CNC

MACHINING
DESIGN
GUIDE
CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

INTRODUCTION CONTENTS

02 Introduction
CNC machining is one of the most widely
used prototyping and manufacturing 03 Drilling
methods today, especially for metal parts.
11 Milling
Most of the details, such as tooling, spindle
speed, cutter type, and depth of cut, are 15 Turning
taken care of at the machine shop, but
18 Advanced Tips
there are some things you can do while
designing your product to not only make 22 Resources
sure it can be made, but also to create a
lean product that doesn’t break the bank.

We’ve gathered some best practices for you

to keep in mind while designing your
product, separated into 4 sections: drilling,
milling, turning, and advanced tips.

For additional questions, you can always

reach a Fictiv support representative at
help@fictiv.com or using the in-app chat
system on our virtual manufacturing
platform.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

DRILLING

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Drilling
Drilling refers to the operation of creating holes
in a piece of material. Drilling tools are designed
for vertical cutting and have a conical tip,
allowing them to plunge deep into a material.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Drilling
THROUGH HOLES VS BLIND HOLES

A through hole goes through the entire part,

whereas a blind hole does not. Through
holes have the benefit of being easier to
clean out, but are sometimes conflicting to
requirements, for instance on the external
shell of a vacuum-sealed chamber.

TROUGH HOLE
A hole hoes through the entrie part

BLIND HOLE
Blind holes are cut with drilling tools,
which have conical tips

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Drilling
AVOID PARTIAL HOLES

Partial holes should be avoided because there is

a high chance of tip wander, especially when
the drill axis is close to the edge of the material.

KEEP DRILL AXIS PERPENDICULAR

TO THE SURFACE

The drill axis should be perpendicular to the

surface so that tip wander does not occur. In a
lot of cases, a shallow, flat bottomed pocket
can be milled onto the surface of a round part
so that the drill enters perpendicular to the
surface.

PARTIAL HOLES
Partial holes should be avoided because there
a high chance of tip wander, esecially when
the drill axis close to the edge of the material.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Drilling STANDARD THREAD SIZE (METRIC)

TAP DRILL HOLE TAP DRILL HOLE TAP DRILL HOLE TAP DRILL HOLE
SIZE FOR SOFT MAX TAP DEPTH SIZE FOR SOFT MAX TAP DEPTH
THREAD SIZE SIZE FOR HARD THREAD SIZE SIZE FOR HARD
METALS* AND (MM) METALS* AND (MM)
USE STANDARD DRILL SIZES PLASTICS (MM)
METALS** (MM)
PLASTICS (MM)
METALS** (MM)

M1x0.25 0.75 0.85 9.53 M12x1.25 10.80 11.20 42.07

Use standard drill sizes. This can be applied to M1.2x0.25 0.95 1.00 9.53 M14x2.0 12.10 12.70 42.07

all cutting operations: designing your part to be M1.4x0.3 1.10 1.20 5.16 M14x1.5 12.50 13.00 42.07

cut by standard, common tools will save you M1.5x0.35 1.15 1.25 5.16 M14x1.25 12.80 13.20 42.07

lots of money! Machine shops can create new M1.6x0.35 1.25 1.35 7.94 M15x1.5 13.50 14.00 42.07
tools of unusual size, but this is a costly
M1.8x0.35 1.45 1.55 9.53 M16x2.0 14.00 14.75 46.04
process and chances are you can tolerate a
M2x0.45 1.55 1.70 11.11 M16x1.5 14.50 15.00 46.04
standard .125” hole instead of a .123” one.
M2x0.4 1.60 1.75 11.11 M17x1.5 15.50 16.00 46.04

