opening a machining shop

Posted on: 22 October 2021

CNC machining involves state-of-the-art computers that guide machinery, which then cut materials in pre-determined ways. That takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation, but you still need to be aware of these protocols for optimal results.

Choose a Quality Sacrificial Block 

The resource used to prop up your materials that are being machined is known as the sacrificial block. It opens up your machining operations because you don't have to worry about damaging the stage. Instead, the block will take all of the extra damage that might occur.

You just need to make sure this sacrificial block is high-quality so that your materials being machined end up receiving the right amount of support. It helps to start out with a block that's even and free of defects because then you'll have more control over how the CNC machine responds to your materials. You also want a block that's durable and can thus be reused over and over again.

Be Careful When Applying Cutting Fluid

There might be some materials that require cutting fluid in order to facilitate CNC machining, which typically is the case for harder materials. This fluid has an important role, but you need to be careful with how much you apply. 

If you apply too little, you may not get refined CNC machining and too much can cause chip buildup. Find the right balance based on the specific materials that you're machining. Practice can help you get better at administering cutting fluid when it's needed to support certain materials.

Account for Machine Vibration

Regardless of what CNC machine you're using to fabricate materials, some vibration will take place and you need to know how much as to plan out your designs better. You can then make sure sections have enough thickness to where vibration won't affect the quality of your CNC machining operations.

Every CNC machine should support clamps, which are helpful resources for keeping vibration from having that much of an impact. You just need to make sure the tightness of these clamps is set appropriately according to the materials you're customizing.

There are a lot of things you can learn about CNC machining that will help you produce better fabrication results with different materials. The more time you spend learning these things and continue becoming a better CNC operator, the more capabilities you'll ultimately gain when it comes time to use this type of machining equipment.