We offers a comprehensive range of metal & plastic CNC machining solutions from rapid prototyping to mass production. With over 10 sets of CNC Milling (3-axis & 5-axis) mahince , CNC Turning, Lathe Machining, EDM, and Wire Cutting machines, our in-house capacity ensures your requirements are satisfied, with our multi-variety and small batch service mode.
CNC machining is a subtractive manufacturing process. It uses computerized controls and machine tools to remove layers of material from a blank. The result is a custom-designed part. In each case, the CNC Part – the material to be machined – is secured using a jig or work-holding tool. This prevents it from moving around during the machining process. Most CNC machining tools contain a carousel with multiple tools. The machine can change out tools as needed during the machining process, without any additional operator set-up. That saves time and money.
Three basic types of CNC machining are drilling, milling and turning:
1.1 CNC Drilling : Drill bits are used to make cylindrical holes in the part. Usually, these holes are used for screws or other fasters. Normally, these holes are perpendicular to the surface of the part. But specialized tools can also drill holes at an angle. Other common drilling operations include:
Countering : This type of drilling creates a stepped hole so that the head of a bolt or screw is flush with the surface of the material being machined.
Countersinking : Countersinking is like counterboring. But it creates a conical hole instead of a stepped one. That enables fasteners to sit flush with the surface of the part.
Reaming : Reaming is an operation that improves the accuracy and smoothness of pre-drilled holes. It helps the CNC machine achieve tight tolerances and high-quality finishes often required by the aerospace and automotive industries.
• Thread tapping : This operation creates internal threads within a pre-drilled hole. They enable bolts or screws to be attached to the part.
1.2 CNC Milling : This machining method uses CNC to control a rotating cutting tool. It removes material from the CNC Metal part to create a finished part. Milling machines can cut at multiple angles and move along multiple axes:
• Three-Axis Milling : This type of milling machine can cut three surfaces of a part along its X, Y and Z axes, while the CNC Part remains stationary.
• Four-Axis Milling : This type of milling machine can cut along the three linear axes (X, Y and Z). It adds an A axis, which enables the CNC Part to be rotated around its X axis. This enables it to cut complex, precise shapes that aren’t possible with three-axis milling.
• Five-Axis Milling : A five-axis milling machine also enables the CNC Part to be rotated along its Y-axis. It enables the machine to approach the part from all directions in a single operation. It also eliminates the need for the operator to reposition the CNC Part to make more complex cuts. That saves time and money.
1.3 : CNC Turning : In CNC turning, material is removed from a CNC Part as it is being rotated at high speed on a lathe. It’s often used to create cylindrical parts. Common operations include straight turning, taper turning, facing, grooving and cutting:
Straight Turning : The CNC Part is rotated on a lathe as a cutting tool shapes it to a consistent diameter. It’s used to manufacture basic components like shafts, pins and rods.
Taper Turning : As the CNC Parts rotates at high speed, the cutting tool gradually changes the diameter of the Part CNC over its length. That gives it a tapered or conical shape.
Facing : This operation removes material from the end of the CNC Part. It ensures that the milling surface is perfectly perpendicular to the Machining part. It’s often the first step before additional machining is performed on it.
Grooving: This is the process of cutting a recessed groove into the circumference of the CNC Part. This feature is added when an O-ring needs to be integrated into the part, for example.
Cutting or Parting // In this operation, the cutting tool slices completely through the CNC Part, separating it into two sections. This enables several parts to be produced from a single piece of material.
CNC machining is a form-reducing manufacturing process. It utilizes a computer-controlled center and machine tools to remove material from a blank to create a custom-designed part. In each step, the CNC part (the material to be machined) is held in place using a fixture or hold the tool. This prevents the part from moving during the machining process. Most CNC machining tools include a rotary table that holds a variety of tools. The machine tool can change the tool as needed during the machining process without any additional setup by the operator. This saves lot of the time and cost.
The three basic types of CNC machining are drilling, milling, and turning:
CNC Drilling : Drills are used to machine cylindrical holes in a CNC part. Typically, these holes are for screws or other fasteners. Typically, these holes are perpendicular to the surface of the CNC Part. But specialized tools can also drill holes at an angle. Other common drilling operations include:
• Countersinking : This type of drilling creates a stepped hole, allowing the head of the bolt or screw to sit flush with the surface of the material being machined.
• Countersinking : Countersinking is similar to counter-boring. However, it creates a tapered hole instead of a stepped hole. This allows the fastener to sit flush with the CNC part surface.
•Reaming: Reaming is an operation that improves the accuracy and smoothness of pre-drilled holes. It helps CNC machines achieve the tight tolerances and high-quality surface finishes often required by the aerospace and automotive industries.