M2.2x0.45 1.75 1.90 11.11 M18x2.5 15.50 16.50 46.04

M2.5x0.45 2.05 2.20 12.70 M18x2.0 16.00 16.75 46.04

M3x0.6 2.40 2.60 15.88 M18x1.5 16.50 17.00 46.04

M3x0.5 2.50 2.70 15.88 M19x2.5 16.50 17.50 46.04

* Soft metals include Aluminum 6061, Aluminum 7075 and Brass

M3.5x0.6 2.90 3.10 17.46 M20x2.5 17.50 18.50 50.80

** Hard metals include Steel 1018 and all Stainless steels

M4x0.75 3.25 3.50 19.05 M20x2.0 18.00 18.50 50.80

M4x0.7 3.30 3.50 19.05 M20x1.5 18.50 19.00 50.80

M4.5x0.75 3.70 4.00 22.23 M20x1 19.00 19.00 50.80

M5x1.0 4.00 4.40 22.23 M22 x 1 21.00 21.00 55.00

M5x0.9 4.10 4.40 22.23 M22 x 1.5 20.50 20.50 55.00

M5x0.8 4.20 4.50 22.23 M22 x 2 20.00 20.00 55.00

M5.5x0.9 4.60 4.90 22.23 M22 x 2.5 19.50 19.50 55.00

M6x1.0 5.00 5.40 25.40 M24 x 1.5 22.50 22.50 60.00

M6x0.75 5.25 5.50 25.40 M24 x 2 22.00 22.00 60.00

M7x1.0 6.00 6.40 28.58 M24 x 3 21.00 21.00 60.00

M7x0.75 6.20 6.50 28.58

M8x1.25 6.80 7.20 28.58 * Soft metals include Aluminum 6061, Aluminum 7075 and Brass

M8x1.0 7.00 7.40 28.58

** Hard metals include Steel 1018 and all Stainless steels
M9x1.25 7.80 8.20 31.75

M9x1.0 8.00 8.40 31.75

M10x1.5 8.50 9.00 31.75

M10x1.25 8.80 9.20 31.75

M10x1.0 9.00 9.40 31.75

M11x1.5 9.50 10.00 42.07

M12x1.75 10.30 10.90 42.07

M12x1.5 10.50 11.00 42.07

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

STANDARD THREAD SIZE (IMPERIAL) STANDARD THREAD SIZE (NPT)

TAP DRILL HOLE TAP DRILL HOLE TAP DRILL HOLE TAP DRILL HOLE TAP DRILL HOLE SIZE
SIZE FOR SOFT MAX TAP DEPTH SIZE FOR SOFT MAX TAP DEPTH THREAD SIZE MAX TAP DEPTH (MM)
THREAD SIZE SIZE FOR HARD THREAD SIZE SIZE FOR HARD (MM)
METALS* AND (MM) METALS* AND (MM)
METALS** (MM) METALS** (MM)
PLASTICS (MM) PLASTICS (MM) 1/16" NPT 6.15 17.46
0-80 1.19 1.32 7.94 7/16-20 9.92 10.32 36.51
1/8" NPT 8.43 19.05
1-64 1.51 1.59 9.53 7/16-28 10.26 10.49 36.51
1/4" NPT 11.11 26.99
1-72 1.51 1.61 9.53 1/2-13 10.72 11.51 42.07
3/8" NPT 14.29 26.99
2-56 1.78 1.85 11.11 1/2-20 11.51 11.91 42.07
1/2" NPT 17.86 34.93
2-64 1.78 1.93 11.11 1/2-28 11.91 11.91 42.07
3/4" NPT 23.02 34.93
3-48 1.99 2.18 12.70 9/16-12 12.30 13.10 42.07
1" NPT 28.97 44.45
3-56 2.08 2.26 12.70 9/16-18 13.10 13.49 42.07

4-40 2.26 2.44 14.29 9/16-24 13.10 13.49 42.07

4-48 2.37 2.49 14.29 5/8-11 13.49 14.29 46.04

5-40 2.58 2.78 15.88 5/8-18 14.68 15.08 46.04

STANDARD THREAD SIZE (NPS)
5-44 2.64 2.79 15.88 5/8-24 14.68 15.08 46.04
TAP DRILL HOLE SIZE
6-32 2.71 2.95 17.46 11/16-24 16.27 16.67 46.04 THREAD SIZE MAX TAP DEPTH (MM)
(MM)

