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As an important technology in modern mechanical processing,CNC turning is widely used in various fields. When performing CNC turning, it is crucial to select appropriate materials and tools, which directly affect processing efficiency, product quality and cost. This article will introduce in detail thematerials commonly used in CNC turning.

What is CNC Turning?

CNC turning is a material removal manufacturing processin which a cutting tool removes excess material from the surface of a rotating workpiece. The tools are mounted on a computer-controlled turret unit, while the workpiece to be machined is securely mounted on a chuck or fixed panel. As the automated tool moves precisely along the surface of the workpiece, it gradually removes material until the workpiece assumes the predetermined shape and size.

CNC turning technology is good at creating various cylindrical, conical and even spiral structures. Its application fields are extremely wide and can meet a variety of processing needs.

What is the Working Principle of CNC Turning?

CNC turning operates on a simple yet effective principle:

1. The workpiece is rotated at high speed while a single point cutting tool traverses along the workpiece’s surface, cutting off a thin layer of material.
2. The cutting action takes place at the point where the tool’s cutting edge meets the workpiece.
3. This cutting speed, coupled with the feed rate (the speed at which the cutting tool moves relative to the workpiece), determines the shape and surface finish of the final product.

What Materials Are Used in CNC Turning？

Thematerials most suitable for CNC turningcover many categories such as metal, plastic, wood, glass, etc., but the specific selection needs to be comprehensively considered based on factors such as processing needs, material properties, and processing costs.

Metal

• Aluminum alloy:lightweight and high strength, with good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, commonly used in aerospace, automobiles, electronic products and other fields. In CNC turning, aluminum alloy has excellent cutting performance and high processing efficiency.
• Stainless steel:It has excellent corrosion resistance and high temperature strength and is widely used in kitchenware, medical equipment, chemical containers, etc. Although the hardness is relatively high, stainless steel can also achieve efficient CNC turning by selecting appropriate tools and cutting parameters.
• Carbon steel:high strength and hardness, good wear resistance, often used in the manufacture of mechanical parts and tools. In CNC turning, carbon steel has stable processing performance and is suitable for manufacturing various precision parts.
• Titanium alloy:high strength and low density, excellent corrosion resistance and high temperature performance, commonly used in aerospace, medical and other fields.CNC turning of titanium alloysis difficult, but high-precision machining can also be achieved by selecting appropriate tools and process parameters.

Plastic

• ABS plastic:readily available raw materials, good overall performance, cheap, widely used, tough and hard, suitable for CNC turning.
• Nylon (PA):Strong, wear-resistant, self-lubricating, with a wide operating temperature range. It is often used to replace copper and non-ferrous metals in the production of mechanical, chemical and electrical parts. Nylon materials are also suitable for CNC turning.
• Polyacetal resin (POM):high hardness, light weight, high rigidity, and high wear resistance. It is commonly used in the manufacturing of gears, bearings, auto parts, etc. POM materials are also suitable for CNC turning.

Wood

A natural material with certain strength and toughness, suitable for furniture, decoration and other fields. In CNC turning, the processing performance of wood is good, and various complex shapes can be processed.

Glass

Although glass is traditionally considered difficult to process, with the continuous development of CNC technology, glass CNC machining technology has been able to achieve high-precision and complex shape processing. Glass CNC machining is widely used in architectural decoration, furniture manufacturing, automobile industry and other fields.

Aluminium alloy:Characteristics, Properties, Applications

Characteristics of aluminum alloy

Characteristics	Elaborate
Low density	Aluminum alloy has a low density, usually between 2.63~2.85g/cm³, giving it the advantage of lightweight.
High strength	the strength of aluminum alloy is higher, can be close to or higher than high quality steel, at the same time, its specific strength is close to high alloy steel, specific stiffness more than steel.
Strong plasticity	aluminum alloy has good plastic processing performance, can be processed into various shapes and sizes of parts.
Good conductivity and thermal conductivity	aluminum alloy has good conductivity and thermal conductivity, better than copper, iron and other metal materials.
Good corrosion resistance	the aluminum alloy surface is easy to form a layer of dense alumina film, with good corrosion resistance.
Easy to process	aluminum alloy cutting processing is good, processing process is not easy to stick knife, tool service life is long.

