CNC

Turning is one of the oldest manufacturing process, the traces of which dates all the way back to ancient Egyptian civilization. The purpose of turning is to create intricate and detailed parts, pieces, or components of any machinery. Thanks to lathe machines, the turning process has come a long way from manual turning to program-run CNC turning.

Using a turning lathe, the latest technology, and skilled machinists- CNC manufacturing service providers can now create custom-designed parts and components (also called workpieces) to the exact requirement of the client.

Another very popular CNC manufacturing process is CNC milling, and people often think of milling and turning as the same thing, but that’s not true. CNC turning and CNC milling are computer-run machining processes, but they serve two different purposes.

CNC Turning Vs CNC Milling

Both the CNC Milling and CNC turning process basically have the same purpose of making intricate and accurate parts and components that are very difficult to create by hand. And, both CNC Milling and CNC Turning do use computer codes written in G-Code language, but there is a very obvious difference in the workings of these two processes.

With CNC Milling, it is the cutters that move around the workpiece on different axes to morph the final product, whereas in turning, the cutters are rigid and parallel to the moving workpiece. Another difference is that CNC Milling is mostly to provide the final touches to the workpiece, for example, adding intricate cuts, holes, etc. Whereas the major use of CNC Turning is for making cylindrical parts from scratch.

CNC Turning Process

Whether you choose CNC Milling or CNC Turning to manufacture your parts, there is a certain process that you need to follow before your CNC manufacturers can start the manufacturing process. The following FOUR steps will put you on the right track to start your CNC manufacturing process.

• Making a blueprint of your component in CAD(Computer-Aided Design).
• Converting the CAD blueprint into G-Code.
• Setting up the lathe.
• Starting the manufacturing process.

Types Of CNC Turning Process

Just like every other CNC manufacturing process, turning also has a lot of other types to prepare different types of parts. Because the turning process has wide applications, there are lots of types of turning. Here are some of the most common CNC turning processes.

• Straight Turning or Roughing: The most common form of turning that cuts any extra material from a workpiece to develop a cylindrical piece with a uniform diameter.
• Taper Turning: Taper turning also is for creating cylindrical shapes but with the difference in diameter. Taper turning is when the cylinders need to have a decreasing diameter. 
• Spherical Generation: To prepare the perfect sphere, manufacturers use the Spherical Generation turning process.

These THREE turning processes are the most common in the industry; however, these do not provide the finishing touch to the workpiece. For the finishing touches, the turning lathes provide FOUR more processes depending on your parts and the type of finish you need.

So, even though all these processes are different from each other, using only one will not give you the desired results. To get the best out of CNC Turning, you will have to go through TWO or THREE steps. 

A press brake is important CNC equipment. As a manufacturer, you want to ensure you get a machine that suits your applications. Before you purchase the cnc press brake, you need to understand different aspects, such as precision, processing range, performance, and function of the machine. You should note that a press brake is a significant investment and if you buy the wrong one, then your production costs are likely to increase. These are the critical things that can help you make a sound decision.

Parts You Produce

You have to buy a press brake that can do the finishing task, rather than getting one with minimum tonnage and shortest worktable. Ensure you check the steel sheets available plus their length and thickness. For instance, if you are using low carbon steel, then you do not need a lot of bending force. Another critical thing you should consider is the length of the material.

Deflection

When bending a long workpiece, you need a CNC press brake with deflection. The length of the workpiece should be directly proportional to the deflection. A shorter press brake with minimal gasket adjustment is needed to create qualified products. Some press brakes have hydraulic deflection, which helps reduce the machine adjustment.

Material Texture

If you are using low carbon steel, then the bending force ought to be increased by about 60% of the stainless steel bending force. However, if you are using soft aluminum, then you need to reduce the bending force by a similar amount. The press brake manufacturer can provide you with a bending pressure parameter. Also, you need to take into account the bending angle radius. If you are performing free bending, you should consider the clearance between a die and punch.

Type of Press Brake

When buying a press brake, you ought to know the type of machine you want. In this way, you can determine whether this is the best fit for your shop or not. The common press brakes are CNC, hydraulic, servo, mechanical, and hydraulic. You can find some with a combination of different mechanisms.

