The manufacture and processing of products or parts under the control of a computer is CNC machining. CNC machining is the automatic removal of material by computer numerical control (CNC) machines to shape and resize a piece of material or workpiece. Usually, the material used for CNC machining is plastic or metal, and when the removal is complete, the finished product is produced.This process is also known as subtractive manufacturing. A computer application is usually required to control the movement of the machine tool to perform CNC machining. Types of common CNC machine toolsCNC machining processes include the most common CNC milling and CNC turning, followed by grinding, electrical discharge machining, etc.CNC MillingCNC Milling is the application of a rotary tool to the workpiece surface, moving along 3, 4, or 5 axes. CNC Milling is the cutting or trimming of workpieces, allowing complex geometries and precision parts to be quickly machined from metals or thermoplastics.CNC milling machine is automatic processing equipment developed later, which is based on an ordinary milling machine. The processing technology of the two is basically the same, and the structure is also somewhat similar. CNC milling machines are divided into two categories: without tool magazines and with tool magazines. CNC milling machines with tool magazines are also known as machining centers.CNC TurningCNC turning is the use of a lathe to manufacture parts containing cylindrical features. The workpiece rotates on a shaft and contacts a precision turning tool to form rounded edges, radial and axial holes, and grooves.Advantages of CNC MachiningCompared with traditional manual machining, CNC machining is more efficient. If the computer coding is correct and conforms to the design, the precision of the finished dimension is high, and the error is small.CNC manufacturing is an ideal manufacturing method for rapid prototyping. It can also be used to manufacture end-use products and components but is usually only cost-effective in low-volume, short-run production.Multi-axis CNC machiningCNC machining involves the use of rotating tools to remove material. The workpiece remains stationary, the tool moves onto the workpiece, or the workpiece enters the machine at a predetermined angle. The more axes of motion the machine has, the faster and more complex the forming process will be.3-axis CNC machining3 axis CNC machining remains one of the most popular and widely used machining processes. In 3-axis machining, the workpiece remains stationary, and the rotating tool cuts along the x, y, and z axes. This is a relatively simple form of CNC machining that produces products with simple structures. It is not suitable for machining complex geometries or products with complex components. Since only 3 axes can be cut, machining speeds can be slower than using a 4- or 5-axis CNC. It may be necessary to manually reposition the workpiece to obtain the desired shape.4-axis CNC machiningIn 4 axis CNC machining, a fourth axis is added to the motion of the cutting tool, allowing rotation around the x-axis. There are now four axes: x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, and a-axis (rotation around the x-axis). Most 4-axis CNC machines also allow the workpiece to rotate, which is called the b-axis, so that the machine can function as both a milling machine and a lathe. 4-axis CNC machining is a more accurate explanation: 4-axis CNC machining refers to four-axis linkage. First of all, the lathe must have four controllable axes, and the four axes can perform interpolation motion control at the same time. That is, the four axes can realize simultaneous linkage control.The movement speed of this simultaneous linkage is the combined speed, not the respective motion control. It is the simultaneous movement of one point in space through the four axes to reach another point in space. It moves simultaneously from the starting point and stops at the same time at the endpoint. The motion speed is the speed of each axis which is synthesized internally by the motion interpolation algorithm of the controller according to the programmed speed.For the 4-axis machining center, it is the X, Y, Z-axis plus a rotation axis A (it can also be the B axis or the C axis). The definitions of the A, B, and C axes correspond to the rotation around the X, Y, and Z axes respectively. Axis, generally the fourth axis is the A-axis whose axis rotates around the X-axis or the B axis whose axis rotates around the Y-axis, which depends on the installation position of the fourth axis on the actual machine tool), and this fourth axis not only It can move independently and can also be linked with one other axis or two axes or these four axes at the same time.Some machine tools have four axes, but they can only move alone and can only be used as an indexing axis. 4 axes and 3 linkages. Similarly, a 4-axis linkage machine tool can have more than 4 axes in total or five or more axes, but the maximum number of linkage axes is 4.If you need to drill holes on the side of a part of the surface of a cylinder, 4-axis CNC machining is the way to go. This can greatly speed up the machining process, and the machining accuracy is also high.5-axis CNC machining5 axis CNC machining has an additional axis of rotation compared to 4-axis CNC. The fifth axis is the rotation around the y-axis, also known as the b-axis. The workpiece can also be rotated on some machines, sometimes called the b-axis or c-axis. Due to the high versatility of 5-axis CNC machining, it can be used to manufacture complex precision parts. Such as medical parts for prostheses or bones, oil and gas machinery parts, aerospace parts, and military products.How Should We Choose 3-axis, 4-axis, or 5-axis CNC Machining?3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis CNC machining are not comparable. For example, your family wants to buy a car. Do you think it is better to buy a super sports car? Or a heavy-duty truck or an ordinary family car? Naturally, you have to consider many aspects, such as how much you plan to spend on buying a car, what to do with the car you bought, etc.In the same way, the 3-axis and 4-axis have their areas of expertise. Some parts are economical and economical to use 3-axis, and some parts must be made with 4-axis, and 3-axis CNC machining cannot be done. However, we can analyze it according to the actual situation. In reality, most parts can be processed by 3-axis CNC machining. Besides, 4-axis machine tools are generally more expensive than 3-axis machine tools. Just buy a 3-axis machine tool first. That way, the price is lower. Of course, you can also think about it this way, buy a 4-axis machine tool, 3-axis parts can be made, and 4-axis parts can also be made so that it can be done in one step.  

