Archive: Mar 2019

Guide to CNC Milling Services

Milling is the process of machining irregular, curved, or flat surfaces by feeding the material through a rotating cutter with several cutting edges. CNC mills are ideal for cutting complex shapes, forming difficult-to-cut materials with high levels of precision, and come in many axis configurations and sizes. In addition, CNC milling machines can turn around parts in as little as a day, manage a wide range of production run sizes, and achieve precision tolerances.

Types of CNC Mills

CNC mills come in 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis configurations:

3-Axis Mills

Three-axis mills cannot manage the same level of efficiency or detail as 4-axis or 5-axis machines, but in many cases, they can produce the same products. While not as profitable or high-quality as 4-axis or 5-axis mills, these machines are suitable for:

• • Automatic or interactive operation
  • Cutting sharp edges
  • Drilling holes
  • Milling slots

4-Axis Mills

These mills can operate on materials ranging from aluminum alloys and composite board to foam, PCB, and wood. The 4-axis mill is a multi-functional CNC tool which features slightly improved functionality over 3-axis mills. It is often used in such applications as:

• Advertising design
• Creating art
• Hobby prototype building
• Industry
• Medical equipment creation
• Teaching
• Technology research

5-Axis Mills

5-axis mills possesses the most advanced capabilities available for CNC mills. It operates far faster than 4-axis and 3-axis CNC machines and produces vertical milling at the highest quality and precision. These mills are ideal for producing:

• Aerospace products
• Architectural door frames
• Artificial bones
• Car molds
• Medical technology
• Military grade products
• Oil and gas machine parts
• Titanium creations for both artistic and practical functions

Advantages of CNC Milling

CNC milling offers a range of benefits, including:

• Reduced Costs

Every business looks for ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality. With CNC mills, businesses can improve the bottom line by providing significant cost savings. As CNC mills work faster and more accurately, they enable the efficient production of complex and specialized products.

Reduced labor hours also save money on expenses such as:

– Unemployment insurance

– Wages/salaries

– Benefits such as health, dental, vision, and life insurance

• Safety

Safety is greatly enhanced when using CNC machinery. With no bending or crouching required to operate the machines, ergonomic conditions are greatly improved for workers. This leads to fewer workplace accidents and less fatigue, largely mitigating the risk of human error in the milling process.

• Efficiency

CNC milling machines perform non-stop with minimal necessary downtime. Facilities that run three shifts can continue production 24/7 without issue.

• Versatility

Versatility is one of the most significant benefits of CNC milling. CNC milling allows manufacturers to trim and shape a variety of materials without sacrificing quality or efficiency.

Conclusion

CNC mills are ideal for a wide variety of production run of all sizes for complex, high-quality products. CNC machines will also save a significant amount of time and money thanks to their operational efficiency and reduced labor costs.

Since 1976, Technox has offered the highest quality machining with exceptional customer service and fast turnaround times. For more information on our CNC milling services, please request a quote or contact us today.