3D Printing CNC Machining: Milling CNC Machining: Turning CNC Machining: Precision Machining CNC Machining: Protolabs Network Injection Molding Sheet Metal

Basic Design Guidelines

Sometimes you need quick confirmation of your designs, and the best advice is to go back to basics. Get quick, upfront information about tolerances, min. and max. part sizes, and additional considerations here.

3D Printing

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  Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
Metal 3D Printing 9.6 in. x 9.6 in. x 13.0 in
X Line: 31.5 in. x 15.7 in. x 19.7 in.		 0.006 in. ±0.003 in
Stereolithography 29 in. x 25 in. x 21 in. 0.0025 in. ±0.002 in.
SLS 19 in. x 19 in. x 17 in. 0.030 in. ±0.010 in.
PolyJet 19.3 in. x 15.4 in. x 7.9 in. 0.012 in. ±0.005 in.
MJF 11.1 in. x 14.9 in. x 14.9 in. 0.020 in. ±0.012 in.
Carbon DLS 7.4 in. x 4.6 in. x 12.8 in. 0.020 in. ±0.010 in.
  Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
Metal 3D Printing 245mm x 245mm x 330mm
X Line: 400mm x 800mm x 500mm		 0.1524mm ±0.076mm
Stereolithography 736mm x 635mm x 533mm 0.0634mm ±0.0508mm
SLS 482mm x 482mm x 431mm 0.762mm ± 0.254mm
PolyJet 490mm x 391mm x 200mm 0.305mm ±0.127mm
MJF 281mm x 378mm x 378mm 0.508mm ±0.305mm
Carbon DLS 89mm x 118mm x 326mm 0.508mm ±0.254mm

CNC Machining: Milling

*Hard metals: Titanium (6Al-4V), Stainless Steels (303, 304, 316, 17-4PH), Alloy Steel (4140)

**Denotes two-sided machining only

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Milling Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
3-Axis** (ABS, Acetal) 10 in. x 14 in. x 1.75 in. 0.25 in. x 0.25 in,
0.040 in. nominal thickness		 ±0.005 in.
3-Axis** (ABS, Acetal, Nylon) 22 in. x 14 in. x 0.75 in. 0.25 in. x 0.25 in
0.040 in. nominal thickness		 ±0.005 in.
3-Axis** (Aluminum) 22 in. x 14 in. x 3.75 in. 0.25 in. x 0.25 in
0.040 in. nominal thickness		 ±0.005 in.
5-Axis (Hard metals*, Brass) 10 in. x 7 in. x 1.75 in. 0.25 in. x 0.25 in
0.040 in. nominal thickness		 ±0.005 in.
5-Axis (Copper) 10 in. x 7 in. x 2.75 in. 0.25 in. x 0.25 in
0.040 in. nominal thickness		 ±0.005 in.
5-Axis (Aluminum, Plastic) 10 in. x 7 in. x 3.75 in. 0.25 in. x 0.25 in
0.040 in. nominal thickness		 ±0.005 in.
Milling Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
3-Axis** (ABS, Acetal) 254mm x 356mm x 44.5mm 6.35mm x 6.35mm
1.02 mm nominal thickness		 ±0.13mm
3-Axis** (ABS, Acetal, Nylon) 559mm x 356mm x 19.1mm 6.35mm x 6.35mm
1.02 mm nominal thickness		 ±0.13mm
3-Axis** (Aluminum) 559mm x 356mm x 95.3mm 6.35mm x 6.35mm
1.02 mm nominal thickness		 ±0.13mm
5-Axis (Hard metals*, Brass) 254mm x 178mm x 44.5mm 6.35mm x 6.35mm
1.02 mm nominal thickness		 ±0.13mm
5-Axis (Copper) 254mm x 178mm x 69.9mm 6.35mm x 6.35mm
1.02 mm nominal thickness		 ±0.13mm
5-Axis (Aluminum, Plastic) 254mm x 178mm 95.3mm 6.35mm x 6.35mm
1.02 mm nominal thickness		 ±0.13mm

CNC Machining: Turning

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Turning Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
CNC Turning Diameter: 3.95 in.
Length: 9 in.		 Diameter: 0.16 in.
Length: 0.05 in.
Wall Thickness: 0.020 in.
Angle: 30°		 +/- 0.005 in.
Turning Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
CNC Turning Diameter: 100.33mm
Length: 228.6mm		 Diameter: 4.07mm
Length: 1.27mm
Wall Thickness: 0.51mm
Angle: 30°		 +/- 0.13mm

