CNC machining or Computer numerical control (CNC) machining is one of the most effective manufacturing processes available to the public. Companies and entrepreneurs around the world use it to produce parts and products due to its effectiveness and reliability. Still, the truth is CNC machining might not be the best option for every case.

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The best way to decide if you should use this manufacturing technology is to explore its advantages and disadvantages in relation to your overall needs and budget.

We built the following list thanks to our experience working daily with people looking to produce the best quality parts and products and helping them achieve it. Our goal is to help you succeed in your product development tasks, so without further ado, let’s dive in.

CNC advantages

1. High Precision

Thanks to CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) software in the production process, CNC machines can perform incredibly accurate machining operations on any piece, compared to manually operated machines with a higher chance of errors.

Thanks to advanced technology, milling, turning, or drilling are very reliable CNC manufacturing processes with a high degree of replicability.

2. Time Efficient

CNC machines can run almost non-stop for several days, only stopping for maintenance, which means that CNC manufacturing has shorter production times than other technologies.

3. Production Capacity

Whether you need to produce a single piece or jump into mass production, CNC machines can manufacture one or multiple samples from the same design, opening the door to batch-process manufacturing.

4. Range Of Materials

A wide selection of machining materials can be machined from metal to plastic and beyond. Combining such materials with different CNC manufacturing processes results in endless production possibilities.

5. Reliability

Because CNC machining processes run on software instead of human force, errors are virtually zero when the file is correct and designed with DFM (design for manufacturing) in mind. CNC’s reliable production will deliver what you expect every time.

6. Complex geometry

CNC machines come with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 processing axes, allowing for high manufacturing complexity capacity. You can produce most products, given that the design is machinable and that the manufacturing center of your choice has the correct machine for your production needs.

7. Scalability

You don’t need to worry about having one, ten, or a thousand pieces produced with the same precision in specifications and quality.

CNC machining is ideal for you whether you need one piece or hundreds, and even if you request an additional batch later, you will always get what you ordered.

8. Energy Efficient

We understand that you might also worry about the environmental impact of using CNC as your manufacturing technology. Good news for you: CNC machining is very energy efficient.

CNC will use the least amount of energy possible thanks to its highly advanced CAM software that allows for pre-production processing. As a flexible production technology, producing on demand and reducing inventory to reduce carbon emissions is possible.

CNC disadvantages

1. Costly

Depending on what you intend to produce, CNC might not be the best option for you in terms of pricing. CNC manufacturing costs depend on production units, size, material, time, complexity, and any other particularity of your order.

It is decisive to consider the stage of your product; is it the time to use CNC, or could you produce a prototype with a different manufacturing technology and material?

2. Size Restrictions (both big and small)

Keep in mind there are limits to what a CNC machine can manufacture. CNC machines come in different sizes, which means manufacturing size limitations.

To produce larger pieces, you might need to reconsider splitting them into smaller parts (which will also be very helpful in the shipping process), consider welding to join parts if needed, or look for alternative manufacturing technology.

On the other hand, if the piece you intend to produce is very tiny, CNC might again not be your best option. If the material you choose is fragile, it will probably break during production, or it won’t be able to be processed from the beginning.

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3. Material Waste

This one greatly depends on your design qualities. CNC is a subtractive manufacturing process that can generate unnecessary waste if you need to remove too much material to achieve your design.

If your project has an intricate design, maybe CNC is not the best fit in this scenario.

4. Design Limitations

Understanding what CNC machines can manufacture by machining, milling, or drilling is fundamental. Specific features such as sharp inner angles, cavities, and extra-thin walls or diminutive holes can be challenging or even impossible to achieve with CNC machines.

Your option could be making your design CNC-friendly or using an alternative manufacturing technology for your finished products.

5. Operation Errors

Although highly reliable, CNC fabrication can still have errors in their production lines, mainly due to poor training or little experience from the operations team.

Cut out as many risks as possible and choose manufacturers that have proven or can prove the capacity to produce high-quality pieces.

6. Material Availability

Is the material that you need hard to find or process? As with any manufacturing process, there are certain limitations when it comes to materials. Not every machine can process every material.

Double-check that the material you need fits your project’s needs and the manufacturer’s capacity to avoid undesired surprises.

7. Time for Mass Production

If you’re looking to produce one design in great numbers, CNC is a great choice. Still, we would encourage double-checking other manufacturing technologies, such as Sheet Metal Fabrication or even Injection Molding, which excels particularly when it comes to producing thousands of pieces.

8. Lack of reliable centers

Lastly, we can’t avoid mentioning the importance of working with a CNC manufacturer that can cover all your needs while excelling in supporting you along the process.

Particularly relevant when the design has a higher level of complexity, and you still have questions about the best material, a DFM team can make the difference between possible and impossible.

Do some research to find the best fit for you, or check out this helpful article explaining the most important aspects of working with a CNC manufacturer.

Best CNC prototyping platform

Now that you understand the pros and cons of CNC machining, you can start prototyping. Marketplace is Wikifactory’s manufacturing platform designed for agile and effective prototyping and manufacturing with different types of manufacturing processes.

Learn more about Wikifactory by checking out our website and exploring our end-to-end product development platform.

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Originally posted in wikifactory.com

Read more articles related to the product development process, from ideation to manufacturing, on Wikifactory’s blog. Find helpful content from useful design guides for manufacturing, manufacturing processes, and much more!

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Original text by: Jorge Ahumada

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