounting Hardware

Interface plates, adapter blocks and mounting feet for avionics, cabin and equipment installations.

07

Ground-Support Components

Machined parts for ground-support and maintenance tooling, where robustness and repeatability matter more than weight.

08

UAV & Drone Parts

Airframe brackets, motor mounts, gimbal plates and chassis hardware for unmanned platforms.

CNC machined aluminum aircraft mounting bracket with lightening pockets and countersunk holes
Machined aluminum mounting bracket — pocketed to reduce weight, with countersunk fixing holes and relieved edges.
CNC machined aluminum housing enclosure with internal ribs, pockets and bolt-hole flanges
Machined housing with internal ribs, sealed pocket and a bolt-hole flange — geometry driven by the customer print.

Component types & critical features

What Usually Drives the Machining on Each Part

The same component family can be a simple 3-axis job or a five-axis problem, depending on which features are critical. This table maps the families above to the features that most often decide the process route.

Indicative mapping — actual process route is confirmed per drawing and quantity.
Component family Typical materials Features that drive the route Common processes
Brackets & mounting plates Aluminum, titanium, stainless Pocket depth, wall thickness, hole position and edge break 3-axis milling, drilling, deburring
Housings & enclosures Aluminum, stainless Internal pockets, sealing faces, bore concentricity, flange flatness 3/4-axis milling, boring, turning
Fittings & fluid connectors Stainless, aluminum, titanium Thread form, port sealing surface, internal passage cleanliness Precision turning, milling, threading
Shafts & bushings Stainless, titanium Diameter and roundness, concentricity, surface finish on bearing seats CNC turning, grinding where specified
Structural brackets & ribs Aluminum, titanium Compound angles, contoured ribs, fillet radii, weight-reduction pockets 3/5-axis milling, EDM where needed
Ground-support & UAV hardware Aluminum, stainless Interface location, assembly fit, robustness over weight 3-axis milling, turning, drilling
Precision machined stainless steel aircraft hydraulic fittings and a small manifold with threaded ports
Stainless steel fittings and a small manifold — thread form and sealing surfaces are the features that decide acceptance.

Materials

Materials for Aircraft Precision Components

Material is usually set by the drawing, not by us. These are the families we machine most often; where a grade is critical, the certificate follows the mill lot.

AL

Aluminum Alloys

6061 · 7075 · 6082

The default for weight-sensitive brackets, plates and housings. Good machinability and strength-to-weight make aluminum the fastest route to a lightweight part. See our 6061 aluminum capability for typical tolerances and finishes.

Ti

Titanium Alloys

Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) · Grade 2

Chosen for high strength-to-weight and corrosion resistance in fittings, fasteners and load-bearing hardware. Titanium machines more slowly and tool wear is higher, so it is quoted with that in mind. See titanium CNC machining.

SS

Stainless Steel

304 · 316L · 17-4PH

Used where corrosion resistance and strength are both required — fittings, shafts and hardware. 17-4PH can be supplied in a specified condition when the drawing calls for higher strength. See stainless steel CNC machining and the 304 vs 316 comparison.

Ni

Nickel & High-Temperature Alloys

Available subject to mill availability

Nickel-based and other high-temperature alloys can be machined where the drawing specifies them, subject to mill availability and the required certification. Because supply and lead time vary, we confirm grade, condition and documentation before quoting.

When 5-axis earns its place

Five-Axis Machining — Only When the Geometry Justifies It

Five-axis is a tool, not a default. It pays off when a part has compound angles, contoured surfaces, deep pockets or features on several faces, because it cuts the number of setups and improves positional consistency between those faces. For simple 2.5D plates and brackets, 3-axis machining is usually faster and cheaper — and that is what we will quote.

Five-axis CNC machining center with a trunnion table cutting a contoured aircraft component from an aluminum billet
Simultaneous five-axis work on a contoured component — the trunnion table presents multiple faces in one setup.
  • Compound angles and angled faces that would otherwise need several fixtures
  • Contoured or sculpted surfaces following a 3D model
  • Features on multiple faces that must stay in position to one another
  • Deep pockets reached at an angle to avoid tool rubbing

Where five-axis improves the part, we use it; where it does not, we say so. Read more about our 5-axis CNC machining services.

Design for machining

Design Considerations for Aircraft Components

Most cost and quality problems in a machined component are decided at the design stage. These are the points we review before quoting, and the feedback we return with every RFQ.

  • Wall thickness. Very thin walls deflect under cutting forces — consistency matters more than the absolute value.
  • Corner radii. An internal corner needs a radius at least as large as the cutter; sharp internal corners force EDM or hand work.
  • Tolerances. Reserve tight tolerances for the features that need them. A blanket tight tolerance multiplies cost and inspection time.
  • Datums & stack-up. Clear datums let us inspect the same way the part is used, and avoid tolerance stack-up surprises.
  • Pocket depth. Keep depth-to-width ratios within reach of a standard cutter to avoid long, thin tools and chatter.
  • Hole & thread standards. Standard callouts reduce tooling risk; non-standard forms may need special taps or gauges.
  • Surface finish. Specify finish only where it matters — sealing faces, bearing seats — and leave the rest as-machined.
  • Feature access. Recesses and undercuts may need a longer reach, a different orientation or five-axis work.
  • Deburring. Note whether edges must be broken and to what style; hidden burrs affect assembly and safety.
  • Marking & traceability. Tell us where a part number or lot marking may sit and whether it is allowed on a functional face.

