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In the field of contemporary industrial manufacturing,CNC milling technology relies on computer-controlled machine toolsand precise programming and tool trajectory planning to become the core means of achieving precision cutting of workpieces. This article aims to comprehensively explain the operating mechanism, implementation process and significantadvantages of CNC millingin actual operations, with a view to providing readers with deep insights into this technology.

What is CNC Milling?

CNC milling is a process that usesCNC machine toolsand computer control systems that are independent of human operation to remove material by moving rotating cutting tools relative to the workpiece to produce custom-designed parts or products. The basic principle is that the processor formulates the processing technology, selects the processing parameters, and inputs the compiled processing program into theCNC device. The servo motor controls the relative movement of the tool and the workpiece according to a certain trajectory, thereby realizing the cutting of the workpiece and automatic processing.

How Does CNC Milling Work？

The CNC milling process is a highly preciseand automated manufacturing process commonly used to produce complex-shaped parts from a variety of materials such as metals, plastics, and wood. Below, the Longsheng team will introduce theCNC milling process step by step, including design product drawings, select the cutting tool,design the cutting path, set the machine tool parameters,install the workpiece, processing operation,processing inspection,and post-processing steps:

1. Design product drawings:Based to the product requirements using computer-aideddesign software (such as CAD). The dimensions and positions of the holes and grooves to be milling are clearly marked on the drawings.
2. Select the cutting tool:Select the appropriate milling cutter head according to the material and processing requirements of the product. For example, for thealuminum alloy material, the rigid carbide thread drilling and milling cutter can be selected.
3. Design the cutting path:Determine the cutting path and processing sequence according to the product drawings. This helps to optimize the processing process and improve the processing efficiency.
4. Set the machine tool parameters:Set the appropriate cutting speed, feed speed and cutting depth according to the material hardness and product requirements. For example, for aluminum alloy materials, themilling cutter speedcan be set to 2,000 r/min, the cutting speed is 314m / min, the milling feed is 0.06mm / tooth, etc.
5. Install the workpiece:Attach the workpiece to be processed on the milling machine to ensure stability and positioning accuracy. This can be achieved by using fixtures or other tooling equipment.
6. Processing operation:After the workpiece is stable and the machine parameters are set correctly, start the machine and start milling. In the processing process, it is necessary to closely monitor the cutting situation and timely adjust the cutting parameters to ensure the processing quality.
7. Processing inspection:After milling, inspect the finish surface. This includes dimensional inspection, surface quality inspection, etc. to ensure that the processing quality meets the requirements.
8. Post-processing:If a problem is found in the processing inspection, improve or grind accordingly until the requirements are met.

What are the Different Types of Milling Operations?

CNC milling is an efficient metal processing method that uses computer-controlled machine tools and rotating milling cutters to precisely remove material. Although the specifictypes of CNC millingmay vary depending on different classification standards and actual application scenarios, the following are some common CNC milling types:

1. Face Milling:This is the most common type of milling and is used to mill a flat surface that is parallel to the tool face.Milling cutters are often installed on the spindle. To completeface milling, you can either use a cutter with a certain diameter so that the workpiece can be processed in one stroke, or you can use a milling cutter with a diameter that requires several strokes to complete the workpiece. knife.
2. End milling:In contrast to face milling, the tool axis ofend millingis perpendicular to the machining plane. It is often used to machine complex shapes such as contours, grooves and cavities.
3. Copy milling:This milling method is used to machine free-form or curved surfaces, where the tool path follows the contour of the workpiece.
4. Step milling:Also known as shoulder milling or end milling, it is mainly used to process 90° shoulders or step surfaces. The flanks of the tool (the entering angle) are parallel to the axis of rotation.
5. Contour milling:For machining the external or internal contours of a workpiece, the tool path is precisely planned according to the shape of the workpiece.
6. Plunge milling:Plunge milling is an effective processing method in deeper cavity processing. It uses a long, thin tool that is inserted vertically into the workpiece to cut.
7. Helical milling:Thistype of milling uses a helical path to cutand is often used to machine cylindrical or conical surfaces.
8. Point milling: Mainly used to process small holes or small areas of complex shapes, achieving precise cutting through tiny movements of the tool.
9. Slot milling:used to process slots of various shapes and sizes, such as T-slots, dovetail slots, etc.
10. Drilling and milling: Although drilling is usually considered a separate processing method, it can also be drilled using a milling cutter on aCNC milling machine.
11. Cavity milling:used to process complex internal cavities, such as molds, shells, etc. This type of milling requires precise tool path planning and appropriate tool selection.
12. Rough milling and fine milling:Rough milling mainly removes a large amount of material, using large feeds and cutting depths; while fine milling focuses on the surface quality of the workpiece, using small cutting depths and appropriate tool secondary cutting edge shapes.

