CNC Machining for Consumer Electronics
Aluminium housings, bezels, heat sinks and internal brackets machined to ±0.02mm and anodized to your colour and thickness spec. 6061, 6063 and 7075 with tight flatness, cosmetic surface quality and EMI-shielding contact surfaces, from one prototype to 100,000 pieces.
Free Consultation24h
Rapid Quote
1 pc
MOQ
±0.02mm
Dimensional Tolerance
Ra 0.8μm
Surface Roughness
Materials
| Grade | Properties | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 6061-T6 Aluminium | Tensile strength 310 MPa, yield 275 MPa, good strength to weight ratio, excellent anodizing response and a consistent fine grain structure from the mill | Laptop and tablet housings, device chassis, heat sinks, brackets, camera bodies |
| 6063-T5 Aluminium | Tensile strength 215 MPa, yield 185 MPa, slightly lower strength than 6061 but superior surface smoothness and extrusion surface quality | Bezels, trim rings, cosmetic covers, heat sink profiles, decorative frames |
| 6063-T6 Aluminium | Tensile strength 275 MPa, yield 240 MPa, good corrosion resistance with a smooth surface that takes a clear anodizing layer | External enclosures, fascia parts, mounting rails, keypad frames |
| 7075-T6 Aluminium | Tensile strength 572 MPa, yield 503 MPa, the highest strength of the common wrought alloys, heat treatable to 6XX, lower corrosion resistance and a rougher anodizing response | Structural brackets, hinges, lightening frames, high-stress linkages |
| ADC12 Aluminium (Die Cast) | Tensile strength 310 MPa as cast, 40 to 45 kHz ultrasonic, high fluidity for thin walls, requires CNC machining of critical features after casting | Die cast housings and base plates subsequently machined for flatness and bore accuracy |
| Copper C110 / C101 | Tensile strength 220 MPa, thermal conductivity 388 W/mK, best heat transfer of the common machined metals, galling risk makes it a bore and facing material rather than a wear surface | Heat spreaders, cold plates, thermal interfaces, EMI shielding parts |
| PA66 + GF30 Nylon | Tensile strength 85 MPa, 30% glass fibre filled, dimensional stability to 120°C, low friction, insulation for electrical isolation | Insulator brackets, cable guides, internal frames, insulating bushings |
Process Parameters
| Parameter | Standard Range |
|---|---|
| Dimensional Tolerance (Critical Features) | ±0.02 mm, ±0.01 mm on request |
| General Tolerance (ISO 2768-m) | ±0.1 mm |
| Flatness (Housing Mating Faces) | 0.05 mm over 100 mm |
| As-Machined Surface Roughness | Ra 1.6 μm, Ra 0.8 μm cosmetic pass |
| Part Size (CNC Milling) | up to 1000 x 600 x 500 mm |
| Part Size (CNC Turning) | up to Ø300 x 600 mm |
| Anodizing Type | Type II (clear, colour, hardcoat), Type III |
| Anodizing Thickness | 5 to 25 μm, hardcoat 25 to 50 μm |
| Thread Range | M1.6 to M12, UNC/UNF, metric and M3 self-tapping prep |
| Minimum Wall Thickness | 0.6 mm in 6063, 0.8 mm in 6061 |
Surface Finishes
Type II Clear Anodizing
Chromic or sulfuric anodizing 5 to 15 μm producing a clear, hard and corrosion resistant layer over the machined surface. The standard finish for internal structural parts and for housings that will be painted or powder coated afterwards.
Type II Colour Anodizing
Dye absorbed into the porous anodic layer, then sealed, giving colour throughout the coating depth with better UV and scratch resistance than paint. Available in black, red, blue, gold and clear, and the DFM report checks the dye lot against the sample you approve.
Type III Hardcoat Anodizing
Hard anodic coating 25 to 50 μm at 58 to 60 VDC, reaching surface hardness above 50 HV and a dielectric strength suitable for insulating standoffs and heat sink surfaces. Thickness class is controlled to 5 μm on flat areas and masked where threads or seats are cut.
Bead Blasting and Cosmetic Finishing
Glass bead blasting at 60 to 120 mesh followed by a fine deburr produces the uniform satin texture expected on consumer product housings, and removes the machining marks that show through a glossy anodizing layer.
Powder Coating
Polyester or epoxy powder 60 to 120 μm cured in a tunnel oven, giving higher film thickness and better colour matching than anodizing on visible exterior parts. A cure cycle at 180 to 200°C is planned into the schedule where the part can take it.
Electroless Nickel Plating
Nickel phosphorus 5 to 25 μm with hardness up to 500 HV after baking, used on copper and steel EMI shield parts where a uniform deposit inside bores and threads is required.
Electropolishing and Fine Finishing
Mechanical or electrochemical finishing to Ra 0.2 to 0.4 μm on visible bezels and optical-adjacent surfaces, followed by a protective film where the part will be assembled and shipped separately.
Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
- Keep housing walls at 0.8 mm or thicker in 6061 and 0.6 mm in 6063, because thin sections deflect during clamping and make the mating face uneven after anodizing
- Move cosmetic surfaces to a separate finishing operation, since a face milled to tolerance and then blasted moves by roughly 0.02 to 0.05 mm
- Specify anodizing masking on threads, bearing seats and ground reference faces, and note that masking points leave a visible witness line on colour parts
- Design radiused internal corners of at least one third of the pocket depth, because square corners force a small cutter and leave a burr that cannot be blasted away
- Avoid designing locating features across two separate machined planes, because the tolerance stack between those planes will exceed what the assembly can absorb
- Leave 0.1 to 0.3 mm of extra material on faces that will be bead blasted, otherwise the blasted surface will fall below the flatness requirement
- Keep heat sink fin pitch above 1.5 mm with a 0.4 mm minimum root fillet, since finer pitches cannot be cut with a standard end mill and trap aluminium swarf inside the channel
- Use conductive or plated contact points for EMI shielding instead of bare aluminium, and keep the plating mask away from the mating contact area
- Add a flat, unpainted datum and a repeatable clamping feature so repeat parts drop into the same fixture without rework
- Upload STEP, IGES or DXF files and get a free DFM report within 24h covering wall thickness, cosmetic surfaces, anodizing masking and heat sink fin geometry
Tooling & Capacity
| Type | Lead Time | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|
| No Tooling (Direct Machining) | 3 - 5 working days | 1 to 100 pcs, prototypes, EVT and DVT builds, design validation samples |
| Dedicated Fixture or Soft Jaw | 1 - 2 weeks | 100 to 10,000 pcs, repeat orders where setup time dominates cost |
| Production Machining Cell | Integrated with order | 10,000+ pcs with pallet changer, stable annual demand on a single part number |
| Anodizing and Finishing Line | 3 - 7 days added | Anodized, powder coated, blasted and plated parts, all coordinated in house |
Quality Assurance
- Incoming material is verified against the mill certificate, with the grade and heat number recorded per lot for electronics parts
- EN 10204 3.1 material certificates are issued with each production batch on request for machined parts
- Flatness measured on housing mating faces with a granite table and indicator, reported as a face reading rather than a single point
- First Article Inspection reports full dimensional data against the 3D model for electronics parts
- CMM measurement of critical features including bore position, profile and true position of the assembly holes
- Coating thickness verified with an eddy current or microcross section check on every batch
- Colour matched against the approved sample under standardised light, with the dye lot recorded
- We inspect in process at every setup change rather than only at final inspection
- We arrange SGS, Bureau Veritas or TUV third-party inspection at any stage you choose for electronics machining
- Every electronics machining lot includes a dimensional report, material certificate and Certificate of Origin
Applications
- Laptop and tablet chassis and bottom covers
- Audio speaker enclosures and amplifier housings
- Camera and gimbal structural frames
- Wearable device housings and watch cases
- Power bank and charging accessory bodies
- Docking stations and monitor stands
- Thermal heat sinks and cold plate components
- Keyboard and peripheral frames
- Drone and gimbal payload structures
Why Choose FHY Precision
One supplier covers milling, turning, anodizing, powder coating and plating, so cosmetic parts ship finished rather than as bare metal for someone else to treat
Tolerance of ±0.02mm on critical features is demonstrated with CMM data, not a catalogue claim
MOQ of 1 piece supports EVT and DVT builds before you commit to a production release
Free DFM report within 24h covering wall thickness, cosmetic surfaces and anodizing masking
Anodizing batch consistency with recorded dye lot and measured coating thickness on every batch
A documented quality system supports third-party inspection and EN 10204 3.1 mill certificates on request
China manufacturing at factory-direct cost with no intermediary margin
Stable capacity for repeat orders from 1 pc prototype to 100,000 pc annual release
FAQ
1. What is your minimum order quantity for consumer electronics parts?
MOQ is 1 piece for machined parts, and that matters in this segment because most programs start with an EVT build of 5 to 20 pieces. There is no tooling charge because CNC machining cuts directly from plate or bar. Tooling cost appears only when you move to injection moulding, and we can quote that route alongside the machined version so you compare the real crossover point.
2. Which aluminium alloys do you use for housings?
6061-T6 is the default for structural housings because it combines strength, machinability and a predictable anodizing response. 6063-T5 and T6 are used where surface smoothness matters more than strength, typically for bezels and cosmetic covers. 7075-T6 is used where stiffness drives the design, with the understanding that it anodizes less evenly and corrodes faster. We confirm the alloy against the finish you need, not just the load.
3. How do you hold flatness on a housing mating face?
Flatness is controlled by how the part is fixtured and how many passes the face sees. We stress relieve castings before finishing where distortion is the risk, and we machine the critical face in a single continuous cut rather than multiple step-downs, because each step-down leaves a witness line. A dedicated fixture with a defined seating face holds the part within 0.05 mm over 100 mm, and we measure on a granite table with an indicator.
