CNC machine tools appeared as early as the 1940s. At that time, motors were used for the first time to control the movement of existing tools to achieve cutting and milling processes. With the emergence and development of computer technology, the ability of analog computers has been enhanced, which has led to the rise of CNC processing.

According to the different tool directions and structural methods, CNC machine tools are divided into milling machines and lathes to meet the processing needs of different curved surfaces.

CNC lathe

The lathe is a processing method for rotating workpieces. The fixed longitudinal and horizontal tool movement processes circles and faces. It can be placed outside to turn axles, placed in the center of rotation to drill holes, and placed inside to process inner walls. Controlling the linkage between the tool and the workpiece rotation can turn threads, and making the tool larger can turn irregular shapes on the shaft.

Milling machine

Milling is a machining method in which the tool rotates. The blank is fixed and the part is clamped on the machine tool spindle through a three-claw chuck. When the milling machine is working, the workpiece is mounted on the workbench or accessories such as a dividing head. The milling cutter rotates as the main motion, supplemented by the feed motion of the workbench or milling head, and the workpiece can obtain the required machining surface. Due to multi-tool intermittent cutting, the productivity of the milling machine is higher.

How to choose a machine tool?

Lathes are most suitable for manufacturing cylindrical parts. The cross section of the part must be circular, and the same center axis must run through its entire length.
Milling machines can process cylindrical features. On milling machines, you can process planes (horizontal and vertical), grooves (keyways, T-slots, dovetail grooves, etc.), toothed parts (gears, spline shafts, sprockets, spiral surfaces (threads, spiral grooves) and various curved surfaces. In addition, it can also be used for the surface of rotating bodies, inner hole processing and cutting work.

But if the part is purely cylindrical, a lathe is a better and more accurate choice.

How does CNC machine processing work?

The CNC machining process starts with the design of a digital 3D model of the part, and the design software uses CAD. During the design process, engineers need to render the visual of the part: the 3D shape can be adjusted on the screen as needed, and the software can sometimes perform simulations to predict how the design will work in the real world.

Once the CAD design is complete, it is converted into a series of instructions for the CNC machine, known as “G-code,” using CAM software.

This is because the machine itself cannot understand the 3D shape on the drawing, but it can understand a series of simple instructions that, when followed, can print the 3D shape we want.

G-code contains information such as when and where the machine tools should move, how fast they should run, etc. The CNC machine guides the machine according to the instructions of the G-code so that it can remove material from the appropriate part to make the workpiece.

After following all the instructions, you can get a complete part that is identical to the original design made on the CAD software if there is no rollover.

After that, you can follow this procedure repeatedly to produce parts in batches.