CNC Machining: Precision Machining

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Precision Machining Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
3-Axis 36 in. x 24 in. x 13 in. 0.10 in. x 0.20 in. x 0.20 in +/-0.002 in.
5-Axis 16 in. x 16 in. x 16 in. 0.10 in. x 0.20 in. x 0.20 in. +/-0.002 in.
Turning 10 in. diameter x 18 in. length (geometry dependent) 0.093 in. diameters +/-0.002 in.
Precision Machining Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
3-Axis 914.4mm x 609.6mm x 330.2mm 2.54mm x 5.08mm x 5.08mm +/-0.0508mm
5-Axis 406.4mm x 406.4mm x 406.4mm 2.54mm x 5.08mm x 5mm +/-0.0508mm
Turning 254mm x 457.2mm 2.3622 mm diameters +/-0.0508mm

CNC Machining: Protolabs Network

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3-Axis Milling Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
Soft metals 78.7 in. x 59.0 in. x 7.8 in. Ø 0.019 in. ±.0008 in.
Hard metals 47.2 in. x 31.4 in. x 19.6 in. Ø 0.019 in ±.0008 in.
Plastics 59.0 in. x 31.4 in. x 27.5 in Ø 0.019 in ±.0008 in.

 

3+2-Axis Milling Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
Soft metals 78.7 in. x 59.0 in. x 7.8 in. Ø 0.019 in. ±.0008 in.
Hard metals 47.2 in. x 31.4 in. x 19.6 in. Ø 0.019 in ±.0008 in.
Plastics 47.2 in. x 31.4 in. x 19.6 in. Ø 0.019 in ±.0008 in.

 

5-Axis Milling Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
All materials 78.7 in. x 59.0 in. x 7.8 in. Ø 0.019 in. ±.0008 in.
3-Axis Milling Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
Soft metals 2000 mm x 1500 mm x 200 mm Ø 0.50 mm ±0.02032 mm
Hard metals 1200 mm x 800 mm x 500 mm Ø 0.50 mm ±0.02032 mm
Plastics 1500 mm x 800 mm x 500 mm Ø 0.50 mm ±0.02032 mm

 

3+2-Axis Milling Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
Soft metals 2000 mm x 1500 mm x 200 mm Ø 0.50 mm ±0.02032 mm
Hard metals 1200 mm x 800 mm x 500 mm Ø 0.50 mm ±0.02032 mm
Plastics 2000 mm x 1500 mm x 200 mm Ø 0.50 mm ±0.02032 mm

 

5-Axis Milling Max part size Min feature size Tolerances
All materials 2000 mm x 1500 mm x 200 mm Ø 0.50 mm ±0.02032 mm

Compare our full machining capabilities from prototyping to production.

Injection Molding

Tolerances

With our injection molding process, we can hold about ±0.003 in. machining accuracy. Shrink tolerance depends mainly on part design and resin choice. It varies from 0.002 in./in. for stable resins like ABS and polycarbonate to 0.025 in./in. for unstable resins like TPE.

Dimensions

The largest size we can support with plastic injection molding is 18.9 in. x 29.6 in. x 8 in. (480mm x 751mm x 203mm).

Sheet Metal

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Single Surface Tolerances
Bends ± 1 degree
Offsets ± 0.012 in
Hole Diameters ± 0.005 in.
Edge to Edge/Hole; Hole to Hole ± 0.005 in.
Hardware edge/Hole ± 0.010 in.
Hardware to Hardware ± 0.015 in.
Bend to edge ± 0.010 in.
Bend to Hole/Hardware/Bend ± 0.015 in.

 

Multiple Surface Tolerances
Features separated by two or more bends ± 0.030 in.

 

Size Guidelines
Maximum flat pattern sizes  39 in. x 47 in
Minimum flat part size 0.5 in. x 0.5 in.
Minimum formed part size  .5 in. x 1.5 in.
Bend Radius 0.030 in.
Single Surface Tolerances
Bends ± 1 degree
Offsets ± 0.3048 mm
Hole Diameters ± 0.127 mm
Edge to Edge/Hole; Hole to Hole ± 0.127 mm
Hardware edge/Hole ± 0.254 mm
Hardware to Hardware ± 0.381 mm
Bend to edge ± 0.254 mm
Bend to Hole/Hardware/Bend ± 0.381 mm

 

Multiple Surface Tolerances
Features separated by two or more bends ± 0.762 mm

 

Size Guidelines
Maximum flat pattern sizes  990.6mm x 1,193.8 mm
Minimum flat part size 12.7mm x 12.7mm
Minimum formed part size  38.1mm x 38.1 mm
Bend Radius 0.762 mm

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