Custom CNC Milled Parts for Rapid Prototyping and Production

CNC milling is a manufacturing process that uses computer-controlled cutting tools to remove material from a block. This process can be used to create a wide variety of parts with complex geometries and consistently accurate tight tolerances.

When designing parts for CNC milling, it is important to consider the following guidelines:

• Check that your part dimensions are within the capabilities of our CNC milling machines.
• Specify your tolerances for all critical dimensions.
• Ensure the chosen material is compatible with our CNC milling equipment.
• Maintain sufficient wall thickness to avoid part deformation.

In general, it is important to maintain a minimum wall thickness of 0.06 inches (1.5 mm) for parts that will be subject to load. For parts that will be subject to high stresses, a thicker wall thickness may be necessary.

Here are the recommended minimum wall thicknesses for different types of parts:

Lightly loaded parts – 0.06 inches (1.5 mm)
Moderately loaded parts – 0.09 inches (2.3 mm)
Highly loaded parts – 0.12 inches (3.0 mm)

You can discuss the appropriate wall thickness for your specific part with our CNC milling engineers.

Avoid undercuts that may be difficult to machine

If an undercut is necessary, it should be made as shallow as possible and with a generous radius. If possible, the undercut should be designed so that it can be machined from multiple directions.
Undercuts that are too deep can be difficult to machine because the cutting tool cannot reach the bottom of the undercut. This can lead to unwanted dimensions, surface imperfections, and even tool breakage. Undercuts with sharp corners can be difficult to machine because the cutting tool can snag on the corner and cause chatter. This can also lead to inaccurate dimensions and surface imperfections. Undercuts with small radii can be difficult to machine because the cutting tool cannot effectively machine the tight curve. This can lead to inaccurate dimensions and surface imperfections.

Tips for Designing Threaded Parts for CNC Machining

When designing threaded parts for CNC machining, it is important to consider the following tips:

• Specify the thread type and dimensions.
• Provide enough material for the thread to engage.
• A thread that is fully engaged will be stronger than a thread that is not, as the fully engaged thread will have more material to support the load. A thread that is not fully engaged is more likely to strip or break. This could lead to accidents with the final product.

When designing parts for CNC machining, it is important to consider the amount of thread that is engaged with the tapped hole. This thread engagement length should be at least 75% of the thread length. Here is a formula for calculating the thread engagement length:

Engagement length = Thread length * 0.75. For example, if the thread length is 1 inch, then the engagement length should be at least 0.75 inches.

Use a thread chamfer to ease thread engagement.

A thread chamfer is a small bevel cut at the start of a thread that helps to ease thread engagement. This can be especially helpful for blind holes, where it can be difficult to align the tap with the hole. A thread chamfer can also help to prevent damage to the thread during tapping. The size of the thread chamfer will depend on the size of the thread. A good rule of thumb is to make the chamfer about 45 degrees and about 0.015 inches larger than the major diameter of the thread.

To find out more contact us