What is CNC Machining & What Role Does It Play in Modern Manufacturing? CNC machining ;plays a vital role in the evolving world of modern manufacturing. ; What is a CNC Machine?Computer Numerical Control machines are automated machines, which are operated by computers executing pre-programmed sequences of controlled commands. CNC machines are essentially the opposite of “old-school” devices that are manually controlled by hand wheels or levers, or mechanically automated by cams alone. Today's modern CNC machines understand and function using CNC machining language – called G-code – which tells them precise measurements for production, like feed rate, speed, location, and coordination. Today's design and mechanical parts for CNC systems are highly automated – unlike the old, dangerous, factory machines you’d think of back in the day. The parts' mechanical dimensions are defined using computer-aided design (CAD) software and then translated into manufacturing directives by computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software. Therefore, it is important to have knowledgeable CNC machinists and programmers in the industry to operate this high-tech machinery. The Importance of CNC MachiningManufacturers in Connecticut are leaders in making vital products in the industry, such as jet engines, helicopters, and submarines. And, thanks to recent advancements in technology, gone are the days of gritty factory life. Workers today use their machining skills in a clean, professional setting with advanced and cutting-edge technology. What is CNC Turning? CNC Turning ;is a manufacturing process in which bars of material are held in a chuck and rotated while a tool is fed to the piece to remove material to create the desired shape. A turret (shown center), with tooling attached, is programmed to move to the bar of raw material and remove material to create the programmed result. This is also called “subtraction machining” since it involves material removal. If the center has both tuning and milling capabilities, such as the one above, the rotation can be stopped to allow for milling out of other shapes. The starting material, though usually round, can be other shapes such as squares or hexagons. Depending on the bar feeder, the bar length can vary. This affects how much handling is required for volume jobs. CNC lathes or turning centers have tooling mounted on a turret which is computer-controlled. The more tools that the turret can hold, the more options are available for complexities on the part. CNCs with “live” tooling options, can stop the bar rotation and add additional features such as drilled holes, slots, and milled surfaces. Some CNC turning centers have one spindle, allowing work to be done all from one side, while other turning centers, such as the one shown above, have two spindles, a main and sub-spindle. A part can bPhotoGallerye partially machined on the main spindle, moved to the sub-spindle, and have additional work done to the other side of this configuration. There are many different kinds of CNC turning centers with various types of tooling options, spindle options, outer diameter limitations as well as power and speed capabilities that affect the types of parts that can be economically made on it. What Is A CNC Milling Machine? CNC Milling Machines are incredibly useful pieces of machinery for both commercial and industrial production. The aerospace industry, the medical industry, and the electronics industry are all able to benefit from the products of CNC Milling – but how do these machines operate, and what makes them so unique? CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control milling. This essentially means that the milling machine is moved and monitored by numerical computer control, rather than by hand. CNC milling tools perform a machining process similar to drilling and cutting parts with incredible precision, and therefore leave no room for human error. The process is an increasingly popular industrial solution since it can accommodate detailed sizes and shapes of all kinds of material. How do CNC Milling Machines work? A CNC Milling Machine uses a rotating cylindrical cutter to move along multiple axes, and create slots, holes, and details in material to turn it into a vehicle or mechanical part. Most machines operate on three to five axes, creating much more precision and detail. Modern CNC milling machines are assembled as both horizontal and vertical machining centers. Components can be made with materials such as plastics, ceramics, and composite materials, in addition to metals. Technical features include automatic tool changers, tool carousels & magazines, coolant systems, and enclosures to keep machines running smoothly on their own without manual interference. What're the advantages of Turn-Milling Compound Machining Center Turn-Milling Compound Machining Center refers to the place where the lathe and milling machines are processed together. It is an advanced cutting processing method that uses the combined motion of milling cutter rotation and workpiece rotation to realize the cutting processing of the workpiece so that the workpiece can meet the requirements in terms of shape accuracy, and position accuracy, and processed surface integrity. Compared with conventional CNC machining technology, the outstanding advantages of Turning-Milling-Compound-Machining-Center are mainly reflected in the following aspects: (1) Shorten the product manufacturing process chain and improve production efficiency. A variety of special tools and new tool arrangements can be installed to reduce tool change time and improve processing efficiency. Turning and milling composite processing can complete all or most of the processing operations in one clamping, thereby greatly shortening the product manufacturing process chain. In this way, on the one hand, the production assistance time caused by the change of the mounting card is reduced, and at the same time, the manufacturing cycle and the waiting time of the tooling fixture are reduced, which can significantly improve the production efficiency. (2) Reduce the number of clamping times and improve machining accuracy. The reduction of the number of card installations avoids the accumulation of errors caused by the transformation of the positioning reference. At the same time, most of the turning and milling processing equipment has the function of online detection, which can realize the in-situ detection and precision control of key data in the manufacturing process, thereby improving the processing accuracy of the product; the high-strength integrated bed design improves the difficulty of cutting difficult materials Gravity processing capacity; the machine is equipped with an automatic feeding device, which can realize automatic feeding to continuous, basically realize the assembly line operation of a single machine. (3) Save floor space and production costs. Compact and beautiful appearance design improved space utilization, more convenient for maintenance and repair to maximize customer satisfaction; although the single unit price of the turning and milling compound processing equipment is relatively high, due to the shortening of the manufacturing process chain and the reduction of equipment required for the product. And the reduction of the number of fixtures, workshop floor space, and equipment maintenance costs can effectively reduce the overall fixed-asset investment, production operation, and management costs. Sheet metal fabrication ;is the process of turning flat sheets of steel or aluminum into metal structures or products, by cutting, punching, folding, and assembling. Sheet metal can be cut, bent, or stretched into nearly any shape, which is generally done by cutting and burning the metal. Special tools, such as band saws and chops saws, can also be used in the sheet metal fabrication process. These ensure even cutting throughout the process. Cutting torches are capable of cutting large sections of sheet metal with minimal effort. Sheet metal fabrications use press brakes, which ease the process of sheet metal fabrication, by helping to create sharp bends and angles within the metal. There are a variety of different press brakes, which have different functions and are used for different purposes. One of the other main factors in sheet metal fabrication is welding. Once all the components are formed, they are then assembled and tack welded into position. Many welding techniques can be used in sheet metal fabrication in order to prevent warping or any other abnormalities. These techniques include covering the metal with sand during the cooling process, special straightening process, welding in a staggered manner, and using a stout fixture. Straightening defected metal can be achieved by using an oxy-acetylene torch. Heat is applied to the metal in a slow manner to remove any abnormalities. The metal is usually finished by being sandblasted, primed, and painted.