3-Axis CNC Milling
Fanuc Robodrill α-T14iAL 3-axis milling centre in a climate-controlled Mississauga facility. 700 × 380 × 330 mm work envelope. Palletized for unattended runs. Ideal for prototype, low-volume production, and fixture work.
When 3-axis is the right call
Not every part needs simultaneous 5-axis. For prismatic geometry, plate work, housings, brackets, fixtures, and a large share of prototype parts, 3-axis milling is faster, cheaper, and just as accurate. We use the Robodrill when:
- The part is flat, prismatic, or 2.5D
- All critical features are accessible from one or two setups
- Volume is high enough that short cycle time and fast pallet changeovers matter more than axis count
- You need fixtures, soft jaws, or tooling bodies for another job
When a part starts to need multiple setups with compound-angle features, we move it to the 2025 Matsuura MX-520. That call is made at quote time so you're not paying for machine time you don't need.
The machine
Fanuc Robodrill α-T14iAL, 3-axis CNC milling centre
- Work envelope: 700 × 380 × 330 mm (X × Y × Z)
- Fanuc control, tight servo tuning, fast rigid tapping
- Palletized for unattended lights-out production
- Tool library sized for mixed-material prototype and low-volume work
- Climate-controlled facility at 20°C ±1°
Full machine detail on the equipment page. The Robodrill is fast on aluminum and stable on stainless. Pallet changes keep cycle time compressed on multi-part runs, and lights-out operation lets us ship overnight work economically.
Materials we machine on the Robodrill
- Aluminum: 6061-T6, 7075-T6, 2024, MIC-6 plate
- Stainless: 17-4 PH (H900, H1025, H1150), 304, 316, 416
- Titanium: Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) — reduced feed rates, small batches
- Tool steel: A2, D2, O1 — pre-hardened stock
- Engineered plastics: PEEK, G10, Acetal, Delrin, UHMW
- Copper and brass: C110, C360
Material certifications available on request, traceable to mill. Heat treat, anodising, passivation, and coating coordination through qualified partners. In-house vibratory finishing is available as a machining add-on for deburring, edge break, and pre-coating surface prep.
Tolerances and quality
- In-house tolerance: ±0.0001"
- Partner CMM inspection: ±0.0002"
- Repeatable accuracy: within machine spec, thermally stable at 20°C ±1°
- FAI / PPAP support: available on request
- Material certifications: on request
- First article + in-process inspection on production runs
Quality systems: AS9100D in process. CGP registration under Government of Canada review. ISO 9001 partner operations for turning, grinding, and final CMM inspection.
Typical 3-axis parts we machine
- Prototype housings, brackets, and mounts
- Aluminum plate fixtures and soft jaws
- Optical and photonics baseplates
- Electronics enclosures and heat sinks
- Medical-grade PEEK components
- Jigs, gauges, and short-run tooling
- Industrial automation brackets, end-effector bodies, robot tooling
- Low-volume production, 1–500 piece runs
If you're not sure whether your part is 3-axis or 5-axis, send the drawing. We'll route it to the machine that gives you the lowest total cost.
Prototype and low-volume production
The Robodrill is our primary prototype platform. Palletized setup means we can stack several prototype jobs on fixture plates and run them back-to-back, which compresses lead time on multi-part programs.
- Prototype turnaround: 2–3 day ship on critical parts where scheduling allows
- Bridge production: 10–500 piece runs are a core part of what we do
- DFM feedback during quoting: if a tolerance will drive cost or a feature will fight the fixture, we say so in the quote
- Single point of accountability: one contact from RFQ through delivery
See also prototype CNC machining and low-volume production.
How to work with us
- Send a drawing or STEP file. PDF drawing plus 3D model preferred. GD&T is read and quoted directly.
- Say what the part does. Application context lets us flag DFM issues a drawing alone won't show.
- Flag critical features and surfaces. We build the inspection plan around your critical-to-function list.
- Quote turnaround: typically same-day or next-day on 3-axis prototypes.
Request a quote on 3-axis milling.
PDF plus STEP file preferred. Response within 24 hours on most RFQs. Get a Quote
FAQ
What's the work envelope on your 3-axis mill?
700 × 380 × 330 mm (X × Y × Z) on the Fanuc Robodrill α-T14iAL. Parts larger than that envelope are either fixtured for multi-setup runs or routed to the Matsuura MX-520 depending on geometry.
Can you do prototypes and one-offs?
Yes. The Robodrill is our primary prototype platform, and palletized setup lets us move through several prototype jobs in a single run. 2–3 day ship is possible on critical parts where scheduling allows.
What's the difference between your 3-axis and 5-axis services?
The Robodrill handles prismatic, plate, and 2.5D parts where features are accessible from one or two setups. The 2025 Matsuura MX-520 simultaneous 5-axis machining centre handles parts with compound angles, undercuts, and contoured surfaces that need coordinated motion across all five axes. We route the job to whichever machine gives the lowest total cost — that decision happens at quote.
What materials do you cut on 3-axis?
6061-T6 and 7075-T6 aluminum, MIC-6 plate, 17-4 PH stainless (H900, H1025, H1150), 304/316/416 stainless, Ti-6Al-4V in small batches, A2/D2/O1 tool steel, PEEK, G10, Acetal, Delrin, UHMW, C110 copper, and C360 brass.
What tolerances do you hold on 3-axis?
±0.0001" in-house. Partner CMM inspection is available to ±0.0002" where a certified CMM report is required. Our facility is climate-controlled at 20°C ±1°, which removes thermal drift from the day-to-day measurement comparison.
Do you run lights-out on the Robodrill?
Yes. The Robodrill is palletized and runs unattended overnight on approved production parts. That capacity pulls per-piece cost down on low-volume production work without sacrificing quality.
What are your quality systems?
AS9100D is in process. CGP registration is currently under Government of Canada review — Designated Official exam passed. ISO 9001 partner operations handle live-tool turning, precision grinding, and final CMM inspection. FAI and PPAP support are available on request.
Do you ship outside Canada?
Yes. We ship across Canada and into the US routinely. Customs documentation and Incoterms are handled at the quote stage.
Where are you located?
1578 Finfar Ct, Unit #2, Mississauga, Ontario. GTA pickup is welcome; most customers use courier or freight.