A CNC machine shop's services vary from turning milling to drilling and other methods needed to make parts or components of accurate dimensions. This article introduces you to the common types of precision machining services.

What is a CNC Machining Shop?

Machining is a highly accurate technology of cutting tools, removing layers of material from a workpiece. The desired size/dimension is achieved by programming the machines to cut as per the design specifications. Computer Numerical Control Machining or CNC Machining controls the programming. Manufacturing units have dedicated floor areas or independent units for machining components. 

The uniqueness of a CNC machine shop is the tradesperson writing the program to make a part. The technician will then configure the machines, monitor the cutting tools, and change tools according to design requirements and specifications. The machines used in these machining shops include Grinders, Lathes, Mills, CNC routers, and CNC milling machines. CNC machine shops often use a bandsaw to cut down raw materials into smaller pieces before deploying the machine. Successful machine shops have expert technicians and an experienced workforce who follow the guidelines to maintain machine shop safety. 

Such a CNC machine shop performs several precision machining services. Let us take a look at these services in the later sections here. 

Why and When Are Precision Machining Services Used?

Precision machining services are used to create parts for industrial use:  

• Power generator units

• Turbines

• Surgical instruments

• Hardware products 

• Automotive industry  

• Electronics

Precision machining plays a significant role because certain parts need extreme accuracy, a feat that no other manufacturing method can achieve. Creating one-of-a-kind items that Original Equipment Manufacturers may need for samples or prototypes is often complicated.  

Now that you have seen the CNC machine shop's importance and use, let us explore precision machining services. 

Types of CNC Machining Services

Several machines are used in CNC machine shops to offer the best CNC machining services. These machines work in tandem to mill, drill, turn and perform other activities for accurately crafted products. 

• CNC Milling- This service is performed on a rotation tool with a workpiece on a spindle. By chipping away the layers, the object or the component is formed. The accuracy of these machines is as high as 0.1 mm less or more. Other CNCmilling subtypes include CNC machining service, Form milling, Profile milling, Face Milling, Surface Milling and Gear Milling. 

These machines can mill both laterally and vertically or as a hybrid of both on several metals like brass, aluminium, steel or several plastic varieties like HDPE, nylon, ABS, polycarbonate, POM and more. 

• CNC Turning or Lathing - This machining service is ideal for creating cylindrical parts, like bushings or shafts. The metal spirit continuously spins on the spindle while the CNC controls the cutting tool to move it axially from side to side or vertically. The product is shaped by removing the circumference of the metal and working inwards to produce the desired shape and diameter.

There are two types of turning: fixed-head CNC machines or Sliding-head CNC machines. But the most commonly used are sliding head CNC machines as they lower costs and the production time. 

• CNC multi-spindle Machining - This machining service has many spindles placed in a drum. The drum continuously rotates horizontally, allowing faster operations simultaneously. 

Multiple spindles are used to streamline procedures that should be executed one after the other to achieve the desired specifications. Hence, it is highly cost-efficient and faster. 

To summarise, these are some of the machining services that CNC machine shops offer.