Low-Volume CNC Production

10–500 piece runs on a 2025 Matsuura MX-520 simultaneous 5-axis centre and a Fanuc Robodrill α-T14iAL 3-axis mill. Palletized for lights-out capacity. AS9100D in process. Material certifications on request. FAI / PPAP support available.

Request a quote on your low-volume run

What counts as low-volume at VisionForge

Low-volume at VisionForge is typically 10–500 pieces per release, across programs that repeat. A few common patterns:

• Aerospace assemblies with 25–100 piece annual demand
• Defence components on a release schedule tied to program milestones
• Medical device components in clinical-trial and early-commercial volumes
• Optics and photonics production that needs machined parts every quarter, not every week
• Industrial automation end-effectors in 50–300 piece build-to-forecast

We also run bridge production — the 50–500 pieces between a qualified prototype and a dedicated production tool. That's often where other shops create problems and we fix them.

Why low-volume usually fits us better than either end

High-volume shops are built around spindle utilisation on a narrow SKU count. When they take a 200-piece job they price it accordingly — their setup cost is spread across too few parts. High-mix prototype shops hold setups short and prices high per piece, which also makes 200 parts expensive. The math on 10–500 piece work sits between those two.

VisionForge is built around that math:

• Palletized setup lets us amortise fixturing across the run without chaining up a whole line
• Lights-out capacity means the Robodrill and MX-520 keep cutting while the shop's empty
• AS9100D-in-process quality systems give aerospace and defence customers the documentation they need
• ISO 9001 partner operations for turning, grinding, and CMM inspection handle the downstream steps without losing chain of custody

Capacity: palletized lights-out on both machines

Both of our in-house machines are palletized. That matters for low-volume production because it separates spindle time from human time.

• 2025 Matsuura MX-520 simultaneous 5-axis. 20k RPM spindle, 1 micron repeatable accuracy, pallet-changer for unattended runs. Our platform for Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 625/718, Invar 36, 17-4 PH, and any part with contoured surfaces or compound angles.
• Fanuc Robodrill α-T14iAL 3-axis. 700 × 380 × 330 mm envelope, fast rigid tapping, palletized. Our platform for prismatic aluminum, stainless, tool-steel, and plastic production.

The MX-520 runs lights-out on approved production parts through the night. Same for the Robodrill on prismatic aluminum and stainless runs. Our facility is climate-controlled at 20°C ±1°.

Inspection plan built around critical-to-function features

Low-volume production inspection isn't measure-everything. It's measure-what-matters on every part, and verify the rest on a statistically defensible sample.

• Critical-to-function features. Every part, every release. Logged to the part record.
• Fit and interface features. Sampled per run, with sample size tied to lot size and customer requirement.
• Cosmetic and non-critical dimensions. Sampled or visual-verified per the drawing notes.
• Material traceability. Heat number and certification captured against every lot.

Final CMM verification to ±0.0002" is available through our ISO 9001 partner when a certified report is required.

FAI, PPAP, and material traceability

For aerospace, defence, and medical customers, the paperwork is half the job.

• FAI (First Article Inspection). AS9102-format reports available on request, with ballooned drawings, actuals against nominal, and CMM data where applicable.
• PPAP (Production Part Approval Process). PPAP submission levels 1–5 supported, coordinated with the customer's SQE.
• Material certifications. Traceable to mill. Provided at ship and archived against the part record.
• Lot traceability. Every part in a production lot is traceable to a heat, a machining date, an operator, a program revision, and an inspection record.

AS9100D is in process. CGP registration is under Government of Canada review — Designated Official exam passed. See Quality & Certifications.

Pricing model: setup amortised across run size

On low-volume work the quote has two parts — setup and cycle — and the per-piece price moves with quantity. When you're RFQing a program, price a few break points and we'll show you where the curve flattens.

• First article and programming amortise across the first release
• Fixture cost is carried once and reused for every subsequent release
• Cycle time compresses on the second release as we apply lessons learned from the first
• Lights-out capacity is factored in where the part qualifies

How to structure a low-volume RFQ

• Drawing(s) with GD&T, revision level, and any customer-specific notes
• Release schedule — annual usage and typical release size
• Quality system requirement — AS9100D, ISO 9001, customer-specific QMS
• FAI / PPAP requirement — which level, with customer SQE contact if applicable
• Material and any processing callouts — heat treat, coating, passivation, anodising
• Target unit price or "open to quote" — both are useful, honestly

Request a quote on your low-volume run.

Response within 24 hours on most RFQs. Get a Quote

FAQ

What run sizes are you set up for?

10–500 pieces per release is our core range, across programs that repeat annually. We also run bridge production between a prototype and a dedicated production tool — that's often in the 50–500 piece range. One-off prototype work is handled separately.

Can you handle AS9100D-level documentation if you're not yet certified?

Yes. AS9100D is in process. Many of our aerospace customers work with us under a supplier-approval agreement while certification completes. The documentation — FAI, PPAP, material traceability, lot records — is the same paperwork a certified shop would produce.

Do you support FAI and PPAP?

Yes. AS9102-format FAI reports on request. PPAP submission levels 1–5 supported, coordinated with the customer's SQE.

What tolerances do you hold on production work?

±0.0001" in-house. Partner CMM verification to ±0.0002" is available when a certified report is required on every lot.

Can you run lights-out on production parts?

Yes. Both the 2025 Matsuura MX-520 and the Fanuc Robodrill α-T14iAL are palletized. Approved production parts run unattended overnight.

How do you price low-volume production?

The quote has a setup portion and a cycle portion. Per-piece price moves with quantity. Send a few break points — for example, 25 / 100 / 250 — and we'll show you where the curve flattens.

Do you handle controlled-goods work?

CGP (Controlled Goods Program) registration is currently under Government of Canada review. The Designated Official exam has been passed and the application is with the government for final review.

Where are you located, and how do you ship?

1578 Finfar Ct, Unit #2, Mississauga, Ontario. We ship across Canada and into the US routinely.