CNC Machining Services

CNC machining allows for much faster setup times as compared to many other manufacturing processes such as forging, stamping, casting, and injection molding. The versatility of CNC machines means, depending on the complexity of the part and setup, the machine can be set up for a new part in less than an hour in some cases. Forging and casting parts require expensive tooling and long lead and changeover times. Similar and often better tolerances can be achieved with the use of CNC machines without the expensive initial costs for custom tooling. This advantage makes CNC machines cost effective for prototyping and small production runs, while still capable of doing large quantity runs.

Raw material, often in block form, is first mounted in the machine on a “workholding device” such as a vise, which holds the material that is being machined.

The CNC machine reads the G-code program to move cutting tools in a predetermined sequence. The cutting tools move along the X, Y, and Z axes, and can also rotate around their own axis. In more advanced machines there are even more axes of movement. This allows the CNC machine to produce parts with complex geometries and high levels of precision.

During the machining process, the machine tools remove material from the workpiece by cutting, drilling, or milling it. As the material is removed, the workholding device moves the workpiece to the correct position for the next machining operation, as specified by the G-code. This process is repeated until the desired part has been fully machined.

The most popular types of CNC machining services are:

• Milling is a type of CNC machining that involves the use of a rotating cutting tool to remove material from a workpiece.
• Turning is a type of CNC machining that involves the use of a lathe to shape a workpiece by rotating the raw material and applying a non-rotating cutting tool. Turning is usually used to produce cylindrical parts such as shafts and more complex shapes like a chess pawn.
• EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) is a type of CNC machining that uses electrical discharges to cut and shape conductive materials such as metals. EDM is often used to produce parts with sharp inside corners that are not practical using other methods.
• Routing is another CNC process that is similar to milling but often restricted to simpler 2D shapes. It uses a rotating cutter to cut 2D shapes often from software materials like wood and plastics. However CNC routing can also be used to shape stone and other hard materials.

Here are some design tips for parts that will be CNC machined:

• Complex shapes and features may be difficult or time consuming to machine, so it is generally best to keep the design as simple as possible.
• Sharp corners are often difficult to machine. Rounded corners or filets are recommended.
• Deep narrow pockets may be difficult to machine, as the tool may not be able to reach the bottom of the pocket and removal of chips can be an issue. Try to use shallower and wider pockets.
• Thin walls can flex during machining. Try to maintain a reasonable wall thickness to ensure that the part is strong enough to withstand the machining process.
• Tolerances are the allowable variations in the size and shape of a part. It is important to use appropriate tolerances for CNC machining, as overly tight tolerances may be difficult to achieve and may result in increased production costs.
• Tolerances are affected by the raw material. In general, metal machining services offer tighter tolerances, whereas plastic machining services offer slightly looser tolerances in comparison.

CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines are programmed using a specialized programming language called G-code. G-code is a standardized programming language that tells the CNC machine where to move the cutting tool, how fast to move it, and what path to follow.

To program a CNC machine, the programmer will typically start by creating a 3D model of the part they want to produce using computer-aided design (CAD) software. The programmer will then use CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software to generate the G-code instructions based on the 3D model and the specific tool paths required to machine the part.

Once the G-code has been generated, it can be loaded into the CNC machine’s controller and the machine will follow the instructions to produce the part.