Types of CNC Machining: classifications and Differences Part1

CNC machining is an essential part of the manufacturing industry. There are different types of machining processes used to turn raw materials into finished products and parts.

What different types of machining operations are used to manufacture products and parts? Read on, we give you important information to get a better understanding of the editing operations and their types.

What is machining?

Machining is a subtractive manufacturing process that uses cutting tools, discs, abrasives, etc. to remove excess material from a workpiece. In addition, this process is used to remove unwanted materials to achieve the desired product shape. Rolled mills such as flat bars and bars, as well as welded or cast parts, are often the subject of machining operations.

Examples of machined products are auto parts, drill bits, plates, nuts and bolts, flanges, and other parts and tools used in various industries.

Let’s examine the different types of machining.

There are two main types of machining operations: conventional and non-conventional. Besides these two main types, there are other sub-types to achieve the desired end product. Let’s look at these editing operations in detail.

Conventional machining process

Also known in manufacturing as conventional machining, this process uses cutting tools to remove excess material from a workpiece through direct contact. Also, this machining occurs when the cutting tool comes into direct contact with the workpiece.

Also, there are different types of conventional machining including;

• Turning

When turning, the cutting tool remains stationary while the workpiece rotates. It is also a turning process that uses a cutting tool to remove excess material from a workpiece. In addition, the cutting tool works along two axes of movement and creates cuts with precise width and depth.

In addition, the turning process is ideal for machining the inside or outside of a material. Turning on the outside of the material is called facing while turning on the inside is called drilling.

• Milling

Milling is a machining process that uses rotary cutters to remove material from a workpiece. In addition, there are two main types of milling operations: face milling and panel milling.

Face milling is a machining process used to smooth or flatten the surface of workpieces. In contrast, panel milling is suitable for processing a large flat surface. During face milling, flat cuts are made on the surface of the workpiece with the peripheral edges of the milling cutter.

Also, it is one of the types of machining that involves a complex process and often requires a variety of special cutters to complete the tasks. However, machining companies like Winsun Proto offer 3-axis and 5-axis CNC milling services, with the machined parts having a tolerance of up to 0.02mm.

• Drilling

Drilling is making cylindrical holes in solid materials using drills (multi-bladed tools). Drills used for this procedure have two helical channels. These channels, also known as chip flutes, evacuate the chips from the hole as the drill penetrates the material.

In addition, the holes created with this drill often help when assembling the parts. Also, drilling is done first before tapping, reaming, or drilling to create tapped holes or to bring the dimensions of a hole to an acceptable tolerance. This makes this operation one of the most important types of editing.

• Grinding

Grinding is one of the machining processes that are ideal for improving the surface of a machined part and reducing its tolerance. Also, this process produces parts with identical shapes, finishes, and sizes. It is also the first step for further finishing operations such as honing, lapping, and superfinishing.

There are also two main types of grinders: surface grinders and cylindrical grinders. Surface grinders remove small amounts of material from flat surfaces, while cylindrical grinders remove material from cylindrical shapes.

• Sawing

Sawing aims to produce shorter lengths from extruded shapes, bars, and other materials, which is done with the help of cut-off machines. There are also various cut-off machines that engineers use for sawing, e.g. B. chainsaws, circular saws, and cutting wheels.

In addition, the speed of the saw band when sawing depends on the material. For example, soft materials such as aluminum alloys require a cutting speed of 1000 fpm or more. On the other hand, some high-temperature alloys require a slower cut speed of 30 fpm.

• Broaching

Broaching uses a broach tool to create square holes, keyways, and other shapes. A broach is a tool with many consecutive teeth, similar to a file. However, the difference with a file is that a broach tool has unequal teeth, while a file has teeth of equal size.

There are two types of broaching: pull broaching and impact broaching. Vertical presses are ideal for butt broaching, while vertical or horizontal presses are ideal for draw broaching.

When pulled or pushed across a surface or through a pilot hole, a broach makes a series of cuts of increasing depth. The cutting speed of a broach also depends on the thickness of the material. Cutting speeds are often up to 50 fpm on softer metals and up to 5 fpm on higher-strength metals.

• Planing

Planning is ideal for large flat surfaces, especially those that would otherwise be scrapped. To reduce machining costs, manufacturers sometimes join small parts together to schedule them at once.

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