6-40 2.87 3.05 17.46 3/4-10 16.67 17.46 50.80 1/8" NPS 9.09 19.05

8-32 3.45 3.66 19.05 3/4-16 17.46 17.86 50.80 1/4" NPS 11.91 26.99

8-36 3.45 3.73 19.05 3/4-20 17.86 18.26 50.80 3/8" NPS 15.08 26.99

10-24 3.80 4.09 22.23 13/16-20 19.45 19.84 50.80 1/2" NPS 19.00 34.93

10-32 4.04 4.31 22.23 7/8-9 19.45 20.24 56.36

3/4" NPS 24.21 34.93

12-24 4.50 4.80 23.81 7/8-14 20.64 21.03 56.36

1" NPS 30.56 44.45

12-28 4.62 4.91 23.81 7/8-20 21.03 21.43 56.36

1/8" NPS 9.09 19.05

12-32 4.70 4.98 23.81 15/16-20 22.62 23.02 56.36

1/4-20 5.11 5.56 25.40 1"-8 22.23 23.42 63.50

1/4-28 5.41 5.79 25.40 1"-12 23.41 24.21 63.50

1/4-32 5.56 5.79 25.40 1"-20 24.21 24.61 63.50

5/16-18 6.53 7.04 28.58

5/16-24 6.91 7.14 28.58 * Soft metals include Aluminum 6061, Aluminum 7075 and Brass

5/16-32 7.14 7.37 28.58

** Hard metals include Steel 1018 and all Stainless steels
3/8-16 7.94 8.43 31.75

3/8-24 8.43 8.84 31.75

3/8-32 8.73 9.09 31.75

7/16-14 9.35 9.92 36.51

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Drilling
THREADED HOLES

Threaded holes should have between 1-1.5D

thread engagement. For instance, a ¼-20
machine screw should have a thread
engagement between .25” and .375”.
Depending on the application of your product,
you may want even more thread engagement,
but 1.5D is comfy.

The Fictiv platform makes it easy to specify

threaded holes in designs for CNC machining
with our Auto Thread Detection feature.

Fictiv’s Auto Thread Detection feature

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Drilling
CUSTOM HOLES

For threaded holes with custom dimensions,

you can easily upload a 2D drawing to the
platform instead of using the Auto Thread Depth Thread
Detection feature. Thread Thread depth,
symbol
size class 2X daimetr
1/4-20 UNC 12.70mm is sufficent
AVOID DEEP TAPS 8-36 UNF 8.33mm

Deep taps should be avoided because long

tools have a tendency to vibrate and wander,
resulting in a flawed tap.

M8x1.25 - 6H thru all

Through hole,
tapped all the way

Example of a 2D drawing to call out

custom threaded holes

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

MILLING

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Milling
Milling refers to the machining process of
quickly subtracting material from raw stock
until the desired shape is achieved. Milling is
performed by round cutters (most commonly
endmills) which chip away material laterally
with shallow depths of cut.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Milling
AVOID SHARP INTERNAL CORNERS

Because milling is done with round tools, sharp

internal corners cannot be achieved. Radiused
corners are required, and must be larger than
the cutter to be used. For instance, a ¼ ” cutter
can be used for fillets larger than ”.

FILLETS
Radiused corners are required and must be
larger than the cutter be used.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Milling
AVOID DEEP, NARROW SLOTS

The final depth of cut of an endmill should be

not greater than 15 times the diameter for
plastics 10 times the diameter for aluminum, and
5 times the diameter for steel.

This is because long tools tend to deflect and

vibrate, resulting in bad surface finishes. For
example, a slot for a machined steel part that is
.55” wide (which will be cut using a .5” endmill)
should be no deeper than 2.75”. Internal fillet
radius, the above point, is also dependent on
this, meaning that any internal radii for this
example should be greater than .25”.

