Whether your manufacturing company has been present in the market for a while or you are starting today, learning about technologies is a must to enhance business operations. CNC machines are revolutionizing technology and becoming more mainstream in a variety of industries. It increases the speed at which companies can manufacture the objects & making processes more efficient. Manufacturing industries are relying on CNC milling and CNC turning to create high-quality customized parts.

In this guide, we will talk in complete detail about CNC turning and milling machining. And how they helped the manufacturing industry. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

CNC Milling Machining

CNC milling is a machining process that employs computerized controls & multi-point tools. It removes material from the piece & can produce custom-machined parts. The process is suitable for machining various materials like plastic, metals & wood. In addition to it, the process also follows the production stages, which all CNC machining processes do:

  • Designing parts in CAD
  • Translating the CAD files into code for machining
  • Setting up the machinery
  • Producing the parts

CNC Milling Machine Components

Let’s see the critical components that comprise a CNC milling machine.

  • Machine interface: The machine interface refers to the machine component used by the operator to load, initiate, and execute the CNC machine program.
  • Column: The column provides the support and structure of all machine components. This component includes an attached base & includes internal components that aid the milling process.
  • Knee: It’s an adjustable machine component that is attached to the column & provides support to the saddle. The piece is flexible along the Z-axis depending on the specifications of the milling operation.
  • Saddle: The machine component is at the top of the knee, supporting the worktable. The piece moves parallel to the axis of the spindle which helps the worktable to get adjusted.
  • Worktable: It’s present at the top of the saddle & the work holding device gets fastened. The component is adjustable in the horizontal, vertical, or both directions depending on the type of machine employed.
  • Spindle: The spindle gets supported by the column that holds and runs the machine tool. Within the column, an electric motor helps the rotation of the spindle.
  • Ram: The ram refers to the component of the machine. Located on top of and affixed to the column that supports the spindle in vertical milling machines. This component is adjustable during the milling operation to accommodate the different positions.
  • Machine Tool: It refers to the component held by the spindle that performs the material removal operation.

CNC milling machines are of two types:

There are two types of CNC milling machines available – Vertical and Horizontal, the main difference being their spindle placement.

Horizontal milling machine

Horizontal milling machines derive their names from the tool’s positioning-their axis is horizontal. Horizontal mills are also suitable for the finishing process.

The horizontal mill design is pretty simple. The cutting tool mounts onto the arbour. When a tooling change is necessary, the arbour bracket and the spacers get removed to replace the devices.

Advantages of horizontal milling:

  • Ability to create complex parts
  • Can produce parts with fewer operations
  • Better surface finish

Vertical milling machine

Again, the name is itself explanatory. The positioning of the tool axis is vertical and is perfect for end milling. The vertical mill components are like that of a horizontal one. The head of the machine is to the end of a ram. The spindle gets fastened to the top for cutting tools.

Advantages of vertical milling:

  • Cheaper than horizontal milling
  • The machines are smaller, requiring less workspace
  • Easier to use as a vertical mill provides better visibility

How CNC Milling Changed the Manufacturing Industry?

CNC milling machines can make any desired part and get used for the production of automotive, industrial, machinery & other electrical components. CNC milling machines are precise and can reproduce many pieces with the same measurements and thickness. CNC machines can handle large-scale production. They are also scalable for a business that is growing. Furthermore, the process of milling gets done on work-pieces from a variety of materials as well as plastics & metals.

CNC Turning Machining

CNC turning is a subtractive machining process where a cutting tool gets placed against the spinning piece to take the material off. CNC lathe can do it and cuts the material as well as wood, plastic, and metal. Turning is done manually in the traditional form of the lathe & is done by using an automated lathe. The most common type of automation is CNC.

CNC Turning Components

Let’s check out the components that comprise a CNC turning machine.

  • Headstock: The headstock houses both the central spindle and the mechanisms for speed- and gear-change. A Morse taper is present in the central spindle end.
  • Bed: The lathe bed gets connected to the headstock such that the carriage and tailstock move in parallel with spindle access.
  • Feedscrews and Leadscrews: The feedscrew is a long driveshaft that is present in the apron to a series of gears to drive the carriage along the Z-axis. The leadscrew has the same function but moves the carriage along the X-axis circularly to the feedscrew.
  • Carriage: The carriage holds the cutting tool and moves it to the workpiece longitudinally for turning operations. And perpendicularly for face operations.
  • Tailstock: The tailstock refers to the mount in the centre, which gets placed opposite the headstock. Unlike the headstock, the tailstock spindle which may include a taper for holding drill bits, centres, or other tooling, does not rotate.

How has CNC Turning Changed the Manufacturing Industry?

CNC turning gets used in most metal-cutting environments, whether the industry is automotive, aerospace, or agriculture. A component with a high degree of round parts.  And the type of gear gets machined on a turning machine. CNC turning offers many opportunities for businesses as well as increased production speed, improved production efficiency and safer industrial operations.

Conclusion

Both CNC turning and milling have their advantages. The primary difference is that in a turning operation, your machined part rotates. CNC turning is useful for cylindrical workpieces, used to reduce the diameter of the workpiece. 

Are you looking for precision machined parts? MDA is one of the largest CNC machine shops in Canada. We own capabilities to handle bulky parts and a range of other value-added services that makes us a single-source supplier for any project. Reach out today to discuss your requirements