{"id":5225,"date":"2023-05-09T07:14:34","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T07:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/protoandgo.com\/cnc-machining-design-guide\/"},"modified":"2023-06-28T11:18:45","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T11:18:45","slug":"cnc-machining-design-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/protoandgo.com\/en\/cnc-machining-design-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"CNC Machining Design Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Design Guide
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Guide<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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PRINCIPALS OF CNC<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Machining is one of the most common manufacturing and prototyping methods used in the manufacture of both metal and plastic parts.<\/p>\n

This subtractive manufacturing technology is based on a block of raw material<\/b> which is subjected to a machining controlled material-removal<\/b> process using cutting tools in successive phases until the final geometry of the desired part is achieved. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Machining is the technique which allows to achieve the highest quality<\/b> parts (compared to 3D printing). Practically any type of material can be machined, both metallic (among others, aluminium or magnesium alloys, steels) and plastic (such as ABS, Nylon, Delrin, etc..).<\/p>\n

Even if many geometries can be programmed manually, Proto&Go!<\/strong><\/a> always requires a 3D CAD file to program the CNC machines using a CAM software, which guarantees the accuracy of the result and avoids possible errors in drawings or versions.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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PROCESS<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Starting from the 3D file, the file of the part to be manufactured is processed by a CAM (\u201ccomputer assisted manufacturing\u201d) software from which toolpaths to be manufactured are determined based on the geometry of the part.<\/p>\n

From these virtual toolpaths obtained by the CAM software, a machine code is generated that indicates to the control panel of the machine all the parameters and conditions required to manufacture the part: tool rotation speed, spindle feed speed, depth of each pass, type of tool, etc.<\/p>\n

In general, for most parts, the intervention of different tools is required, each with its own particularities, which are used successively in different machining phases until the final geometry is achieved.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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TYPES OF CNC MACHINERY\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Among other characteristics, machining machinery is classified according to the number of axes<\/b> with which they can work, usually referring to 3, 4 or 5 axes.<\/p>\n

There are machines with more working axes or other configurations, as well as machines dedicated to laser cutting, waterjet cutting or EDM. This guide, however, limits its focus to CNC machines that work with cutting tools.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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CNC MILLING - 3 AXIS<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The most common 3-axis CNC machines include both CNC milling machines<\/strong> and CNC turning machines.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With this type of machine, the cutting tool can move in three linear axes, X, Y, Z (and\/or in between interpolations) in line with the workpiece.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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In milling machines, the block of material is static and the tools are rotating in order to achieve cutting speed and to be able to remove material.<\/b><\/p>\n

In the case of a milled part, the resulting geometry can be any geometry, and should not be limited only to revolution parts as it is the case with turning machines.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The first 3 axes allow a relative movement between tool and material on an X, Y, Z<\/b> coordinate axis.<\/p>\n

This is the most common and popular type of milling machine.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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CNC MILLING - 4 AXIS\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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To give the CNC<\/b> milling machine more flexibility when positioning a part with respect to its axial axis, an electromechanical module with a 4th axis can be integrated<\/b> to give the machining centre an additional degree of rotation.<\/p>\n

This operation is normally performed by adding this 4th axis module to a conventional 3-axis machine.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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CNC MILLING - 5 AXIS\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The machining centres with  5 axes<\/span> have either a motorised bed or the spindle itself has two extra levels of flexibility in addition to the original 3 axes.<\/p>\n

Generally, 5-axis machines are more versatile in the whole machining process,<\/span> but their acquisition cost is considerably higher, so that the parts processed on this type of machine are generally more expensive.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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CNC TURNING - 3 AXIS\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The most obvious feature on the turning machine (lathe) is that the raw material rotates on itself in the spindle and the tools impact on it, generating the machining removal paths..<\/b> The result is a so-called \u201cturned\u201d part. <\/p>\n

Generally, turned parts are more economical than parts requiring milling because the process is quicker and easier to automatize. Therefore, turning is a process with which high production rates can be achieved at low cost, as long as a revolution part is designed.<\/b><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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CNC TURNING - 4 AXIS\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The most obvious feature on the turning machine (lathe) is that the raw material rotates on itself in the spindle and the tools impact on it, generating the machining removal paths..<\/b> The result is a so-called \u201cturned\u201d part. <\/p>\n

Generally, turned parts are more economical than parts requiring milling because the process is quicker and easier to automatize. Therefore, turning is a process with which high production rates can be achieved at low cost, as long as a revolution part is designed.<\/b><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Guide<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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MANUFACTURABILITY\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ost of the parameters, such as machining strategy,<\/strong> cutting speed, tool type or depth of cut, are defined on the machine shop floor, but there are some details that can be done during the product design phase, not only to ensure manufacturability but also to obtain parts that are more economical<\/b> and easier to industrialise.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the most important points to take into consideration when designing a part and optimising its cost.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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INTERNAL EDGES<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Characteristic<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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The tools used to machine the internal recesses have a cylindrical shape, so it is not possible to obtain edges with a radius of 0<\/b> in the internal cutouts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Rule for the design\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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