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What Steps Are Taken To Minimize Waste In CNC Machining Processes?

Design optimization, material management, strategic machining, tool maintenance, and waste recycling minimize waste in CNC machining. Waste in CNC machining refers to surplus or residual material produced during the machining process. Waste can take many different forms, including chips, shavings, scraps, and leftover material. The residue left behind after material is removed to form and produce the required pieces or components is known as waste in CNC machining. Reducing waste is crucial for maximi......

Jan 02,2024

From STP File to Finished Part How Online CNC Machining Brings Your CAD Model to Life

Driven by intelligent manufacturing and industrial internet, CNC machining is innovating from traditional mode to digitalization and visualization. As the “international language” for product data exchange, STP file (STEP/STP format) has become the core bridge connecting design and manufacturing due to its high compatibility and integrity. In this article, we will explain how to realize the whole process management from STP files to finished parts through online visualization technology, covering key ......

Rivet Guide: What Is a Rivet and How to Remove Rivets Properly

Rivets are one of the oldest and most reliable methods for joining metal parts. Even with modern welding and adhesives, riveting continues to be valued for its simplicity, strength, and consistency — especially when heat or distortion must be avoided. But what is a rivet, and how does it function in sheet metal assembly? A rivet is a cylindrical fastener with a head on one end and a tail on the other. When inserted into aligned holes, the tail is deformed using a riveter, creating a permanent mechanic......

The True Cost of Custom Sheet Metal Parts

When engineers or product designers start a new fabrication project, one of the first questions is often: “How much will my custom sheet metal parts cost?” The answer isn't always straightforward. Pricing depends on multiple variables, from the choice of material to finishing options and production volume. Understanding these elements is essential if you want to balance performance, quality, and cost. A clear view of what drives sheet metal part pricing can also help you make better design decisions e......

Cold Rolled Steel vs Galvanized Steel Sheet in Sheet Metal Fabrication

When working on sheet metal fabrication projects, choosing the right steel type is crucial. Both cold rolled steel and galvanized steel sheet are widely used, but they serve different purposes. The main differences lie in surface finish, corrosion resistance, cost, and applications. At JLCCNC, both cold rolled and galvanized steel sheets are widely used in sheet metal fabrication. Cold rolled steel offers high precision and a smooth surface, while galvanized steel provides excellent corrosion resistan......

CNC Machining vs Sheet Metal: Which is Better for Enclosures?

Introduction Designing enclosures for electronic devices and industrial equipment can be challenging. Factors like precision, material selection, production cost, and manufacturing lead time all play critical roles in the success of a product. For engineers, designers, and startups, choosing the right manufacturing method for enclosures is crucial. JLCCNC provides both CNC machining and sheet metal fabrication services, helping clients transform their CAD designs into high-quality enclosures quickly a......

CNC Machining vs 3D Printing: Complementary Technologies for Prototyping

Introduction: Multiple Options for Rapid Prototyping In today’s fast-paced product development environment, rapid prototyping is a critical part of the design cycle. Engineers and designers need to validate their ideas quickly, test functionality, and optimize designs before moving to full-scale production. Two of the most widely used technologies are CNC machining and 3D printing. Each technology has unique advantages, limitations, and optimal use cases. By understanding their differences, companies ......

CNC Tooling 101: Choosing the Right End Mills and Cutters

Introduction: The Unsung Heroes of CNC Machining In CNC machining, precision doesn’t start with the machine—it starts with the tooling. Choosing the right end mills and cutters determines not only the surface finish and dimensional accuracy but also the machining time, tool life, and overall production cost. Many machinists and engineers underestimate how much tooling affects performance. Whether you’re shaping aluminum, cutting stainless steel, or milling engineering plastics, the right CNC tool can ......

Rapid CNC Prototyping: Speed Up Your Product Development

Introduction In today’s fast-paced engineering and product development world, speed is crucial. Rapid prototyping allows designers and engineers to quickly iterate, test, and refine their products before full-scale production. Traditional prototyping methods can be slow and expensive, creating bottlenecks that delay product launch. This is where rapid turnaround CNC services come in. JLCCNC offers high-precision, online CNC machining services starting from just $1 per part, enabling engineers, makers,......

Bed Milling Explained: Structure, Core Advantages, and Application Guide

In modern manufacturing, precision and efficiency are the keys to competitiveness. Among the various CNC machining methods, bed milling stands out for its outstanding rigidity, heavy-duty cutting performance, and ability to handle large workpieces with high accuracy. At JLCCNC, an online CNC machining service platform, engineers and manufacturers can easily access professional bed milling and other precision machining solutions — from design to production — starting from just $1 per order and delivery......

5-Axis CNC Machining: Unleashing Material Versatility and Precision

(From ResearchGate) If you’ve ever watched a 5-axis mill at work, it feels a bit like cheating. The cutting head swings, tilts, and dances around the part, reaching angles that a standard 3-axis setup just can’t touch. That extra freedom changes everything, fewer setups, smoother surfaces, and cleaner geometry, even on parts that look impossible to machine. You’ll find 5-axis CNC milling systems behind jet engine blades, orthopedic implants, molds, and all the stuff where precision can’t be a “maybe.”......