What materials are commonly used for custom milling?

Aluminium

Aluminum is a widely used metal materialwith light weight, high strength, easy processing and good corrosion resistance. Aluminum has a density of about 2.7g / cm³, only a third of copper and steel, but the strength is very high. Moreover, aluminum has excellent electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, so that it is widely used in electric power, electronics, heat exchanger and other fields.

There are many kinds of common aluminum alloy and its common aluminum alloy, such as 2024,5052,6061,7075 and so on.2024 aluminum alloy high strength, good fatigue resistance, often used in aircraft structure; 5052 aluminum alloy good corrosion resistance, often used in the manufacture of oil tank, pipe, etc.; 6061 aluminum alloy welding, processing, often used in the manufacture of body structure; 7075 aluminum alloy high strength, often used in manufacturing high strength parts.

Steel

A variety of steel alloys can be used for CNC machining. Steel alloy can be selected if parts require higher formability and greater weldability, such as gears, shafts, or certain high-stress applications. Stainless steel, low carbon steel, alloy steel and tool steel are the maintypes of CNC steel. Stainless steel is highly recommended when parts require high strength, high ductility, excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance. In addition, stainless steel has good workability and is easy to weld and polish. Low carbon steel (low carbon steel) is appropriate when the cost plays an important role and the application is for general use. Carbon steel also has good weldability and corrosion resistance. Alloy steel and TiSCO are the exceptions when you consider higher hardness, greater stiffness, and heat resistance.

Copper

Copper is a popular CNC machining material with unique properties, including excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. Because to its excellent electrical conductivity, product engineers consider copper and its alloys ideal for electrical and electronic components. Similarly, copper alloy is the perfect CNC material for jewelry production because of its excellent beauty. Wire, jewelry production, and magnetic equipment are typical applications of copper.
Brass, bronze and copper are indispensable for CNC machining materials. Brass and bronze are common copper alloys with unique properties. Brass is composed of copper and zinc. It is a very soft metal that can be processed without lubrication. It has excellent electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance and workability. Manufacturers often use brass for applications that do not require high strength, such as the manufacture of low-strength fasteners, electrical equipment, consumer goods, and piping equipment.
Bronze, on the other hand, consists of copper, tin, and other composite elements. It is strong and durable, and has a strong corrosion resistance. Bronze has excellent workability, which is perfect for machining precision parts such as bearings and gears. In addition, the addition of aluminum and phosphorus can improve the impact resistance, toughness, and strength of bronze.

Titanium

ThisCNC metal is very strongand light in weight, with an excellent strength to weight ratio. The corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity and biocompatibility of titanium make it compatible with CNC machining in the biomedical industry. Titanium is compatible with welding, passivation and anodizing processes for enhanced appearance and protection. Although titanium has poor electrical conductivity, it has good thermal conductivity and high melting point.
In addition, titanium is well suited for manufacturing high-performance mechanical parts in the medical, military, aerospace and automotive industries. More noteworthy, titanium is suitable for manufacturing cutting tools forCNC machine tools.

Plastics

Plastics are also very popular option for CNC machining because of its wide choices, relatively lower price, and significantly faster machining time needed. According to different characteristics and uses, plastics are divided into many species, such as POM, ABS, PVC, etc. Plastics are characterized by small density, high strength and strong plasticity, and are widely used in electronics, automobile manufacturing, environmental protection and other fields.

Ceramic

Ceramics is another common non-metallic material, with the advantages of high strength, high hardness, high wear resistance, corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance. Among them, alumina ceramics, silicon nitride ceramics, silicon carbide ceramics and other types are common in industrial manufacturing, electronics, aerospace and other fields.

What are the advantages of CNC milling?

CNC milling has many significant advantages, the main advantages of which are listed in the table below.

