CNC Precision Machining: Everything You Need To Know (2024)

Have you ever wondered how machinists make those heavy aluminum tools and engine parts? They definitely did not make them with their hands or cast them in a furnace. They make these machined parts from a process called CNC precision machining.

If you’re new to the manufacturing world, CNC precision machining is a process that uses computer programs to create products with exact specifications. In this article, we’ll define the process, the equipment used, their applications, and the programming and processing involved. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge of manufacturing or are simply interested in this process, read on to learn more.

What is CNC Precision Machining?

If the question “What is precise machining?” still lingers in your mind, here’s the answer. Just as the name implies, precision machining involves shaping raw material into a finished product by cutting out excesses as designated by a CAD or CAM blueprint. What’s more, machinists use this process in different manufacturing processes and on different materials.

Before making any product, using CAD or CAM programs to make the product’s blueprint is necessary. That is to say, these programs make highly detailed 3D outlines that a precise machining process must follow to replicate the product successfully.

From toys to medical devices, automobiles, or space shuttles, any product that has parts needs precision machining. Using CNC equipment, the process utilizes actions like cutting, milling, turning, and electrical discharge machining to achieve the final product.

Although the process requires the overwatch of a skilled machinist, a machine does most of the work automatically. The CAD software creates the design, and the CAM software then translates it into manufacturing instructions for the machine. A final post-processor software codes the instruction into information the machine can understand. The machinists then load the instruction into the CNC equipment to start the manufacturing process.

Tolerance of CNC Precision Machining

Although precision CNC machining tools are very accurate, these machines cannot accurately reproduce the dimensions of products just as they are in the CAD blueprint. Therefore, machinists use tolerances.

Tolerance is the amount of deviation in the dimension of a part that is acceptable by conventional standards. A synonym for it is dimensional accuracy. There is no standard precision CNC tolerance. The strictness of tolerance depends on the manufacturing process. The number of decimal places in a tolerance value has shown the strictness of the measurement.

There are different types of tolerance measurement systems. For example:

• Unilateral Tolerance Measurement: In this type of tolerance measurement, the deviation is only allowed on one side of the nominal value. This means if the nominal value of a shaft to fit into a bearing is 20mm, a shaft larger than this wouldn’t fit in. Therefore, machinists only allow the deviation for such a shaft on the smaller side.
• Limit Tolerances: This is when the tolerance value is placed in a range. For example, if the nominal value for the shaft is 15mm and the tolerance is 15 – 15.5mm, this represents a limit tolerance.
• Bilateral tolerances: This type of tolerance allows deviation on both sides of the nominal value. It is usually expressed as a +/- value. To clarify, if a machined part has a measurement of 25 mm with a tolerance of +/- 0.05mm, it means the value can be within 24.95mm and 25.05mm.

Knowing when to choose tighter tolerances for your part manufacturer is very important. Although it is not necessary for the whole part to have tight tolerances, the important structural parts, such as those which fit into other components, need little deviation from the nominal value as inaccuracy could severely affect the integrity of the part.

Tolerances are important in precise machining processes because they help to reduce production costs and turnaround times. As important as they are, they require a lot of skill and patience to get it right. The standard tolerance of CNC machines is 0.005 inches. At RapidDirect, our 5-axis CNC machines can achieve tolerance up to 0.002”. We offer a range of tolerances to suit our customers’ needs. Our standard tolerances for CNC machining metals are compliant with DIN-2768-1-fine, while for plastics it is DIN-2768-1-medium.

Types of Precision CNC Machining Equipment

Due to the different processes, it requires different pieces of equipment to make it work. In some cases, these tools are put on a single precision CNC machine, and the machinist only has to start and stop the process. In some other situations, the tools have to be placed on different machines, and the machinist will have to move the workpiece/raw material from one machine to another. Some precision machines include:

CNC Milling Equipment

Milling is involves using rotary cutters to remove excess material from a workpiece. It involves several types of mills. Examples of such mills include end mills, chamfer mills, and helical mills. The precision CNC-enabled mills also include hand milling machines, plain milling machines, universal milling machines, and universal milling machines. These machines either have a horizontal or vertical orientation.

CNC Turning Equipment

Turning is a machining process that involves rotating the workpiece next to a rotating single-point cutting tool. The most popular tools used for precision CNC turning processes are lathes, such as turret lathes, engine lathes, and engine-purpose lathes. Other turning equipment includes straight turning, taper turning, external grooves, and threads.

CNC Drilling Equipment

Drilling uses rotating multi-point drill bits to create cylindrical holes in raw materials/workpieces. Also, the design of the drill bits allows the chips off the workpiece to fall away from it, which keeps the drilled holes neat.

Examples of common drill bits used in CNC machining processes include spotting drills for making shallow or pilot holes, peck drills for reducing the number of chips on the workpiece, screw machine drills for producing precision holes without a pilot hole and chucking reamers for enlarging previously produced holes. There are also drill presses, which are drill bits for a particular drilling task.

CNC Electric Discharge Mining Equipment

Electrical Discharge Mining uses electrical discharges to obtain the precision CNC machined product. The setup is made up of the tool electrode and the workpiece electrode separated by a dielectric fluid and subject to an electrical voltage. The process is also known as spark machining, spark eroding, burning, die sinking, or wire erosion.

