Despite CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining being present in our lives for a long time, some still aren’t familiar with the manufacturing process. Did you ever ask yourself how most manufacturing companies acquire very intricate machine parts? Well, the answer lies in the CNC machining.
What CNC Machining Is
It refers to a process that uses computer systems to manufacture desired products. This process goes like this. Firstly, computer systems direct CNC machines on the type and direction of precision to achieve a desired design. The machine follows instructions, and you will be happy with the end results.
Although a CNC machine isn’t necessarily a robot, it speeds up and automates processes you used to complete manually. This makes the fabrication very time-consuming for machinists to complete on time.
But, in general, the CNC machining process is among the innovative developments in the manufacturing industry, not just in the past but also presently.
How It Works
CNC machining involves using CAD (computer-aided design) files to carry specifications of projects. The machine also uses computerized controls as well as machining tools to cut to shape and remove layers of the materials from the base until you achieve the desired results.
Using CAD designs makes the whole process accurate. Once drawings are complete and then committed to file, you can use them to produce different versions of products based on the order’s specifications.
Why CNC Machining is Important
Thanks to modern technological advancement, the CNC machine has improved the accuracy and speed with which parts of the prototype you can create. For instance, if you are in the medical industry, you can opt for medical CNC machining to create medical equipment and its parts in a fraction of a second.
Although modern machines may get the work done more accurately and quickly than before, manufacturers will still need a well-trained team to operate on CNC machines. A good team will help to create things such as:
- Submarines
- Motor vehicles and their parts
- Jet engines
- Helicopters
- Electronic parts and computers
- Airplanes
The Basics and Tooling Geometry
CNC machines are used to transport blocks of raw stock into finished parts by simply cutting the material away. Generally, there are three axes to CNC machines. These include the Z, Y, and X axes.
The z-axis cuts up and down, the Y-axis forward and backward, and the X-axis cuts left to right. All three axes let the spindle carve away materials and leave behind the desired shape. The milled parts are held in a vise attached to the CNC table.
Forms of CNC Machining Processes
CNC machining as a manufacturing process is suitable for various industries, including agriculture, construction, aerospace, and automotive. It is able to produce different products, like airplane engines, garden/hand tools, gears, surgical equipment, and automobile frames.
The process involves different CNC processes that remove the necessary materials from a workpiece to manufacture custom-designed products or parts, including thermal, electrical, chemical, and mechanical.
Although thermal, electrical, and chemical machining operations are important, the mechanical CNC machining process is more common. It majorly includes turning, milling, and drilling.
1. CNC Turning
In this CNC machining process, a workpiece often rotates on a lathe, whereas stationary cutting tools remove materials along the rotational axis. This process is either automatic or manual.
The process often makes use of different tools for various applications, like round-corner forming and threading. Mechanists can also use facing, roughing, and finishing tools.
2. CNC Milling
Milling refers to a CNC machining process that employs a rotating and cutting tool to remove materials from a workpiece. In the CNC milling, the machine feeds the workpiece to cutting tools in the same direction where the cutting tool rotates. But in manual milling, the machine feeds a workpiece in the opposite direction.
Generally, operational abilities of milling include face milling and peripheral milling. Face milling involves cutting flat-bottomed cavities and flat/shallow surfaces into a workpiece, while peripheral milling encompasses cutting deep activities, like threads and slots, into a workpiece.
According to experts, milling is also a secondary finishing process, not a primary shape. Mechanists often use milling to add some finishing touches, like pockets, to parts, which have been machined already.
3. CNC Drilling
Drilling often creates round holes in stationary workpieces by using CNC machinery. Based on the desired outcome, mechanists use different kinds of drill techniques and bits. Popular examples include the following:
- Peck drilling – This is a method where mechanists repeatedly retract drills to clear debris and chips away from a workpiece.
- Chucking reamers – These are used to enlarge a pre-existing hole with high precision.
- Spotting drills – Basically, spotting drills are short drill bits suitable for creating those shallow holes.
How to Choose a CNC Machining Company
Fortunately, there are many options to choose from when contracting CNC machining processes for your project. However, this, too, can make it a challenge to choose a more suitable partner for your project and needs. As you compare possible partners, the following are things you must look out for:
- Service – Communication with CNC machining must be constant to determine how the team works with clients. For instance, are you going to have a one-contact person? Contacting and talking to previous clients will help you better understand the kind of service to expect.
- Quality measures – In order to avoid making mistakes on your part, know the steps a potential company takes to minimize risks. Inquire about quality certifications such as ISO 9001 and strategies to help in improving quality, like Lean & Six Sigma.
- Experience – Mechanists at a CNC machining company you hire must be qualified and have the knowledge to deal with equipment. It will be a great idea to ask for samples of previous projects, particularly of parts that use the same materials or even for the same sector.
Final Touches
To understand the CNC machining processes even better, apart from having theoretical knowledge, you must gain a practical understanding of dealing with tools and machines involved in the entire process.
With technological advancement, manufacturers of machine tools are creating hybrid machines. These machines can perform different tasks better. Some even combine subtractive and additive manufacturing in just one machine, offering world-class equipment in the manufacturing industry.