• Tapping : This operation creates internal threads within a pre-drilled hole. They can attach bolts or screws to a part.
2 CNC Milling : This machining method uses a CNC to control a rotating cutting tool. It removes material from the CNC Part to create a finished part. Milling machines can cut at multiple angles and move along multiple axes:
• Three-axis milling :This type of milling machine can cut three surfaces of a part along its X, Y, and Z axes while the CNC Part remains stationary.
• Four-Axis Milling : This type of milling machine can cut along three linear axes (X, Y, and Z). It adds an A-axis that enables the CNC part to be rotated about its X-axis. This allows it to cut complex and precise shapes that are not possible with three-axis milling.
• Five-Axis Milling ： Five-axis milling machines also allow the CNC Part to rotate about its Y-axis. This enables the machine to approach the part from all directions in a single operation. In addition, it eliminates the need for the operator to reposition the CNC Part for more complex cuts. This saves time and costs.
3 CNC Turning ：CNC turning is when the part is rotated at high speed on the lathe and the material is cut off. It is often used to make cylindrical parts. Common machining operations include straight turning, taper turning, end turning, grooving and cutting.
Straight Turning ： The part rotates on a lathe and the cutting tool machines it to a fixed diameter. Straight turning is used to manufacture basic parts such as shafts, pins and rods.
Taper Turning ： As the part rotates at high speed, the cutting tool gradually changes the diameter of the CNC Part, causing it to gradually change along its length, eventually forming a taper or cone.
Face milling ： This operation removes material from the end of a part. It ensures that the milled surface is perfectly perpendicular to the part. This is usually the first step before further machining.
Grooving ： This is the process of cutting a groove on the circumference of a part. This function is added, for example, when an O-ring needs to be integrated into a part.
Cutting or Parting Off : In this operation, the cutting tool completely separates the CNC into two parts. This allows multiple parts to be machined from the same piece of material.
The applications of precision CNC machining are very big and can be used in a wide range of industries. CNC machining is used to produce parts of many types including lot of the common metals and plastics.
Fast turning time, efficient manufacturing, and ease of use, that make CNC machining the best choice for prototyping and low-volume production. CNC machining services are widely used in aerospace, automotive, consumer products, industrial, medical, security, small household appliances, and technology.
Aerospace: Precision CNC machining is widely applied in the aerospace industry, where safety is put on first place and there is zero tolerance for any error. Parts for aerospace applications require precise tolerances. Reducing weight is a top priority. CNC machining is often used to produce complex parts made of aluminum, titanium, and their alloys.
Automotive: Like the aerospace industry, the automotive industry
valuesprecision and lightweight components. Safety is also put on the first position. CNC machining is used for the development and production of prototype parts. Metals can be machined into exterior components such as engine blocks, transmissions, cylinders, and axles. Plastics can be machined into interior components such as dashboards, gauges, and trim. The automotive industry uses strict quality standards to ensure that all parts meet their specifications. Suppliers must also follow strict quality processes.
Consumer Goods: CNC machining is often used to create prototype and production parts for consumer products. Examples include appliance parts, utensils, fixtures, and some smartphone and laptop casings. These parts are often machined from aluminum due to its strength and light weight.
Medical: CNC machining is often used to produce parts for the medical industry because of its precision and accuracy. For example, instruments and equipment used in medical procedures and rehabilitation. CNC machined parts are also used to make implantable components such as hip joints, kneecaps, screws, pins, and rods. CNC machining is used throughout the product lifecycle, from prototyping to production.
Technology: CNC machining is often used for prototyping and low-volume production in emerging technology fields. Quick turnaround times and low-cost setup make CNC machining an ideal manufacturing technology for this fast-paced industry. Rapid production without tooling makes part redesign easy.
Industrial: Industrial equipment is put to the test in some of the world’s harshest and most extreme environments. Machines operating in these remote locations require durable parts. CNC machining is used to create parts that can withstand extreme temperatures, corrosive environments, and repeated shocks.
holding Fixture : The geometry of CNC part will determine how it is positioned in the CNC machine and the amount of setup required. Manually repositioning a part increases the potential for error. Repositioning not only affects accuracy, but it often increases project costs. Round or irregularly shaped parts can be difficult to hold in place prior to machining.
Tool Hardness: The tool used to cut a part may vibrate during operation. Tool stiffness may result in reduced tolerances.
CNC Part stiffness: The temperatures and cutting forces generated during machining can cause the CNC Part to vibrate, which can lead to deformation. You can prevent CNC Part stiffness by ensuring minimum wall thickness and maximum aspect ratio for tall features as specified in your design specifications.