Properties of aluminum alloy

Aluminum alloy processing performance is excellent, and can be processed by casting, forging, rolling, extrusion, stretching, forging and other methods for plastic deformation processing. Aluminum alloy has good casting performance and can be directly cast into various shapes of mechanical parts. In addition, aluminum alloy can also be enhanced by heat treatment to improve its mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.

Applications of aluminum alloy

1. Building: aluminum alloy has the characteristics of light weight, corrosion resistance, strong decoration, widely used in manufacturing doors, Windows, curtain walls and other building components.
2. Transportation: Aluminum alloy is widely used in the manufacture of cars, trains, aircraft and other transportation parts, including the body, wheels, interior decoration, etc.
3. Electronic products: the electrical conductivity and heat dissipation of aluminum alloy make it widely used in the manufacturing of electronic products components, such as computer heat sink, mobile phone shell, battery and so on.
4. Packaging materials: The corrosion resistance and plasticity of aluminum alloy make it ideal for the production of food and beverage packaging materials, such as pull ring cans, food packaging boxes, etc.

Steel:Characteristics, Properties, Applications

Characteristics of steel

Characteristics	Elaborate
High strength	the strength of steel is very high, can withstand a lot of external pressure and weight, so that it is widely used in construction, bridge, mechanical manufacturing and other fields.
Rigidity	Steel can keep its shape and size unchanged after the force, which makes it an important application in areas requiring high stability and precision, such as engineering machinery, precision instruments, etc.
Plasticity	Steel has good plasticity, and can be processed into various shapes and sizes by bending, cutting, stretching and other processes.
Erosion resistance	the steel has a good corrosion resistance, which can resist the erosion of the atmosphere, water and other chemicals to a certain extent.
Stability	The physical and chemical properties of the steel give it a good stability, being able to maintain structural integrity at high temperature, fire, etc.

Properties of steel

Steel processing performance is good, can be processed through casting, forging, rolling, welding and other processes. The hardness, plasticity, toughness and strength of steel products have an important influence on its processing performance. For example, steel with high hardness has good wear resistance but is difficult to process; steel with good plasticity is easy to process into various shapes; steel with good toughness is not easy to break when impacted or vibration; steel with high strength can withstand greater external pressure.

Applications of steel

Due to its wide use, steel is widely used in various industries. Some common applications include:

• Construction: structural steel, beams, bars, and reinforced concrete
• Automotive: car bodies, drivetrain components, and chassis
• Infrastructure: railways, roads, and bridges
• Aerospace: aircraft landing gear and structural components
• Energy: power plants, turbines, and pipelines
• Manufacturing: machinery, tools, and equipment
• Consumer goods: appliances, cookware, and furniture

Titanium alloy:Characteristics, Properties, Applications

Characteristics of titanium alloy

Characteristics	Elaborate
High strength	The tensile strength of titanium alloy can reach 100~140kgf / mm², and its specific strength (tensile strength / density) is high, and the density is only 60% of that of steel.
Corrosion resistance	Titanium alloy can quickly form a uniform and dense oxide film in the atmosphere, thus having the ability to resist the erosion of various media. Excellent corrosion resistance in seawater, wet chlorine gas and chloride solutions.
Heat resistance	titanium alloy has good heat resistance, which can maintain the required strength at moderate temperature, and can even work at a long-term temperature of 450~500℃.
Low temperature performance	some titanium alloys can still maintain certain plasticity at very low temperature, such as TA7 can still maintain certain plasticity at-253℃.
Low elastic modulus, low thermal conductivity, and no ferromagnetism	these characteristics give titanium alloy unique advantages in some specific fields.

