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Many complex engineering projects require more than a single manufacturing process. A welded structural frame may need precision-machined mounting interfaces. A sheet metal enclosure might require CNC-machined holes for connectors and sealing surfaces. When custom metal fabrication & CNC machining are combined strategically, manufacturers can deliver higher-quality assemblies with tighter tolerances, faster turnaround, and lower total cost than sourcing each process separately.
At ANOK Precision Manufacturing, we have built an integrated production facility in Shenzhen, China, that brings CNC machining, turning, surface grinding, WEDM, coating, and high-precision assembly under one roof. Founded in 2007 and ISO 9001:2015 certified, ANOK serves global clients across medical, aerospace, automation, and eight other industries with tolerances down to ±0.002 mm. This guide explains how to plan a project that leverages both fabrication and precision CNC machining — and why a single-source partner like ANOK makes the difference.
Sheet metal fabrication excels at creating large, thin-walled structures — enclosures, brackets, frames, and panels — from flat stock. It is cost-efficient for volume production and minimizes material waste. However, fabrication alone cannot reliably hold tight bores, threaded holes, or complex three-dimensional pockets.
CNC machining, by contrast, removes material from solid billets or bars to achieve exact geometries with tolerances measured in micrometers. It is the natural choice for precision features such as bearing seats, sealing faces, and threaded inserts.
When an assembly requires both structural form and precision function, combining the two processes is not optional — it is the most efficient engineering path. Common hybrid applications include:
Not every machine shop can manage both fabrication and machining in a single workflow. ANOK Precision Manufacturing operates more than 50 machining facilities, including 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis CNC machining centers, nearly 15 CNC turning machines, precision surface grinders, and Sadick wire EDM equipment. Our in-house capabilities span the full hybrid production chain:
ANOK's CNC machining services cover everything from simple prismatic parts to complex contoured geometries. Our 5-axis centers synchronously control linear and rotary axes, enabling single-setup machining of multi-angle features ideal for aerospace couplers, medical components, and automation fixtures. Tolerances down to ±0.002 mm are held on critical dimensions.
With nearly 15 CNC turning machines running up to 20 hours per day, ANOK produces shafts, pins, bushings, and cylindrical housings with a maximum part diameter of 520 mm and maximum length of 3600 mm. Our CNC turning and milling compound machines eliminate repositioning error by combining operations in one setup.
After fabrication, critical mounting faces often need post-process grinding to achieve flatness and parallelism within ±0.002 mm. Our surface grinders deliver roughness down to Ra 0.4, with mirror-polish finishes of Ra 0.2 achievable when required. For hardened steel, titanium, carbide, or copper components, our wire EDM cuts with tolerances as tight as 0.003 mm — without thermal damage to the workpiece.
ANOK completes the hybrid workflow with comprehensive surface treatments including anodizing, electroplating, powder coating, passivation, and nitriding. Aluminum surface treatment maintains dimensional variance below 5 µm. Our high-precision assembly line then integrates machined components with fabricated structures, machining fixtures, checking fixtures, and module assemblies — all within micrometer accuracy.
The key to a successful hybrid project is designing for manufacturability (DFM) from the earliest stage. ANOK's engineering team reviews part designs for process compatibility, identifies critical dimensions, and recommends material and tolerance specifications before cutting any metal.
Here are practical guidelines our engineers apply to combined fabrication-and-machining projects:
Sourcing fabrication and machining from separate vendors introduces hidden costs: shipping between facilities, misaligned tolerances, schedule delays, and quality disputes. ANOK eliminates these risks by managing the entire hybrid workflow internally.
| Benefit | What ANOK Delivers |
|---|---|
| Tolerance compatibility | A single quality system ensures machined features align with fabricated structures without rework. |
| Faster turnaround | No inter-facility shipping. Parts move from cutting to CNC milling to assembly within one factory. |
| Lower total cost | Eliminates duplicate inspection, packaging, and logistics costs between vendors. |
| Unified DFM review | Engineers optimize the design for both processes simultaneously, not sequentially. |
| Traceable quality | ISO 9001:2015 certified with full documentation from raw material to finished assembly. |
Hybrid projects often require multiple materials within the same assembly. ANOK machines both metals and plastics from solid stock, and fabricates sheet metal structures from aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon steel.
Metal CNC Machining: Aluminum (6061/T6, 7075/T6, 6082), brass (C260, C360), copper (101, C110), titanium, magnesium, stainless steel (S303, S304, S316L, 440), alloy steel, carbon/mild steel, tool steel, and tungsten.
CNC Plastic Machining: ABS, nylon (PA6, PA66, glass-filled), POM (Acetal), PEEK, PET, PC (polycarbonate), PTFE, and PMMA (acrylic). ANOK has extensive experience with high-temperature-resistant PEEK and chemically resistant PTFE for medical and aerospace applications.
Our metal CNC machining service achieves scrap rates as low as 0.3% and provides DFM optimization that can reduce design costs by up to 30%.
ANOK serves eight industries where combined fabrication and machining is a routine requirement:
Combining custom metal fabrication and CNC machining in a single project is not just possible — it is often the most efficient and cost-effective manufacturing strategy for complex assemblies. Success depends on choosing a partner with true in-house integration across both processes, not merely a network of subcontractors.
ANOK Precision Manufacturing offers exactly that: CNC machining, turning, grinding, WEDM, coating, and assembly — all managed within one ISO 9001:2015 certified facility. Whether you need a prototype weldment with precision-machined features or a production run of hybrid mechanical assemblies, ANOK delivers custom CNC parts with the tolerances, materials, and turnaround your project demands.
Contact ANOK today at info@anok-machining.com or call 86-0755-83723092 to discuss your next hybrid manufacturing project.