Tool Geometry: CNC machine tools are tubular in shape with either a flat or rounded end. This limits the geometry of CNC machined parts. For example, even with a small tool, the inside vertical corners of a part will have a radius. Sharp inside corners may be difficult to achieve due to the shape of the tool. If you need a part with sharp corners, you may need to use wire EDM or sinker EDM.
Tool contact: If the tool cannot contact the CNC Part surface, the PART cannot be machined. This limits parts that need to hide internal geometry and limits the maximum undercut depth. For parts with complex geometry, internal cavities, or deep undercuts, consider metal 3D printing. Fathom can produce high-density metal parts using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technology.
Material Hardness: Material hardness is a critical factor in CNC machining. It significantly affects:
Easy to cut
Tool wear
Processing speed
Overall quality of the finished product
Hard materials often require special tools to withstand the wear they cause.
You may need to use tungsten carbide or diamond tools designed for this type of machining, rather than carbide steel tools. Improper machining techniques can lead to overheating or tool wear, resulting in poor surface quality.
If you need parts made from tough, hard-to-machine metals or alloys, make sure your manufacturing partner has the expertise to handle them.
Rapid Prototyping: CNC machined parts can be CNC machined in a few hours, making it easy to evaluate the part designs and speed up your project time to market. All you have to do is generate an updated CAD drawing. We convert it into the code needed to drive the CNC machine.
Fine Details and Tight Tolerances ：Because the machine tools used in this process are computer controlled, they can produce large volumes of parts with high accuracy and repeatability. Superior Accuracy and Repeatability // CNC machining can be used to produce complex parts with tight tolerances. This is critical for high-performance industries such as aerospace, defense, and automotive.
Wide Selection of Materials ： CNC machining can be used to machine many types of materials, including durable plastics and high-strength, lightweight metals. They can be finished in a variety of ways to meet specific customer requirements.
Easy to Make Design Changes ： Updating a part design is as simple as modifying the CAD file and then generating new code to drive the CNC machine. That's it—no additional tools or preparation required. You can update and start machining new versions of your part immediately.
Advanatge :
CNC Can Produce Parts to Precise Specifications ： CNC machining can produce a wide range of complex or simple parts with high precision and tighter tolerances than injection molding or additive manufacturing. This makes CNC components easier to assemble. Because part features can be precisely aligned, they fit more reliably. This saves time and reduces waste.
Ability to make Complex Shapes : CNC machining processes and cutting tools are able to manufacture a wide variety of complex shapes with exceptional accuracy and repeatability. Because CNC machines are so precise, they can produce parts in virtually any size and shape you can imagine.
Ideal for Prototype Parts : CNC machining is driven by the data in your part's CAD drawing. It can produce accurate prototype parts in hours. You can also use it to iterate on your final design, getting parts into production faster.
Material Selection : CNC machining services are available for a wide variety of materials, including many types of metals and alloys, plastics, phenolics, and rigid foams.
Production Speed : Automated CNC machines can run 24 hours a day, as needed, without human intervention. This means it produces parts faster than other manufacturing methods that require more labor.
Reduced Waste : Manual machining often requires trial and error until a part is produced that is accurate, whereas automated CNC machines produce parts the same way every time. This reduces material waste.
Affordable : CNC machining can be highly automated. This means less labor is required to produce large quantities of parts. This makes it a surprisingly affordable manufacturing technology.
Disadvantage
Setup Time : Setting up CNC programs and operating CNC machines requires specialized knowledge and training. Parts often require custom fixtures and jigs to position and hold them securely during machining.
Design limitations : Certain organic and irregular shapes can be difficult to manufacture with CNC machining. Also, CNC machining is not cost-effective , if you only need to produce a small number of parts. Relatively high production and startup costs.
Part Size Limitations : Larger parts may pose some limitations to the accuracy of your cuts. This is because their weight puts pressure on the material and can cause deformation. It may also be difficult for the holding device to hold it securely in place.
Operator Error : CNC machining is automated. But it is still highly dependent on the skills and problem-solving abilities of the operator who sets up the job. Find a manufacturing partner that has experience making the parts you need.
Limitations of Part Geometry : CNC machining cannot be used to create cavities or conformal cooling channels inside a part. This is because it is not possible to insert the tool inside the part. Finishing internal surfaces can also be problemati
Choosing the right CNC machining material is one of the most important decisions in any machining project. You need to thoroughly understand how the material performs under the cutting tool and the materials characteristics affect the final result. The material determines how easily and efficiently it can be formed, and key material properties for CNC machining, such as strength, hardness, and thermal conductivity, are critical to the success of the entire project.
