In today’s rapidly changing industrial environment, CNC machining production has become a central force in modern manufacturing. With the continuous progress of science and technology, CNC machining technology is developing at an unprecedented rate, bringing revolutionary changes to the manufacturing industry.
What is CNC machining?
CNC machining is a manufacturing process that uses a computer programme to control machine tools (milling machines, lathes and grinders) to perform precision cutting. The machine tools machine the workpiece according to set paths and parameters with high accuracy, efficiency and flexibility.
CNC machining technology is widely used in industries such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, medical devices, electronics, and mould manufacturing.
Advantages of CNC machining
CNC machining offers the following advantages over traditional manual or mechanical machining in terms of precision and programmability:
Accuracy and Consistency
The high precision machining of CNC machining ensures the accuracy and consistency of part dimensions, thus improving product quality.
Efficient Production
CNC machines can perform complex machining tasks automatically with programmed instructions, significantly reducing production cycle time and increasing productivity.
Flexibility and Customisation
CNC machining process can be adjusted at any time according to the design requirements, thus enabling customised production to meet the needs of different customers.
Reduced Human Error
CNC machining is an automated machining process, which reduces the interference and error of human operation and improves the stability and reliability of production.
Which industries use CNC machining for production?
Machinery manufacturing: for machining tooling machines, moulds, jigs and fixtures, gears, etc.
- Aerospace: Aircraft engine rotors, flight control systems, etc. CNC machining meets the aerospace sector’s demand for high-precision and complex-shaped parts.
- Automotive manufacturing: engine blocks, crankshafts, gearboxes, etc., providing high precision and quality machining results and meeting the demands of mass production.
- Electrical and electronic industry: circuit boards, housings, connectors and other parts, to achieve high-speed, high-precision and mass production processing.
- Railway transport industry: wheels, axles, braking systems, etc., to ensure the accuracy and quality of parts and improve the safety and smoothness of train operation.
- Medical devices: surgical instruments, orthopaedic devices, electronic housings and implants for the medical industry.
- Energy industry: Valves, bushings and sensor equipment for the energy industry, ensuring that vital energy infrastructure operates at peak efficiency.
These applications demonstrate the importance and versatility of CNC machining technology in modern manufacturing. As modern technology continues to advance, the application areas of CNC machining will continue to expand to meet the needs of more industries.
What materials are commonly used in CNC machining production?
CNC machine tools can process a wide range of materials in the manufacturing process, these materials include but are not limited to the following categories:
Metal materials
Steel, aluminium alloys, copper alloys, etc. These materials have high strength, high hardness, wear resistance, etc. They are suitable for machining a variety of mechanical parts, moulds, cutting tools, etc.
Non-metallic materials
Plastics, ceramics, glass, etc. These materials are lightweight, high-strength, corrosion-resistant, etc., suitable for processing a variety of electronic products, optical instruments, medical devices, etc..
Composite Materials
Composite materials are composed of two or more materials, and common composite materials include glass fibre reinforced plastics, carbon fibre reinforced plastics and so on. These materials are suitable for processing a variety of high-performance parts, such as aviation and spacecraft, automotive parts and so on.
Wood and stone
Wood and stone is also one of the CNC machining materials, wood has a strong texture, good workability, environmental protection and other characteristics, suitable for the manufacture of furniture, building decoration and so on. Stone is mainly used in CNC machining for carving, indoor and outdoor decoration and other fields.
Special materials
CNC machining can also process special materials such as silicone, rubber, ceramics and so on. These materials have specific properties, such as high temperature resistance, good weather resistance, good elasticity, good abrasion resistance, etc. They are suitable for the manufacture of electronic products, seals, high-temperature tools and so on.
When designing parts, factors such as the mechanical properties of the material, processing difficulty and cost need to be considered to ensure processing quality and efficiency.
What Are the Different Types of CNC Production Machining?
Small batch CNC machining
- Flexibility: Small batch machining can quickly adapt to design changes and customisation requirements, making it suitable for trial production and iteration of new products.
- Cost-effectiveness: For small-lot production, small-lot machining can effectively control manufacturing costs, avoiding the need to purchase large quantities of raw materials and high tooling costs.
- Shorter lead times: Small batch machining usually adopts a rapid response production model, enabling orders to be fulfilled in a shorter period of time.
High Volume CNC Machining
- High efficiency: High-volume machining achieves fast and stable mass production through automated production lines and efficient production management.
- Reduced unit cost: with the increase in the number of production, the cost per unit of parts will be reduced accordingly, improving economic efficiency.
- High-quality control: High-volume machining allows the implementation of a strict quality control system to ensure that each part meets high standards.
Machcncmaster can meet all of your custom CNC part manufacturing needs. We specialise in CNC parts in a wide range of materials, and we simplify custom part sourcing through smart, streamlined, automated workflows.