CNC Precision Machining Applications

Precision machining is gradually gaining more ground in the manufacturing world due to its multiple uses, cost, and time-effective processes. The technique is widely used in various industries, including:

Medical Industry

Medicine is rapidly evolving with the need arising for new equipment. Apart from producing new equipment, they also have needs for high volumes of existing ones. Precision CNC machining is responsible for making this equipment. Examples of such include orthotic devices, safe enclosures, Implants, MRI machines, research equipment, etc.

Automotive Industry

With automobile companies coming up with innovations to add to their latest car iterations, they need to develop prototypes of these CNC machined parts before adding them to the manufacturing line. Precision machining is responsible for developing these prototypes to exact specifications. The technology also makes parts for other means of transport like shipping vessels, transport trucks, and many more.

Aerospace Industry

Ranging from transportation planes to space shuttles, aerospace vehicles require very precise contraptions as a single error could lead to severe damage to the different aeronautical vehicles. The precision machining process is responsible for making many components in this industry, such as landing gear ports, bushings, manifolds, airfoils, etc.

Military and Defense Industry

CNC has never been more relevant, with different nations having different designs for new ammunition and defense systems. The precise CNC process is responsible for bringing all of these designs to life using various materials and processes. Examples of devices made for this industry include plane parts, transportation components, communication components, ammunition, etc.

Advantages of High Precision CNC Machining

Using these highly precise machines for your manufacturing process would definitely provide a host of advantages. A few are:

Reduced cost of production

In terms of price, CNC machining is the way to go especially if you’re looking to make a few to a hundred parts. The process requires a less upfront cost compared to injection molding cost due to the expenses of creating the mold.

Increased speed

CNC machines provide a higher rate of speed compared to injection molding. Unlike injection molding which might take months to make the mold and ensure the machined components are within tolerance, CNC machining can produce products in a matter of weeks.

Allows for Rapid and Cost-effective Prototyping

With CNC machining services, your prototype production is even more effective. This is because CNC can work with a lot of cost-effective materials, so you don’t have to spend a lot on prototypes. Of course, when the prototypes are made faster, the whole production process is faster even more. At RapidDirect, we deliver prototypes that meet up to manufacturing requirements and quality standards.

How to Carry Out Precision Machining

Materials

Precision CNC machining can operate on a wide variety of materials. At RapidDirect, we provide you with material certification (SGS, RoHS, etc.) if you request it. Here are a few examples of metals and plastics we offer certification for:

Metals

1. Aluminium (Aluminum 6061, Aluminum 6061-T651, Aluminum 606, etc.)
2. Stainless steel (201, 301, 303, 304, 316, etc)
3. Steel (1008, 1018, 1020, etc)
4. Brass (280, 260, 2680, etc)
5. Copper
6. Bronze
7. Titanium

Plastics

1. ABS
2. PC
3. PMMA
4. POM
5. PA

Above are just the most common materials in precision CNC machining. RapidDirect provides hundreds of materials for your custom prototyping and production needs. To check the full list of our materials, upload your design to get an instant quote in minutes and start your project today!

Programming

Before the precise machining process can commence, the machines have to be programmed to make the process run smoothly without any errors. To do this, here’s the process to follow:

After the CAD software has made either the 2D vector or 3D solid blueprint for the product to be manufactured, it is exported to a CNC-compatible file format like STEP or IGES.

The CAM then generates the digital programming code that will control the tooling and produce the custom-designed part.

There are two main programming codes: the G-code and the M-code. The G-code is more popular and is known as the Geometric code. It tells the machine when, where, and how the machine moves. The M-code is the miscellaneous function code that controls the auxiliary functions of the machine.

Processing

After programming the machine, the next step is to start processing the raw material to get it to fit the exact specifications for the finished product. Depending on the product, quite a few precise CNC processes are used in getting the final product. Examples include:

a. CNC Milling

b. CNC Turning

c. CNC Drilling

Surface Finishing

This involves plating the surface of the finished product with different materials to further strengthen and beautify it. At RapidDirect, we use different types of finishing techniques such as anodizing, bead blasting, electroplating, powder coating, etc.

RapidDirect: The Precision CNC Machining Company You’ve Been Searching For

CNC precision machining is arguably the most effective way to manufacture your custom-made parts. Apart from saving you cost, it takes very little time and allows little space for errors. Incorporate this manufacturing process into your production today!

At RapidDirect, we bring your CAD blueprints to life in the best way you could ever hope for. We guarantee strong manufacturing capabilities with our wide array of engineering experience and approach. Our 3,4, 5-axis CNC machines and a wide range of auxiliaries make us capable of your CNC designs, be it custom prototypes of as little as one or making parts taking up to months of production.

Our technical support for our clients is unrivaled. We offer services like shipping the product in two sets if you wish. The first set would be shipped to get your verification before we go into full production. After finishing production, we give you the right assurance that your product will fit and work just as it is meant to be shipping it with the part dimensions. We also provide material certification with all our products which enables you to find out about the material characteristics.

Deliver High-Quality Parts

Apart from all these features, our prices also stand out from the pack. With a 30% lower price than the average you’ll find anywhere, we help you save costs on production at RapidDirect. Just as stated in our certified ISO 9001:2015 QMS standards, we supply you with finished parts of the highest quality made with the latest advancement in CNC technology.

At RapidDirect, you do not have to wait for ages to get your quotation. Once you upload your CAD file to our website, you get the online quotation that provides you with a real design within a minute. This saves us all the back-and-forth emails. You also enjoy the Design for Manufacturing feature, which shows if your design is ideal for the manufacture or not.

Upload your design files and start your project today!

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