Precision machining, answered

What is the difference between hydraulic and pneumatic valves?

The difference between hydraulic and pneumatic valves, how working pressure changes the machining they need, and how to tell which your application needs.

What is a hydraulic manifold and how is one made?

What a hydraulic manifold is, how the drilled passages inside it work, what manifold blocks are machined from, and why accuracy decides whether one leaks.

What tolerances can 5-axis CNC machining achieve?

What tolerances 5-axis CNC machining can achieve, how axis count affects accuracy, and how tolerances are verified — with Milltech's real capability.

How do you get a machining supplier approved onto an AVL?

How a machining subcontractor gets onto an aerospace or defence approved-vendor list (AVL) — the certifications, audits and evidence needed.

Choosing a subcontractor

What should you look for in an aerospace machining supplier?

What to look for in an aerospace or defence machining supplier — certifications, traceability, capability and capacity — and the questions to ask.

Materials & environments

How do you choose a material for a harsh-environment part?

How to choose a material for corrosion- and pressure-critical machined parts in oil & gas, subsea and energy — matching the alloy to environment and load.

How fast can you get a CNC machining quote in the UK?

How quickly you can get a precision CNC machining quote in the UK, what information a machinist needs, and why some quotes take longer than others.

What is the difference between CNC milling and CNC turning?

CNC milling vs CNC turning explained — how each process works, what parts each suits, and when you need mill-turn to do both in one operation.

What is Cyber Essentials Plus and why does a manufacturer need it?

What Cyber Essentials Plus is, how it differs from Cyber Essentials, and why precision manufacturers and defence-supply-chain suppliers need it.

What is the difference between ISO 9001 and AS9100?

ISO 9001 vs AS9100 explained — what each quality standard covers, how they differ, and which one your machining supplier needs for aerospace and defence.

What is Kanban and JIT supply in subcontract machining?

What Kanban and Just-In-Time (JIT) supply mean in subcontract machining, how they cut inventory and stabilise lead times, and how Milltech runs them.

What does full material and process traceability mean in machining?

What full material and process traceability means in precision machining, why aerospace and defence buyers require it, and how Milltech delivers it.

What is multi-pallet machining and why does it matter for volume?

What multi-pallet and horizontal CNC machining is, how it enables repeatable unmanned production, and why it matters for medium and high volumes.

Can a machining subcontractor scale from prototype to production volume?

How a precision machining subcontractor scales a part from one-off prototype to production volume, and what capacity and control make it repeatable.

Materials & environments

What materials are used for subsea machined components?

The materials used for subsea machined components — stainless, exotic alloys, bronze and copper — and how corrosion, pressure and depth drive the choice.

What is Assemble-To-Order (ATO) in manufacturing?

What Assemble-To-Order (ATO) means in manufacturing, how it blends make-to-order and make-to-stock, and why it gives fast, flexible supply of assemblies.

What is CMM inspection and why does it matter?

What CMM (coordinate measuring machine) inspection is, how it verifies machined parts against the drawing, and why it underpins quality and traceability.

What is JOSCAR and why does it matter for defence suppliers?

JOSCAR is the UK aerospace, defence and security supply-chain accreditation register. What it is, why it matters, and how to check a supplier holds it.

What is mill-turn machining?

What mill-turn and sub-spindle machining is, how it completes complex parts in fewer operations, and why it improves accuracy and lead time.