XavierIntroduction to Precision Machining Technology
The advent of precision machining technology can be attributed to the thousands of years of human history of using machines. Their history can be traced back years or even thousands of years.
In fact, there is even evidence that the ancient Egyptians were already using machine tools. Although they were handmade, these machine tools helped ancient humans. But in those times, dimensional errors in the manufactured machine parts were particularly common.
Years later, engineers improved machinery to increase precision and produce better quality products. Over time, manufacturing innovation had to keep up with the growing demand for products in various industries. The manufacturing industry began to look for ways to increase precision and reduce waste.
At the same time, this effort required the creation of extremely accurate mechanical equipment. For this purpose, precision machining came into being.
1.What is precision machining technology?
The manufacture and design of machines, tools, and other hardware have greatly benefited from the use of precision machining, which is a part of technological manufacturing. It is the most efficient way to transform large amounts of raw materials into desired results.
What is precision machining technology? Precision machining helps ensure a perfect fit between the components of an object, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to the finished product.
Manufacturers often cut raw materials into machinable sizes. Increasingly common computer machines can perform the precise operations necessary to make parts more suitable for manufacturing.
2.Industries that use precision machining techniques
Many industries rely on tools and parts made with precision machining, including:
1) Aerospace Industry
The parts used in the aerospace industry must withstand extreme temperatures, air pressures, and speeds. Precision engineers need to manufacture every part of an aircraft to exact specifications. This is done to ensure that the aircraft is completely safe.
2) Oil and Gas Industry
Operations in the oil and gas industry often involve situations and materials that can pose a threat to workers and the public, such as the use of strong chemicals and high pressures.
The equipment used in the oil and gas industry must meet strict requirements, and so must its parts. Even the smallest changes in size or shape can cause performance or even safety issues. Therefore, precision machining is used to produce a wide variety of materials and parts.
3) Semiconductor Industry
Semiconductors are an important part of modern technology, affecting many aspects of our daily lives, from personal computers and mobile devices to cars and household appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.
Although semiconductors are widely used, they are extremely precise in their processing. Semiconductors are invisible to the naked eye, and their units are much smaller than millimeters (mm), micrometers (um), and nanometers (nm). They are widely used in precision machines, and the precision and durability of semiconductors are extremely high.
4) Medical Industry
In the medical field, safety, accuracy, and precision are essential. Precision machining technology helps to manufacture surgical instruments with precise dimensions to fit the surgeon’s hand, thereby achieving more precise results.
Complex parts of lasers or robots are used to perform surgeries that were previously impossible, and these parts are manufactured through machining. As the application of machining increases, more medical innovations will be generated.
In order to work, these instruments require some small parts and tips, which can only be manufactured through computer numerical control (CNC) and electrical discharge machining (EDM) machining technologies.
5) Defense Industry
Members of the military must maintain order and precision when using identification cards, guns, and other forms of defense equipment. The defense industry does not allow any mistakes, so CNC machining is widely used.
CNC machining services can also manufacture pins, barrels, triggers, plates, and magazines or ammunition clips used in guns.
3.How Precision Machining Works
Precision machining is the process of cutting materials into precise patterns so that the finished product will fit exactly where it needs to and perform the necessary functions.
The process typically uses CNC equipment and includes cutting, milling, turning, and EDM. Most companies that engage in precision machining follow the same set of steps for different types of parts.
- Design a graphic model
- Convert computer-aided design (CAD) to computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
- Perform machine settings
- Perform machining
- Finish
In addition, these parts naturally wear out over time and require the help of a precision machinist to recalibrate, groove, and/or weld to restore them to their original, fully working condition.
4.Tools and Materials Used in Precision Machining Technology
Lathes, milling machines, EDM machines, saws, and grinders are commonly used in precision machining processes. Most modern factories use specially developed and used computer-controlled heavy machinery for cutting substrates to reveal complex components and finished products.
To achieve the desired results for the final product, high-speed robots and photochemical procedures may be required. Precision machining can be used to manufacture products made from many different kinds of raw materials, such as metals, but it can also be used to produce products made from plastics, ceramics, composites, graphite, and glass.
Precision machining techniques are often performed on the following materials, each of which requires special considerations:
- Stainless steel;
- Titanium;
- Brass;
- Magnesium;
- Carbon steel;
- Copper;
- Aluminum;
- Special alloys; and so on.
It is worth noting that machining with CNC is risky even for the most skilled workers. Therefore, safety managers and industrial hygiene experts must thoroughly understand how CNC machines work and how to ensure the safety of their employees.
5.Advantages of Precision Machining Technology
Many industries benefit from precision machining technology, but different applications require specialized materials.
Here are some of the advantages:
1) Reduced Costs
Precision machining technology can greatly reduce manufacturing costs because the probability of errors and poor output is reduced. Therefore, factories can be confident in their production budgets and avoid overspending on contingency plans. Not only that, it can also help you save on labor costs.
2) Improved Efficiency
Using high-speed robotics, precision machining technology can produce parts faster than traditional lathes and manual labor involved in production. Due to the high precision and close tolerances of the parts, no additional procedures are required. As a result, shops are able to produce more products in a shorter time.
3) Quality Assurance
Precision machining machines can guarantee you a high-quality product. Automation or automated software allows you to easily control or modify the quality of precision machining in a matter of minutes.
4) Reduced Material Waste
With CNC machining, the amount of scrap material generated during the manufacturing process can be reduced. This is because CNC machines are able to produce parts with extremely precise tolerances, which means that less material needs to be removed throughout the machining process.
6.Conclusion
The versatility and efficiency of CNC machining make it suitable for a variety of fields. No matter what kind of business you run, it is important to work with a trusted supplier.