ISO9001/IATF16949 Certified CNC Manufacturer in China | 24h Quotation | Free DFM Support
At SPI Super-Ingenuity, we’ve supported robotics, cobots, mobile robots, and vision systems for 20 years of experience with 5-axis CNC and Swiss-type turning, bridging from prototype to volume with casting, molding, and 3D printing where it makes sense.
Dimensional accuracy: ±0.01 mm typical; selected features ±0.002 mm
Process control: SPC on CTQs with Cpk ≥ 1.67
Verification: Full CMM, coaxiality/roundness, surface profilometry, certified thread gauges
Lead time: typical prototypes in 7–10 days (material/finish dependent)
Documentation: CMM report, material/finish certificates, lot-level traceability
| Parts (examples) | Common Materials | Recommended Process (with deep link) | Tolerance Focus | Suggested Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robot arm / link housings | Al 6061-T6 / 7075-T6 | 5-Axis CNC Machining | Flatness, parallelism, positional accuracy | Hard/clear anodizing |
| End-effectors & gripper jaws | Al / 17-4PH / tool steel | 5-Axis CNC · Rapid Tooling | Wear faces, Ra | Hard anodize · EN (Ni-P) |
| Harmonic/planetary reducer housings | 17-4PH / 4140 / 42CrMo | 5-Axis CNC | Concentricity, coaxiality, bearing seats | EN · black oxide |
| Servo/BLDC motor frames | Al 6061 / SS | Sand Casting (CNC-finished) | Bearing bore size, perpendicularity | Anodize · EN |
| Shafts, micro-pins, spacers, couplers | 17-4PH / 303/304 | Swiss-Lathe Turning | Cylindricity, run-out | Passivation |
| LiDAR/camera/sensor mounts & brackets | Al / PEEK / PC-ABS | 5-Axis CNC · Injection Molding | Positional tolerance, stiffness | Bead blast + anodize |
| AGV/AMR chassis & panels | Al / SS | Laser Cutting + CNC | Hole-to-hole, flatness | Powder coat · anodize |
| Thin-wall covers, pilot housings | ABS / PU / PA | Vacuum Casting | Wall uniformity, warp control | Paint/texture |
| EOAT jigs, ESD-safe fixtures | PEEK / POM / ESD plastics | 3D Printing + CNC | Dimensional stability | Antistatic finish |
Metals
Aluminum: 6061-T6 for balanced machinability/cost; 7075-T6 where stiffness-to-weight matters (arms, joints).
Stainless: 17-4PH for high-strength joints/shafts; 316L for corrosion-sensitive panels/brackets.
Alloy steels: 4140 / 42CrMo for gearbox frames and reducer housings.
Plastics
PEEK, POM/Delrin, PC-ABS, PPSU, and ESD-safe grades for sensor mounts and fixtures.
When volumes justify, consider Injection Molding or Rapid Tooling for caps, covers, and light-duty end-effectors.
Finishes (function-driven)
Hard anodize for wear and sliding faces on jaws and links
Electroless nickel (Ni-P) for corrosion + hardness on housings
Black oxide on steel joints/shafts to reduce glare and add mild corrosion resistance
Passivation on stainless hardware
Laser marking for datum IDs and traceability
Metrology-first: Hexagon CMM (full GD&T), roundness/cylindricity and surface roughness checks; GR&R on CTQ gauges before release.
Tolerances we’ll sign for: ±0.002 mm on defined bearing seats/pilot bores when the datum scheme supports it; thin-wall/long-reach features quoted with risk notes.
One-setup machining: 5-axis with expanding arbors/soft jaws; in-machine runout check before unload.
Process control: SPC on CTQs, Cpk ≥ 1.67; FAI + periodic checks; capability charts included with the lot.
Docs that travel: Ballooned FAI, full CMM for criticals, EN 10204 3.1 material/finish certs, lot-level traceability (QR + raw data).
Clean/ESD handling: Antistatic bags, desiccant, zone labels; VCI/corrosion protection on request.
Right process, honest lead times: 5-axis & Swiss-turn; sand-cast + CNC for housings; injection/rapid tooling for covers; laser for chassis; 3D printing for EOAT. Prototypes typically 7–10 days; larger runs quoted with a calendar—not slogans.
| Feature Type | Typical | Critical | Verification Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearing seat / coaxiality | ±0.01 mm | ±0.002 mm | CMM (coaxiality), roundness | Harmonic/gearbox housings |
| Shaft & micro-pin OD | ±0.01 mm | ±0.005 mm | CMM, micrometers | Swiss-lathe controls (in-cycle) |
| Flatness / parallelism | 0.03–0.05 mm | ≤0.02 mm | CMM, granite plate | Arm/link housings |
| Surface roughness | Ra 1.6–3.2 µm | ≤0.8 µm | Profilometer | Sliding interfaces |
| Threads (metric/UNF) | 6H / 2B | Gauge-verified | Certified thread gauges | Reported per lot |
During mass production we apply SPC on CTQs with Cpk ≥ 1.67. Deliverables can include CMM reports, material/finish certificates, and lot-level traceability aligned to your DHR.
