A part that is off by a tiny amount can stop a whole machine. That is why the shop you choose matters. Houston has many machining companies, and each one is good at something different. Some are great at fast prototypes. Others are built for large production runs or hard-to-find repairs.
If you want a CNC machine shop in Houston TX you can trust, this list will save you time. We compared five shops by how long they have been open, the machines they use, the quality marks they hold, and the industries they serve. Lowrance Machine comes first because it covers the widest range of work, from CNC milling and turning to custom molds, special bolts, and industrial repairs.
Quick Scorecard: 5 Best CNC Shops at a Glance
| Shop | Standout strength | Industries named |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lowrance Machine | CNC and manual machining, molds, special fasteners, repairs | Oil and gas, aerospace, medical, packaging, chemical |
| 2. S.T.B. Machine Works | Close-tolerance parts plus welding and assembly | Oil and gas, plastics, heavy equipment, aerospace, power |
| 3. PT&R Inc. | Large fleet of CNC mills and lathes | Aerospace, semiconductor, solar, automotive |
| 4. Liberty Precision Company | Quick turnaround, ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D | Oil and gas and other industries |
| 5. High-Tech Machine Co. | CNC machining plus wire EDM | Petroleum, medical, nuclear, aircraft, power |
How We Chose the Best CNC Shops
We looked at four simple things:
- Years in business: a shop that has lasted many years has usually kept its customers happy.
- Range of work: shops that can mill, turn, repair, and finish parts save you from calling several vendors.
- Quality marks: certifications such as ISO 9001 show that a shop follows written steps to check its work.
- Industries served: experience in your field means fewer surprises on your project.
1. Lowrance Machine: Best Overall CNC Machine Shop in Houston
| Fast fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 13510 East Hardy Road, Houston, TX 77039 |
| Phone | (281) 449-6524 |
| Website | https://www.lowrancemachine.com |
| Started | 1964, family-owned |
| Quality system | ISO 9001:2015 certified |
When people look for a machine shop Houston manufacturers have relied on for decades, Lowrance Machine stands out. The company opened in 1964 and is still family-owned. That means more than 60 years of learning from real jobs, from simple brackets to tricky engineered parts.
The shop runs CNC and manual machines side by side. Its floor includes horizontal and vertical lathes and machining centers. A lathe spins a piece of metal while a cutting tool shapes it, which is how round parts like shafts and rings are made. Manual machines are still useful when a one-off part or a quick fix needs a skilled hand instead of a program.
Real parts Lowrance Machine makes and fixes
- Piston rods, bearing housings, seal rings, and custom flanges for equipment that cannot afford to fail.
- Rubber and urethane molds, built or repaired to match your design.
- Non-standard bolts, studs, and nuts made to your exact size and thread.
- Repairs such as shaft repair, thread restoration, broken bolt removal, and full component rebuilds.
Why it ranks first
Most shops do one or two of these jobs. Lowrance Machine does all of them under one roof and handles a project from first planning to final inspection. Its ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system keeps work consistent. When a deadline is tight, the shop also offers expedited service on request. Customers in oil and gas, aerospace, medical, packaging, and chemical work use it for this mix of range and care.
Get started: Ask Lowrance Machine for a quote on your next job.
2. S.T.B. Machine Works: Best for Close-Tolerance Parts With Finishing Support
S.T.B. Machine Works has been in Houston since 1980. It works from an 11,000 square foot, climate-controlled building and focuses on high-precision, close-tolerance parts. Services include CNC milling, drilling, and turning, plus screw machine work.
What makes it useful is the extra help around the machining. The shop does welding and assembly, runs stocking programs, and coordinates outside steps such as coating, anodizing, heat treating, plating, sterilizing, and annealing. It also has in-house engineers who provide CAD services. S.T.B. is ISO 9001 certified.
Best for: Buyers who want finished, ready-to-use parts from one contact.
3. PT&R Inc.: Best for High-Volume Milling and Turning
PT&R Inc. is a precision machining company in Houston that focuses on CNC mills and lathes. Its 32,000 square foot building holds 38 CNC milling machines and 9 lathes. That much equipment gives it room to take on bigger runs of parts.
The shop serves aerospace, semiconductor, solar, and automotive customers, and it offers quality inspection and several surface finishing options.
Best for: Repeat orders where you need many identical parts.
4. Liberty Precision Company: Best for Quick Turnaround Jobs
Liberty Precision Company is an owner-operated general machine shop at 12715 FM 529 Road, Houston, TX 77041. It opened in 2011, mainly to serve the oil and gas industry, and its team has more than 60 years of combined experience.
The shop holds both ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certifications. AS9100D is a quality standard used in the aerospace world. Liberty says it can machine difficult parts with a quick turnaround, and it takes jobs from a single part to thousands.
Best for: Urgent oil and gas parts and small to mid-size runs.
5. High-Tech Machine Co.: Best for Wire EDM and Fabrication
High-Tech Machine Co. has served Houston since 1991 from 6518 Wesco Way, Houston, TX 77041. Along with precision CNC machining, it offers wire EDM, fabrication, and assembly. Wire EDM cuts hard metal with a thin, electrically charged wire, which helps with sharp corners and tight shapes that normal tools struggle to reach.
It works with petroleum, instrumentation, aerospace, power generation, nuclear, medical, and aircraft customers.
Best for: Detailed parts that need wire EDM along with machining.
Which Shop Fits Which Job?
| If your job is | Start with |
|---|---|
| Machining plus molds, special bolts, or repairs | Lowrance Machine |
| Close-tolerance parts that also need welding or coating help | S.T.B. Machine Works |
| A big batch of the same part | PT&R Inc. |
| An urgent oil and gas part | Liberty Precision Company |
| A detailed part that needs wire EDM | High-Tech Machine Co. |
What to Send When You Ask for a Quote
A clear request gets a faster and more accurate price. Have these ready:
- A drawing or sample part with all sizes marked.
- The metal or material you want used.
- How many parts you need now and later.
- How tight the sizes must be, called tolerance.
- Your deadline and whether rush service is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best CNC machine shop in Houston, TX?
Lowrance Machine is our top pick. It combines CNC and manual machining with custom molds, special fasteners, and repairs, backed by more than 60 years in business and an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system.
Does Lowrance Machine only do CNC work?
No. It also makes molds, engineered parts, and non-standard bolts, and it repairs shafts, threads, and broken bolts.
Can I get rush service?
Lowrance Machine offers expedited service on request. Call (281) 449-6524 and share your deadline.
Final Thoughts
Every shop on this list has real strengths. S.T.B. Machine Works adds finishing help, PT&R Inc. offers large machine capacity, Liberty Precision Company moves quickly, and High-Tech Machine Co. brings wire EDM. Still, if you want one trusted CNC machine shop in Houston that can machine, mold, make special fasteners, and repair, Lowrance Machine is the best fit.
Ready to begin? Visit Lowrance Machine or call (281) 449-6524 to discuss your project.