Properties of titanium alloy

The processing performance of titanium alloy is relatively poor, its hardness is high (the hardness of annealed state is 32~38), the cutting resistance is large, and it is easy to affinity and adhere to the abrasive, resulting in the grinding wheel wear and reduced grinding performance. Therefore, in the processing of titanium alloy, it is necessary to use special cutting process and tool materials, such as the selection of impact resistant ultrafine grain carbide, high temperature performance with good high speed steel, and keep the blade sharp, to ensure the smooth discharge of debris, to avoid debris collapse. The cutting speed should be low, the feed amount is moderate, the cutting depth can be large, and the coolant needs to be fully cooled during processing.

Applications of titanium alloy

• Aerospace:Due to the characteristics of high strength and lightweight, titanium alloy is widely used in manufacturing engine parts, wings, propellers and other aerospace parts.
• Medical equipment:The biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of titanium alloy makes it ideal for manufacturing medical devices and implants, such as bone screws, artificial joints, dental implants, etc.
• Chemical industry:the corrosion resistance of titanium alloy makes it widely used in the chemical industry, such as the manufacturing of reactors, valves, pipelines and other corrosion resistant equipment.
• Sports equipment:the high strength and lightweight of titanium alloy make it widely used in the manufacture of sports equipment, such as bicycle frame, golf clubs, tennis rackets, etc.

Non-metallic material:Characteristics, Properties, Applications

Characteristics of non-metallic material

Engineering plastics

1. Processing properties: plastics has excellent processing properties, can be easily processed by CNC into various shapes and sizes.
2. Low cost: Plastics are usually cheaper and suitable for mass production.
3. Lightweight: the plastic material density is low, and the products are relatively light.
4. Corrosion resistance: plastics have good corrosion resistance, not easy to be eroded by chemical substances.
5. Heat resistance: different kinds of plastic have different heat resistance, and some plastic is easy to deform at high temperature.

Wood

• Strong plasticity: wood has good plasticity and processivity,CNC turning can produce exquisite wood products.
• Natural texture: the wood has a unique natural texture and color, so that the processed products have a natural aesthetic feeling.
• Environmental protection: Wood is a renewable resource that is more environmentally friendly than other materials.
• Stability: the stability and durability of wood is poor, easily susceptible to moisture, deformation and cracking.
• Cost: Some high-quality wood costs higher.

Glass

1. High transparency: glass has extremely high transparency, suitable for the need for high light transmittance occasions.
2. Corrosion resistance: glass materials also have excellent corrosion resistance.
3. High hardness: glass material hardness, but easier to process than ceramics.
4. Fritability: The glass material is fragile and needs to be particularly careful during processing.
5. Processing difficulty: glass processing needs special equipment and technology, such as CNC glass fine carving machine, processing is difficult.
6. Cost: the glass processing cost is relatively high, but the products have high added value.

What are the factors that influence the selection of CNC turning materials?

Choosing the rightCNC turning materialdepends on your specific needs. Considerations include:

Part function

When selectingmaterials for CNC turning, it is necessary to comprehensively consider mechanical properties, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity, electromagnetic properties, aesthetics, weight and cost based on the specific functional requirements of the part. Through reasonable material selection, the quality and performance of parts can meet the design requirements.

Application

The use requirements of parts are the key basis for selecting materials. For example, aerospace parts have very high requirements for materials, requiring high strength, lightweight, high temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance; medical device parts need to consider the biocompatibility, Non-toxic, etc.

Processability

• Cutting ability:The cutting ability of the material directly affects the processing efficiency and processing cost. Materials with good cutting ability are easy to process, have high processing efficiency and low tool wear.
• Work hardening:Some materials will undergo work hardening during processing, resulting in increased processing difficulty and tool wear.