With the development of science and technology and the improvement of manufacturing levels, curved parts and curved molds are more and more widely used in the industrial field. When machining curved parts, milling is usually used for processing. So what should be paid attention to when milling surfaces? We think we should pay attention to the following points: Factors Should be Paid Attention At When Assembling Milling Machine Fixtures1. In order to improve the stability of the milling machine fixture installed on the machine tool and the seismic performance under dynamic conditions, the structure of various devices should be compact, the center of gravity of the fixture should be as low as possible, and the contact area between the clamping body and the machine tool table should be large.2. Use milling machine to improve production efficiency (short cutting time). When designing fixtures, we should consider how to quickly install workpieces to shorten auxiliary time. Generally, the fixtures are set with components that determine the position and direction, so as to quickly adjust the fixtures and machine tools. relative position.3. When assembling the milling machine fixture, the outflow of chips and the convenience of cleaning should also be considered. A large number of chips are generated during milling, and there should be enough chip removal space. Large-scale fixtures should consider chip removal ports and chip grooves; protective covers should be added to the parts and spaces that are not easy to remove chips. Cutting fluid is used during processing, and the flow direction and recovery of cutting fluid should be considered in the design of the clamp. For heavy-duty milling machine fixtures, lifting rings, etc. should also be set on the clamping body for ease of handling. Matters Needing Attention When Milling SurfacesIn CNC milling, milling the surface is relatively complicated, because there are many problems that need to be paid attention to during the machining process.1. Rough millingWhen rough milling, according to the allowance given by the surface to be processed, the end mill should be used to mill the contour surface layer by layer. This rough milling method is highly efficient. The rough-milled surfaces resemble terraces on a hillside. Each depth of cut depends on the roughing accuracy and workpiece material.2. Semi-finishing millingIn the process of machining parts with more complex surfaces or large parts, add a step of semi-finishing. The purpose of semi-finishing milling is to remove the steps of the “terraced field”, so that the machined surface is closer to the theoretical surface. The ball end milling cutter generally leaves a machining allowance of about 0.5mm for the finishing process. Semi-finishing has a larger row and step than finishing.3. FinishingFinally, the theoretical surface is processed. When finishing a curved surface with a ball end milling cutter, the row cutting method is generally used to form a certain angle with the semi-finishing tool path.4. Reasonable use of ball-end milling cutterWhen the ball-end milling cutter is milling a curved surface, the cutting speed at the tip is very low. If the ball cutter is used to mill a relatively flat curved surface perpendicular to the machined surface, the surface quality of the ball cutter tip is relatively poor, so it should be properly The spindle speed should be increased significantly, and cutting with the tool tip should be avoided.5. Avoid vertical cuttingThe best way is to use a spiral lower knife, and then use the side edge to cut laterally after entering a certain depth. The CAM software generally automatically sets the oblique inserting or helical cutting to protect the tool. When milling the groove face, process holes can be pre-drilled for cutting.6. DetectionWhen milling curved parts, it is necessary to detect the workpiece in time and arrange finishing according to the tolerance size.7. CheckWhen milling the complex surface of the mold cavity, it generally requires a long cycle. Therefore, the machine tool, fixture, and tool should be properly checked before each start-up milling to avoid failure in the middle.At JTR, we have a special team to analyze our customers’ products design, give them professional advice, and help decrease machining errors. Consult us if you have any requirements.