CNC milling and CNC drilling are, as the names suggest, both types of computer numerically-controlled machining services. Both processes use a rotating cutting bit, the speed and rotation pattern of which is determined by information entered into the computer.  However, CNC milling differs from drilling because the cutting tool on a mill is able to move along a number of axes, enabling the CNC milling machine to create a range of shapes, slots, and holes. The work piece can also be moved across the machine in a variety of ways, allowing us to achieve very versatile results. Drilling is primarily for simple holes.

Typically, we can achieve tolerances between +/- 0.2mm to +/- 0.5mm as standard. If your intended application requires tighter tolerances than these, we may still be able to help.

If you contact us and let us know what your project needs, a member of our technical team will be able to advise you on the best solution.

Our CNC milling services are available on prototyping and one-off projects, as well as small, medium and large/repeat batch runs. As with most CNC machining processes, CNC milling is most cost-effective when applied to larger volumes of products – however, that’s not to say costs are prohibitive on smaller production runs.

To find out more about our CNC milling service, contact us for free advice.

CNC milling offers a number of benefits over manual milling, including speedier operations, improved precision, and increased automation with little to no down-time needed. In addition, repeatability is a major factor when choosing CNC milling over manual milling: once the data for a particular component has been entered into the machine, the item can be created over and over again, with no need for adjustment and no room for inaccuracies to creep in.

CNC milling is just one of our machining services. Find out more about our other CNC machining services.

Yes, CNC milling is just one of the CNC machining services we offer for aluminium extrusions. We can offer manual milling if necessary; however, it’s very rare to find an instance where our CNC milling service isn’t suitable. All the profiles and components we work on are checked by hand after being machined, and before leaving our facility, so our customers get the best of both worlds: precise, fast results from CNC machining, and an expert human eye for quality control.

Find out about our other CNC machining services.

The three primary advantages of CNC turning over manual turning are speed, precision and cost. CNC turning is typically four times faster than manual turning, and is up to 99.9% accurate to the computer-aided designs used. CNC turning, particularly on four- and five-axis machines, makes more intricate work possible, and cuts down both man-hours and machine time needed. All in all, it’s a very accurate and cost effective process.

Generally speaking, CNC turning results in a very smooth surface finish on extruded aluminium, particularly if the profile created is a plain, gently contoured or tapered one. If the profile you are looking to achieve is a more complex one, with multiple sharp edges, or you require a highly polished finish, we can offer a range of vibro deburring services to help you achieve the look you want.

Despite being a relatively simple process, CNC turning is flexible enough to achieve a variety of shapes, including cylindrical, tapered, contoured, fillet and radius profiles. CNC turning can also be used to achieve threaded surfaces, and combined with other CNC machining processes to create items such as shift knobs, pulleys, flywheels, hubs and shafts.

CNC turning is an affordable way to fabricate extruded aluminium parts that are (typically) symmetrical around a central axis of revolution. The workpiece is rotated at a speed determined by the computer, and a cutting tool is fed into the turning material. Unwanted material is shaved away, leaving the desired shape at the end. The shape achieved by CNC turning can be altered by changing the angle, pattern, and shape of the cutting tool.

CNC turning is just one of the many CNC machining services we’re able to offer our customers as part of our turnkey extrusion fabrication solutions. Combining our in-house capabilities with those of our trusted partners, we’re able to supply CNC turning services suited to almost any manufacturing project.