Deborah McCabeFinding a good machine shop in Philadelphia shouldn’t feel like hunting for buried treasure, yet somehow it does.
I’ve had my share of metal parts that needed rescuing, like the time a bracket on my old bike snapped in half and basically told me, “Good luck.”
But Philly came through. This city has shops where people genuinely know their craft. There are the kind of places where a machinist can glance at your busted part and say, “Yeah, we can fix that.”
So if you’re looking for solid work without the guesswork, you’re in the right place. Here are the best machine shops in Philadelphia, all known for professionalism and hard work that truly set them apart.
1. D.A. Tool And Machine, Inc.
Address: 114 N Hills Ave, Glenside, 19038
Contact Details: +1 215-887-1673
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
D.A. Tool And Machine, Inc. is a family-run shop focused on quality and attention to detail.
I was impressed by how they handle prototyping. They use 3-D solid modeling to verify designs before cutting any metal, which gives their prototypes and small production runs a polished, precise look.
They’re also great if you need part reproduction or reverse engineering. I’ve seen them take a worn or broken OEM part and turn it into a fully functional replica, which is a huge advantage if you’re dealing with obsolete components.
For longer production runs, they reliably handle “production parts,” supporting both machining and assembly. Their shop setup makes them versatile for a wide range of metal fabrication tasks.
It’s worth noting, though, that their focus is primarily on 3-axis CNC and conventional machining. While they’re very dependable in those areas, if you need advanced capabilities like 5-axis machining, multitasking machines, or additive manufacturing, you might need to look elsewhere.
Knowledgeable and pleasant to work with
“Dominic , the owner is very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with. Price is right considered skilled craftsman doing the job. Will no doubt go with him again with any more needs as he is also fast in turn around time and promise kept. Will recommend him to anyone needed a special task done.”
– David Ngai, Google Review
Top-notch quality and service
“I worked with Domenick on several projects now and his quality and service are top-notch. D.A. Tool is the only machine shop I will take my business to. I had an idea for a custom piece to make one of my more machines more efficient and reached out to several machine shops for help. Domenick was the only one willing to take the time to listen and understand what I was trying to do. He was able to take my crude drawings and turn them into a working piece!”
– Jason Donahue, Google Review
2. Philadelphia Precision CNC
Address: 1909 E Westmoreland St, 19134
Contact Details: +1 215-558-5256
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Philadelphia Precision CNC builds its reputation on precision machining and fabrication, paired with advanced cutting technologies.
They cater to so many industries, like architecture and engineering, with solutions that feel custom-made for each project.
My project involved some detailed designs. Their plasma and fiber laser cutting nailed it, even when we were dealing with thick metal and intricate cuts.
Plus, they offer 3D scanning. It’s amazing if you need super-accurate digital models, especially for reverse-engineering parts or crafting molds. It’s like having a digital blueprint of whatever you’re working on, right at your fingertips.
However, if you’re considering them for smaller, personal projects, keep in mind that they tend to focus more on larger-scale work. While they can handle projects of all sizes, their services and branding seem geared toward batch production, prototyping, and event displays.
Have great design sense and know what’s good
“Love working with these people. Great technology, but just as important, they have great design sense and know what’s good. I’ve done 2 big projects — a 4′ x 8′ dining table from maple multiply and a 7′ tall linen closet with Baltic birch. I gave them my drawing and they made it happen with a great deal of panache. They left the finishing and door hardware for me to do, but gave me lots of great tips.”
– Ron Stanford, Google Review
Amazing artisans
“The folks at Philadelphia Precision CNC are amazing artisans. During the recent tumult in Philly, I wanted to add a bit of security to my more exposed windows without going the traditional burglar bars route. I researched exhaustively among major laser-cut metal panel providers but was really taken by the artistry of this group. They were responsive, came out immediately to measure, discussed different designs (and these guys can do anything!) and brought 5 laser cut panels a few weeks later to install in one day. They were reasonably priced, super responsive and professional end-to-end. And I LOVE my screens. They have added so much beauty to my house at all hours of the day.”
– Allitia DiBernardo, Google Review
3. CNC Philly
Address: 1753 N 2nd St, 19122
Contact Details: +1 215-392-0553
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Working with CNC Philly, I was immediately impressed by their setup. Their ShopSabre CNC machine easily handles wood, plastic, and foam. Plus, the large 60″ × 96″ × 18″ work area makes oversized projects straightforward.
The 10-bit tool changer ensures smooth transitions between materials, keeping my workflow smooth.
Their metalworking options are equally impressive. The Trumpf laser cutter delivers clean, precise cuts on sheet metal and tubing. Its plasma and water-jet cutting options add flexibility for thicker materials.
