The CNC machine is the short name of the computer numerical control machine tools. The CNC machines include the CNC milling machine, CNC router, CNC lathe machine, and CNC turning machine, etc. And this is a kind of automatic machine tool with a program control system. The control system can logically process a program with the control code or other symbolic instructions. And the system decodes and expresses it with the coding numbers, and inputs into the numerical control device through information carrier. After arithmetic processing, the numerical control device sends out various control signals to control the action of the machine tool. And the parts will be processed automatically according to the shape and size as required on the drawing.
The CNC machine solves the problem of complexity, precision, small-batch production, and multiple varieties of parts machining. It is a flexible and high-performance automatic machine tool. It represents the development direction of modern machine control technology and is a typical mechanical-electrical integration product.
The operation and monitoring of CNC machine tools are all completed in the CNC machine control system, which is the brain of the machine.
Compared with ordinary machine tools, CNC machine tools have the following characteristics:
Compared with traditional machine tools, CNC machine tools have the following advantages.
The CNC machine parts generally consist of the main machine, the numerical control device, the driving device, and auxiliary parts. The following introduces the CNC machine parts briefly.
The main machine is the key component among all the CNC machine parts. It includes the machine body, spindle, feed mechanism, and other mechanical parts. It is a mechanical part used to complete various kinds of processing, such as cutting, and engraving.
The numerical control system is the CNC machine control system and the core of the whole machine. This part includes the hardware (the printed circuit board, CRT display, and key box) and corresponding software. It is used to input the digital part program, and complete the storage of the input information and data change. The numerical control device can also complete the interpolation calculation and realization of various control functions.
The driving device is the driving system of the CNC machine. It includes the spindle drive unit, feed unit, spindle motor, and feed motor. The driving device drives the spindle and the feed motors through the electric stepper or servo system under the control of the numerical control device.
Auxiliary parts refer to some necessary supporting parts of the CNC machine. They are used to ensure the operation of the machine, such as cooling, chip removal, lubrication, lighting, and monitoring. Auxiliary devices include the hydraulic and pneumatic device, chip removal device, CNC rotary table, and CNC dividing heads. There are also tools and monitoring and testing devices.
The programming and other ancillary devices can be used to edit and store the program outside the machine.
The above parts form and build CNC machine. With the coordinated operation of these devices, the machine can complete the process of positioning, cutting, engraving and so on.
According to the usage and processing purpose, the CNC machines can be divided into the >metal cutting CNC machine, the metal forming CNC machine, CNC special processing machine, and CNC Router.
The metal CNC machines for cutting mainly include CNC lathe machine, CNC drilling machine, CNC milling machine, CNC grinders, CNC boring machines, and machining centers. These machines are suitable for single-piece, small-batch, and multiple varieties and parts processing. The metal CNC machine for cutting has good processing size consistency, high productivity and automation, and high equipment flexibility.
The metal CNC machines for metal forming include CNC bending machines, CNC combination punches, CNC pipe bending machines, and CNC rotary head presses, etc.
Such machines include CNC wire (electrode) cutting machine, CNC EDM machine tools, and CNC flame cutting machines. There are also the CNC laser cutting machine, and special combined machine tools, etc.
There are also some other CNC machine types that adopt numerical control technology. For example, there are water jet cutting machine, sample cutting machine, CNC Routers or CNC engraving machines, and CNC coordinate measuring machine.
| CNC machine name | CNC machine price |
| CNC Turning machine price | $25,000.00-$30,000.00/ Set |
| CNC milling machine price | $30,000.00-$34,000.00/ Set |
| CNC drilling machine price | $6,000.00-$9,000.00/ Set |
| CNC router price | $2,700.00-$3,000.00/ Set |
| Laser cutter price | $29,000.00-$49,000.00/ Set |
| Laser welding machine price | $12,059.00-$16,176.00/ Set |
| Laser marking machine price | $2,100.00-$2,400.00/ Set |
The CNC machine cost can be affected by a lot of factors, the raw materials, the different machine configurations, and different models of CNC machine companies. What factors affect the CNC machine cost mostly? Concerning the machine itself, the important factors that determine the CNC machine cost are the spindle, the control system, and the bearings.
