Types of CNC Machines

TYPES OF CNC MACHINES

In 1949, the first CNC machine was invented. Since then, CNCs have evolved rapidly, changing industries and manufacturing forever. CNC?which is known as?Computer Numerically Controlled, are widely used in the production industries. They have achieved great popularity in recent years. Computer numerical control (CNC) machines CNC machine?defined as a machining system that is managed by a computer, they enable manufacturers to automate many manufacturing operations that would otherwise have to be done manually.

Depending on your budget, time, material, shape and size of the product you can choose from several types of CNC machines to make the most of it. CNC-powered machines are used to increase productivity, decrease waste, and even eliminate the risk of human error. CNC machines can produce a number of products by using actuators, drives, and software programs.

Types of CNC Machines

Lathe CNC Machine?

CNC lathes work by spinning the workpiece at a high speed while a cutting tool is applied to the surface to produce the desired product.

Lathes typically work best for products with cylindrical, conical or flat shapes. This is a distinct difference between CNC Mills and Lathes because CNC mills can work on any shape. CNC Lathes cost less and are excellent for quick, simple jobs. Machine is smaller and portable. CNC machines can rotate workpieces while in operation. CNC lathe machines consist of a computer-controlled lathe spindle that rotates and turns the raw materials into position as programmed and commanded by computer.

Typically, CNC Lathes have 2 axis. The Z axis is the movement of the cutting tool along the length of the workpiece, and the X axis controls the movement of the cutting toll perpendicular to the chuck. The movement along the X axis determines the depth of the cut and controls the diameter of the workpiece.

Although CNC lathes with higher axis systems are available on the market, the 2-axis is the most basic form of lathes.

Once tools used for cutting the workpiece are fed in a straight or linear path along the spinning or rotating bat stock, the machine then applies a subtractive method, it removes material around the circumference of the material until the desired diameter for the custom design is achieved. They perform different operations like turning, drilling, boring, threading, etc.

CNC lathe can read both G code and proprietary programming languages.

CNC Milling Machine

CNC mills are one of the most popular CNC machines, used mainly for milling, drilling, and cutting operations.

Mills derive and convert specific programs made up of letters and numbers (G-code) in order to route and path the spindle in different ways.

After placing the workpiece inside the milling machine, the computer takes control.

CNC Milling machines have configurations starting from 3-axis, up to 6-axis. In the most basic 3-axis, the three axes represent the X-axis (left-right) Y-axis (front-back) and Z-axis (up-down) movements.

Most common functions that a CNC milling machine can perform is Tapping, Drilling, Turning, Face milling and shoulder milling.

CNC milling machines are large and expensive compared to other CNC machines like CNC routers. CNC Mills are used to machine hard metals.

CNC Router

A CNC router is a machine similar to a CNC mill but is generally used for machining softer materials and is less precise compared to CNC mills. They are significantly cheaper though. They are also available in various axes ranging from three to six.? A rotary tool attachment (4th-axis) can be purchased separately to machine curved workpieces.

CNC Routers consist of a Mechanical Base, Spindle, Stepper motors, Stepper Drivers, Controllers and Power supply. Materials like wood, steel, composites, aluminium, foam and plastic.

When compared to traditional machining techniques CNC routers reduce wastage, increase productivity and accuracy in addition to producing products at a faster rate.

CNC Plasma Cutting Machine

CNC cutting machine removes excess material to produce the desired cut. CNC plasma cutting machines use a plasma torch to cut through the workpiece while a milling machine uses an end mill or router bit attached to a spindle.

Materials in general used are brass, copper, aluminium, steel and stainless steel.

A CNC Plasma cutting machine is equipped with a high-powered torch that is able to cut through even the toughest materials like titanium and steel. CNC plasma cutters work on the electric discharge mechanism and so can only be used for machining electrically conductive materials. This could be considered as a disadvantage.

