rBridge / CNC machining
CNC machining service for robotics
CNC machined parts for robots.
Brackets, housings, joint parts and motor plates, milled from aluminium, steel and engineering plastics to your drawing. Upload STEP and get a price and delivery date within one working day. No minimum order and no tooling charge.
- Files
- STEP + PDF drawing
- Tolerance
- ±0.1 mm standard
- Quote
- Within 1 working day
- Ships from
- UK · India
What we make
Machined parts for robot joints and frames
The parts that carry load and hold alignment, made the way our own humanoid needs them.
Brackets and plates
Motor plates, servo brackets and mounting plates with tapped holes in the right places.
Joint parts
Hubs, shafts, bearing housings and output flanges where alignment matters.
Housings
Gearbox and actuator housings, pocketed to save weight.
Frames and links
Arm links, chassis rails and leg segments machined from plate or bar.
Heat sinks
Motor-driver and controller heat sinks in aluminium.
Fixtures
Precise jigs and test fixtures for assembly and calibration.
Materials
Metals and plastics for robot hardware
Choose a material in the quote form, or tell us what the part has to do and we'll suggest one.
| Material | Good for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium 6061-T6 | Brackets, plates, housings | Our default: light, stiff, machines well |
| Aluminium 7075-T6 | Highly loaded links and hubs | Nearly as strong as steel, costs more |
| Stainless steel 303 / 304 | Shafts, pins, corrosion-resistant parts | Strong and hard wearing |
| Mild steel | Base plates, heavy fixtures | Low cost, needs a coating |
| Brass | Bushings, small precision parts | Machines very cleanly |
| POM (Delrin) | Gears, bushings, sliding parts | Low friction, stable |
| PEEK | High-temperature or high-wear plastic parts | On request |
Don't see your material? Name it in the quote form and we'll check.
Design guide
Design tips for machined robot parts
Follow these and your parts cost less and arrive sooner. If you're unsure, send the file anyway and we'll flag problems with the quote.
- DrawingSend a PDF drawing for tolerances, threads and fits. The STEP sets everything else.
- Tolerance±0.1 mm unless you specify tighter. Mark bearing fits and dowel holes on the drawing.
- Inside cornersUse a radius of at least one third of the pocket depth. Sharp inside corners can't be milled.
- Walls1 mm minimum in aluminium and 1.5 mm in plastics
- ThreadsStandard metric threads, depth up to 3× the diameter. Model the hole and name the thread on the drawing.
- FinishesAs machined, bead blasted or anodised. Name the finish in the quote form.
How to order
From file to part
Upload
Send STEP with a PDF drawing, plus the material, finish and quantity.
2 minutesQuote
A person checks your files and emails a price and delivery date.
Within 1 working dayPay
Pay by card or bank transfer from the quote, or in $rLoop at a discount.
Card · bank · $rLoopMake and inspect
Parts are machined, deburred and measured against your model and drawing.
Report includedShip
Parts are packed by build and shipped from our UK or India cell.
Tracked
Why rBridge
Made by a robotics team, for robotics teams.
We build Avaani, a 32-degree-of-freedom humanoid, and we got tired of waiting weeks for small batches from suppliers who don't know what a robot joint needs. rBridge is the shop we wanted.
One order, every process. Order machined frames and printed covers for the same build together, with one quote and one delivery.
Built for revisions. No tooling and no minimum order, so changing the design costs a new upload, not a new supplier.
Every part we learn to make for Avaani becomes a part we can make for your robot.
Questions
CNC machining questions
How fast can I get CNC machined parts?
Simple aluminium parts usually ship within a week of payment. Your quote gives an exact delivery date, and you can tell us if you need parts by a set day.
What tolerances can you hold?
±0.1 mm as standard. Tighter tolerances on specific features are possible when they're marked on your drawing, and the quote says what we can hold.
What files do you need?
A STEP file for the geometry and a PDF drawing for tolerances, threads and finishes. Files up to 8 MB go in the form, and larger ones can be shared as a link.
Is there a minimum order?
No. One prototype or a small batch both work, and there's no tooling charge.
Can you machine and print parts in the same order?
Yes. Tick both CNC machining and 3D printing in the quote form and you get one quote and one delivery.
Where do you ship, and how do I pay?
Orders are made in our UK and India cells and shipped worldwide. Pay by card or bank transfer, or in $rLoop at a discount.
Ready to machine?
Send your files. We reply with a price and delivery date within one working day.