Just note that plasma cuts can leave slightly rough edges, meaning extra finishing might be needed for a polished final product.
Nonetheless, the team truly shone during the design phase. As a matter of fact, they helped optimize my CAD files to save money and avoid production issues, which felt like a valuable, collaborative effort.
Combined with their fast, accurate quotes, planning my timeline was refreshingly straightforward.
Quick turnaround time
“I use these guys to cut polycarbonate sheets for my record lathe. Quick turnaround time, really helpful when I need to spruce up one of the designs I send them, and so far, when I pick up the discs I always spend a bunch of extra time chatting, which is just great. They’re always game to spitball new ideas for records, haha. Will continue to work with CNC on any projects I need cut!”
– Joseph Carlough, Google Review
Reasonable pricing and great communication
“I have been working with Eliot and his crew for a few years. I build museum exhibition walls and display fixtures, and we have been building curved work recently, requiring a decent amount of CNC work. For our most recent project we needed about 110 sheets of plywood cut up into all kinds of oddball shapes so we could build large, irregular platforms. The layout of the show was going to be based on the CNC shapes, and if anything was off it would have thrown that whole assembly off and cost a lot of time to rectify. Every single piece we received was exactly to specification, and what could have been a nightmare job was one of our smoothest in a while. It tickled a part of my brain to have a 30-foot long polygon made up of 20 different pieces come together and match the CAD plan perfectly – as in no measurable difference when measured across the whole assembly. Every single part out of the ~200 I had them cut was critical, and they all came out perfect. From working with them in the past I knew that I could trust them with such a majorly important part of our work, knowing they would come through. They have reasonable pricing, great communication, flexibility; put simply they are good guys who want to do a good job, and have the equipment and expertise to make it happen. An absolute pleasure to work with. Thanks guys!”
– Andrew McManus, Google Review
4. Northeast Precision Machinery
Address: 410 Camars Dr, 18974
Contact Details: +1 215-672-8112
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Northeast Precision Machinery focuses on CNC and machine-tool sales, offering everything from lathes to advanced 5-axis milling centers.
When I visited their facility, I was impressed by their turnkey approach. Beyond selling equipment, they help integrate it into your workflow. They run test cuts and provide application support so you can see exactly how a machine will handle your parts.
Watching one of their 5-axis mills tackle a tricky prototype gave me a real sense of their precision and expertise.
Their machine demonstrations are another highlight. Seeing the equipment in action on real-world tasks made me feel much more confident in what I was investing in. Plus, the mix of new and pre-owned inventory gives shops flexibility if budgets are tight.
But remember that Northeast Precision Machinery is strictly a dealer and solutions provider—they aren’t a production shop. So if you’re looking for high-volume fabrication, this isn’t the place.
Impeccable team, we couldn’t be more pleased
“From first contact to final installation of the Vertical Machining Center the Northeast Precision and Clausing team was impeccable. We couldn’t be more pleased. When the time comes for another piece of equipment they will be our first call. Heidi Crawshaw and the Installation Team were first rate. Wayne Ligato. President Cmi-Promex,Inc.”
– Wayne Ligato, Google Review
A pleasure to do business with
“Great guys selling and servicing awesome SMEC and Star CNC lathes & mills. A pleasure to do business with.”
– Chad Hyams, Google Review
5. Hartzell Machine Works
Address: 3354 Market St, 19014
Contact Details: +1 610-485-3502
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Established in 1937, Hartzell Machine Works has a long-standing reputation for precision machining and metal fabrication. During my visit, I got to chat with a couple of their machinists, and it was impressive how hands-on and detail-oriented they were.
Their expertise in milling, turning, and welding & assembly makes them reliable for custom parts and repairs.
One unique aspect of Hartzell’s services is their specialized bomb squad equipment, such as pan disrupter stands and X-ray stands.
I was surprised to learn just how critical this niche is. It’s not every day you find a machine shop that caters to such high-stakes applications.
Quality assurance is clearly a priority, as reflected by their DEKRA certification under the Aerospace Registration Management Program.
But it’s important to note that all their CNC machines are 3-axis vertical machining centers. While ideal for most conventional projects, they may struggle with advanced multi-axis or complex 5-axis milling for particularly intricate designs.
Super friendly and accommodating
“Had an auto project that required some custom machining to get to spec. They were able to get it done for me same-day at a reasonable price. The folks at Hartzell were super friendly and accommodating, and I would highly recommend them!”
– Douglas Gavetti, Google Review
Amazing work
“Repaired some Alloy. Amazing work very clean! Now I just have to add a little paint! Thank you!”
– Timothy Bohn, Google Review
