So, why should a company turn to external computer numerical control manufacturers for their CNC needs? There are a couple of reasons.
First, CNC machining is expensive because you have to factor in the cost of acquiring top-notch CNC machines, industrial equipment, and other post-processing systems. Hence, deciding to take on these costs as a small or medium-sized business before production would increase the cost of the manufacturing process out of proportion.
However, by working with an external CNC machining shop, you would not have to invest heavily in purchasing machinery before reaping its technological benefits.
Another reason businesses should work with external CNC machining shops is to save training and labor costs. The machining process of custom CNC machining is quite complex and often requires the expertise of a professional team of operators.
For a company to engage in CNC milling in-house, it must employ an expert CNC machine operator, increasing the labor cost. However, outsourcing the job to external machining shops means that the company would not have to take on additional labor or training costs before benefiting from CNC milling services.
Manufacturers and businesses worldwide now outsource their rapid prototype and CNC machining services to China. So, why CNC machining in China? Here are some reasons why china’s CNC machining services have become a popular destination for CNC machining.
The popular argument against outsourcing to China is distance and the inability to track CNC machined parts easily. However, this is no longer the case with the rapid advancement in communication and internet technology. Businesses can easily track their CNC machined part orders, resulting in high-speed turnaround time.
Compared to most western manufacturing companies, outsourcing 3D printing, rapid prototyping, and CNC services to China has a higher profit margin while helping you achieve the desired shape. This higher profit margin is due to the lower cost of labor and raw materials compared to the west.
Additionally, there is no risk of intellectual property theft when businesses hand their designs to Chinese CNC machines shop for production. The reason is that China’s CNC machining has improved its intellectual property laws, offering protection to all customers and businesses.
Another reason why outsourcing online CNC machining services to China is the quality of the parts produced. The skill level in the Chinese CNC machining services sector is very high.
The popular belief is that low labor costs equal low skill, not in this case, as Chinese CNC manufacturers produce CNC machined automotive parts that meet and surpass industry quality standards.
One way to guarantee the production of quality parts is by partnering with experienced and reputable custom CNC machining shops like AT-Machining. Other tips to ensure high-quality CNC machining parts include;
Having examined the general benefits of working with a CNC machining China-based company, the next item on the list is choosing the right CNC machines shop.
Unlike their western counterparts, China-based CNC machine shops offer their clients various finishing services. These services range from plating, powdered paint, and bead-blasting to black oxide and polish. This finishing service improves the material’s corrosion resistance. It is often helpful to businesses that require a specific finish for their CNC machining parts.
Choosing the right CNC machining China-based shop guarantees you top-quality CNC machined parts/components at lower costs. Are you looking to head into the Chinese CNC machining market? Here are some tips for choosing the right CNC machine shop.
One way to check a CNC machine shop’s bias to quality control is the robustness of their product testing and verification process. When choosing a company, ensure you choose one with traceable bar codes or serial numbers.
In the interest of transparency, you should request testing reports before shipping to ensure manufactured CNC part meets industry standards like the automotive industry, semiconductor industry, and medical industry.
Additionally, top-quality companies like AT-Machining take machining process control seriously, using the right cutting tool. Besides, it assures you 100% strict part inspection, ensuring all management materials and techniques are optimal.
Checking a company’s certifications remains one of the best ways to assess its credibility, especially for CNC precision machining shops. Besides, checking the certifications also helps you ascertain if the company you are checking out is the best fit to produce the quality and type of product you want.
For instance, if you are producing for the medical industry, then the CNC machine shop you choose should have the right industry certification. This certification guarantees that medical devices or other products produced in the CNC machine shop would meet the medical standards.
We cannot overstate the role of experience in the manufacturing industry. When choosing a CNC machining shop, you should go for one that has been in business for several years. The reason is that they often have the right skill and knowledge to avoid production process complications and solve any that arises during production.
Also, asides from general manufacturing solutions experience, it is best to ensure the company has experience working with your chosen project material, be it plastic or metal materials.
