CNC Machining VS 3D Printing

Currently, CNC machining and 3D printing are commonly used in design, however, which one is the best one? Which one can be applied in more fields? Now, this article will introduce CNC machining and 3D printing for you, also we will compare these two design methods to choose the better one.

List: 1. Introduction of CNC Machining

         2. Introduction of 3D Printing

         3. Comparisons Between CNC Machining and 3D Printing

Introduction of CNC Machining

Numerical control machining refers to a process for machining parts on CNC machine tools. The process specifications of CNC machine tools and traditional machine tools are generally consistent, but significant changes have also taken place. A machining method that uses digital information to control the displacement of parts and tools. It is an effective way to solve the problems of variable parts, small batch size, complex shape and high precision, and to achieve high efficiency and automatic processing.

Introduction of 3D Printing

3D printing (3DP) is a kind of rapid prototyping technology. It is a technique for constructing objects by layer-by-layer printing based on digital model files and using adhesive materials such as powder metal or plastic. 3D printing is usually done by using a digital technology material printer. It is often used in the manufacture of molds in the fields of mold manufacturing, industrial design, etc., and is gradually used for the direct manufacture of some products. There are already parts printed using this technology. The technology is used in the jewelry, footwear, industrial design, construction, engineering and construction (AEC), automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries, education, geographic information systems, civil engineering, firearms and other fields.

Comparisons Between CNC Machining and 3D Printing

1. 3D printer is an additive manufacturing, the object is manufactured by the superposition of materials; and the CNC machine tool is made of reduced material, and the object is manufactured by reducing the material.

2. Both 3D printing and CNC processing are compatible with various materials, including plastics and metals. However, 3D printing focuses more on monolithic plastics. The most commonly used plastics in CNC include ABS, PA66, PC, PMMA, PP, POM and PEK. Aluminum is the most commonly used metal in CNC processing, and prototype companies use it to produce high-quality prototypes for various industries. Aluminum is recyclable, has good protection performance, and can create an effective prototype for processing. Other commonly used metals include stainless steel, magnesium alloy, zinc alloy titanium and brass.

3. CNC machining is a very mature manufacturing equipment that has been widely used in traditional manufacturing, while 3D printing is a new manufacturing theory, and technology is still under continuous development.

4. 3D printing is simpler than CNC processing. Once the document is ready, you just need to choose the direction, filling and support of the parts according to your needs. However, CNC processing is a more labor-intensive process. Skilled operators need to choose between different tools, tool rotation speed, cutting path and any repositioning of the material that is creating the part.

5. As far as the metal cutting industry is concerned, CNC machining is still “exclusively in the world”. After all, the current 3D printing lacks the most important “precision” for many equipment manufacturers that need ultra-high precision.

6. Since CNC machining and 3D printing are usually used for different workpieces and materials, it is difficult to compare speeds. However, 3D printing jobs usually take hours to complete, while CNC milling jobs with considerable size and complexity usually do not exceed an hour.

7. CNC machining is a better solution for manufacturing workpieces that require very rugged, accurate and/or heat-resistant workpieces. 3D printing has more unique applications: it can be used for bioprinting, food printing, architectural purposes, and space (for example, in ISS or future space missions).

8. When CNC machines are used to make a part, a small amount usually brings higher unit cost, but mass production is becoming more and more economical. This makes CNC an ideal choice for mass production. With 3D printing, the cost of each output unit is the same regardless of batch size. When producing a small amount of goods, the same cost per unit of production represents an advantage, but when producing large quantities of goods, the uniform cost per unit may become a problem.

From this article we can know that CNC machining is more suitable in making meticulous and large-scale products while 3D printing cannot do this. Since CNC machining can be used in more areas and more situations, it is better to be chosen.