Sourcing · cut-to-length, drilling, tapping

Cut-to-Length, Drilling and Tapping: What Fabrication Adds

Expect 12–20 days on an existing die and mill finish, or 30–40 days with a new die and anodising, before fabricated members leave the plant — then add CNC queue for holes and taps. Fabrication turns stock bars into kit parts with cut length ±0.5 mm, hole position ±0.2 mm and end square within 0.3 mm.

Existing die, mill: 12–20 days base
New die + anodising: 30–40 days base
Fab hold: ±0.5 / ±0.2 / 0.3 mm
Read: 8 minutes

Short answer

Fabrication adds cut-to-length, drilling, tapping and related CNC so profiles arrive as assembly-ready members instead of full mill bars. Lead time still starts from the extrusion path — 12–20 days on an existing die and mill finish, 30–40 days with a new die and anodising — then CNC is scheduled on those bars. Default holds are cut length ±0.5 mm, hole position ±0.2 mm and end square within 0.3 mm. Send PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP or IGES with hole and thread call-outs; a workbench kit is a cut list plus hardware, not a welded frame. Skipping drawing review before CNC is how hole patterns miss the slot grid on site.

Cut-to-length aluminium T-slot profiles with square ends and drilled holes — Cut-to-length bars with drilled holes ship as labelled kit members — ready for T-nuts and brackets on the integrator floor.

Can you supply a workbench as a kit cut to size

Yes — a workbench ships as a cut-to-size kit of labelled members, not as a welded assembly, when the drawing set includes a cut list, hole map and series/slot call-out.

Each rail is sawn to length, optionally drilled and tapped, deburred and packed with matching hardware if ordered. The buyer assembles on site with T-nuts and brackets, which is what automation integrators expect for cells that will be reconfigured. The table lists what a typical kit RFQ must lock.

Kit element	What to specify	Default hold	Notes	Owner
Top / long rails	Series, length, qty	Length ±0.5 mm	Often 4040 or 4080	Design
Legs / uprights	Series, length, foot holes	Hole ±0.2 mm	Match slot grid	Design
Cross members	Cut list + labels	End square 0.3 mm	Bag for assembly	Buyer
Holes / taps	Dia, thread, depth, datum	Position ±0.2 mm	M5–M8 common	Design
Finish	Mill or anodised	—	Affects calendar	Buyer
Hardware (optional)	T-nuts, brackets, feet	—	Match slot mouth	Buyer

Do you offer cut to length and drilling service

Yes — cut-to-length, drilling and tapping are offered as secondary fabrication on extruded bars, quoted from the finished-part drawing.

Sawing produces the blank length; CNC drilling and tapping add mounting features in one or more clamp setups. Countersinks, slots and simple end mills are in the same family of work. Tolerances default to cut length ±0.5 mm, hole position ±0.2 mm and end square within 0.3 mm unless the drawing tightens them. Anodising can run before or after machining depending on whether machined faces must stay bare for earth continuity or fit. Formats accepted for programming are PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP and IGES.

What happens at each step

Every fabricated order passes drawing review, bar preparation, CNC, deburr/inspect and pack — in that order — so hole patterns are frozen against one revision before metal is cut.

Drawing review confirms series, slot, datums, thread call-outs and whether finish is before or after machining. Bars are extruded or pulled from an existing die run (12–20 days mill on an existing die; 30–40 days when a new die and anodising are required). CNC then saws and machines to the cut list. Deburr and first-article checks catch burr and position errors before bulk packing. Labels match the kit BOM so the integrator floor does not sort anonymous lengths. Die and metre-price questions remain upstream: how die cost amortises per meter, minimum order with a new die, die making adds 7–12 days, who owns the die.

What we need from you to start

To start we need a revision-controlled finished-part drawing, the profile identity, alloy/temper, finish sequence, quantities and a clear hole/thread map.

Acceptable files are PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP and IGES. State whether members are from a catalogue die or a new custom section. Mark datums for hole positions; “drill as needed” is not programmable. If a sample member must be approved before the kit ships, write that gate on the RFQ. With those inputs fabrication can be quoted as a line beside extrusion rather than as an afterthought change order.

RFQ checklist — fabricated profile kit

Profile ID — catalogue code or custom section + slot.
Cut list — length, qty, label per member.
Hole / thread map — diameter, depth, position, datum.
Tolerances — or accept ±0.5 / ±0.2 / 0.3 mm defaults.
Finish sequence — mill, or anodise before/after CNC.
Files — PDF + DWG/DXF; STEP/IGES for complex CNC.
Sample gate — yes/no and quantity.
Hardware — include or buyer-supply, matched to slot.

Send the cut list and the hole map together. A length-only PO forces a second CNC order after the bars land.

Four fabrication failures to avoid

No drawing reviewHole patterns programmed from a sketch miss the slot grid and fail on assembly.

Finish sequence ignoredTapping through anodising without a plan leaves soft threads or bare patches in the wrong places.

Unlabelled kit piecesIdentical lengths for different stations get swapped; label every member to the BOM.

Tight holes, loose lengthPosition ±0.05 mm is useless if cut length is left open and frames rack on site.

Related on this site

how die cost amortises per meter — tooling share inside the metre price
minimum order with a new die — 150 m existing vs 500 m new
die making adds 7–12 days — calendar before first bars
who owns the die — tooling title after the trial

Terms used in this article

Cut-to-length: Sawing extruded bars to the finished member length on the drawing, with a stated length tolerance.
Secondary fabrication: Drilling, tapping, milling and related CNC performed after extrusion.
Kit: A labelled set of cut and machined members that assemble on site with T-slot hardware.
End square: How far the cut face departs from perpendicular to the bar axis; held within 0.3 mm by default.
Datum: The reference face or feature from which hole positions are measured on the drawing.

Questions buyers ask

What do you need from me to start?

A revision-controlled finished-part drawing (PDF plus DWG/DXF; STEP or IGES when CNC is complex), profile identity, alloy/temper, finish sequence, cut list and a hole/thread map with datums. With that package we can quote fabrication beside extrusion instead of as a late change.

Can I approve a sample first?

Yes. Order one fabricated member or a short first-article set, approve length and hole positions, then release the kit. Write the sample gate on the PO so bulk CNC does not run ahead of sign-off.

What happens if my drawing changes?

Issue a new revision. Hole moves on an unchanged section usually mean a CNC program update only. Section changes can require a new die and restart the 30–40 day new-tool path. Do not verbally patch coordinates into an open order.

How do I track the order?

Ask for stage status: drawing review done, bars available, CNC complete, inspection passed, packed. Keep the same drawing revision on every update so the kit on the water matches the BOM in your MRP.

Also searched as: aluminium profile cut to length service, drilling and tapping aluminium extrusion, workbench kit cut to size, aluminium profile fabrication service, CNC profile machining holes taps, fabricated t-slot kit for automation, cut length tolerance aluminium profile, what we need for fabrication RFQ.

Send the cut list and hole map

Attach the finished-part drawing and state series, finish sequence and whether a sample member must be approved first. We will quote cut-to-length, drilling and tapping against one revision.

Request a fabrication quote