Hydraulic press brakes are common because they can handle heavy loads and are easy to use. If you are dealing with thick materials, this is the perfect press brake to suit your needs. However, if you want an energy-efficient press brake, then you should consider the electronic press brake. Other than being energy-efficient, it is easy to fix and maintain. Also, it has higher accuracy than the hydraulic one. You will find this machine available in different sizes to suit various applications.

Select Right Tooling

The tooling you require depends on the various types of materials the shop works with. Ideally, you need tooling that offers you the best tooling profile. You should ensure you do not exceed the required press brake loads or tooling. If you want to use the tooling with the press brake and ensure it is in the right condition and compatible. Look out for wear marks from punches to shoulder.

Find a Reputable Press Brake Manufacturer

It is advisable to find a reliable CNC press brake supplier or manufacturer. Usually, manufacturers have experts who can help you get the right machine to suit your needs.

Several decades ago, machinists were the talk of time and were responsible for crafting everything to perfection. Similar skills are still required, but when talking about producing a given piece on a large scale and with higher precision, nothing beats computerized machines’ superiority. That’s where CNC Machining comes in.

Following the invention of personal computers, numerical systems have penetrated almost every industry. Nowadays, custom CNC machining is an essential part of modern machining technologies. Unlike traditional machining, CNC machining involves the operator working with the main software in motoring machine tools as well as creating programs. Therefore, it’s easily said that CNC machining is an immense upgrade. So, what are the advantages of CNC machining?

Worker Safety

Unlike traditional machining, CNC machining has ensured that the worker’s safety is at the highest level. The operator is well protected from sharp parts by protective gear. Thanks to the glass, the operator clearly sees everything going on. Moreover, the operator is not necessarily required to get closer to the mill or spindle, or even anywhere close to the cooling fluids that could be dangerous to the skin.

Precise Machining

It goes without saying that CNC Machining brings the highest level of precision. With the machine, it’s very easy to carve out a product from material exactly as required. Therefore, it’s effortless to create a plethora of components with complex shapes within a short period.

Stable Replication Accuracy

You can’t think of something more stable than a proven computer program. Once the design is introduced into the computer, the machine is capable of repeating the manufacturing process over and over again.

Given that the precision is from the step-motors, it means that the movement is always similar, meaning you’ll always get the highest level of precision.

Labor Economy

In a nutshell, CNC machining improves automation. They require little attention once set in motion. The tools move automatically, with the operator only required to check whether there are errors in the setup or the program.

Therefore, there’s a lot of free time for an operator to be used on different tasks. The company can even retain fewer operators, meaning a lot is saved.

Flexibility

In the past, things were done differently in that a milling machine had to do planes or groves, drilling machines make holes, and a lathe to do tapers and cylinders. However, with CNC machining, all those tasks can be combined in a single machine tool.

Given the ability to program a trajectory of a tool, one is able to replicate any movement on any given machine tool. Therefore, the industry can be able to keep up with consumer demand.

Range of Materials

Another benefit of CNC machining is the fact that they can be used in the manufacturing of products from a plethora of materials. They include steel, bronze, polymers, and aluminum.

Fewer Test Runs

CNC machining has its way of avoiding test runs. For instance, it employs a visualization system to enable the operator to see what may happen to stock once all tool passes are done.

Together with minimum setup errors, the advantages of CNC machining are too many that manufacturing industries have grasped and are working to their advantage.

Innovation is rapidly increasing, and its face is also changing. Industries such as CNC manufacturing and CNC programming are impacted. So, professionals in these sectors are doing everything to achieve their tasks efficiently.

Prototypes are extensively shrinking in size such that exotic materials are becoming common than ever before. For that reason, industries are investing in CNC machining services to produce top-notch products.

It is no wonder the leading product development companies are pushing the envelope into investing in CNC machining services to keep up with the innovations. Take a look at the four major developments that make it possible:

1. Faster Precise Cutting Tools

Prototypes are calling for hard-to-design materials such as superfine cuts for faster output. As a result, CNC machine services are investing in a variety of new cutting tools. Following the recent developments, an era of modern cutting tools has been developed to help drill harder materials and improve precision while increasing speed. These tools are such as diamond-surfaced bits and drills that use CNB.

2. Increased Efficiency

In the long run, a high-quality CNC machining service provider is focused on delivering top-notch prototypes at a relatively low cost. Today’s leading machining services are on the verge of achieving this by investing in leading technology, and workers, elements that deliver increased efficiency.

