eMachineShop Capabilities
Machines
Common manufacturing processes
The
chart below summarizes various machines that can be used to manufacture
parts. If you are new to manufacturing, start with some of the more common processes such as Mill for 3D parts and Laser for 2D parts.
Machines and Process
| Machine |
Avail. |
Method |
D |
Materials |
T |
| Bending |
Now |
Bends sheet metal to an angle |
3D |
Metal |
N |
| Blanking |
Now |
Custom punch cuts shape in one hit |
2D |
Sheet metal |
Y |
| Casting, Investment |
Now |
Expendable pattern is surrounded by an investment compound and then baked so that the investment is hardened to form a mold |
3D |
Metal |
Y |
| Casting, Pressure Die |
Now |
Molten metal forced into mold |
3D |
Non-ferrous metals |
Y |
| Casting, Sand |
|
Molten metal poured into sand mold |
3D |
Metal |
Y |
| Counter boring (1) |
Now |
Rotating tool enlarges upper portion of hole |
NA |
Hard |
N |
| Countersinking (1) |
Now |
Conical tool adds conical shape to top of hole |
NA |
Hard |
N |
| Drawing |
|
Sheet metal formed by successive stamping |
3D |
Metal |
Y |
| Drilling |
Now |
Rotating cutter moves in one dimension |
1D |
Hard |
N |
| Electrochemical Machining |
|
A shaped form erodes work piece by electro chemical reaction |
3D |
Metal |
N |
| Extrude |
Now |
Molten material forced thru die |
2.5D |
Plastic |
Y |
| Fine blanking |
|
Custom punch cuts shape in one hit using tooling that creates a precise shear edge |
2D |
Metal |
Y |
| Finishing |
Now |
Various methods of treating surface of work piece |
NA |
Metal |
N |
| Forging |
Now |
Heated metal pressed into mold |
3D |
Ductile metals |
Y |
| Grinding, Surface |
Now |
Abrasive wheel creates uniform flat surface |
2D |
Metal |
N |
| Glass Cutting |
|
Hand tool scores glass (polygon shapes) |
2D |
Glass |
N |
| Honing (1) |
Now |
Tool with rotating abrasive enlarges hole |
NA |
Metal |
N |
| Knurling (1) |
Now |
Textured tool presses coarse textured pattern (cylindrical shapes) |
NA |
Metal |
N |
| Laser Cutting |
Now |
Laser beam vaporizes cut path |
2D |
Most |
N |
| Milling |
Now |
Rotating cutter moves in 3D |
3D |
Hard |
N |
| Molding, Compression (for rubber) |
Now |
Heated rubber pressed into mold |
3D |
Rubber |
Y |
| Molding, Injection |
Now |
Molten plastic forced into mold |
3D |
Plastic |
Y |
| Photochemical Milling |
Now |
Chemical dissolves masked sheet |
2D |
Metal |
N |
| Plasma Cutting |
Now |
Spark vaporizes cut path |
2D |
Most |
N |
| Plunge EDM |
|
A metal probe is plunged into a metal work piece via electrical discharge |
3D |
Metal |
N |
| Rapid Prototype (FDM) |
Now |
Fused plastic deposits in 3D space |
3D |
ABS |
N |
| Reaming (1) |
Now |
Precision cutting tool creates accurate hole |
1D |
Metal |
N |
| Sawing (1) |
Now |
Cutting blade cuts material in straight line |
NA |
Hard |
N |
| Shearing (1) |
Now |
Scissors-like action cuts material in straight line |
NA |
Most |
N |
| Silk Screen |
Now |
Ink is forced thru a mesh that holds a graphic pattern |
2D |
Most |
Y |
| Springs |
|
Wire formed into helical shape |
NA |
Metal |
N |
| Spur gears cutting |
Now |
Cutting of plain 2D gears |
2D |
Metal |
N |
| Steel-Rule-Die Blanking |
Now |
Steel knives embedded in wood base |
2D |
Soft |
Y |
| Thermoforming (Vacuum molding) |
|
Heated thin sheet is formed onto mold |
3D |
Plastic sheet |
Y |
| Thermoforming die cutting |
|
Separates molded parts from sheet |
3D |
Plastic sheet |
Y |
| Threading & Tapping |
Now |
Threads holes and protrusions |
3D |
Hard |
N |
| Turret Punch |
Now |
Successive punching of fixed shapes |
2D |
Sheet metal |
N |
| Turning (lathe) |
Now |
Cutter applied to rotating material (concentric shapes) |
3D |
Hard |
N |
| Waterjet |
Now |
High pressure water cuts sheet |
2D |
Hard |
N |
| Welding |
Now |
Joins metal surfaces |
3D |
Metal |
N |
| Wire EDM |
Now |
Charged wire erodes material |
2D |
Metal |
N |
| Wire forming |
|
Wire formed into special shapes |
NA |
Metal |
N |
| Machine |
Avail |
Method |
D |
Materials |
T |
T = Uses tooling (generally beneficial for longer runs). D = 2D or 3D shapes
(1) Specified using the Comments To Machinist features of the eMachineShop CAD.
Need help deciding which machine to use? See the help documentation in our free CAD software download.
Also see common fabrication methods.
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"Quite easy to use. Within only about 10 minutes I had it downloaded, installed, and had designed and priced a brass cog with 32 teeth, 1 inch in diameter and 1/4 inch thick. The quote was immediate."
- Newsgroup User
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Pad2Pad.com : Design printed circuit boards
online. Everything you need to build projects and products is right here online!
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CNC Bending, Blanking, Investment Casting, Pressure Die Casting, Sand Casting, Drilling, Electrochemical Machining, Plastic Extrusion Molding, Forging, CNC Laser Cutting, CNC Milling, Rubber Molding, Plastic Injection Molding, Photo Chemical Milling, Plasma Cutting, Rapid Prototyping, Spur Gear Cutting, Steel-Rule-Die Blanking, Thermoforming / Vacuum Forming, Threading, CNC Turret Punching, CNC Turning (Lathe), CNC Waterjet Cutting, Welding, Wire EDM Cutting, Metal Fabrication. Finishing: Surface Finishes, Silk Screening, Powder Coating Colors. Coming soon: Drawing, Fine Blanking, Springs, CNC Wire Forming.
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Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Copper Sheet, Sheet Metal, Nylon Sheet, Acetal Sheet, Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, Acrylic, Plastic, Fiber Glass, and more materials.
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Cars, bikes, aircraft, musical instruments, watercraft, optical
devices, sensors, models, nameplates, electronic devices, enclosures,
clocks, machinery, engines, furniture, games, jewelry, jigs, telecom,
lighting, medical devices, photographic devices, robots, sculptures,
sound equipment, sporting equipment, tooling, toys, and more.
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