24/7 CNC Machining for Urgent Parts and Tight Deadlines

Planning for continuous running

Jobs that run overnight need robust programs, reliable workholding and tooling planned for long cycles. Programs are simulated in hyperMILL or Autodesk Fusion before running, so the machine can work through the night without surprises.

Part of this planning includes thinking through tool wear and material behaviour across a long unattended cycle, so a job started late in the day can continue safely without someone standing over the machine.

Which jobs suit 24/7 running

Long-cycle parts, batches of repeat parts and jobs with many machining hours benefit most. Even short jobs gain when they can start immediately rather than waiting for the next shift.

If your part has a straightforward geometry but simply needs a lot of machine time, round-the-clock running is often the single biggest lever for pulling the delivery date forward, more so than any other change to the process.

Inspection without delay

Keeping inspection in-house removes one of the most common bottlenecks in a rushed job: sending a part out to a third party for measurement and waiting for its turn in their queue.

Who uses our 24/7 service

Motorsport teams around Silverstone, aerospace and defence suppliers, medical device developers and R&D teams across Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Leicestershire use it when time is the deciding factor.

How to brief an urgent job

Call 07717 694970 first with your deadline, the part's material and size, and roughly how many are needed. A phone call gets a faster initial answer on feasibility than an email alone, especially outside normal hours.

Comparing 24/7 running against splitting the job

For some urgent orders, running continuously on one machine is faster than trying to split the batch across machines or suppliers, because it avoids the coordination overhead of matching programs, fixtures and inspection across more than one source.

For larger batches, a combination can work well: start production immediately on one machine while a second is set up, so the first parts are ready sooner while total capacity still ramps up to meet the full quantity.

Machining equipment and software

APT uses DMG MORI CMX 70 U and Matsuura MX-520 5-axis milling machines, with OPEN MIND hyperMILL and Autodesk Fusion for CAM programming. Machining tolerances are 5 to 10 microns (0.005–0.010 mm).

Machining size and batch range

Maximum machining part size is 675 mm × 600 mm × 550 mm (X × Y × Z), with cylindrical parts up to 600 mm diameter. Typical batches are 1 to 100 parts; one-offs and prototypes are welcome. Contact APT about the suitability of your particular part.

Materials

Materials machined include aluminium, stainless steel, titanium, plastics and exotic alloys. APT has also machined glass and carbon. Please specify the material and grade in your enquiry so suitability can be discussed.

Inspection and certification

APT holds ISO 9001 quality management, ISO 14001 environmental management and Cyber Essentials certification. A 5-axis scanning CMM is used for inspection, with inspection reports supplied on request. Standalone inspection is also available for parts made elsewhere.

Files and confidentiality

STEP, IGES and technical drawings are accepted. An NDA is signed with every customer as standard. If no drawing exists, send a physical part for scanning, modelling from the scan and production of full drawings.

Team and availability

Two in-house machinists run the machines, supported by a trusted network of CNC programmers and inspectors built up over 20+ years. Work is seasonal, with consultants and contractors brought in during busy periods.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, as previously confirmed for this website. 24/7 machining is available, including overnight and weekend running when needed. Contact APT to discuss your required date and availability; extended running does not mean every deadline can be met.