TYPES OF CNC MACHINING SERVICES

Types of CNC Machining Services

Types of CNC Machining Services

Blog Article

CNC machining services include various subtractive manufacturing processes that shape materials into precision components.
Each service uses different machine motions, cutting tools, and setups tailored to part geometry and production needs.

What Are the Main Types of CNC Machining Services?

The primary types of CNC machining services are milling, turning, drilling, routing, grinding, and EDM.
Each process handles specific shapes, materials, and tolerance requirements.

CNC Milling: What Is It Used For?

CNC milling removes material using a rotating multi-axis cutting tool to create complex 2D and 3D shapes.

CNC milling applications:

  • Housings and enclosures

  • Mold cavities and cores

  • Precision components with flat surfaces, slots, and contours

  • Parts requiring tight dimensional tolerances and complex profiles

Materials: Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, engineering plastics

To learn more about this process, visit CNC milling services.

CNC Turning: When Is It Ideal?

CNC turning uses a rotating workpiece and a fixed cutting tool to produce cylindrical parts.

CNC turning applications:

  • Shafts, pins, and bushings

  • Threads, grooves, and tapers

  • High-volume round parts with axial symmetry

  • Internal and external diameter operations

Key advantage: Fast and cost-effective production of round components with excellent surface finish

For detailed capabilities, see these CNC turning services.

CNC Drilling: How Is It Different?

CNC drilling creates round holes using rotary cutting tools aligned with the part’s surface.

Drilling applications:

  • Mounting holes

  • Threaded inserts

  • Through-holes and blind holes

  • Countersinking and counterboring

Integration: Often performed within CNC milling and turning cycles

CNC Routing: What Materials Does It Handle?

CNC routing is similar to milling but operates at higher speeds, typically on softer materials.

Common uses:

  • Wood, foam, acrylic, plastic sheet cutting

  • Furniture components and signs

  • Large-format flat parts

Benefit: Efficient for low-density materials with minimal heat distortion

CNC Grinding: What Does It Achieve?

CNC grinding uses abrasive wheels to achieve fine surface finishes and precise dimensional control.

Grinding tasks:

  • Surface flatness refinement

  • Sharpening cutting tools

  • Finishing hardened materials (e.g., tool steel, ceramics)

Industries: Toolmaking, aerospace, mold and die

EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining): When Is It Required?

EDM uses controlled electrical sparks to erode material without physical contact.

Ideal for:

  • Internal corners and deep cavities

  • Hardened tool steels and exotic alloys

  • Injection mold tooling and medical components

Types: Wire EDM (for cut-throughs) and sinker EDM (for cavities)

Summary Table: CNC Machining Service Types

Service Type Best for Machine Motion Typical Materials
CNC Milling Complex geometries, flat/angled features Multi-axis rotary tool Aluminum, steel, plastics
CNC Turning Cylindrical parts Rotating workpiece Brass, steel, titanium
CNC Drilling Accurate holes and threads Linear feed Metals and plastics
CNC Routing Soft sheet materials High-speed rotary tool Wood, foam, acrylic
CNC Grinding Surface finish and tight tolerances Abrasive rotation Hardened steel, ceramics
EDM Sharp corners and intricate details Spark erosion Tool steel, Inconel, titanium

Which CNC Service Should You Choose?

The right service depends on part geometry, material type, and volume.

  • Use CNC milling for complex parts with multiple faces

  • Choose CNC turning for round or symmetrical parts

  • Add drilling for holes and tapped features

  • Apply grinding or EDM for ultra-precision and hard-to-machine areas

  • Use routing for rapid processing of non-metallic materials

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