Coupled with experience, the ideal shop should also have the right advanced equipment and production capacity to fulfill your order. This includes but is not limited to multi-axis machining systems, CNC turning, and milling machines.
Thanks to technological advancement and the internet, it is now easier to communicate with China-based CNC machining shops. Communication is crucial to the success of a project. Without proper communication, a manufacturer might not understand your project needs, leading to project failure.
If there is something you do not understand, it is always best to ask for clarification. This doesn’t only apply to CNC machining, but also to 3d printing, injection molding, and rapid prototyping projects.
Most Chinese machining companies have an MOQ (Minimum order quantity). This represents the smallest quantity of products you can order from the supplier. There are several benefits to ordering a smaller batch of products from a new supplier.
When choosing a China CNC machining company, you should choose one with a low MOQ.
Pricing is a crucial aspect of the CNC machining process, so when choosing a shop, ensure you are getting a fair price. Comparing prices from different sources is one way to ensure you get a fair price.
Also, always go for companies that can provide you with a quick turnaround time. This feature is important for ensuring you complete your projects on schedule without blazing past deadlines.
AT-Machining is a high-precision parts company that meets all the criteria for choosing the right rapid prototyping and CNC machining shop. We are one of the best CNC machining service providers in China.
We’ve been in business for over a decade, offering a broad range of CNC turning services, including 3D printing, precision CNC milling, CNC turning, CNC lathe, Surface Grinding, and EDM machining.
There are several benefits you could get using our service, and they include the following:
At AT-Machining, we recognize the beauty of variety, which is why we provide our clients with various material options to choose from for building their products. These metal parts and metal alloys include aluminum, stainless steel, tool steel, brass, copper, and titanium. We also provide a broad range of plastic parts, including POM, ABS, PC, PET, PEEK, and PTFE.
We have a skilled team of precision machining experts that would ensure your products come out the right way. Our team of highly trained quality control experts, engineers, and designers ensure that all CNC machined produced parts by the company meets and surpasses industry standard in durability and functionality.
At AT-Machining, we adhere strictly to the rules of DFM, optimizing our cad files and designs to ensure the simplicity of the production process. With DFM, we provide a cost-effective production process as the cost of material and feature expenses are considerably lower.
At AT-Machining, we know the value of time, which is why we use the right cutting tool and try to get your products to you as soon as possible. We also have a global client base and offer various shipping options, including DHL, UPS, and FedEx, to ensure your products get to you as when due.
Regardless of what you need, whether single prototype or large-scale production, precision CNC milling, or CNC turning, we are the high-precision company for you.
We offer you custom CNC machining services tailored to your specific precision CNC services needs. What’s more, our CNC turning services move beyond just production; we also offer value-added services like finishing, assembly, and packaging to save you money and time.
We are a precision CNC Machine shop in China with ISO 9001:2015. We are strict on quality, ensuring all our products meet industry standards. Our world-class machine shop boasts over 50 sets of CNC machines and experienced engineers to help machine all your projects and products regardless of complexity.
Now that you know more about why manufacturers use china-based companies for CNC machining services, from prototyping to production, hopefully, you feel confident in your own decision-making. When it comes time to outsource your custom projects, consider all of the factors we’ve discussed. And when you’re ready to partner with a precision CNC machining company, keep us in mind.
AT-Machining offers competitive pricing, high-quality standards, and experience working with clients in various industries – meaning we are confident we can deliver on your specific requirements. Give us a call or send us a message today to get started on your project!
The process of choosing a CNC machining supplier in China is very challenging, especially for novice procurement personnel but also for managers with experience. The way the Chinese think, work and choose to present themselves is different from what we know in the Western world. The online network is flooded with suppliers that offer CNC machining services in China.
For example, a search on the ALIBABA website for the word “Machining” yields results of about 2,000 suppliers and 1,000,000 products from China. How can a purchasing team choose a reliable machining factory from a list of 2,000 suppliers? Moreover, are the suppliers listed there really manufacturers or trading companies that in some cases is a person who works with a laptop from a 1.5X1.5 meters small office?
