What is CNC milling?

Computer Numerical Control, or CNC, milling essentially means a milling machine is moved and monitored by computer control, rather than manually. And because the rotating, multi-point CNC milling tools carry out a process which is essentially similar to drilling and cutting parts but with added precision, there’s no room for human error. CNC Milling is an industrial solution which is growing in popularity, since all shapes and sizes of material can be accommodated, from metal, glass and wood to plastic, producing an array of custom-designed products and parts, however complex and intricate they need to be, for use across different industries, from the automotive and medical sectors to marine, aerospace and other settings. Material is mechanically removed from the piece being worked, for example via the actions of the milling machine’s cutting tools. In a nutshell, the process uses computerised controls to operate and manipulate machine tools to shape and cut stock material. Under the banner of CNC milling services, mechanical, chemical, electrical, and thermal processes can also all be offered. What are the benefits of CNC milling? As mentioned, a CNC mill uses a computer to oversee this process. Equally, this way of shaping a workpiece offers a number of advantages, including: Greater precision and accuracy – human error is almost entirely eliminated so clients can look forward to a uniformly flawless end result Higher production rates and enhanced efficiency The accuracy of the machine ensures better consistency of product quality; it can be repeated in exactly the same way time after time Safety – CNC machines tend to be far safer than manually operated machines since they typically operate behind a guard or safety door Cost-effectiveness – this type of process needs fewer staff, since a skilled operator can run multiple machines at once and the greater efficiency soon pays for the initially higher start-up costs The heightened accuracy means fewer errors during the manufacturing process, meaning you eliminate unnecessary waste Automation means that, in some situations, you can set up out-of-hours processes, boosting your rate of output Operatives can learn to master these processes quickly, and in a virtual environment You can reprogramme CNC machines pretty quickly and cheaply, to produce an entirely different product – meaning you have the versatility to have long or short production runs Types of CNC milling Lathes – These move the material against the drill part Drills – These spin to take out parts of the piece being worked Milling – Here, rotary tools cut material away from the unit CNC milling with Acutech Precision Engineering At Acutech Precision Engineering, we specialise in CNC milling and turning, and we’re able to tackle a wide range of components to a variety of tolerance sizes both large and small while maintaining accuracy. Get in touch today to learn more, whatever the size and type of part you have that needs to be worked, whatever material you need and whatever your industry or sector. With some 20 years’ industry experience to our name, we can either work from your own designs – or create them for you ourselves from scratch.