DESIGN WITH LARGEST POSSIBLE

INTERNAL RADII

The larger the cutter, the more material can be

removed at one time, meaning less machining
time and less cost. Always design with the
largest allowable internal radii. Avoid radii less
than 0.8mm whenever possible.

Pro Tip: Make your fillets slightly larger than the SLOTS
radius of the endmill, for example, a radius of Avoid deep and narrow slots
.130” (3.3mm) instead of .125” (3.175mm). This
will produce a smoother path for the mill to
take, resulting in a nicer finish.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

TURNING

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Turning
Turning refers to parts created on a lathe,
generally with circular symmetry.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Turning
AVOID SHARP INTERNAL CORNERS

Avoid sharp corners, both internal and external.

Internal corners should be radiused so that the
tool doesn’t run up to a large surface. Think
about smooth tool paths.

AVOID LONG, THIN PARTS

Avoid long, thin turned parts as there is more of

a chance of them spinning unstably, causing
them to chatter against the tool. If a long part
must be made, try to accommodate a center
drill on the free end and use a center to keep
the part spinning straight.

FEATURE SYMMETRY

In general, any feature that is added to a turned

part should be symmetric about the turn axis.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

ADVANCED
TIPS

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Advanced Tips
Once you have a good understanding of the
design practices we’ve covered so far, you can
start to apply the follow advanced tips to really
solidify your lean design process. The first few
tips are about increasing the speed of
machining and minimizing the start-to-finish
fabrication time, thereby reducing cost.

CREATE EASY SETUPS

Create easy setups for your machine shop.

Think about how your part will be held during
the machining process. The easiest setup is a
vise, meaning your part will have straight,
parallel outer edges. Curved edges (other than
perfect cylindrical profiles) require custom
fixtures, costing extra time and money. Thin
parts are difficult to hold and are prone to
warping.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Advanced Tips
HARDER MATERIALS =
INCREASED MACHINE TIME

Steel, Stainless Steel, and other hard

materials are also slow to machine. Materials
like this exponentially increase the time required
to machine because every operation is slowed.
Substituting a strong, softer material like 6061
Aluminum can save you a lot of time and
money in the long run.

NON-PLANAR AND DRAFT

ANGLE SURFACES INCREASE COST

Non-planar and draft angle surfaces are slow to

machine, resulting in more time per part on the
CNC machine, and more cost.

MINIMIZE TOOL CHANGES

A tool change is when the CNC machine swaps ANGULAR & NON PLANAR SURFACES
out cutting tools for a new operation. If you can
These surfaces are slow to machine,
minimize these tool changes, it will cut down
resulting in more time per part on machine,
on production time. One example of this is
and more cost.
using the same hole size or internal corner
radius wherever you can.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Advanced Tips
INSIDE FILLETS VS CHAMFERS

Inside chamfers are time consuming and

difficult to create. Inside fillets are easier to
make because round tipped endmills can be
used.

Pro Tip: Place a note on your drawing saying

“break all edges” instead of building lots of tiny
chamfers on your modeled part. Fictiv will break
sharp edges unless otherwise instructed by the
customer.

INSIDE CHAMFERS
Inside chamfers are time consuming and difficult
to create. Inside fillets are easer to make
because round tipped endmills can be used.

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

RESOURCES

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CNC MACHINING DESIGN GUIDE

Resources
ABOUT FICTIV

Fictiv is a one-stop online manufacturing

platform for access to hundreds of machines
and materials across a variety of manufacturing
processes.

Fictiv is democratizing access to

manufacturing, transforming how hardware
teams design, develop and deliver physical
products. Its virtual manufacturing platform
pairs intelligent workflow and collaboration
software with Fictiv’s global network of highly
vetted manufacturers. From prototype to
production, Fictiv helps hardware teams work
efficiently and bring products to market faster.

RESOURCES

Email: help@fictiv.com

Phone: (415) 580-2509

Get Instant Quote: fictiv.com/signup

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