Machining with CNC Technology

Machining Defined

Machining is a process where material is removed from a larger piece of material to create a specific shape, similar to the art of carving or whittling. Machining is a very versatile manufacturing process that can handle quite the variety of materials. Utilizing CNC machine tools to make highly detailed cuts in non-metallic and metallic pieces used in a variety of industries including Oil, Aerospace, Automotive and Defense applications. CNC technology allows for efficient and precise fabrication of parts whether they are simple or more complex.

Spin and draw tooling is machined from the optimal steel grade to ensure durability and cost efficiency, dependent on the material type and required tolerances. CAD softwares are available to assist in streamlining precision tool design and fabrication. Having an in-house CNC tooling library allows for quick transitions from design to production, minimizing lead time while maintaining accuracy.

Machining with CNC Technology

CNC machining is a manufacturing process where pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of the tooling and where the machine cuts. The main behaviors of the machine are speed, feed rate, and coordination. With this technology, it is possible to pre-program the machine for repeat cycles, making this process very efficient with the possibility of getting multiple runs done in a shorter amount of time.

How does it work?

A 2D or 3D CAD drawing is designed which is then translated into a language that the computer can understand, typically Geometric Code, or G-Code. This language tells the machine how to move, position, and operate its cutting tools to create the designated part.

This is followed by a trial run, which is important for every product run, to ensure that the machine settings are all optimized for the most precise and exact results.

Machinery and Equipment for CNC machining

CNC Lathes

In lathe machines, pieces are cut in a circular direction with indexable tools. The cuts are employed at a very high velocity with extreme accuracy and precision, an element that manual machining is not capable of reaching.

Mills

Milling is a machining process that uses programmed rotating cutting tools to remove material from a stationary piece of material. As opposed to CNC turning, the material remains stationary, while the cutting tool moves around while cutting the material. At Toledo Metal Spinning, we have a horizontal mill. One advantage of milling is the versatility of materials it can handle. This includes but is not limited to steel, aluminum., brass, copper, titanium, nickel alloys, hardened steel, D2 steel, and even wood.

Mills are efficient, yet accurate. In fact, some designs produced on mills are not possible to produce on manual lathes, due to their complexity. Lathes are also comprised of two axes, X and Z, while mills are made up of three axes, X, Y, and Z and some mills may be able to be programmed beyond these three axes. Mills are more versatile than lathes, and are equipped to run on programs made up of number and letter-based prompts to guide specific pieces and tools across various distances.

Related Categories

Machining

Laser Cutting

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