What is the Difference Between CNC Milling and Turning?
CNC Milling and turning are both CNC Machining processes and share multiple similarities. First, the most vital: CNC, or computer numerical control. It denotes that everything is operated by a computer and is therefore exceptionally precise and efficient.
Through computer-assisted designs and manufacturing (CAD and CAM), every item and project can achieve unprecedented accuracy. Our engineers can attain the most stringent tolerances, reliably crafting perfect components that require details measuring fractions of thousandths of an inch. Computer-mediated processes can turn designs into code, and perform all the other mathematical acrobatics needed to reach the most efficient and effective forms for the entire gamut of OEM items.
Transferring concepts to the digital realm offers many advantages. Algorithmic strategies under the adaptive influence of AI can ascertain which designs surpass others, without expending time, material, or money on physical construction and testing. Computer analyses also open up an entirely modern intuitive opportunity, that of machine learning; virtual agents learn from the old before creating the new. So every “failure” is as much a step forward as every “success.”
All this digital trial and error yields rewards in the real world, helping manufacturers save time, material, and labor. The parts produced are stronger, lighter, more resistant to various stresses, and generally more desirable than their past counterparts.
These parts include components for every industry, whether domestic or aerospace. From the International Space Station to your home, the things that make an abode run smoothly are created through the diverse machining disciplines. Among the most used and irreplaceable is CNC milling: forming a workpiece by removing material. Cutting something into shape, instead of building it, is referred to as subtractive manufacturing, as it relies on subtracting material.
CNC Turning is also a CNC-based subtractive process. But even though milling and turning are both computer-controlled subtractive processes, they’re fundamentally different.
The Difference
While they’re both extraordinarily productive, CNC milling can yield wilder geometries and trickier shapes due to its setup and many degrees of mobility. The star of the milling machine is its cutting tool, which generally moves around 3-5 axes as it removes material from the workpiece.
The workpiece may also be free to move along certain axes, making every angle accessible. This liberty of movement makes milling a vastly valuable tool across various industries, for both prototypes and production runs.
The difference between the previously mentioned milling and the soon-to-be mentioned turning is the configuration of the workpiece. During the turning process, the workpiece is rotated (turned) against a cutting tool. This method of operation makes turning a preferred option for producing cylindrical pieces, and other shapes given the right adapter, quickly and reliably, while minimizing error rates and making the most efficient use of materials.
CNC Milling and Turning
Will your latest project be better served by our fine-tuned milling or turning services? Let us worry about that! And no matter the preferred process, rest assured that Beltim & Associates will be there with you every step of the way. So get contact us today or request a free quote!