4. What anodizing thickness should I specify?
Standard decorative and protective anodizing is 5 to 15 μm, which is the usual choice for housings that are painted, powder coated or simply protected. Type II colour anodizing usually runs 8 to 20 μm. Hardcoat at 25 to 50 μm is for insulating standoffs, wear surfaces and heat sink fins where dielectric strength matters. Thicker coatings grow outward and outward growth is about half the nominal thickness, so masking and thread allowances are planned accordingly.
5. Can you make the finish match a colour sample I provide?
Yes. You send a physical sample or a Pantone reference and we run a first piece for approval before the batch. Colour anodizing depends on the dye lot and on the alloy and finish, so the approved sample becomes the standard that later batches are compared against under the same lighting. We record the dye lot on the batch report so a colour shift can be traced.
6. How do you handle EMI shielding requirements?
Bare aluminium is a good conductor but it oxidises, and an oxide layer is a poor electrical contact. We plate or coat the contact points rather than relying on the raw metal, and mask the plating away from cosmetic areas and from threaded features. Where the design needs a gasket land, we hold that surface flat and free of coating, and the DFM report flags the masking locations before machining starts.
7. Can you make heat sinks with fine fins?
Within limits. We cut fins at a minimum pitch of 1.5 mm with a root fillet of 0.4 mm or more, which is what a standard end mill can hold. Finer pitches need a slitting or wire EDM process that we handle with a partner shop and manage under the same inspection plan. Very tall thin fins also deflect during the cut, so we plan the support strategy with the designer rather than after the first part is scrap.
8. Do you machine plastic parts as well as metal?
Yes, in nylon, POM, PEEK, polycarbonate and ABS with the same tolerances where the material allows. For cosmetic polymer parts we can also quote injection moulding, which becomes the better route above roughly 5,000 pieces because the per-part cost of machining drops faster than the mould amortises. Send the annual volume in the RFQ and we will return both routes so the decision is made on numbers.
9. What tolerance can you hold on a housing?
Critical features are held to ±0.02 mm, and ±0.01 mm is possible on short features and ground diameters. General dimensions follow ISO 2768-m at ±0.1 mm. Assembly hole position typically needs to be tighter than the general tolerance, so we suggest a specific positional callout rather than relying on the general tolerance for hole patterns, because a 0.1 mm positional error is what causes a housing to miss its mating part.
10. How do you prevent scratches on cosmetic surfaces?
Cosmetic faces are machined in a dedicated setup with protected fixturing, and finished parts are separated by a soft interleaf rather than stacked bare. A cosmetic pass with a finer feed and a sharp tool removes the visible feed marks, and bead blasting after machining gives the uniform satin texture that hides the last of them. We inspect visible surfaces under standardised light before packing, and reject parts with handling marks rather than pass them on.
11. Can you supply a free DFM report before we order?
Yes. Upload a STEP, IGES or DXF file and we return a DFM report within 24 hours. For consumer electronics parts the review covers wall thickness against clamping deflection, which surfaces are cosmetic and should be masked, anodizing thickness allowance, heat sink fin geometry, assembly hole position and any tolerance that the process will not hold. The report is free and carries no obligation to order.
12. How long does an order take?
Prototypes and EVT builds ship in 3 to 5 working days after drawing approval. Anodizing, powder coating or plating adds 3 to 7 days because the parts travel through the finishing line in sequence. Repeat production orders with a dedicated fixture typically run 7 to 15 days for 1,000 to 10,000 pieces, depending on the number of setups and the batch size in the finishing line.
13. Do you provide material certificates?
Every lot ships with a mill certificate showing grade, heat number and chemical composition. EN 10204 3.1 material certificates are issued on request, which matters in this segment because many brand owners require traceability on the aluminium they buy. If your quality plan needs the certificate before parts ship, we send the scan with the inspection report so you can release the order in advance.
14. How do you handle repeat orders and design changes?
Drawings, CAM programs, fixture designs and inspection plans are archived against the part number, so a repeat order runs on the same setup as the first lot. When a design changes we run a delta review rather than restarting, so you see which dimensions and finishes moved and which did not. First article reports are kept on file and later lots are compared against them, which is why hole positions stay repeatable across a production year.
15. What information do you need to quote a consumer electronics part?
A 3D model in STEP or IGES, a 2D drawing with tolerances and surface callouts, the alloy and any finish specification, quantity per release, and the shipping target. If the cosmetic reference is a physical sample, tell us and we will plan the first-piece approval. If the drawing is incomplete, tell us the function of the part and we propose tolerances for the features that matter. Quotes come back within 24 hours on working days.
16. Do you offer third-party inspection?
Yes. We arrange inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas or TUV at any stage you specify, from incoming material verification to pre-shipment dimensional and coating checks. You receive a neutral report from an inspector you did not appoint, which is often what a brand owner or their agent requires before accepting a first lot from a new supplier. We can also add a RoHS or REACH declaration to the shipment documents on request.