Machine tool companies build and sell the machines, such as CNC lathes and machining centers from builders like Mazak, Doosan, Haas, Okuma, and DMG MORI, usually through regional dealers. Machine shops buy and run those machines to make parts for customers, so if you need parts made to a drawing, you need a machine shop, not a machine tool company.
Search results for machine tool companies often mix builders, dealers, and shops together, which confuses buyers looking for parts. This page explains the difference and helps you route your request to the right kind of company.
Machine tool companies vs machine shops compared
| Factor | Machine tool company | Machine shop |
|---|---|---|
| What it sells | CNC machines, controls, spindles, automation | Machined parts made to your drawing |
| Typical customers | Machine shops and manufacturers buying equipment | OEMs, engineers, purchasing teams, government buyers |
| Examples | Builders such as Mazak, Doosan (now DN Solutions), Haas, Okuma, DMG MORI, and their dealers | Job shops, production shops, Swiss shops, contract manufacturers |
| What you receive | A machine, installation, training, and service | Finished parts with inspection records and certs |
| Price basis | Machine purchase or lease | Per part, by quantity |
What machine tool companies do
Machine tool builders design and manufacture CNC lathes, machining centers, Swiss-type machines, grinders, and related equipment. Most sell through regional distributors or dealers who handle sales, installation, applications support, training, and service. Some builders also sell directly. A machine tool dealer may run demonstration parts to show a machine's capability, but dealers are generally not set up to take production orders for customer parts, provide lot certs, or manage material and outside processing.
Related businesses include tooling suppliers that sell cutting tools and workholding, and rebuilders that refurbish used machines.
What machine shops do
A machine shop owns and operates machine tools to make parts. It reviews your drawing, buys material to specification, programs and sets up the machines, machines and inspects the parts, manages outside processing such as heat treat or plating, and ships the parts with the documentation you require. Read more in what is a machine shop.
Which one do you need?
- You need parts made from a drawing, model, or sample: contact a machine shop.
- You want to bring machining in-house and buy equipment: contact a machine tool builder or dealer.
- You need machine repair or service: contact the builder's dealer or an independent service company.
- You are evaluating make versus buy: get part quotes from a machine shop and equipment quotes from a dealer, and compare total cost including labor, programming, inspection, and floor space.
Make or buy: the cost of machining in-house
Companies that consider buying their own machine tools should count more than the machine price. In-house machining also requires programming software and skilled programmers, operators, cutting tools and workholding, inspection equipment and calibration, maintenance, floor space, and power. It also requires steady volume to keep the machine loaded. For many OEMs with irregular or mixed demand, buying parts from a machine shop costs less overall than owning and running the equipment.
Why the machine brand still matters to part buyers
When you choose a machine shop, its equipment list tells you what it can make. The builder and model indicate the machine type, size, and features. A lathe with live tooling and Y-axis can finish milled features in the same setup. A horizontal machining center with pallet changers suits multi-face prismatic parts. A Swiss-type machine suits small slender parts.
Wexmar: a machine shop running Mazak, Doosan, and Maier equipment
Wexmar is a machine shop, not a machine tool dealer. Wexmar does not sell machines. The shop in Canastota, NY, runs 10 CNC lathes including Mazak Nexus and Multiplex models and Doosan Lynx 2100A machines, 6 Mazak horizontal machining centers with pallet changers for 3- and 4-axis work, and 4 Maier MLK-32 Swiss-type machines with FMB bar feeders. Parts are inspected on Brown & Sharpe CMMs. The full list is on our machine list, and processes are on our capabilities page.
Checklist: are you contacting the right company?
- Need finished parts: machine shop.
- Need a new or used machine: builder or dealer.
- Need a machine repaired: dealer or service company.
- Need cutting tools or workholding: tooling distributor.
Getting a quote
If you need parts machined to a drawing, Wexmar can quote them. You can upload a drawing for an instant estimate or call (315) 400-2654, Monday to Friday, 7 to 4 Eastern.