Material cost

Material cost is an important factor to consider when choosing. High-performance materials typically cost more, while general-purpose materials cost less. You need to make a reasonable choice based on product requirements and budget.

Environmental requirements

Modern manufacturing has increasingly higher requirements for environmental protection. When selecting materials, factors such as their recyclability and the difficulty of environmental treatment must be considered.

What are the applications of CNC turning?

CNC turning, that is, computer numerical control turning, is an advanced machining technology that controls the machine tool to cut along a designated path through a pre-written processing program. CNC turning is widely used in many fields. The following are its main application areas:

1. Aerospace

In the aerospace field, there are extremely high requirements for the accuracy and reliability of components. CNC turning technology can meet these needs and achieve precise machining of complex parts. For example, high-precision and high-strength parts such as aircraft engine turbine blades and fuselage structural parts can be manufactured throughCNC turning technology.

2. Automobile manufacturing

During the automobile manufacturing process, a large number of parts need to be processed, and these parts often have complex geometric shapes and high precision requirements. CNC turning technology can achieve efficient and high-precision processing and improve production efficiency. For example, automobile engine parts, transmission parts, braking systems, etc. can all be manufactured through CNC turning technology.

3. Medical equipment

The manufacturing of medical equipment also has extremely high requirements for precision and reliability.CNC turning technology can be used to manufacture high-precision medical devices, such as surgical instruments, implants, etc. Especially for some customized medical parts, CNC turning technology can accurately produce them according to the needs of patients.

4. Electronic product

In the field of electronic products, CNC turning technology is also widely used. For example, precision parts inside electronic products such as mobile phones and laptops, such as casings, motherboards, heat sinks, etc., can be manufactured with high precision through CNC turning technology. The dimensional accuracy and surface quality of these parts are critical to the performance and reliability of electronic products.

5.Mold making

Mold manufacturing is an integral part of the manufacturing industry. CNC turning technology can accurately process various parts of the mold, ensuring the accuracy and life of the mold. This is of great significance for improving the manufacturing quality of molds and reducing production costs.

6.Oil and gas industry

Precision CNC turning helps in the manufacture, repair and maintenance of parts for heavy machinery in the oil and gas industry. It is the most reliable and accurate method for manufacturing parts such as pins, pistons, rods and cylinders.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of CNC turning?

CNC turning has the advantages of high precision, high efficiency, wide processing range, flexible production and good processing quality, but it also has disadvantages such as high equipment investment cost, high technical requirements, complex interface circuits and heavy manual programming workload. Below, the Longsheng team will summarize theadvantages and disadvantages of CNC turningin detail:

Advantages of CNC Turning

• High-precision machining:CNC turning have high-precision interpolation operations and servo drive functions, and can process parts with high dimensional and shape accuracy requirements. CNC turning have good rigidity, high manufacturing and tool setting precision, and can process parts with small and uniform surface roughness.
• High-efficiency production:CNC turning usually uses large cutting depths and high workpiece speeds, with high metal removal rates and high processing efficiency. CNC turning can complete multiple processing contents at one time, reducing auxiliary time and improving production efficiency.
• Wide processing range:CNC turning have linear and arc interpolation functions, as well as constant linear speed cutting functions, and can process various complex-shaped rotary parts. CNC turning can also process various types of threads, including equal lead, increasing lead, decreasing lead, and threads that require a smooth transition between equal lead and variable lead.
• Flexible production:CNC lathes are suitable for small batch flexible production requirements. They have the advantages of wide processing range, convenient lathe control, and fast cutting and clamping. CNC turning can flexibly adjust processing parameters and programs to adapt to the production needs of different products.
• Good processing quality:Most of the heat generated by CNC turning is taken away by the cutting oil, and surface burns and cracks will not occur like grinding. The surface quality processed by CNC turning is good, the roundness is accurate, and the position accuracy between the processed surfaces is high.