What is CNC Milling? Process, Advantages, and Applications

CNC milling is motion, metal, and math working in a computerized rhythm. You start with a block of raw material, feed the machine a few lines of code, and let it carve reality from coordinates. That’s the beauty of it: absolute precision, repeatable down to microns, yet flexible enough to shape anything from aerospace brackets to tiny medical implants. Most engineers know the end result, a perfect part, but not always the mechanics behind it. What actually happens between the model on your screen and ......

Desktop 5-Axis CNC Machine: Own One or Outsource to Industrial Services?

There’s a big gap between running a desktop 5-axis CNC in your shop and sending parts to an industrial-grade machine service. Both can cut complex geometry, both look impressive on paper, but they live in very different worlds. Desktop machines are smaller, cheaper, and easier to experiment with, but they come with limits. Industrial setups are heavier, faster, and built to hold accuracy under pressure. The question isn’t just about price; it’s about how much risk you want to own. At JLCCNC, we’ve see......

3-Axis CNC Milling: The Cornerstone of Precision Manufacturing

Precision is a vital element of today's manufacturing. You need good equipment for good results. The 3-axis CNC machine has been in use for decades in countless workshops and factories. While newer multi-axis machines are able to handle complex designs, 3-axis CNC milling is still very important in precision manufacturing. For instance, it offers repeatable accuracy, proven reliability, and low-cost manufacturing solutions. However, before selecting 3-axis CNC milling, it is important to understand th......

AI for CNC Machining: How to Use AI in CNC Machining

Why AI in CNC Machining Is a Big Deal (Freepik) CNC machining has always been about precision. You feed in a design, the machine executes, and you get a part that matches your specs, at least, that's the goal. But anyone who's spent time around mills or lathes knows it isn't that simple. Tools wear out, materials behave differently, and a hundred little variables can throw you off. AI is here to make the work smoother, not replace machinists. In CNC shops, it can spot when a tool's starting to wear, a......

Machining Burrs Explained: Causes, Types, and Removal Methods

CNC Machining Burrs (Envato) If you've ever run your hand across a freshly machined part and felt a sharp edge catch your skin, you've met the enemy: the burr. At first glance, it looks like a tiny flaw, but in machining, burrs are more than just a cosmetic annoyance. They can cut into assembly time, drive up costs, and in worst cases, create safety hazards for anyone handling the part. So, what is burr in machining? Think of it as the unwanted leftovers of the cutting process, those ragged edges, thi......

CNC Copper Machining Guide: How to Cut Copper with Precision

Why CNC Copper Machining Matters (Envato) Copper CNC machining is basically taking raw copper and cutting it into parts that actually do a job, think heat sinks, busbars, precision connectors, or small mechanical bits that need tight tolerances. Folks call it a few ways, machining copper, CNC copper, or just copper machining, but it all means the same thing: using CNC tools to shape copper accurately and repeatably. Why T2 copper? Because it's the sweet spot. T2 gives you great electrical and thermal ......

CNC Acrylic Machining & Custom PMMA Cutting Guide

Acrylic (PMMA) has become one of those go-to materials you're probably seeing everywhere now.. Signage, product displays, prototypes, even precision optical housings. People choose it because it looks like glass but weighs half as much, it won't shatter the way glass does, and when it's machined properly it stays clearer than polycarbonate. That said, machining acrylic is tricky. Push the feeds too hard and you'll melt the surface. Run a dull tool and you'll get chips, cracks, or stress marks. Even wh......

CNC Coolant Explained: Types, Maintenance & Safety

Coolant isn't just some liquid splashing around your CNC machine, it's the difference between a clean, accurate cut and a scrapped part. In machining, CNC coolant, whether it's a cutting fluid, mist, or specialized lubricant, keeps heat under control, extends tool life, and makes chips easier to clear. A common misconception? People assume coolant's only job is cooling. In reality, it does much more: lubricating the tool, flushing chips away, and even improving surface finish. Skip the right coolant a......

GD&T in CNC Machining: Everything You Need to Know.

Why Does GD&T Matter in CNC Manufacturing? (autodesk) What is GD and T? Ask five machinists to interpret a drawing without it and you might end up with five completely different parts. That's because traditional linear dimensions and notes can only go so far, leaving plenty of room for misinterpretation. This is where GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing), the universal language of engineers, is used to define how a part should truly function and fit. At its core, GD&T is a symbolic system tha......

What is Bead Blasting Finish in CNC? A Complete Guide

When you think about CNC machining, precision and accuracy usually steal the spotlight. But surface finish is just as important. It's what the customer actually sees and feels, and in many cases, it's what determines whether a part looks “shop-made” or truly professional. A rough, uneven surface can undermine all the engineering effort that went into a design. If you’d like a deeper dive into all the options, check out our guide on surface finishes in CNC where we break down the pros and cons of each ......