5 different CNC processing methods of prototyping
To get high quality product, on time delivery as well as reasonable cost, proper CNC processing methods should be chosen. Usually there are 5 CNC process methods are widely adopted in prototyping industry.
1. Turning
Turning is to clamp the work-piece firmly on the rotating plate or mandrel. When the motor starts, driving the work-piece rotation, cutting tools against the work-piece for cutting. The slider that holds the tool in place can be moved along the length of the work-piece, as well as closer to or away from the center-line, and this simple operation is ideal as a way to quickly remove large amounts of material. In addition, drill bits mounted on lathe tail stock can drill precise holes; Lathes are used to form concentric shapes on the periphery of circular parts; In the lathe manufacture of grooves, ring grooves, step shoulders, internal and external threads, cylinders and other circular or cylindrical features with axis symmetric.
2. Milling
Milling is fundamentally different from turning in that the work-piece remains stationary while the cutting tool rotates on its axis. The work-piece is usually held horizontally in the machine vise, and the entire tool and the work-piece move along the X and Y axes. The spindle holds various tools and moves along X, Y and Z axes. Milling cutters are used to manufacture square/flat surfaces, notches, chamfers, channels, profiles, key-ways and other features that depend on precise cutting angles. As with all metal working operations, cutting fluids are used to cool parts and tools, for lubrication, and to wash away metal particles or chips.
3. Grinding
Grinding is the process of creating a very flat or smooth surface on a metal part. In many mechanical structures, for the product surface roughness or finish requirements, grinding is one of the best processing methods. The grinding machine is a rotating disc covered with abrasive sand with a specific roughness. The work-piece is mounted on the workbench and moves back and forth on the sliding table below the grinding wheel, or sometimes remains stable while the grinding wheel is moving. Depending on the material being ground, different types of abrasives are used. Thermal and mechanical stress generated in the grinding process will have a certain impact on the quality of the product, so it is necessary to carefully control the speed of the tool and the amount of grinding each time, in order to better control the quality of the product, reduce the amount of deformation, and obtain higher processing accuracy.
4. EDM
EDM, Electrical Discharge Machining, is mainly used for Machining internal structural characteristics of stiffened tool steels, such as pits, holes and square features. It is usually used for plastic injection molding and pressure casting mold processing. EDM is also used to make textured surfaces or recessed (recessed) letters and logos on molds.
5. Wire cutting
Wire cutting uses copper wire as a conductor of high voltage electric charge. Since the conductor is steadily corroded during cutting, new wire is supplied from the spool. This process requires that a through-hole is drilled for copper wire before the product is processed. Wire cutting is used for thick, hardened tools such as steel that are difficult to manufacture with conventional cutting tools.
At Accu, the above 5 processes are widely used and every process route is optimized before processing and the process capacity Cpk can reach 1.33 or above. If you have any technical queries or product needs, please contact with our our product manager Flemming at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Thank you very much!
