Evaluate five-axis per part when several faces are related, there is a contoured surface, an angled hole, or an undercut, and more than two or three setups would stack the datums away. Flat cavities, straight holes, and ordinary steps usually take less machine time on three-axis. Most flanges and brackets are milled. Bearing bores and shafts can add turning. Not every part defaults to five-axis.
Impellers, contoured housings, multi-angle hole patterns, and parts that need one setup to hold geometric tolerances are typical five-axis work. Five-axis is not necessarily more expensive. When there are fewer setups and less scrap, the total cost can fit better. The quote and the engineering review govern. Reach, cycle time, and toolpath are confirmed from the model. At inquiry, send a complete 3D model, the critical tolerances, the material, and the finish, and state whether process datums or extra fixturing are allowed.
The ordinary milling envelope is about 600 × 400 × 250 mm. Anything larger is asked of engineering first. Turning is commonly diameter 6–200 mm, and length not over about 400 mm. Longer is reviewed again. Precision to 0.001 mm, and fine features commonly ±0.002 mm. Acceptance still follows the drawing.
The quote page has one illustration: a 7075 complex housing, primary datum ±0.01 mm, 3 pieces. The rush tier is about 3 production days plus an air-freight illustration, about 6 days in total, with the deep cavity and side holes in one setup. This is an illustrated specification, not an independently verifiable customer case.
Upload the model. In the notes, write which faces must be done in one setup. If three-axis can finish it, five-axis time is not added by default. See the itemized reference price first. A reference price is not a contract.