Weight & stock form

Lightweighting, and Where the Metal Comes From

Weight reduction and stock selection are two sides of the same decision: how much metal you remove, and what shape you start from. Both are governed by volume, load path and lead time.

Reducing component weight

Weight is usually removed by pocketing, ribbing and thinning walls rather than by changing material. We can machine pockets and ribs to your model, but remember that every pocket adds machining time and another wall to control — so the cheapest weight saving is usually the one the drawing already designed in. Where your model leaves room, we can flag obvious over-thickness as DFM feedback.

Billet vs forging vs casting

Billet (plate or bar) suits low volume and short lead times with homogeneous properties. Forging improves grain flow for load-bearing parts but adds tooling lead time and a minimum quantity. Casting gets close to net shape for complex geometry and is economical at higher volume, with porosity and dimensional variation to manage. The right start point depends on quantity, load path and how near-net the geometry allows.

Drawing to finished part

From Your Drawing to an Inspected Component

Every order follows the same route, so you always know where a part is and what has been checked. Nothing moves to production until the first article is confirmed against the print.

  1. Drawing & requirement review

    We read the drawing and model, confirm material and grade, and return DFM notes on features that are hard to machine or tighter than they need to be.

  2. Material sourcing & certification

    Stock is ordered to the specified grade and condition, with the mill certificate retained against the order for traceability.

  3. Process planning & programming

    The route is set — 3-, 4- or 5-axis milling, turning, EDM — and CAM programs and fixtures are prepared for the chosen stock.

  4. First-article machining

    A first article is machined and can be supplied as a sample for approval before the production run begins. This is also where our custom CNC prototype service fits.

  5. Inspection & first-article report

    Critical features are measured against the drawing and a first-article report is issued on request, prepared to AS9102 where required.

  6. Production machining

    The approved process runs to the same programs and fixtures, with in-process checks to catch drift before it becomes scrap.

  7. Finishing & final inspection

    Any specified finishing is applied, then final inspection and documentation are completed against the order.

  8. Packing & delivery

    Parts are protected individually where needed and packed to avoid transit damage, with the document pack issued alongside.

Processes & finishing

Machining and Finishing Options

Machining and finishing are chosen from the drawing. If a callout needs a third-party-approved special process, we confirm the source before quoting rather than assuming it.

CNC Milling

3-, 4- and 5-axis milling for pockets, contours, faces and complex geometry. CNC machining services.

CNC Turning

Precision turned shafts, bushings, fittings and spacers with controlled diameters and finishes. CNC turning services.

EDM

Wire and sinker EDM for sharp internal corners, fine slots and features a cutter cannot reach. EDM machining services.

Drilling & Threading

Standard and non-standard hole patterns, tapped holes and threaded ports verified with gauges where specified.

Passivation

Passivation for stainless steel parts to clean the surface and support corrosion resistance. Passivation for stainless steel.

Anodizing & Coatings

Anodizing, conversion coating and plating applied per the drawing. Where a coating is a third-party special process, we confirm the approved source before quoting.

Inspection

Critical Features We Inspect

Inspection is planned from the drawing, not bolted on at the end. Which features get measured, and to what level, is agreed at quoting so the report matches what your own receiving inspection will check.

Dimensional accuracy

Caliper, micrometer and CMM measurement of the dimensions called out as critical on the drawing.

GD&T verification

Form, position and orientation tolerances checked against the stated datums where the drawing applies them.

Surface finish

Ra on sealing faces, bearing seats and other finished surfaces, verified against the finish callout.

Threads & holes

Thread form and pitch checked with gauges; hole size and position confirmed against the pattern.

Material & hardness

Mill certificates retained against the lot, with hardness verification where the drawing specifies a condition.

Visual & cosmetic

Deburring, edge break, marks, scratches and transit protection checked against the agreed standard.

Coordinate measuring machine probing a precision machined metal aircraft bracket on a granite table
Coordinate measurement of critical features — the same datums are used for machining, inspection and your own receiving check.

Quality documentation

What Can Travel With the Parts

Documentation is agreed at quoting. Tell us the package your quality or receiving department needs — material traceability, dimensional records, conformance, or first-article inspection — and we build it into the order rather than adding it afterwards.

Our quality system is ISO 9001:2015 certified, and we operate AS9100-aligned process controls. We are deliberately precise about what that means: alignment is not certification. Where a drawing requires a third-party-approved special process, we confirm the approved source before quoting.

Documents available on request

  • Mill / material certificates matched to the production lot
  • Dimensional inspection reports for the agreed critical features
  • First-article inspection reports, prepared to AS9102 where required
  • Certificates of conformance
  • Hardness and surface-finish records where specified
  • Packing list and document pack issued with the shipment

Scope note: we manufacture to your drawing and do not hold design authority or airworthiness approval. Conformity and airworthiness certification remain with the customer or OEM. See also what certifications a CNC supplier should have.

