CNC milling machines use cutting tools to remove material from a workpiece and shape it accurately to the required specifications. The workpiece is usually fixed in location while the high-speed rotating cutting tool removes material from it.
CNC mills can have a wide range of cutting tools, each having a different purpose. Some typical cutting tools are end mills, reamers, face mills, taps, and drills. These machines come in both vertical and horizontal versions.
A CNC router cut various shapes and designs on flat surfaces of any material. These machines replace multiple manual tools traditionally used in carpentry and metalworking workshops, such as boring machine tools, panel saws, and spindle molders.
A CNC plasma cutting machine delivers a highly accurate cut. It uses an electrical discharge arc (like a plasma torch) to ionize the air and melt the material where the electrical arc strikes. Since it works through an electrical arc, the process only applies to electrically conductive materials.
CNC lathe machines work by revolving the workpiece material around a central axis. Cutting tools are then applied to the workpiece to remove material and shape it into the required. A CNC lathe machine can produce a finished product much faster with more precision than manual lathes.
CNC lathe machines are ideal for various processes, like cutting, sanding, facing, drilling, turning, knurling, etc. In CNC turning, a non-rotary tool moves linearly on a rotating workpiece to create a helical/spiral cutting path.
CNC laser cutters use a highly focused laser beam to cut sheets of any material. A CNC laser cutter machine produces cuts with even greater precision than plasma cutting. CNC laser cutters are not limited to conductive materials, as solid-state lasers can cut any material.
An Electrical Discharge Machine (EDM) works similarly to plasma cutters by using an electrical arc to remove material at the required location. This method can create fast 2D cuts on metal sheet format.
A waterjet CNC machine uses a very thin jet of water to cut through the material. CNC water jet cutting is one of the most versatile methods due to its ability to work on any material. Multi-axis CNC water jet cutters are capable of 3D cuts as well. Additionally, the thickness of the material suitable for waterjet cutting is high.
CNC Drilling is one of the most common types of CNC machining process in workshops. It is ideal for drilling holes in any material for screws, secondary assembly, or aesthetic requirements.
