CNC machining is the manufacturing and processing of parts and products under computer control.
CNC machining involves the use of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to shape and size a piece of material (workpiece) by automatically removing material. The materials used are typically metal or plastic. Once the material removal process is completed, the finished product or component is produced.
This process is also known as subtractive manufacturing. To perform CNC machining, computer software is used to control the movement of the machine tools.
Common Types of CNC Machines
The most common CNC machining service processes include milling and turning, followed by grinding, EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining), and others.
Milling
Milling machine with cnc uses rotating cutting tools that move across the surface of a workpiece along 3, 4, or 5 axes. Milling is essentially a process of cutting and trimming the workpiece, allowing manufacturers to quickly produce complex geometries and precision parts from metal or thermoplastics.
Turning
Turning uses a lathe to manufacture parts with cylindrical features. The workpiece rotates on an axis while precision cutting tools shape round edges, radial and axial holes, grooves, and slots.
Advantages of CNC Machining
Compared with traditional manual machining, CNC machining is significantly faster. As long as the computer code is correctly programmed and follows the design specifications, the finished parts can achieve very high dimensional accuracy with minimal errors.
CNC manufacturing is also ideal for rapid prototyping. It can produce end-use parts and components efficiently, especially for low-volume and short-run production.
Multi-Axis CNC Machining
CNC milling removes material using rotating cutting tools. Either the workpiece remains stationary while the tool moves, or the workpiece moves into the machine at a specific angle. The more motion axes a machine has, the more complex and faster the machining process becomes.
3-Axis CNC Machining
3-axis CNC milling machine remains the most popular and widely used machining process. In 3-axis machining, the workpiece stays fixed while the cutting tool moves along the X, Y, and Z axes.
This is a relatively simple CNC machining method suitable for manufacturing parts with basic structures. However, it is not ideal for machining complex geometries or intricate components.
Since cutting is limited to three directions, machining speed may also be slower than 4-axis or 5-axis CNC machining because the workpiece often needs to be manually repositioned to achieve the desired shape.
4-Axis CNC Machining
In 4-axis CNC milling machine, an additional rotational axis is added, usually allowing rotation around the X-axis. The machine now operates on four axes: X, Y, Z, and A (rotation around the X-axis).
Most 4-axis CNC machines also allow the workpiece to rotate, often referred to as the B-axis, enabling the machine to function as both a milling machine and a lathe.
If you need to drill holes on the side of a part or machine curved surfaces on cylindrical components, 4-axis CNC machining is an excellent choice. It significantly improves machining speed and maintains high machining accuracy.
5-Axis CNC Machining
5-axis CNC milling machining adds another rotational axis compared to 4-axis CNC machining. The fifth axis usually rotates around the Y-axis and is commonly referred to as the B-axis. In some machines, the workpiece can also rotate, sometimes referred to as the B-axis or C-axis.
Because of its high versatility, 5-axis CNC machining is widely used to manufacture complex precision components, such as medical prosthetics and bone implants, aerospace parts, titanium components, oil and gas machinery parts, and military products.
