Exciting Applications of CNC Machining in 10 Top Industries

CNC machining is used in many industries to make strong, precise parts. You see its results every day, like in cars, airplanes, medical tools, and even smartphones. It’s a smart and reliable way to shape metal, plastic, and other materials.

In this blog, you’ll know about the exciting applications of CNC machining in 10 top industries.

Qu'est-ce que l'usinage CNC ?

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. It’s a process that makes parts by cutting away material using a cutting tool. There are many types of CNC machines that have different tools for various jobs and uses.

Exciting Applications of CNC Machining in Top 10 Industries

To understand how CNC machining can be used, you need to look at the different industries that rely on it and the kinds of parts you can make in each one.

Industrie aérospatiale

This industry helped shape how CNC machines work today. That’s because aerospace companies need strong, reliable materials to build their equipment. You have to focus on safety and quality, and CNC machining helps you meet those high standards with precise and accurate parts.

For example, modern airplanes have hundreds of thousands of parts, with some needing tolerances as small as 4 μm. CNC machines help create these parts with the exact measurements required.

If you’re making aerospace components, you might use CNC machines to create:

• Airfoils
• Antennas
• Train d'atterrissage
• Manifolds
• Bagues
• Radiofrequency suppression materials
• Connecteurs électriques

Industrie médicale

If you work in healthcare or dental care, CNC machining is very useful. You use it to make tools and parts that must be safe, smooth, and very accurate.

In general healthcare, you need high precision for items that go into or help treat the body. In dental work, you make small custom parts that must fit perfectly. CNC machines help you do this with great detail and control.

CNC machining also helps meet the strict standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for making surgical instruments and medical devices.

Here are some things you can make with CNC machining:

• Bone screws and plates
• Surgical tools
• Stimulateurs cardiaques
• Prosthetics
• Dental caps and crowns
• Implants and abutments
• Dentures and trays

Automobile

CNC machining helps at every stage in automotive manufacturing, from designing new parts to making large quantities of them.

CNC milling machines and lathes are used to make many different parts, as these machines work with both plastic and metal in the automotive field. For example, a combustion engine needs several CNC processes. This includes turning metal blocks into engine parts like cylinders and pistons.

The real benefit of CNC machining in the automotive industry is its ability to produce many identical parts with high precision. This is important because car companies make millions of parts that need to be interchangeable. CNC also helps in producing parts for new technologies, like self-driving cars.

Here are some automotive parts made with CNC machining:

• Boîtes de vitesses
• Essieux
• Pièces de moteur
• Vannes
• Blocs-cylindres
• Panneaux du tableau de bord
• Jauges à gaz

Robotique et automatisation

The robotics and automation sector has made great progress, but there’s still a lot of room for growth. CNC machining helps make parts that are needed for these technologies. It creates accurate parts that meet the specific needs of robotics and automation.

When it comes to making robotics and automation parts, product designers often face a choice between Impression 3D and CNC machining. While 3D printers can create precise parts, they are usually not as strong as CNC-machined parts.

Some of the parts made with CNC machining include:

• Robotic arms
• End effectors
• Sensors
• Fixtures (en anglais)
• Gabarits
• Controllers

Télécommunications

Many parts used in telecommunications are made with CNC techniques. For example, touch-sensitive screens in telecom devices are made using CNC machines, specifically glass milling machines. These machines create the precise surface finish needed, especially when making large quantities.

Here are some telecom parts made with CNC machines:

• Telecom equipment bodies (metal and plastic)
• Cases
• Rear glass panels
• Aesthetic etching
• Supported accessories
• Internal housing and fixtures

Électronique grand public

Just like in the automotive industry, CNC machining is used in both prototyping and production in the electronics industry. One big advantage is CNC’s ability to handle small-scale production while maintaining consistency.

For example, the metal alloy casing of products like the MacBook and iPhone is made using CNC milling machines and CNC routers. CNC machining is also used to make internal components of consumer electronics.

Here are some electronic parts made with CNC machining:

• Composants électroniques
• PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards)
• Boîtiers
• Gabarits
• Semiconductor parts like wafer plates and carriers
• Heat sinks

Semi-conducteurs

Even though some semiconductor parts were mentioned in the consumer electronics section, it’s worth highlighting here. CNC machining helps make important parts for the technology that powers many modern devices.

With CNC machining, you can make electronic parts using different materials like alumina, silicon nitride, sapphire, and aluminum nitride.

CNC machining also makes it easier to achieve different surface finishes, such as anodizing, nickel-plating, and masked finishes, which are important in semiconductor manufacturing.

Here are some products made with CNC machining in the semiconductor industry:

• High precision molds
• Casings
• Enceintes
• Wafer conductor processing units
• Cartes de circuits imprimés (PCB)
• Heat sinks
• Connecteurs
• Sockets

L'énergie

The energy sector is large and includes areas like oil, gas, and renewable energy. It has also benefited from CNC machining, especially when it comes to making parts for power generation systems. These parts are becoming more complex, and multi-axis CNC machines are among the few technologies that can handle these complicated designs.

CNC electrical discharge machining (EDM) is also helping the energy sector create small and intricate parts. Unlike traditional CNC cutting tools, EDM doesn’t touch the part directly, which helps avoid damage from cutting tool pressure.

Here are some common CNC applications in the energy industry:

• Vannes
• Pistons
• Cylindres
• Rods
• Épingles
• Aubes de turbine
• Paliers
• Hydro generators
• Generator housings
• Bagues
• Cadres de panneaux solaires

Oil &Gas

The oil and gas industry uses CNC machining to create many essential parts for drilling, transportation, and refining. CNC machines help make precise components needed for pipelines, refineries, and other equipment.

Here are some parts made with CNC machining in the oil and gas industry:

• Vannes
• Pompes
• Brides
• Raccords de tuyauterie
• Drilling equipment
• Récipients sous pression
• Compressors
• Tubes
• Wellheads

Marine et offshore

The marine industry needs high-quality work because boats travel all over the world. To meet deadlines and keep up with quality, CNC machining is necessary for making boats.

CNC machines, like mills and lathes, make almost all the parts of a boat, from the boat’s frame to the inside details.

Here are some parts made with Usinage CNC for the marine industry:

• Deck structures
• Hull structures
• Trimmings and joints
• Ribs
• Stringers
• Interior furnishings

Premium CNC Machining Services with DEK

At DEK, we provide high-quality CNC machining services with over 20 years of experience. We’ve helped many companies create top-quality parts for both prototypes and production runs.

With more than a thousand projects completed, we’ve worked with businesses in industries like aerospace, electronics, medical equipment, and automotive. If you need custom parts, nous contacter today to see how we can help you!

Conclusion

After discussing some of the top applications of CNC machining, it’s clear that the process is versatile and offers many benefits for creating custom parts. However, to get the most out of it, it’s important to work with experienced machining centers or trusted manufacturing partners like DEK.

FAQ

What is a CNC machine mainly used for?

A CNC machine is most commonly used to create precise parts from hard materials like metals and plastics. It can cut, mill, turn, and drill these materials with high accuracy, which is perfect for industries that need detailed and complex parts, such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, and medical.

What materials can CNC machines work with?

CNC machines can handle a wide variety of materials, including aluminum, steel, brass, copper, titanium, wood, plastic, and even ceramics.

What are the common types of CNC machines used?

Common types of CNC machines include CNC mills for shaping materials, CNC lathes for turning round parts, and CNC routers for cutting wood, plastics, and soft metals. CNC grinders are used to grind parts to precise shapes, while CNC plasma cutters cut metals with high precision. CNC EDM machines are great for cutting detailed shapes in hard materials.