3. The Use of Software as a Sensor

Several advances in machining have been substantial, but smart software always needed more intelligent hardware. As such, effective implementation of adaptive control and probes are being installed on machining tools and workpieces.

The software adjusts feeds, motor, coupled with a drive to help correct and compensate for a variety of numeric conditions. The system reduces damage to machines by monitoring velocity and vibration acceleration.

4. Machine Monitoring and Connectivity

Just recently, big data and the Internet of Things reached the machining manufacturing sector. Companies have since been adding new control levels and data collection over machine processes. The objective, which is also referred to as smart factory includes better communication between these machines, humans, and algorithms.

Also, the rise in the use of big data in various companies and improved ability to assess and interpret data brings new insight into machining processes.

5. Identifying New Trends

Manufacturers can identify various trends in one machine performance and head straight to the cause analysis of the machining process. At the same time, new trends make it possible for manufacturers to understand customer needs.

Numerous brands and companies are currently developing different products to help support the industrial drive. One such company is the Heidenhain State Monitor, a software developer that offers various tools to help focus on a machine’s performance and its connectivity.

6. Prediction

The CNC programming of various machine tools will soon rely on CAM software in many ways. Because the programmers are relatively effective at applying the knowledge, their impact in machining will stick around for a long time. It looks like companies will end up doing well by investing in hardware and software tools to help maximize the productivity of programmers.

Final Thoughts

Technological advances driven by the new industry movement will force the development of CNC machining in industries. Programmers will seem smarter and largely connected to machines. These machines will also gradually on their own such that they will also require little interaction with human operators.

Machined CNC parts refer to a unique manufacturing process involving the programming of pre-programmed software to facilitate the movement of various tools in the CNC milling machine. The process may be used to design instruments ranging from lathes to grinders. Milling machines may also be useful. The CNC milling machine parts are functional in several industries, including automotive and electronics.

The importance of understanding CNC machine parts

• Machine parts have significantly transformed the manufacturing sector. Production efficiency has increased.
• CNC machine parts have also changed manufacturing as automation improves speed as well as efficiency
• CNC machine parts lead to relatively higher accuracy
• Pre-programmed design specifications make it easy for manufacturers to spearhead repeatability.
• CNC machine parts are not labor-intensive
• CNC machine partshave made it possible to manufacture complicated shapes quickly

Parts of a CNC Machine

1.Table

The table of the CNC machine is a platform where all workpieces should be kept during milling. There are various CNC milling machines and are always readily available in not just small but large sizes. This depends on what exactly they are meant to do.

Some types of tables are:

1. Vertical CNC Mill– this type of CNC mill has a vertical spindle axis and needs to be used for milling.
2. Horizontal CNC Mill– this has a vertical table mill. The only difference is that the cutters are mounted horizontally.

Different parts can be used in designing CNC milling machines. These objects include axis, cutters, and spindles. They perform specific functions depending on their design.

2. The Axis

An axis may be anywhere from one to six. This highly depends on the machine type. It determines the size as well as its function.

3. Control panel

The control panel refers to the part in a CNC machine that helps to hold the keyboard of a computer. It is where all the G-codes are programmed into a machine.

4. Coolant and supply tubes

A coolant and supply tube is used to help keep the tool used in cutting lubricated and cool to their efficient working temperatures.

5. Spindle

The spindle is a flexible tool holder that rotates often. The tools mounted on the rotary holder are then placed in the spindle, given that it has RPMS in various sizes. The speed of the spindle should be set according to the different characteristics needed by the materials required.

6. CNC Controller

The CNC controller is in the milling machine and is useful in sending various signals to the motor machine tool. It also moves into the axis of the CNC. Electronic control operates as the primary part of the CNC machine. It also executes the electrical as well as electronic equipment as the principal input codes.

7. The Chuck

The CNC machine grips the material to be machined. The chuck has several parts that play a role in the completion of the processes. But to operate efficiently, the machine’s jaws are placed on the mount to help grip the parts being molded.

Final Thoughts

For machined parts, it is easy to add various threaded features, such as coil inserts. They can be specified in an interactive quote where the 3D component display shows the threaded type features if the quote is returned.