How CNC Machines Works & Make Easier Industrial Jobs

Posted by Advantek Australia on May 28th, 2019

Computer numerical control machining, commonly referred to as CNC machining, is a subtractive manufacturing process which typically employs electronic controls and machine tools to remove layers of material from a stock piece—known as the blank or workpiece—and produces a custom-designed part. This process is suitable for a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, wood, glass, foam, composites and finds application in different industries, such as large CNC machining and CNC machining aerospace parts.

Subtractive manufacturing processes, such as CNC Machining Sydney, are often presented in contrast to additive manufacturing processes, such as 3D printing, or formative manufacturing processes, such as liquid injection moulding. While subtractive processes remove layers of material from the workpiece to produce custom shapes and designs, additive processes assemble layers of material to create the desired form, and developmental processes deform and displace stock material into the desired shape. The automated nature of CNC machining enables the production of high precision and high accuracy, simple parts, and the cost-effectiveness when fulfilling one-off and medium-volume production runs. However, while CNC machining demonstrates certain advantages over other manufacturing processes, the degree of complexity and intricacy attainable for part design and the cost-effectiveness of producing complex parts is limited.

While each type of manufacturing process has its advantages and disadvantages, this article focuses on the CNC Turning Sydney process, outlining the basics of the process, and the various components and tooling of the CNC machine. CNC machining is a design process which utilizes electronic controls to design and manipulate device and cutting tools to different stock shape metal—e.g., metal, plastic, wood, foam, composite, etc.—in customize size parts and designs. While the CNC machining process provides various capabilities and functions, the fundamental principles of the process stay mostly the same throughout all of them.

For example, most CNC machine tooling is cylindrical; therefore, the part geometries possible via the Laser Cutting processlimited as the tooling creates curved corner sections. Additionally, the properties of the material machined, tooling design, and work holding capabilities of the machine further restrict the design possibilities, such as the minimum part thicknesses, maximum part size, and inclusion and complexity of internal cavities and features.