How an order runs

A Representative Component Example

Representative example

Machined aluminum mounting bracket — drawing to inspected batch

A customer supplied a 2D print and STEP model for a pocketed mounting bracket. We reviewed tool access and fillet radii, machined a first article from 6061-T6 aluminum, issued a dimensional report for the critical features, and after approval ran the production batch on the same programs and fixtures.

  • Material: 6061-T6 aluminum
  • Process: 3-axis milling + drilling
  • Finishing: Per drawing
  • Documentation: Dimensional report + material cert

This is a representative example that describes a typical order, not a named customer case. We do not publish client-identifying work, drawings or data without permission, so we show the process rather than invent a quotation of results.

Understanding cost

What Drives the Cost of an Aircraft Component

We do not publish a price list, because two identical-looking brackets can cost very different amounts. These are the factors that move a quote, and the ones worth optimising before you send the drawing.

Material & grade

Titanium and nickel alloys cost more per kilogram, machine more slowly and wear tools faster than aluminum.

Geometry complexity

Deep pockets, thin walls and multi-face features add setups, programming time and risk.

Tolerance & finish

Tight tolerances and fine finishes need more passes, slower feed and more inspection.

Quantity

Setup and programming are paid once, so unit cost falls as quantity rises — up to the point a different stock form wins.

Inspection level

A full first-article report and CMM verification cost more than a basic dimensional check.

Finishing & special processes

Anodizing, plating and any third-party special process add lead time and an external step.

FAQ

Custom Aircraft Precision Components — FAQ

Which aircraft components can you machine?
We machine custom aircraft components to your drawing: mounting brackets, housings and enclosures, fluid fittings and connectors, shafts and bushings, structural brackets and ribs, equipment mounting hardware, and ground-support and UAV hardware. If it can be produced by milling, turning or EDM from a specified material, send the print and we will confirm feasibility.
Do you work from our drawings, or can you help with design?
We manufacture to your drawing and 3D model. We do not hold design authority or airworthiness approval, so we do not certify the design. We do provide DFM feedback — flagging features that are hard to machine, suggesting radii or tolerances that reduce cost, and confirming the process route before production.
What materials can you machine for aircraft components?
Common choices include aluminum (6061 and 7075), titanium (Ti-6Al-4V / Grade 5), and stainless steel (304, 316L and 17-4PH). Nickel-based and other high-temperature alloys are available subject to mill availability and certification, confirmed at RFQ. Tell us the grade on the drawing and we will quote against it.
What tolerances can you hold?
Tolerances are quoted against your drawing. As a general reference, we typically hold around ±0.01 mm on standard machined features, and can work to about ±0.005 mm on qualified features where the geometry, material and fixturing allow. Always confirm critical tolerances and datums at the quoting stage.
How do we start — what do you need to quote?
Send the 2D drawing and/or 3D model (STEP or IGES), the material and grade, quantity, any finish or special-process requirements, and the documentation level you need. If a feature is critical, mark it. With those we can quote and return DFM notes.
How is this different from your aerospace CNC machining service?
This page covers the components themselves — the part families we make, materials, design rules and inspection. Our Aerospace CNC Machining page covers the service side: how our aerospace machining capability and process controls are organised. Use whichever matches your question, or send a drawing and we will route it.
Can you supply material certificates and inspection reports?
Yes. Depending on the requirement we can provide mill or material certificates, dimensional inspection reports, certificates of conformance, and first-article inspection reports prepared to AS9102 on request. Tell us the documentation package you need at the quoting stage.
Do you hold AS9100 or airworthiness approvals?
Our quality system is ISO 9001:2015 certified, and we operate AS9100-aligned process controls. We do not claim AS9100 certification or airworthiness approval, and we do not hold design authority. Conformity and airworthiness certification remain the responsibility of the customer or OEM. Where a drawing requires a third-party-approved special process, we confirm the approved source before quoting.
What is the typical lead time?
It depends on complexity, material availability and quantity. As a reference, prototype components typically run 3–7 working days, low-volume orders around 7–20 working days, and production runs about 15–25 working days. Exact timing is confirmed per project at the quoting stage.
Can you handle complex geometry or tight features?
Yes, where the geometry justifies it. Three-, four- and five-axis milling let us reach compound angles, contoured surfaces, deep pockets and features on multiple faces with fewer setups — which also improves positional consistency. For simpler parts, 3-axis machining is usually faster and more economical, so we choose the route that fits the part.

Request an Aircraft Component Review

Send your drawing or 3D model and we will confirm material, process route, tolerances and documentation — and return DFM notes with the quote.

Aerospace CNC machining

Related capabilities

Continue Exploring

Aerospace CNC Machining

Our aerospace machining service overview and process controls.

5-Axis CNC Machining Services

Simultaneous five-axis capability for complex geometry.

CNC Machining Services

Milling, drilling and the broader machining service.

CNC Turning Services

Precision turned shafts, bushings and fittings.

Custom CNC Prototype Parts

First articles and prototypes before a production run.

Passivation for Stainless Steel

Surface cleaning to support corrosion resistance.

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