These questions always arise when looking for new manufacturers in China and are undoubtedly essential questions for the success of the procurement. In this post, I will share with you 13 tips for choosing a CNC machining supplier in China based on the experience I have gained working with Chinese suppliers in the last 20 years.
It is highly recommended to visit the factory before starting cooperation, and in any case, it is necessary to ensure in advance that the supplier allows a visit to the factory. Buyers who search for manufacturers in China online usually reach a trading company. These companies are a separate business entity from the manufacturer, and in most cases, the owners of the trading company and the owners of the factory are different people.
The Chinese trading company will try to persuade (and succeed most of the time) the purchasing that they buy from a manufacturer, but in practice, they buy from a middle man. Purchasing machined parts from a trading company may create problems in the future that the customer is not even aware of.
Remember, it is always better to choose a Chinese machining supplier who has testimonials from customers and agrees to contact them for verification. These must be authentic testimonials with full customer details. General recommendations without customer information are worthless.
A Chinese supplier with recommendations (even if more expensive) is better than choosing the cheapest supplier that doesn’t provide a list of satisfied customers.
Chinese vendors do not disclose customer names, but as a potential buyer, you can insist on asking the vendor to provide contact details with contact information as a condition for starting cooperation.
Payment terms of machining suppliers in China to new customers are usually 50% down payment and 50% balance before delivery. Find out if the supplier agrees to payment terms of 30% down payment and the remaining 70% will be paid against a bill of lading copy and after an inspector has approved the goods on your behalf in China.
It is highly recommended to ask about a quality inspection before shipping even if you are not going to send an inspector or hire a company that performs quality checks. Ask for an exact address of the factory to which you will need to send the inspector. If you get vague answers, you can understand that the supplier does not manufacture himself but buys from another factory.
Avoid suppliers who ask for a 100% payment before starting production, unless it is a small work worth less than $ 1,000. For small orders, there is no point in making two bank transfers. If the supplier works with PAYPAL, it is not a problem to split into two payments because the PAYPAL payment process is fast, and the transfer fee is a percentage of the transfer amount.
Find out exactly where the factory is located. China is a huge country, and sometimes the Chinese suppliers only mention the province’s address. It is essential to know which seaport is the nearest to the factory and what is the distance to the port because it affects the cost of land transportation in China.
If you work with several manufacturers in China, you should try to source a new factory in the same region(if possible) so that you can combine shipments, thus significantly saving freight and import costs.
You should also find out where is the nearest airport so you can know how much the factory is accessible for future visits. If the factory is located a few hours away from a major city, your quality inspector will probably stay overnight in the factory area, so prepare to pay also for a hotel.
If you are looking for a machining supplier in south China, check out this post: Why Should You Source CNC Machining Services In South China?
It is advisable to check in advance whether the supplier is willing to provide samples for approval and what is the cost if there is. Factories that are interested in working with new customers will usually offer samples free of charge or with a minimal fee if they are convinced that you are a serious customer.
On the other hand, trading companies always ask for cost on samples and usually excessive prices. Chinese manufacturers do not like to work with Chinese trading companies, so they ask them to pay for samples. The trading company adds a profit, and eventually, the customer receives a high price for a few pieces.
Trading companies that offer a high price for samples sometimes offer a refund when placing an order but do not be tempted to do so; they may send a poor quality sample and never give any refund.
If you purchase independently from China without an agent or employee in China, the service of the supplier is a very critical part. You make remote cooperation and do not want to get to where you need immediate answers, and there is silence from the other side.
It is essential that the supplier has a professional English speaking sales rep that responds quickly. At the pricing stage, you will be able to see how the supplier is doing, but of course, the real test will be on the first order.
As a rule, it is not advisable to start a contract with a new Chinese supplier under time pressure. It is best to start with simple work where the schedule is quite flexible. It is imperative to check the delivery times for samples and mass production, and what the supplier’s commitment to meet delivery times.
In the event of a significant delay, will he compensate or send goods by air freight at his own expense?
