Micro Machining

Features down to 50 µm.
Tolerances to 2 µm.
Precision in miniature.

Dedicated micro-milling cells with 180,000 rpm air-bearing spindles on granite bases. Tool diameters 0.05 mm and up, features below 100 µm, surface finish Ra 0.2 µm. For microfluidics, medical devices, watch components, semiconductor fixtures.

Micro Quote Tolerance guide

01 · Capabilities

Micro-scale specifications.

0.05 mm

Smallest end mill

Our smallest stock tool diameter (50 µm). Custom tools to 0.03 mm available.

±2 µm

Tolerance

Achievable on critical features below 10 mm. Typical: ±5 µm on micro features.

180,000 rpm

Spindle speed

Air-bearing spindles enable cutting with micro-tools at sufficient surface speed.

Ra 0.2 µm

Surface finish

Single-pass finish on 0.1 mm ball end mill. Ra 0.1 µm with polishing.

100:1

Aspect ratio

Depth-to-width ratio achievable on slots and bores with specialized techniques.

0.1 µm

Position resolution

Linear encoder feedback on all axes. Granite machine base for thermal stability.

100 µm

Smallest feature

Typical minimum machined feature width. 50 µm achievable with care.

5 mm

Typical part size

Sweet spot: parts 1–20 mm with micro-features. Larger parts possible.

02 · Applications

Where micro machining ships.

Microfluidic channels

PMMA, PC, COC channels 50–200 µm wide for lab-on-chip and PCR devices

Watch components

Brass and steel pivots, arbors, pallets, escape wheel components — horology precision

Medical guide wires & stents

316L and Nitinol features for vascular and orthopedic micro devices

Sensor components

MEMS package hardware, small-diameter sensor housings, pressure transducer parts

Fiber-optic connectors

Ceramic and metal ferrules with ±1 µm bore tolerance for single-mode fiber

Semiconductor fixtures

Probe card hardware, test socket contacts, wafer alignment features

Surgical micro-tools

Tiny forceps tips, micro-scissors blades, dental precision instruments

Optics mounts

Small lens mounts, laser mirror adjusters, fiber-launch fixtures

Jewelry & luxury

Micro-mechanical movements, cufflink hardware, custom luxury components

FAQ

Micro machining questions.

We define micro machining as operations involving tool diameters below 0.5 mm (500 µm), producing features below 0.1 mm (100 µm). This is a different regime from standard CNC: tools are fragile, cutting forces minimal, and part fixturing critical. We maintain dedicated micro-milling centers with granite bases, air-bearing spindles (180,000 rpm), and high-resolution positioning (0.1 µm increments).

Smallest end mill we stock: 0.05 mm (50 µm). Smallest drilled hole: 0.1 mm (100 µm). Smallest machined slot: 0.08 mm with 0.05 mm end mill. Smallest pocket: 0.2 mm × 0.2 mm × 0.1 mm deep. For features below 50 µm, we transition to laser machining, EDM, or photolithography through specialty partners.

Critical features: ±0.002 mm (2 µm) on dimensions below 10 mm. General micro-machined features: ±0.005 mm. Surface finish Ra 0.2 µm single-pass with 0.1 mm ball end mill. Positional tolerance of 0.01 mm typical. For tighter than ±0.002 mm, post-machining lapping or polishing is needed.

Best: free-machining brass C360 (fastest, cleanest chips), aluminum 6061/7075, stainless 303 and 17-4 PH, Delrin POM, PEEK. Challenging but possible: titanium (slow speeds), Inconel (very slow), hardened tool steels. Poor: sticky materials (copper, pure aluminum) that gum up tiny tools. Material selection affects feature size achievable.

Microfluidics (lab-on-chip, PCR plates), medical devices (stents, suture anchors, surgical tools under 5 mm), watch components (balance springs, pivots), semiconductor test sockets, sensor components (MEMS packaging), precision optics mounts, fiber-optic connectors, and aerospace/defense miniaturized systems.

Yes — per unit volume removed, much more expensive than standard machining. Tool costs are higher (a 0.1 mm end mill costs $50–200 vs $5 for a standard end mill), cycle times are longer (feeds and speeds reduce with tool diameter), and inspection requires specialized equipment. However, for parts with features impossible via other processes, the cost is justified. Typical micro-machined part: $80–500 per piece depending on complexity.

Features down to 50 µm.Tolerances to 2 µm.Precision in miniature.