Setting the Industry Standard: Innovative Solutions for Enhancing Precision in CNC Machining

Date:2024-03-12 16:00
Advantages of CNC Machining vs 3D Printing
The precision of Computerized Numerical Control machining is crucial for maintaining product quality and an edge in the marketplace. CNC machines can achieve remarkable levels of accuracy, but they demand a commensurate amount of attention to detail in both the programming stage and the physical setup of the machine itself. A real-world example from the BMW Group shows how the company uses innovative design and machining solutions to achieve a CNC-precision level of 0.005 mm. Although this is a two-part goal requiring equal effort along the way, the team portion makes sense when you consider that the fixture system used in the BMW example makes a more-than-reliable clamp suitable for a 0.005 mm tolerance. That's the same as saying we're good to a 0.005 mm gap.
Choosing the right machine tools and cutting tools is of utmost importance for high-precision machining. The foundation of this process is laid by high-quality machine and cutting tools. For instance, the five-axis CNC machining center can achieve the more complex cutting angles and efficient machining paths necessary for the sorts of jobs that entail real precision work, and it does this with a positional accuracy of ±0.002mm. Next, it is basic commonsense to realize that the sort of cutting tools that are quite durable and fairly wear-resistant are those that need to be selected for this kind of job. These sorts of tools not only permit high-speed operations—since they are of a sort that can withstand the sorts of forces that they be subjected to when normal operations are performed at a truly high pace—they also, by virtue of their durability and wear resistance, ensure that what's being cut isn't going to suffer from any kind of accumulation of errors over the course of the job.
Another major facet of improving the precision of CNC machining is applying quality management systems, such as the internationally recognized ISO 9001. These systems provide a comprehensive management framework for the precision of CNC machining. They allow rigorous control over the steps in the machining process, including quality checks of the inputs, process monitoring, and, most importantly, rigorous dimensional and functional testing of the final product. The BMW Group applies this multi-faceted management approach to assembly line CNC machining in a number of places, ensuring that engine components can be counted on to be precise. A case in point: The crankshafts used in the BMW M series of high-performance engines are made to an extraordinarily tight tolerance of ±0.004 mm. They are machined in a manner that is good enough to ensure that they will run in harmony with the other parts of the engine.
Moreover, each engine component undergoes a detailed examination after the CNC machining process, using the Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), to ensure that it is true to the specifications set forth in the engineering model. The CMM is a highly sophisticated device that can measure with incredible accuracy and that can also determine the basic geometric characteristics of objects with amazing speed. Therefore, the combination of CNC machining with CMM inspection guarantees that every part of every engine is reliable and power capable. Within the whole manufacturing system, there is the continual search for technological improvements and for devices, like the CMM, which can help with the problem of maintaining previously achieved levels of quality as the manufacturing system continues to evolve.
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