Are you looking to understand the different types of machining processes to make an informed decision for your next project?
In this guide, we’ll explore 11 essential machining processes, including turning, milling, drilling, and more, to help you navigate the complexities of precision manufacturing. CNFIRST is a China CNC machining manufacturer and can process your project using various material and surface finish combinations.
By the end of this article, you’ll clearly understand each manufacturing process, its applications. Whether you’re new to machining or need a refresher, this post will equip you with the knowledge to optimize your manufacturing outcomes.
Different Types of Machining Processes
1. CNC Turning
Turning is one of precision machining processes where a cutting tool, typically a non-rotary tool bit, moves linearly while the workpiece rotates. This process is used to remove material from the outer diameter of a rotating cylindrical workpiece.
Turning is performed on a lathe, where the workpiece is secured and rotated at high speeds. The cutting tool moves along the axis of the workpiece to shape it into the desired geometry.
Common Applications of Turning
Turning is commonly used for producing axisymmetric parts such as holes, grooves, threads, tapers, diameter steps, and even contoured surfaces. Parts fully manufactured through turning often include prototypes like custom-designed shafts and fasteners.
If you would like to get a CNC turning quote through CNCFIRST, you can visit our CNC Turning Services page immediately.
2. CNC Milling
CNC Milling is a type of machining operation that uses rotary cutters to remove material from a workpiece. Milling machines can operate in 3-axial, 4-axial, and 5-axial configurations, allowing for complex geometries and precision.
In horizontal milling, the cutting tool is mounted horizontally, making it ideal for cutting grooves and slots. Vertical milling features a vertically oriented cutting tool, suitable for drilling and plunge cuts.
Common Applications of Milling
CNC milling machine is widely used for producing gears, dies, and molds, machining slots, pockets, grooves, contours, thread making, and working on flat, irregular surfaces and complex shapes.
If you would like to get a milling parts quote through CNCFIRST, you can visit our CNC Milling Services page immediately.
3. Grinding
Grinding is a conventional machining process that uses an abrasive wheel to remove material from the surface of a workpiece. It is primarily used for finishing operations to achieve high surface quality and precision.
Types of Grinding: Surface, Cylindrical, and Centerless
- Surface Grinding: Involves grinding flat surfaces.
- Cylindrical Grinding: Used to grind the external or internal surfaces of cylindrical workpieces.
- Centerless Grinding: Grinds the outer diameter of a workpiece without using a center.
Common Applications of Grinding
Grinding is commonly used for sharpening tools, finishing hardened surfaces, and achieving tight tolerances in parts such as shafts, bearings, and other precision components.
4. Broaching
Broaching is one of machining processes that remove material using a toothed tool called a broach. It is typically used to cut precise shapes and features into a workpiece in a single pass.
In broaching, the broach is pulled or pushed across the workpiece surface, with each tooth cutting progressively deeper. This results in a finely finished cut.
Broaching can produce complex shapes, such as keyways, splines, and profiles, with high precision and excellent surface finish.
5. Planing
Planing is one of machining processes where a single-point cutting tool moves linearly across the surface of a workpiece to remove material. This process is primarily used for creating flat surfaces and straight contours.
In planing, the workpiece is fixed, and the cutting tool moves back and forth along a straight path, shaving off material with each pass. The table that holds the workpiece may also move to allow multiple cuts.
Planing is commonly used for machining large, flat surfaces, such as machine beds, and for producing grooves and keyways on large components that are difficult to machine with other processes.
6. CNC Drilling
Drilling is a machining technique that creates round holes in a workpiece using a rotating drill bit. It is one of the most common and fundamental machining processes in manufacturing.
Different Types of Drilling
- Spot Drilling: Produces shallow or pilot holes.
- Peck Drilling: Reduces the number of chips on the workpiece.
- Screw Machine Drilling: Creates holes without the need for a pilot hole.
- Gun Drilling: For deep, straight holes with small diameters.
- Chucking Reamers: Broadens and finishes already-made holes with high precision.
Common Applications of Drilling
Drilling is used in various applications, including creating holes for fasteners, producing deep holes in shafts, and preparing workpieces for further machining processes.
7. Boring
Boring is a machining process used to enlarge and finish the internal diameter of a hole that has already been drilled or cast. It is crucial for achieving the required dimensional accuracy and surface finish in cylindrical holes.
In boring, a single-point cutting tool is mounted on a boring bar and rotates within the existing hole. The tool gradually removes material from the internal surface, refining the hole’s size and finish.
Common Applications of Boring
Boring is widely used in applications requiring precise internal diameters, such as engine cylinders, bearing housings, and hydraulic components. It is also employed for enlarging holes that must be aligned or meet tight tolerances.
8. Facing
Facing is one of machining processes that removes material from the end or face of a workpiece, creating a flat, smooth surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation. This process is typically performed on a lathe.
During facing, the cutting tool is fed perpendicularly across the rotating workpiece’s face. The tool removes material in a radial direction, creating a flat surface.
Common Applications of Facing
Facing is commonly used to prepare workpieces for subsequent operations, ensuring they have accurate and smooth end surfaces. It is often applied to shafts, flanges, and other components where precise end surfaces are critical for assembly or further machining.
9. Sawing
Sawing is a machining process that uses a toothed blade to cut through material, typically in straight lines. It is commonly used for cutting raw material into manageable sizes for further processing.
Types of Sawing: Band, Circular, and Abrasive Sawing
- Band Sawing: Uses a continuous loop blade for cutting complex shapes or large sections.
- Circular Sawing: Employs a rotating circular blade for precise straight cuts.
- Abrasive Sawing: Uses an abrasive wheel to cut hard materials like metal and ceramics.
10. Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)
Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is a non-conventional machining process that uses electrical sparks to remove material from a workpiece. It is particularly useful for machining hard metals or intricate shapes that are difficult to achieve with conventional methods.
3 Types of EDM
- Wire EDM: Involves using a thin wire as the electrode to cut intricate shapes and fine details through a workpiece.
- Sinker EDM: Utilizes a specially shaped electrode to create cavities or complex geometries in a workpiece by sinking it into the material.
- Hole Drilling EDM: Designed for drilling small, deep holes with high precision, often in hard materials like carbide.
Common Applications of EDM
EDM is commonly used in the aerospace, automotive, and tool-making industries for creating intricate parts, molds, dies, and cavities. It’s particularly advantageous for producing components with tight tolerances, complex geometries, or materials that are difficult to machine using traditional methods.
11. Laser Machining
Laser machining is a non-contact machining process that uses a focused beam of light (laser) to cut, engrave, or weld materials with high precision. The laser beam melts, burns, or vaporizes the material, allowing for detailed and intricate machining.
Types of Laser Machining: Cutting, Engraving, and Welding
- Laser Cutting: Uses a laser to precisely cut through materials, often used for metals, plastics, and composites.
- Laser Engraving: Engraves designs or text onto a surface by removing a thin layer of material.
- Laser Welding: Fuses materials together by heating them with a laser, often used in the automotive and aerospace industries.
How CNCFIRST Can Help You
CNCFIRST offers a wide range of manufacturing capabilities, including CNC machining (CNC milling, CNC turning), 3D printing, injection molding, laser cutting, and sheet metal fabrication.
With our advanced technology and expertise, we can deliver high-quality, precision-engineered parts to meet your specific needs.
Whether you’re looking for prototypes or high-volume production, CNCFIRST is your trusted partner in manufacturing. Contact us today for an instant quote.
