Nowadays there are many new innovative manufacturing processes you can use to produce a part. This includes 3D printing, but 3D printing services as well for example. However, Computer Numeric Controlled machining is definitely still the most common way to mass produce metal parts, although a CNC machining service can create products out of different types of plastic too. As you may already know, CNC machining consists of several different techniques. Below you can find the top three CNC machining techniques, although there are more methods you might want to use for your project.
CNC Milling
When using milling, the workpiece will be held stationary. The cutting tool will instead rotate on a spindle. In most cases, the workpiece is held horizontally in the milling machine vise. It is mounted on a table that moves in the X and Y directions. The spindle will hold several cutting tools, it can move in the X, Y, and Z axes. A mill excels at removing stock from more asymmetrical and complex parts. Mills can also be employed in order to make notches, channels, keyways, profiles, square/flat faces, chamfers, and more features. These elements all depend on precisely cut angles.
CNC Turning
Turning is likely the very first machine operation of all time. It involves clamping a workpiece onto a mandrel or rotating plate. The workpiece will spin, while the cutting tool is held against it. This will be mounted on a moving slide in a fixture. This slide can be moved up and down, while it can also be moved closer to or away from the centerline. This makes it ideal for removing large amounts of stock in a quick manner. A drill bit will be mounted on the tailstock as well. This component is capable of boring precise holes down the centerline of the workpiece.
CNC Surface grinding
It can be important for a metal part that it has a very flat surface. The best way to ensure this is by using a grinder. This is a spinning disk that is covered with an abrasive grit of a particular coarseness. The workpiece will be mounted on a tible, where it moves back and forth laterally beneath the abrasive wheel. Sometimes it is held firm while the wheel moves. This process can obviously only be used on faces that are not interfered with by any protrusions sticking up from the surface.