What are the Advantages of CNC Machining?

CNC machining technologies have revolutionized the manufacturing industry by minimizing manual work and allowing for unparalleled levels of consistency and accuracy. It is often considered a modern boon due to its numerous advantages.

As a product designer, it is vitally important to know whether to stick with CNC machining or to design the parts for another manufacturing process.

Here is a brief overview of some of the key benefits:

Production Speed

Production speed is one of the primary reasons which led to the vast and rapid spread of CNC machining. With CNC machining, it is possible to speed up production exponentially since it removes the limitations of human labor.

Consistency

Computer Numerical Control machining ensures that all the parts created look and work the same. There is no possibility of human error. This leads to the fabrication of precision parts that serve their purpose as intended.

Reduction of Rejections

In conventional manufacturing processes using manual labor, there was a lot of human error, which resulted in rejections during quality control. This wasted a lot of time and resources. With CNC machining, the whole process is automated, which leads to fewer rejections.

Cost Saving

Labor costs include the salary paid to the labor, downtime during breaks, and the added benefits payments.

The accuracy, speed, efficiency, and automation of CNC machining reduce manufacturing costs by minimizing production times and labor hours. These savings can be passed along to customers, creating a competitive advantage and providing an opportunity for business reinvestment.

However, other factors affect CNC machining costs, like quantity, material selection, and geometry.

Material Versatility

CNC machining can be performed on practically any material with sufficient hardness.

Manufacturing Data Tracking

A CNC machine feeds manufacturing data that allows manufacturers to track the entire process for every part. They can learn about the exact machines every part went through during manufacturing. In case of a fault, the exact cause can be tracked immediately.

Accuracy

With CNC machining, it is possible to achieve accuracy on a micro level. Manufacturers can even push that limit with appropriate tools. Such a level of accuracy is not possible with manual operations.

Read our detailed article covering the benefits of CNC machining for a deep dive into all its advantages.