The spindle unit builds a bridge between the tool and the work-piece and is a key component of the machine. It is also the ultimate guarantee of machining accuracy. The spindle unit generally depends on two points, one is the speed, and the other is the cooling method. The common spindle speed of the CNC machine tools supplied by Blue Elephant is usually 18000 rpm. Such speed can be increased or decreased according to the actual processing needs of +customers. The spindle speed is different, the price is different.
The cooling equipment is also one of the indispensable parts of the spindle. The CNC machine will generate a lot of heat under high-speed processing. The cooling system is essential to reduce the heat, and usually has two types: water cooling and air cooling. Generally, the users choose water cooling for the machine with a higher power, and air cooling for the one with smaller power.
The numerical control system is the brain of the CNC machine. And it is the headquarters to complete the various procedures of the machine. The control system is also the core component with a large price gap. Some control systems of international famous brands are more expensive, while domestic CNC systems are cheaper. Mitsubishi and Siemens are more common international brands in the current market. In addition, China's domestic CNC control systems develop rapidly and have high-cost performance. The users make a choice according to processing requirements in combination with their budget.
Bearings are an important part of the CNC machine tools, mainly used to support the rotating parts, and reduce the friction coefficient. In the machine, the bearing is mainly used on the lead screw to drive the lead screw to rotate. The bearings must have good rigidity and the impact and wear resistance. At present, the high-end bearings in the market are of Swiss and Japanese brands, but the prices are higher. If the users need a machine with middle-level configuration, choosing the medium-level bearings can meet the daily processing demand.
Therefore, the buyers shall not only pay attention to the CNC machine price. The cheap CNC machine is often equipped with low-end parts, which will affect the processing effect. Choosing a good-quality machine can achieve the desired processing effect and bring economic benefits really.
There are various CNC machine types from various CNC machine companies on the market. The following collects the 7 best CNC machines that commonly used and well-received in 2020.
The CNC turning machine is also known as the CNC lathe machine. CNC lathe machine is one of the most widely used CNC machines. It is mainly used for the cutting and machining of inner and outer cylindrical surfaces of shafts or arc-shaped materials.
CNC turning machine is also usually used for processing inner and outer conical surfaces with arbitrary cone angles and various screw threads.
Most of the cylinder-shaped materials, such as shafts, sleeves, disc-shaped materials can be processed by CNC turning machine. There are some specific examples: screws, motor shafts, model car parts, and fishing gear accessories.
The CNC milling machine is an automatic processing machine developed on the basis of general milling machines. There are two categories: the CNC milling machines without the tool magazine and the ones with tool magazine. The CNC milling machine with a tool magazine is also called a machining center.
The CNC milling machine can mill the plane materials, grooves, toothed parts, and various curved surfaces.
Plane materials: horizontal and vertical planes.
Grooves: key-ways, T-slots, and dovetail grooves
Toothed parts: Gears, spline shafts, spiral surfaces
The CNC milling machine can also manufacture inner holes, and cut off materials. It can also process work-pieces with complex shapes, curved surfaces, and strict geometric tolerances. The CNC milling machine can ensure the processing consistency for the work-pieces of the same batch.
The CNC drilling machine is a numerically controlled hole processing machine tool that focuses on drilling. It can complete multiple processes such as drilling, expanding, reaming, and tapping. It is applicable in wind power, boilers, petroleum, chemical, and nuclear power industries. The CNC drilling machine can meet a large number of hole-making processing needs in flanges, heat exchangers, and tube sheets. And there are the processing of iron towers, steel structure connecting plates needing CNC drilling machine.
CNC Router is also called the CNC engraving machine for wood, which is the precision wood CNC machine. It can be used for cutting various flat materials and engraving two-dimensional and three-dimensional materials.
This wood CNC machine is commonly used for engraving wood and different non-metallic materials. Such a CNC engraving machine for wood is suitable for all kinds of softwood, hardwood, mahogany, solid wood board, composite board, and planed board.
In addition to wood materials, CNC Router can also engrave the double-color board, acrylic boards, PVC, and PP boards. This CNC engraving machine is also applicable for MDF, density boards, ABS boards, and other non-metallic materials.
CNC Router can be widely used in the woodworking industry, advertising industry, mold manufacturing industry, stone engraving, and crafts industries.
The CNC Router produced by Blue Elephant is suitable for the above materials, especially for furniture panels and acrylic materials.
