CNC milling for pockets, profiles and repeat parts
CNC milling uses a computer program to drive a rotating cutter over a block of material, so complex shapes and repeated parts come out the same every time. We do CNC milling at our shop at 4812 Longley Ln in Reno.
- Built from your specifications, drawings or samples
- Free consultations, prompt estimates
- Wolf Machine stands behind the work we perform
- Reno shop, Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm
Stock photo: a milling cutter taking a finishing pass on a steel block, coolant line beside it
A program changes the economics of a part. It costs effort once, then the machine repeats the cuts as many times as you need. That makes CNC milling the natural route for parts with pockets, curved profiles or long hole patterns, and for any part you expect to order again.
At a glance
- Pockets, slots, profiles and hole patterns
- Programmed setups that repeat from part to part
- One prototype or a repeat order from the same program
- Works from STEP or DXF files with a PDF print
I have used Wolf Machine several times over the past few years for fabricating and repair of parts on my ultralight aircraft. [...] These guys are great to deal with. I wouldn't take my projects anywhere else.
What does a program buy you?
Two things: repeatability and shape. Once a toolpath is proven, the machine cuts the same part again without anyone re-measuring every move. And a program can follow curves, angles and tight pocket corners that would be slow or impractical to cut by hand.
In CNC work the part geometry is turned into toolpaths on a computer before any metal is cut. When a part changes between orders, the program is edited rather than rebuilt.
Which files help most?
A 3D model in STEP format carries the whole shape, and a DXF carries a flat profile. A PDF print adds what a model cannot: the material, the critical dimensions, the threads and the notes. Send the model and the print together when you have both.
The quote form accepts PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP and IGES files, plus JPG and PNG photos. The file types answer covers what each one is good for, and the drawing checklist covers the print.
- STEP or STP for 3D shape
- DXF or DWG for flat profiles and hole layouts
- PDF print for material, sizes, threads and notes
When is manual milling the better route?
A program has setup effort built in. For a single simple part, a keyway, a slot or a quick repair cut, a machinist on a manual machine is often the shorter path. The shop runs both, and picks the route that suits the part in front of it. The page on vertical milling covers the manual side.
If your part is going to be ordered more than once, mention it. That tips the balance toward a program and a proper setup, and it is the starting point for a production run.
Getting a CNC milling quote
Attach your files to the quote request, with the quantity you expect and the material. Add the revision of the drawing if there is one, so the estimate and the finished part are for the same version.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (775) 359-5570, Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Sources
- Wolf Machine & Fabrication services list (2026-10-18)
- ISO 10303 STEP file format (overview) (2026-10-18)
- ASME Y14.5-2018, Dimensioning and Tolerancing (2026-10-18)
What CNC milling is used for
- Plates with pockets and bolt patterns
- Housings and fixture parts with several machined faces
- Parts with curved or angled profiles
- Repeat parts ordered again from the stored program
- Fixture plates and tooling that must hold their pattern
Typical parts
- Machined plates
- Fixture and tooling parts
- Housings and manifolds
- Fixture components
How to send us the job
Have a print? Attach it to the quote request. No print? Photos of every face, the sizes you know and the machine the part came from are a good start, and you can bring the part in.
Related
Questions about this service
From the shop
Work from the shop
Straight answers
CNC milling questions
Still have a question? Call (775) 359-5570, Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Can you run a single part on CNC, or only quantities?
Both. A single prototype is a normal job, and the program stays on file if you want more later.
Does the shop do the programming?
Yes. Send a model or a print with the quote request, and the program is prepared from it.
What if my file is in a different format?
Send what you have. PDF prints and photos are always useful, and the shop will tell you if another format would help.
Send us the job
Request a quote
Tell us what you need, attach a drawing or photos of the part, and we will get back to you during shop hours. Free consultations; prompt estimates.
- From your specifications, drawings or samples. We can also assist you in designing your product or part.
- Free consultations and prompt estimates
- Stands behind the work: Our rates are very competitive and our quality is second-to-none. Wolf Machine stands behind the work we perform.
- Company accounts: all major credit cards, or we can open an account for your company
Shop hours Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. Send your request any time and we will get back to you during shop hours.
Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying