CNC Machining Methods

When we talk about CNC manufacturing we usually talk about the following processing methods，also be seen as CNC machine tool types.

CNC milling machine

It is mainly used for milling processing,It can process parts of different shapes and sizes. It usually has a multi – axis control system to do complex three – dimensional processing,Main models:

Vertical milling machine: The spindle is perpendicular to the workbench. It’s easy to operate, and the tool can change the angle easily. It’s good for processing planes, bevels and groove parts like molds and tooling. It’s mainly used for small – batch production or maintenance work.

Horizontal milling machine: The spindle is placed horizontally. The machine tool is very rigid and stable. It’s suitable for large – scale and high – efficiency side processing. It can process large planes, grooves and the outlines of complex parts. It’s often used for high – efficiency milling in mass production.

Gantry milling machine: It has a big structure. Multiple tools can work at the same time to improve processing efficiency and precision. It’s suitable for processing large molds, aircraft parts, ship parts and other big workpieces. It’s widely used in heavy machinery manufacturing and mold processing.

Instrument milling machine: It’s a small and precise CNC milling service machine. The tool can move flexibly, and it’s easy to do high – precision milling. It’s suitable for processing small and precise parts and instrument parts. It can be used for making crafts, models and experimental samples.

CNC turning machine

It is mainly used for processing rotating parts, It can quickly finish various internal and external cylindrical surfaces, conical surfaces, spherical surfaces, etc.Main models:

Horizontal lathe: The spindle is placed horizontally. It’s very stable. It’s suitable for processing small and medium – sized parts. It can process shaft parts like transmission shafts and crankshafts, and disc parts like flanges and discs.

Vertical lathe: The spindle is placed vertically. It takes up little space. It’s convenient to clamp and debug. It’s suitable for processing large disc – like workpieces and complex contour surfaces, like large flanges and wheels in aerospace and energy equipment.

Slant bed lathe: The bed is slanted. It’s very rigid and chips can be removed easily. It’s suitable for medium and high – speed processing. It can process complex shaft parts like gear shafts and camshafts. It’s often used in precision parts processing in the automotive and aviation industries.

Turning center: It combines turning, milling, drilling and other functions. It has an automatic tool – changing function. It’s suitable for comprehensive processing of complex parts, like multi – process processing of aerospace parts.

CNC drilling machine

 It is a high – precision and high – efficiency drilling device,It’s also a digitally controlled hole – processing machine tool mainly for drilling. Main models:

CNC vertical drilling machine: Usually the spindle is placed vertically. It’s mainly used to process different holes on the workpiece, like through holes, blind holes, threaded holes, etc. It’s suitable for hole processing of small and medium – sized parts. It’s widely used in machinery manufacturing, electronic equipment and other industries.

CNC horizontal drilling machine: The spindle is placed horizontally. It’s suitable for processing holes on large workpieces or long shaft parts. It can do hole processing in different positions by moving the workbench or the spindle box.

CNC wire cutting

It cuts materials by the discharge principle, It’s suitable for processing hard materials like cemented carbide, hardened steel, etc. Main models:

Slow wire cutting: It uses a thin metal wire as an electrode to cut materials by electric spark discharge. The cutting speed is slow, but the precision is high and the surface finish is very good. It’s suitable for processing precision molds and complex high – hardness cnc machining service parts.

Medium wire cutting: It’s between slow wire and fast wire. It has a certain precision and processing speed. It’s cost – effective. It can be used to process general molds and mechanical parts with medium precision requirements. It’s suitable for batch – processing automotive parts, home appliance accessories, etc.

Fast wire cutting: It cuts materials at a higher speed. It’s efficient but has relatively low precision and a low processing cost. It’s suitable for low – precision, large – volume parts processing and general mold manufacturing.

CNC laser cutting

It uses a laser beam to cut, It’s suitable for processing common materials like aluminum alloy, stainless steel, etc. It cuts fast and there’s no tool wear. Main models:

CNC laser cutting machine: It uses a laser beam to melt the workpiece to make an incision. It has a high cutting accuracy and can cut many materials. It’s suitable for processing complex – shaped metal sheets. It can also be used to process brand names and logos on parts.

CNC plasma cutting machine: It uses high – power plasma from a plasma torch to cut materials. As long as the material can conduct electricity, it can be cut. It has high cutting accuracy and can cut many kinds of materials.

CNC grinder

It is mainly used for grinding, It removes materials with grinding wheels to get the needed surface roughness and accuracy, like optical components, precision shafts, etc. Main models:

CNC surface grinder: It’s mainly used for processing high – precision planes. It’s suitable for processing parts with high flatness requirements, like surface grinding of various mechanical parts.

CNC internal and external cylindrical grinder: It’s used for processing external and internal cylindrical surfaces. It can make sure the cylindricality and surface finish are high. It can process the internal and external cylindrical surfaces of shaft and sleeve parts.

CNC tool grinder: It’s especially used for grinding different tools. It can accurately grind the edge shape and angle of the tool and make sure the tool’s cutting performance and accuracy are good.

CNC boring machine

It is mainly used for vertical boring and drilling, It’s suitable for large and heavy workpieces. Main models:

Vertical boring machine: The spindle is placed vertically. It’s suitable for vertical boring and drilling of large and heavy workpieces. It can process the inner holes, end faces, grooves, etc. of large equipment parts. It’s often used for large – scale processing in energy, shipbuilding and heavy machinery manufacturing.

Horizontal boring machine: The spindle is placed horizontally. It’s suitable for boring long shafts, boxes and large parts. It can process the inner holes, outer circles and end faces of large mechanical parts. It’s widely used in parts manufacturing in machine tools, shipbuilding, energy equipment and other industries.

Precision boring machine: It’s used for processing high – precision holes and small parts. It has high – precision boring ability. It’s suitable for processing fine holes and high – finish surfaces. It’s often used in the manufacture of molds and precision mechanical parts.

CNC electric spark (EDM)

It uses the electric spark discharge principle to remove materials, It’s suitable for complex and tiny parts that are hard to process with traditional cutting methods, like micro grooves, holes and angle features. The workpiece is cut into the wanted shape by the electric sparks from metal tools. The workpiece must be conductive.

CNC water jet cutting machine

It uses a high – pressure water jet or a mixture of water and abrasive substances to cut materials. It’s especially suitable for processing materials with low thermal resistance like aluminum and plastic.

Different machine types have the same functions,For example, milling machines and boring machines can both cut. But milling machines are good at small and medium – sized cnc custom parts , while boring machines are good for large parts. If boring machines are used to process small cnc machining parts , the cost of parts will be very high. Wire cutting and laser cutting are both cutting – based. Wire cutting can cut thicker and harder materials, while laser cutting can only process common thin raw materials. Knowing different processing methods (machine tool types) can help you find the most suitable one.