Advantages	Description
High degree of automation and precision	Through pre-written programs, CNC machine tools can automatically complete complex processing tasks without manual intervention, greatly improving production efficiency and reducing the possibility of human error.
High flexibility	CNC systems can adapt to different product designs through simple programming changes, making them ideal for small batch diversified production.
Improve production efficiency	CNC machining can carry out multi-coordinate linkage and process parts with complex shapes. When the shape and size of the part need to be changed, only the CNC program needs to be modified, saving production preparation time. In addition, CNC machines often run unattended throughout the entire machining cycle, further improving production efficiency.
High security	Most operations of CNC machine tools during processing are automated, reducing workers' direct contact with dangerous machinery and improving workplace safety.
Wide range of applications	Covering aerospace, automobile manufacturing, medical equipment, mold manufacturing and other industries.

What are the disadvantages of CNC milling?

While CNC milling has many significant advantages, it also has some disadvantages. The following table is a detailed summary of the disadvantages of CNC milling:

Disadvantages	Description
High quality requirements for operation and maintenance personnel	Although CNC machining has lower quality requirements for operators, it has higher technical requirements for maintenance personnel.
Processing route is difficult to control	The processing route of CNC machining is not as intuitive as ordinary machine tools, and requires certain skills and experience for programming and debugging.
Inconvenient to repair	Since CNC machine tools integrate a large number of electronic and mechanical equipment, once a fault occurs, repairs may be complex and difficult.
Possible processing problems	Including poor surface finish, vibration or chatter, broken tools, parts outside the tolerance range, poor dimensional accuracy, etc. These problems may be caused by various factors such as tool wear, incorrect cutting parameters, poor machine tool rigidity, etc.

FAQs

1.How does CNC milling work step by step?

TheCNC milling process is a highly preciseand automated manufacturing process commonly used to produce complex-shaped parts from a variety of materials such as metals, plastics, and wood. Below, the Longsheng team will introduce the CNC milling process step by step, including design product drawings, select the cutting tool,design the cutting path, set the machine tool parameters,install the workpiece, processing operation,processing inspection,and post-processing steps.

2.How does CNC machining work?

CNC machining is a technologythat uses computer-controlled machine tools to process parts. Its working principle is similar to CNC milling, both of which achieve precise processing of workpieces through precise programming and machine tool control. The difference is that CNC machining covers a wider range of processing methods, such as turning, milling, drilling, grinding, etc. During theCNC machining process, the operator needs to select appropriate machine tools, tools and processing parameters according to the processing needs, and compile corresponding processing programs. Then, the program is input into the CNC device, and the computer controls the machine tool for automatic processing.

3.How does the milling process work?

Milling is a machining methodperformed on a milling machine. Its working principle is that the tool rotates and the blank or workpiece is fixed. During processing, a clamp is used to fix the blank or workpiece on the processing platform, and then the spindle rotates the tool, and the tool moves on the direction axis to cut the blank or workpiece, which can form a variety of shapes. Milling processing has the advantages of strong adaptability, good flexibility, and high processing precision. It is especially suitable for processing flat and irregular surfaces with complex shapes or features.

4.How does CNC grinding machine work?

CNC grinder is a computer-controlled grinding machine toolmainly used for precision grinding of workpieces. Its working principle is similar to CNC milling, but the grinding process is more complex and delicate. In the CNC grinding process, the operator needs to select the appropriate grinding wheel, grinding parameters and processing path according to the processing needs, and compile the corresponding processing program. Then, the program is input into the CNC device, and the computer controls the grinder for automatic grinding. Through precise grinding path planning and grinding wheel selection, CNC grinding machines can achieve high-precision and high-surface-quality grinding of workpieces.

Summary

As a high-precision, high-efficiency advanced processing technology,CNC milling plays an increasingly important role in modern manufacturing. Its workflow mainly incldes design product drawings, select the cutting tool,design the cutting path, set the machine tool parameters,install the workpiece, processing operation,processing inspection,and post-processing steps. By understanding its working principle, main functions and safe operation precautions, we can better utilize this technology and improve production efficiency and processing quality. I hope this article can provide you with a useful reference for understanding CNC milling.

Disclaimer

The content on this page is for reference only.Longshengdoes not make any express or implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or validity of the information. No performance parameters, geometric tolerances, specific design features, material quality and type or workmanship should be inferred as to what a third party supplier or manufacturer will deliver through the Longsheng Network. It is the responsibility of the buyerseeking a quote for partsto determine the specific requirements for those parts.Pleasecontact usfor moreinformation.

Longsheng Team

This article was written by multiple Longsheng contributors. Longsheng is a leading resource in the manufacturing sector, withCNC machining,sheet metal fabrication,3D printing,injection molding,metal stamping, and more.