For sensors, vision systems, and exposed electronics we support:
ESD-safe materials (conductive/antistatic PC-ABS, PEEK blends)
Clean packaging with antistatic bags, desiccant, humidity cards, and handling labels
Component-level labeling for assembly sequencing and traceability
(For background standards see ISO 10218 on robot safety and the ESD Association guidelines. Engineering teams working with ROS/ROS-2 can reference fixture datum conventions from the ROS community.)
Prototype: CNC or 3D Printing for quick validation; typical 7–10 days with full CMM on criticals.
Bridge/Pre-Series: Vacuum Casting or Sand Casting with CNC finishing for larger housings and cost-down trials.
Production: Injection Molding / Export-Mold Production for covers, grips, and cable management parts; machining reserved for datums and precision features.
Concentricity & Coaxiality
Define a single datum scheme and clamp strategy to allow one-and-done setups on 5-axis CNC for reducer housings.
Use pilot bores and temporary alignment bosses that are removed post-machining to control coaxiality.
Thin-Wall Management
Keep walls ≥ 1.5–2.0 mm on aluminum covers; add ribs near tapped features.
Sequence rough-then-finish with long-reach tooling and back-support fixtures.
Sliding & Gear Interfaces
Declare target Ra and allow grind/plating allowance where needed (hard anodize or EN).
Call out functional gauges for jaws and quick-change EOAT to prevent tolerance stacking.
Sensor Mounts & Vision Brackets
Design location pins + shoulder seats to decouple fastener load from optical datum.
Stiffen long booms with 7075 and consider Laser-cut ribs stitched to a machined backbone.
Q1. Can you really hold ±0.002 mm on bearing seats?
Yes—on defined critical features with the right datum scheme, fixture, and toolpath. We validate with CMM and roundness/coaxiality checks.
Q2. 6061 vs 7075 for lightweight arms?
6061 balances machinability and cost; 7075 offers higher stiffness-to-weight for long reaches. Both anodize well; hard anodize for sliding faces.
Q3. How do you guarantee concentricity on gearbox housings?
One-setup 5-axis strategy with expanding arbors/pilot bores, then CMM verification for coaxiality and position.
Q4. Do you support ESD-safe plastics and clean packaging?
Yes—conductive/antistatic grades with antistatic bags, desiccant, and labeled handling. Sensor modules ship with clean packaging.
Q5. What inspection documents can I get?
CMM report with GD&T results, material/finish certificates, gauge certifications, and lot-level traceability aligned to your DHR.
Q6. How thin can you make thin-wall covers?
We target ≥ 1.5–2.0 mm for aluminum, use ribs/gussets near fasteners, and finish-machine after stress-relief to hold flatness.
Q7. Which finishes are best for moving joints?
Hard anodize for wear resistance on aluminum; EN (Ni-P) for steel housings and mixed environments; black oxide where glare control matters.
Q8. Typical lead time for prototypes vs. production?
Prototypes are commonly 7–10 days depending on material/finish. Bridge and production depend on tooling approach; we’ll propose the fastest path.
Qty / Size: 30 pcs · Ø80 × 45 mm
Process: 5-axis CNC with custom expanding arbor (single-setup datums)
Result: Coaxiality 0.01 mm; bearing bore ±0.002 mm (CMM verified); EN Ni-P 8–10 μm
Docs: Hexagon CMM report, material + plating certs, lot-traceable ID
Qty / Size: 20 pairs · 120 × 40 × 25 mm
Process: 5-axis CNC; Rapid Tooling for polymer pads (replaceable inserts)
Result: Sliding faces Ra ≤ 0.8 μm; parallelism ≤ 0.02 mm; Type III hard anodize ~25 μm
Docs: Functional gauge check sheet, insert torque spec, finish cert
Qty / Size: 50 pcs · 640 × 420 × 3 mm
Process: Laser cutting + precision CNC locating bores; stress-relief before finish
Result: Hole-to-hole true position ≤ 0.10 mm; flatness ≤ 0.05 mm after relief; powder coat
Docs: First Article (FAI) report, packing per module zone in ESD bags
CNC Machining Design Guide
Discover How SPI ™Super-ingenuity Delivers Precision CNC Machining for High-Performance Prototypes and Production Parts
