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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

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 ......

Micro CNC Machining Explained: Process, Precision & How Small It Can Really Get

Explaining Micro CNC Machining Any machinist can machine a block of aluminum into a bracket. But what happens when your part is the size of a grain of rice, and still needs tolerances tighter than a human hair? That's when “standard CNC” suddenly feels clumsy, and every micron starts to matter. This is the world of micro CNC machining. It's not about big, impressive cuts, it's about making the kind of components you'll never notice… until they fail. Like the gears in a luxury watch, the nozzles in med......

How to Choose the Right Cutting Tool Material (CNC & Lathe Guide)

If you've ever heard a cutting tool scream with chatter or watched an edge chip after just a few passes, you already know, the wrong tool material will wreck your part, your time, and your budget. Geometry matters, yes, but material is what defines whether that tool can survive under the pressures of real machining. This is especially true when comparing lathe cutting tools with modern cutting tools for CNC. Traditional lathes can get the job done, but they're limited by manual control, speed, and con......

Plastic CNC Machining: Guide to Materials, Machines & Cutting Strategies

Understanding Plastic CNC Machining When most people think of CNC machining, metals come to mind first, aluminum, steel, titanium. But plastic CNC machining has quietly creeped into many industries. Why? Because plastics are lightweight, versatile, and cost-effective, making them an ideal option for places where the best performance is needed on the best budget. CNC for plastic is now as common as CNC for metal. At JLCCNC, we don't just work with metals, we also provide CNC machining of plastic parts ......

CNC Machining Surface Roughness: A Practical Guide

Why Surface Roughness Matters in CNC Machining When we talk about CNC machining, precision isn't just about hitting the right dimensions, it’s also about how the surface feels and performs. Surface roughness describes the fine irregularities left on a machined surface, and it directly impacts how a part behaves in the real world. So, what is surface roughness? In simple terms, it's the measure of tiny peaks and valleys created by the cutting process. While they might look smooth to the naked eye, thes......

How to Make a CNC Machine at Home: DIY CNC Router & Lathe Guide

How to Make a CNC Machine? (Reddit) Why would anyone want to build their own CNC machine at home? Isn't that super complicated? Honestly, that's the fun of it. Figuring out how to make a CNC machine can be both exciting and surprisingly cost-effective. Think of it like combining engineering curiosity with the satisfaction of saying, “Yep, I built that myself.” For hobbyists, small workshops, or even engineers tinkering at home, DIY CNC machines open the door to custom fabrication without dropping thou......

What is Swiss Machining: Swiss CNC Machines and Their Precision

What is Swiss Machining? (Freepik) When you hear people talk about the “gold standard” in precision manufacturing, they're usually talking about Swiss machining. Swiss machining traces its roots back to 19th-century Switzerland, where it was originally developed for the watchmaking industry. When you're dealing with gears and components smaller than a fingernail, you need more than just accuracy, you need repeatable precision at a microscopic level. That's where the Swiss lathe came in. At its core, S......

Surface Finish in Machining, Types, Charts & Testing

What is Surface Finish in Machining? At its core, surface finish in machining refers to the small-scale irregularities left on the surface of a part after machining. These irregularities are typically grouped into three categories: Roughness: The fine, closely spaced deviations caused by the cutting process itself. Roughness depends heavily on feed rate, tool sharpness, and cutting speed. Waviness: Larger, more widely spaced variations caused by machine tool vibration, deflection, or thermal distortio......

How to Prepare CAD Files for CNC Machining (Complete Guide)

You've designed something awesome in CAD, now it needs to become a real-world part. But before your CNC machine can cut that geometry, your design needs to be carefully prepped and exported. Let's walk through exactly how to go from CAD to CNC, what formats machines accept, and how to avoid expensive mistakes along the way. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from choosing the right CAD format to generating CNC-ready files, so you can avoid costly mistakes and keep your production run......

Feed Rate vs Cutting Speed in CNC Machining: The Complete Guide

Getting to Know Feed Rate and Cutting Speed in CNC Machining Why Feed Rate and Cutting Speed Matter (mellowpine) When you're running a CNC machine, two settings can make or break your results: feed rate and cutting speed. These numbers influence how quickly you can remove material, the lifespan of your cutting tools, and the quality of the finish on your parts. But it's easy, especially when you're just starting out, to mix them up or assume they mean the same thing. At JLCCNC, we see this mix-up all ......

Rake Angle in Machining: Machinists’ Guide to Perfect Cuts

What is Rake Angle? (minaprem) If you've ever stood in front of a CNC machine or a manual lathe, you know that the cutting tool's geometry isn't just some arbitrary design. Every angle, edge, and surface has a job to do, and one of the most important of those is the rake angle. We've been running machines long enough to know that rake angle can make or break your surface finish, tool life, and machining efficiency. In this guide, we're going to walk you through what rake angle is, how it works, and ho......

What Is a CNC Toolpath? Boost Accuracy, Efficiency & Finish

What Is a CNC Toolpath? (Unsplash) When you press "cycle start" on a CNC machine, you're putting total trust in an invisible set of instructions called the toolpath. This is the exact roadmap the cutting tool follows, telling it where to go, how fast to move, and how deep to cut. If that roadmap is flawed, it doesn't matter if you have the most expensive CNC machine in the world, your part won't meet spec. In this guide, we'll break down exactly what a CNC toolpath is, how it's created, the different ......

10 Complex Machining Tasks Your In-House CNC Setup Can’t Handle

When you’ve invested in an in-house CNC machine, it’s tempting to believe it can handle anything you throw at it. The reality? While these machines are incredibly versatile, there are certain complex CNC machining tasks that push well beyond what most small or mid-tier setups can achieve, and attempting them can waste time, money, and even damage your equipment. Below, we’ll break down 10 machining challenges that often require professional CNC machining expertise, higher-end equipment, and years of p......

CAD to CNC: How to Turn Your CAD File into CNC-Machined Parts

CAD to CNC (Freepik) You’ve got your CAD design. It looks great on screen, tight tolerances, clean geometry, ready to go. But now what? How do you actually turn that file into a real, CNC-machined part? If you’re staring at your .STEP, .DWG, or .DXF file wondering what the next move is, you’re not alone. This guide breaks it all down: how to prep your CAD file, what CNC machines really need, and how to go from digital design to precision-machined reality, without wasting time, money, or materials. Wha......