You can get a part machined by sending a drawing or 3D model to a CNC machine shop that has the equipment, material access, and inspection capability your part requires. Wexmar is a direct precision CNC shop in Canastota, New York that machines custom parts for OEMs, engineers, and startups, from one piece to production, and ships nationwide.
Knowing where to get a part machined starts with understanding what the part needs. A turned shaft, a milled housing, and a small Swiss-turned pin each fit different machines. The sections below explain how to match a part to a shop and what information speeds up the quote.
Where to get a part machined: match the part to the process
Most machined parts fall into one of three process families. Identifying yours helps you find a shop that runs that work every day.
| Part shape | Primary process | Wexmar equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Round: shafts, bushings, flanges, fittings | CNC turning with live tooling | 10 CNC lathes (Mazak, Doosan, Boss), Y-axis capable |
| Prismatic: housings, blocks, brackets, manifolds | 3- and 4-axis horizontal milling | 6 horizontal machining centers with pallet changers |
| Small round, long, or intricate: pins, screws, contacts | Swiss-type turning | 4 Maier MLK-32 Swiss machines, up to 32 mm diameter |
Many parts combine processes. A turned part may need milled flats or cross holes, which our live-tooling lathes handle in one setup. A milled part may need a turned feature, which moves between departments on the same floor. See CNC turning and Swiss machining for details.
Direct shop or marketplace?
Online marketplaces accept a model, show a price, and route the job to a partner shop. That works for some simple parts. A direct shop is different: the estimator who quotes your part works in the building where it will be made, can answer drawing questions, and can tell you what will change the price. For parts with tight tolerances, inspection requirements, or repeat demand, a direct relationship usually reduces surprises.
What a machine shop needs from you
A shop can quote from a sketch, but a complete package gets a faster and more accurate price. The minimum useful package is a dimensioned drawing and a quantity. A STEP model makes programming and quoting faster, and a drawing remains the controlling document for tolerances and notes.
- Drawing: PDF with dimensions, tolerances, surface finish, and revision
- Model: STEP file for geometry
- Material: alloy and condition, for example 17-4 PH H1150 or 6061-T6
- Quantity: first order and expected annual usage
- Finish: plating, anodize, or passivation requirements
- Documentation: material certs, CMM report, or first article
Materials we machine
Wexmar machines carbon and alloy steels, 300 and 400-series and PH stainless, Nitronic 50, Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, titanium, and engineered plastics. DFARS 252.225-7009 compliant specialty metals sourcing is available for defense work.
What we route to outside processors
Heat treating, plating, anodizing, passivation, black oxide, and powder coat are handled through qualified outside processors. We manage the routing and inspect parts when they return. If your part is primarily sheet metal, a weldment, a casting, or a 3D print, a fabrication or additive supplier is the better starting point.
Where to get a part machined for repeat production
If the part will reorder, look at how the shop handles repeat work. Programs, fixtures, and inspection plans from the first run should be saved under the part number and revision, so the next order starts from a proven process instead of a new setup from scratch. Ask whether the shop keeps heat-lot traceability and whether it can support blanket orders with scheduled releases. Wexmar runs prototype through production on the same floor, with second-shift capacity and Swiss machines that can run lights-out, so a part does not need a new supplier when volume grows. Turning, horizontal milling, Swiss, and inspection sit under one roof, which keeps the process and the records together.
How to tell a shop is a good fit
- It runs the process your part needs every day, not occasionally
- It can show its equipment list and inspection equipment
- A person reviews your drawing and asks questions before quoting
- It can supply the paperwork your purchase order requires
- It will quote your actual quantity, including one piece
Getting a quote
If you are deciding where to get a part machined, upload a drawing for an instant estimate. The AI estimator returns a preliminary range, and a Wexmar estimator confirms every quote before a firm price is issued. Call (315) 400-2654 with questions, Monday through Friday, 7 to 4 Eastern.