CNC Machining Design Guideline – Engineering Standard

Design Feature Recommended Value Acceptable Limit Engineering Notes
Internal Fillet Radius R ≥ 1.5 mm R ≥ 0.8 mm Standard end mills usable above 1.5 mm
Sharp Internal Corners Not recommended Functional surfaces only Requires corner tools or EDM
Slot Width ≥ Tool Diameter ≥ 0.6 × Tool Diameter Narrow slots increase tool deflection
Deep Pockets / Slots ≤ 3 × Tool Diameter ≤ 4 × Tool Diameter Step machining required beyond 3D
Thin Wall (Metal) ≥ 1.0 mm ≥ 0.8 mm Ensures dimensional stability
Thin Wall (Plastic) ≥ 1.8 mm ≥ 1.5 mm Prevents thermal deformation


Feature Recommended Acceptable Limit Engineering Notes
Hole Diameter ISO Standard Drills Non-standard allowed Non-standard holes require boring
Hole Tolerance H7 H6 H6 requires precision boring
Blind Thread Depth ≤ Hole Depth − 1 × D ≤ Hole Depth − 0.5 × D Ensures safe tapping
Thread Type M3–M12 Inch threads supported Confirmation required
Minimum Thread M2.5 M2 Below M2 increases risk


Category Specification Typical Application Cost Impact
General Tolerance ISO 2768-m Non-critical features Optimal
Precision ±0.02 mm Mating surfaces Medium
High Precision ±0.01 mm Functional critical surfaces High
Ultra Precision ≤ ±0.005 mm Special applications Engineering review required
Surface Roughness Ra 3.2 ~ Ra 0.4 Structural to mirror finishes Depends on requirement
Rapid Model Pre-Submission Engineering Checklist
Internal Radius ≥ 1.5 mm
Cavity Depth ≤ 3 × Tool Diameter
Use Standard Hole Diameters
Only Critical Dimensions Have Tolerances
Avoid Thin Wall + Deep Cavity Overlap


Engineering Position Statement:
“Designs within the recommended range ensure optimal cost, lead time, and quality. Designs beyond the limit values are subject to engineering review.”

This statement serves to emphasize that Rapid Model does not reject orders outright but maintains control over engineering quality and risk management.



Surface Roughness Capability
Ra Value Capability Status Typical Use
Ra 3.2 Standard Structural components
Ra 1.6 Stable Appearance parts
Ra 0.8 Achievable Mating surfaces
Ra 0.4 Review Required Mirror-like finishes


Cost & Lead Time Optimization
Item Optimal Design Choice Engineering Rationale
Fixturing One-side or two-side Three or more setups increase lead time
Feature Layout Centralized Reduces re-orientation
Part Marking Laser engraving CNC engraving for large text only
Freeform Surfaces Simplified 5-axis used only when necessary
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