It is vast for CNC materials selection, all kinds of metals, plastics, and composites, each with unique benefits and challenges. However, selecting these materials becomes easier if you understand machining. This term refers to how well a material responds to machining processes such as cutting, drilling, and forming, and material properties vary widely between material types. Selecting materials with the right machining can streamline production processes, extend tool life, and improve the quality of the final product. Key material properties for CNC machining include strength, flexibility, hardness, thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance, all of which should be carefully evaluated in the context of the project. For example, metals such as steel and titanium are prized for their high tensile strength, making them ideal for structural components that must withstand significant stress. On the other hand, plastics are lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making them a top choice for applications where light weighting and environmental performance are a priority. Thermal conductivity also plays a crucial role in material selection, especially in machining processes that generate heat. Materials with high thermal conductivity, such as copper, can effectively dissipate heat, reducing the risk of overheating and extending tool life. In contrast, materials with low thermal conductivity may be better suited for applications that require heat resistance. Hardness is another factor that significantly affects machining performance. While harder materials generally offer superior wear resistance and durability, they also require greater cutting forces and slower machining speeds, which can increase production time and costs. Corrosion resistance is equally important, especially for projects exposed to harsh or reactive environments. Materials such as stainless steel, which resist rust and corrosion, are often used to manufacture parts that require long-term exposure to moisture or chemicals. The interaction between these material properties can affect the overall performance, cost, and efficiency of a CNC machining project.
Tips and Advice for Selecting Metals for Machining Metals are among the most commonly used CNC machining materials, highly regarded for their strength, durability, and versatility. However, choosing the right metal requires careful consideration of the specific needs of the project. Each metal has unique machining properties that affect production efficiency, tool wear, and the quality of the final product. Softer metals such as aluminum and brass are known for their excellent processing, making them ideal for projects that require high precision and fast production times. Aluminum is a top choice for aerospace and automotive applications because of its light weight and ease of machining. Brass is often used for plumbing and electrical components due to its excellent machine and corrosion resistance. In contrast, harder metals such as stainless steel and titanium, while offering unparalleled strength and durability, are more difficult to machine. These materials often require specialized cutting tools, lower machining speeds, and advanced techniques to prevent tool wear and ensure accuracy. Metals like copper dissipate heat well, making them ideal for applications that require temperature management. However, their high thermal conductivity can also create challenges during machining, requiring careful tool selection and process control.
Ultimately, choosing the right CNC machined metal requires balancing these factors with the needs of your project. By understanding the material's characteristics, processing, and potential challenges, you can optimize your production processes, reduce costs, and achieve superior results. In summary, choosing the right CNC machining material is critical and directly impacts the efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness of your project. By considering machining, evaluating material properties for your CNC application, and carefully selecting your machining metal, you can set the stage for your project's success. Whether you're machining metals, plastics, or composites, understanding these factors ensures precision, performance, and durability. For advanced machining solutions, PMT offers ESPRIT CAM software and expert training to help you confidently tackle the complexities of CNC machining.
Post processing is an easy way to ensure a uniform appearance from part to part. Some CNC machines may leave visible tool marks on the piece after production. Tool marks may vary from slight to obvious, depending on the material and CNC process. Post processing is available for plastic and metal parts. This can include bead blasting to remove tool marks or painting to achieve a desired color.
Fast and Reliable Delivery
Integrate part designs quickly and accelerate product development with quick-turn parts. Our automated design analysis will help spot any difficult to machine features before your design is sent to the manufacturing floor and save you from costly reworks further down the product development cycle.
Manufacturing Analysis and Online Quotes
When you upload your 3D CAD file to request a quote, we'll analyze your part geometry to identify any features that may be difficult to machine such as tall, thin walls or holes that cannot be threaded.
Quick Production and Support
Work with a trusted and 17 experienced based manufacturer for the reasonable price. You can also call or email us at any time for a video meeting and we'll help with ordering parts, design feedback, material recommendations, and answer any questions.
Infinite Capacity
Eliminate downtime spent waiting for parts and safeguard in-house machining with on-demand relief and infinite manufacturing capacity.
Material Selection
We stock more than 20 engineering-grade plastic and metal materials that are suitable for various part applications and industries. Materials range from plastics like ABS, polycarbonate, nylon, and PEEK to aluminum, stainless steel, platinum, and copper.
Advanced Capabilities
Get anodizing, tighter tolerances, and volume pricing options through our network of workshop. You'll find plating (black oxide, nickel), anodizing (Type II, Type III), and chromate coating in larger part quantities; tolerances down to ±0.001 in. (0.020mm); and cost-efficient machined parts at higher volumes to lower piece-part price.