Disadvantages of CNC turning

• High equipment investment cost:The price of CNC turning is relatively high, and the initial investment in equipment is large. The maintenance cost of CNC turning is also high, the system is complicated, and the repairs are complicated.
• High technical requirements:Operators and maintenance personnel of CNC turning require a high technical level. Once the CNC system fails, professionals need to repair and handle it in time.
• Complex interface circuit:The CNC system must be matched with various CNC equipment and external equipment, and the interface circuit is complex. CNC turning need to handle various situations during the production process at any time and adapt to various process requirements of the equipment.
• Heavy workload of manual programming:When processing parts with complex shapes, the workload of manual programming is heavy. A slight error in the programming process may lead to processing errors and losses.

What are the types of CNC turning?

CNC turning is a typical subtractive manufacturing processthat uses cutting tools to remove part of the material from the outside to achieve the desired shape, diameter, and size. The types of CNC turning mainly include the following:

1. Cylindrical turning:Cylindrical turning is the most commontype of CNC turning. It is mainly used to process the outer cylindrical surface of the workpiece. During machining, the workpiece is clamped on the lathe's spindle and rotated, while the cutting tool moves radially along the workpiece, removing excess material.
2. Internal turning:As opposed to external turning, internal turning is mainly used to machine the inner hole of the workpiece. During machining, the cutting tool reaches into the inner hole of the workpiece and moves along the hole walls, removing excess material. This processing method is usually used to manufacture parts such as bushings and bearings.
3. Cutting and grooving processing:Cutting off refers to cutting the workpiece into two or more parts from a certain position, while grooving refers to processing a groove of a certain depth and width on the workpiece. These two processing methods are also very common in CNC turning, and are usually used to manufacture parts such as bolts and nuts.
4. Thread turning:Thread turning is a special type of CNC turning which is mainly used to process threads. During the machining process, the cutting tool moves according to predetermined thread parameters (such as pitch, profile, etc.) to form threads on the workpiece. Thread turning is widely used to manufacture bolts, nuts, threaded pipes and other parts.

How to choose a CNC turning service manufacturer?

When choosing aCNC turning company, in order to ensure high-quality and efficient processing services, you need to consider multiple aspects. Here are some tips for choosing a CNC turning company:

Corporate Expertise and Reputation

The first thing to consider when choosing a CNC turning company is the company’s expertise and reputation. Professional companies like Longsheng can often provide a higher quality service because they have the knowledge and experience to handle a variety of complex milling tasks. Additionally, a company's reputation is also important as it reflects the quality of their work and customer satisfaction. Longsheng is known for its good reputation and high-quality services.

Tools and Tips

The tools and technology used by the company are also important considerations. Companies likeLongshengthat use the latest tools and technology can often provide more accurate and efficient milling services. Additionally, they are more likely to handle a variety of complex CNC turning tasks.

Service and Assistance

Excellent customer service and support are also important factors in choosing a CNC turning company. A company like Longsheng that offers excellent customer service can ensure they meet your needs and help resolve issues. Additionally, they offer personalized solutions to meet your specific needs.

Value and Supply Time

Finally, price and delivery time are also factors to consider. It is best to choose a company that can provide reasonable prices and fast delivery times, such as Longsheng. But remember, quality and service are often important, so don't make your decision based on price alone.

Summary

Commonmaterials used in CNC turningprocesses include aluminum alloy, stainless steel, carbon steel, titanium alloy, copper alloy, plastic (ABS plastic, nylon, polyformaldehyde resin), wood, glass, etc. According to the hardness, cutting speed, cutting force and other factors of the processing material, rational selection of tool materials, such as high-speed steel, cemented carbide, ceramics and diamond, can significantly improve the processing effect. At the same time, the use of new technologies such as advanced coating technology and ceramic material turning tools can further improve the performance and life of the tools. Through scientific and rational selection and use of materials, CNC turning technology will better serve the development of modern manufacturing.

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.

LS 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.