CNC machined heat sinks
Thin fins, deep slots and a large flat base — the combination that makes heat sinks the most deformation-prone part in milling.
Part family · CNC machined parts
CNC machined brackets
Simple shape, difficult job: hole positions on several faces and one consistent datum for every set-up.
What it is, and where it usually goes wrong
A bracket holds two parts in a fixed relative position, so its job is positional, not structural. The drawing usually shows an L, U or ribbed plate; what decides whether it fits is whether the hole pattern on one face still lines up with the hole pattern on the other after two set-ups.
How we machine it
- Machine the datum face and the dowel holes first, then locate everything else from them.
- Where two faces must be square to each other, machine them in one set-up on an angle plate rather than flipping the part twice.
- Keep the tapping and the drilled holes in the same coordinate system so thread position follows the hole.
- Do not clamp directly over a thin rib or a free edge — the part deflects and the holes move when released.
Where it is used
Internal mounting plates, sensor mounts, motor and module adapters, optical bench supports.
What we check before it ships
- Hole pitch and true position against the drawing datum
- Flatness of the mounting face
- Squareness between the two mounting faces
- Thread go/no-go on every tapped hole
Measured against your drawing and written on the inspection sheet that ships with the parts. First article reports are available on request.
What to send for a quote
- Load direction and whether the bracket carries weight or only locates
- Hole tolerances and the squareness you actually need between faces
- The mating part drawing — most fit problems are a shared dimension, not the bracket alone
- Finishing: anodised, plated or bare, and which faces must stay conductive
A STEP file plus a drawing is ideal; a PDF with tolerances also works. Quantity, material and finishing are enough to give you a real price instead of a range.
Questions we get on this part
Why does a bracket need a second set-up?
When holes sit on two faces at right angles, the tool cannot reach both from one direction. The usual answer is to finish the datum face and the dowel holes first, then locate the second set-up on those dowels so the second face inherits the same datum instead of a new one.
Which material should a bracket use?
Aluminium when weight matters or the part is anodised; carbon steel when the load is high, the part is welded, or cost dominates; stainless when the environment corrodes it. The choice follows load, environment and finishing together, not one of them alone.
Other cnc machined parts we machine
Flashlight housings
A cylindrical shell where the coaxial relationship between knurled body, thread section and assembly shoulder matters most.
CNC machined enclosures
A visible part: besides dimensions, surface texture, edge condition and the gap at the joint line decide whether it passes.
Send a drawing, get a price within 24 hours
STEP, IGES, DWG, PDF or a dimensioned sketch — plus material, quantity and finishing. We reply with a price and any questions in one message.