Delivery time depends on order quantity, part size, part complexity, type of raw material, availability of raw material, tools required such as extrusion die for aluminum extrusion, and other factors. Usually, for standard parts with raw material available in stock, the delivery time for samples is 10-15 days, and the delivery time for the mass production is 20-25 days.
Also, when ordering a part for the first time, take into account that the approval process for the samples will take approximately 6-10 days. Shipping the sample with courier takes 3-4 days plus a few days for the tests and approval of the product engineer.
Regarding delivery times keep in mind that the production of a first batch may take a little longer and therefore, it is essential to take a safety factor of a few days. The factory has produced samples but has not yet done mass production and so problems may arise. In the next production batches after the first mass production, the factory will be able to work more efficiently and shorten the schedules.
The minimum order quantity must be clarified. In principle, a machining manufacturer does not have a technical problem to produce one piece or a few pieces, but the cost is very high because it is necessary to set up the CNC machine. The real question is the availability of raw material and the MOQ of raw material suppliers.
Machining suppliers purchase raw materials from local suppliers who have a MOQ depending on the type of raw material. For example, to buy stainless steel 316 in a specific size and shape, you may be asked to place an order for MOQ of 5 tons. For aluminum extruded profiles, there is usually a minimum order quantity of 500 kg per order.
To check with the manufacturer practically what minimum quantity, you must send him the production drawings so he can understand what material should be purchased for the production of the parts.
In case the Chinese supplier tells you that he has a minimum order quantity of $5,000, you should check carefully that this is not a trading company.
Before selecting a machining supplier, you should ask all candidates to send paperwork such as licenses, company registration number, ISO certificate, samples of COC certificates, raw material certificates, and dimensions inspection reports.
Some of the suppliers’ paperwork is in the Chinese language, so it is recommended to hire services from a Chinese company that can verify the paperwork, such as checking the company registration number and factory address to make sure it is not fake paperwork. With this check can you immediately filter companies that do not look reliable.
You must ask the supplier whether he is obligated to comply with all the drawing requirements and his responsibility in case he sends disqualified parts. Will he provide replacement parts or refund?
It is critical to get a clear answer! Honest suppliers stand behind the commitment and will bear a loss if they made a mistake. This is in contrast to most trading companies that do not think long-term and prefer to lose a customer rather than lose money.
In any case, it is recommended to build cooperation with a Chinese processing supplier gradually, start small, and grow slowly. This way, you can avoid a significant loss due to a lack of experience working together.
When you start working with a new CNC machining supplier in China is recommended to perform a quality inspection before shipment. The ideal situation is that you arrive with a quality inspector for quality inspection at the factory. If this is not possible, you should send a third party to perform a quality inspection before shipping, especially at the beginning of the cooperation.
Do not start cooperation with a Chinese supplier who does not accept inspection of the third party before shipping. This is a warning sign, and he probably has a good reason for that. There is no point in asking for samples even if they are free, skip it and go to the next supplier.
You may want to ask the provider a video call in “surprise,” that is to arrange a short call via Skype at short notice so you can see the factory through a camera. Today everyone has a smartphone and an internet network everywhere so a real manufacturer will have no reason to refuse this request.
In the call, you will be able to get to know the salesperson you correspond to and see the factory. This call will give you an essential impression with whom you are dealing with.
Quality inspection is a critical step for suppliers of machining parts. CNC machines are high accuracy machines, but there may always be errors in the process, and quality checks are required at the end of the process and also during production processes.
Check whether the supplier sends testing and quality reports before shipping and what the paperwork includes. Does it include only a dimensional test report? Does it include paperwork for the raw material and coating?
You can request samples of other customers’ quality reports.
Finding a reliable and cheap CNC machining supplier in China is a process that takes time and requires experience. The online networks are full of Chinese machining suppliers, some offer any price to get work, some are unreliable trading companies, and some are reliable and ethical manufacturers.
The sourcing process is done remotely without your physical visit (at least at the beginning of the road) and with many obstacles, and therefore, the selection is difficult.
I hope that in this post, I have been able to give you some tools to help you search and choose a CNC machining supplier in China.