In manufacturing industries that use metal as the major raw material there are a lot of machine processes involved. In the past, the machines were somehow crude and had to be operated manually.
This was cumbersome and could only be used for small-scale production. Nowadays, precision machining companies & advancements in technology have made it possible to automate the machines thus allowing large-scale production.
It has also made it possible to manufacture mission critical parts and components that are well refined and highly accurate. This has particularly been brought about by precision machining. Here are more details and probably what you would like to know about quickturn machining and turning.
What is precision machining?
As the name suggests, it is a process resulting in highly precise parts in terms of specifications such as dimensions and design. It is similar to Computer Numerical Control (CNC) with the difference being in their level of tolerance.
The former is more precise than the latter hence best suited for the manufacture of mission critical parts. Machining in general involves processes such as drilling, milling and turning. In CNC milling the moving cutter works on the material to create a relatively flat surface. Thus it is good for applying the final touches. In turning it is the material that is being moved as the machine removes the extra parts.
All these are different from 3D-printing in that the printing process stacks layers of the material on top of each other to produce the final product. In machining it is the extra undesired parts that are removed to leave behind the intended piece of work. Therefore, one is subtractive while the other one is additive.
How does it work?
The machining processes named above are automated. Thus the technician can perform an operation by simply pressing a button or touching a keypad depending on the user interface. The machines are programmed using G-code which is a programming language that enables the equipment to carry out real-time operations according to the instructions issued by the operator. As such, the variables can still be adjusted accordingly to suit the stage of the process or make the necessary changes.
Just like in 3D-printing, these also support the use of Computer Aided Designs (CAD). You can make your design on the computer using the appropriate software then feed it into the machine for production. Other than its precision it is also highly customizable and versatile hence suits a lot of needs. Currently the use of robots is becoming quite popular in this field.
How is it better than the other methods?
It is a combination of different techniques both old and new which makes it have superior qualities. Here is how.
- Reduced errors
Due to its high precision capability it minimizes the amount of errors that occur during production. This saves on the cost that would have been incurred to re-do the job or correct the errors. It also ensures the parts and components produced will fit in accurately within the system that they are intended for. This is particularly important in critical systems used in fields such as medicine, aerospace and military defense.
- Enhanced efficiency
This is one of the main reasons behind technological advancements. The new ways of doing things should be more efficient than the older ones.
This type of machining ensures this by providing a highly reliable workforce that can guarantee a large throughput with minimum effort. As opposed to other methods that require a lot of manual labor this only requires few personnel such as an instructor to operate the machinery and supervisor to oversee the whole production process.
It also boosts efficiency by minimizing wastage of resources. Since the error margin is very small most of the raw materials are utilized to the fullest.
- Automated large-scale production
Even in comparison with methods using readily available and cheap human labor, this is by far the best when it comes to large-scale production.
This is because the machines are automated and can work to produce error-free parts in large numbers with only a little human supervision. Once switched on, they can work for several hours without stopping until they are switched off.
The rate of work does not slow down hence production flows smoothly. This is as opposed to human labor that will require some breaks in between for resting.
What you should consider when choosing a machining company
There are a lot of companies out there dealing in manufacture of parts and components. Some are up to the task and will satisfy your needs while others are just in it for the money. Here are some things that you should consider to help you pick the best one.
- The type of equipment used
It is said that the work is only as good as the machinery used. Companies with state-of-the-art equipment will produce high quality parts that you can rely on. The technology used together with the raw materials too might be the difference between a durable product and one that won’t last for long. Be sure to ask all these details before settling for any manufacturer.
- Their level of experience and expertise
It would be unwise to trust a brand-new corporation with only basic level of expertise to handle your intricate design components. A single mistake made in the manufacturing process can later on be the downfall of your mission. Therefore, you should find out how reliable they are when it comes to meeting your requirements. Read the reviews on their website and do further research to get the information. Click here to learn more.
- The price being charged
This varies from one firm to the other depending on factors such as resources used and services provided. You should compare several companies before choosing one. The quality of services being provided should be worth the price.
Conclusion
For crucial parts of a system, properties such as accuracy, durability and efficiency are very important to ensure good performance hence success of the mission. Incorporating this starts right from the manufacturing process and is affected by methods used, technology, and equipment among other things. Precision machining has been at the core of this and is widely accepted by manufacturers and customers.