Primarily CNC plasma cutters are used in heavy industries like shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, chemical manufacturing and industrial steel construction site. Where the workpiece is generally large and heavy in CNC plasma cutting.

Here, the torch is produced by passing high velocity gas through nozzle. While this process an electric arc is produced. The arc forms through the velocity gas and jumps on to material being cut, converting an amount of the high velocity gas into plasma (electronically ionized gas). It exhibits a close resemblance to the function and property of a handheld gas-powered torch. Plasma torches achieve temperatures ranging from 10,000 Fahrenheit to 50,000 Fahrenheit. The material being cut melts at this temperature due to the amount of heat produced.

CNC Laser cutting Machine

A CNC laser cutting machine uses a powerful beam of highly focused laser to perform the task, unlike a plasma cutter which uses the plasma. Since lasers have a smaller point of contact and spread when compared to torches it provides a higher level of accuracy and a better surface finish when compared to CNC plasma cutters.?

CNC laser cutting machine is more expensive and used for cutting plastic, paper, fabric, metals and hardwood. Workpiece is generally a flat surface placed on the work table. The laser beam then moves to and fro on the material, producing the heating effect to vaporize or melt the workpiece and create required cut. They produce a variety of designs compared to other machines.

CNC laser cutters and engravers are often used for making and engraving machine components. Laser engraving is highly used in sign making, woodworking art and glass engraving.

CNC laser cutting is opted for when tolerances are tight and a precise output is required.

CNC Waterjet Cutting Machine?

CNC Waterjet cutters use high pressure jets of water to cut through materials.It is opted when material is sensitive to temperature and could melt at high temperatures such as plastic and aluminium. Usually, abrasive materials like garnet or aluminium oxide are added to the water for more efficient cutting. One disadvantage is that it is slower than CNC plasma cutters and CNC laser cutters.

CNC Electrical Discharge Machine

CNC Electrical Discharge machines (EDM) are also termed as Spark CNC machines.

The process in EDM can also be called wire burning, die sinking, sparks machining or spark eroding.

EDM uses electrical sparks which produce high temperatures to manipulate and shape materials into the desired form, producing temperatures up to 21,000 Fahrenheit to vaporize the material and produce desired shape.

It is suitable for machining thin workpieces, which otherwise would undergo deflection when acted upon by the cutting force. Is used for machining complex designs with very high precision.?

CNC Grinder

A CNC Grinder uses abrasive tools to smooth and finish a machined product. Grinders are typically used in applications requiring extremely high precision such as engine parts. The product is first created with a rough surface using a CNC Mill or Lathe and then moved to the CNC grinder for grinding operation to attain the final finishing. There is a lot of variety in the type of abrasive used for grinding as well such as plated or vitrified CBN, Diamond grinding wheels, Aluminium Oxide, ceramic blend grinding wheels among many others.

CNC Bending Machine

A CNC Bending Machine consists of a computer-controlled press and die that applies the required pressure to bend or crease metal sheets at pre-programmed angles. Apart for sheet metals CNC Bending machines are also available to bend metal rods and pipes.

Their ability to produce highly accurate parts with excellent repeatability makes CNC blending machines ideal for large scale industries including automotive, aerospace, construction and metal fabrication.

CNC Drilling Machine

CNC drilling machines are computer-controlled drilling machines that can be used to make precise and intricate holes in the workpieces. These machines consist of a mechanical rotating tool that plunges into the workpiece radially to make holes. It automatically controls various parameters such as the plunge rate, depth of a cut, feed rate, spindle speed, etc. based on the input provided by the CNC programmer. Additionally modern CNC drills incorporate intelligent tool swapping and positioning technologies further boosting their productivity.

CNC machines are becoming more automated, offer higher precision and accuracy, advanced speed, multi axis also integration of Additive Manufacturing. These advancements is paving the way for increased automation, faster speeds, and more complex machining capabilities. With Dainsta get instant quotations, faster lead times and end to end tracking. We are here for your every manufacturing need!