The CNC cutter is the CNC cutting machine of the mechanical-electrical integration. It mainly includes CNC plasma cutting machines, CNC flame cutting machines, and CNC laser cutting machines. CNC cutter drives the movement of spindles through digital programs and uses the cutting tool to cut through various materials.
The laser welding machine is a high-efficiency precision welding equipment that uses the laser beam as the heat source. The laser welding machine uses a high-energy-density laser beam to locally heat the material in a small area. The energy of the laser radiation diffuses into the material through heat conduction. And the material is melted to form a specific molten pool.
The laser welding machine is applicable to the electronic components, precision machinery, communications, and other industries. There are also many users in the phone batteries, sensors, medical devices, craft gifts, and clocks industries. This machine is suitable for welding the same kind of materials, such as stainless steel, gold, silver, and alloy. And it is also applicable for welding many kinds of dissimilar metal materials. For example, the laser welder can weld copper and nickel, nickel and titanium, low-carbon steel, and copper.
The CNC marking machine usually refers to the laser marking machine. It is a kind of small CNC machine or mini CNC machine. The size of the CNC marking machine is relatively small. It can also be used as the home CNC machine and hobby CNC machine. The laser marking machine uses the laser beam to make permanent marks on the surface of various kinds of materials. The effect of marking is to expose the deep material through the evaporation of the surface material. Thereby, the marking machine engraves exquisite design graphics, trademarks, and letters on the work-pieces.
According to the laser sources, laser marking machines are mainly divided into CO2 laser marking machines, fiber laser marking machines, and UV laser marking machines.
The CO2 laser marking machine can mark a variety of non-metallic materials and some metal products. The most common materials include bamboo, wood, paper, ABS, PVC, epoxy resin, acrylic, leather, glass, ceramics, and rubber, etc.
The fiber laser marking machine uses fiber as the working medium. And it can be mainly used to mark stainless steel, aluminum, carbon steel, and many other metal materials.
The UV laser marking machine is mainly used in the high-end market of ultra-fine processing. It can mark the surface of packaging bottles of medicines and cosmetics, and other polymer materials. The UV marking machine has very fine marking effects and clear and firm marks.
CNC machine is very applicable for the processing of the parts of multiple varieties and small-quantity production. It is also suitable for the urgently needed parts with the shortest production cycle. In addition, it can also process the parts with complex structures, irregular shapes, and high-performance requirements.
The shell parts generally are the closed polyhedron, have the cavity, uneven inner wall, and bearing holes with high precision requirements. Such parts are widely used in manufacturing industries, including cars and airplanes parts. For example, the common shell parts include the engine oil pan of a car, and the transmission body. There is also the cylinder block of the diesel engine, and the gear oil pump cover. Shell parts generally have stricter dimensional tolerance requirements.
Generally, the machining process includes the milling, hammering, drilling, expanding, reaming, and external threads tapping. It requires clamping and alignment several times, and the frequent accuracy measurement by using ordinary machine tools. Such a process results in complex processing techniques, long production and processing periods, increased costs. And more importantly, the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. If using a CNC machine, the users can complete 60-95% of the processing contents by clamping the parts once. After the processing by the CNC machine, the precision of the shell parts has the good consistency and stable quality. In addition, it can reduce manufacturing cycle time and reduce costs.
CNC machines are also suitable for the processing of the parts with complex bevels. For example, there are auto parts profiles and various abrasive tools with bevels. Generally, the parts with complex bevels can be processed by the CNC machine with the three-axis linkage device. The production and processing of the CNC machine have high precision. Some parts may have blind points for processing, such as centrifugal impellers. It is better to choose the four-axis or five-axis CNC machine kits, which are the real 3D CNC machines and can realize three-dimensional processing conveniently.
Special-shaped parts are the parts with irregular shape designs. Most of them require multiple tooling and fixtures for processing, such as support frame, base, profiling, and support frame. The rigidity of special-shaped parts is not good. And the clamping pressure and drilling deformation cannot be manipulated, it is hard to guarantee the production and processing precision. At this time, the users can choose the CNC machine with multiple spindles for multiple-process production. This is a kind of effective technique to realize the exact processing effect and meet higher precision requirements.
CNC machines can complete the processing of complex parts that are difficult or impossible for machining on ordinary machine tools. Therefore, it is widely used in industrial manufacturing, chemical, metallurgy, aerospace, mold, and other processing industries. Almost all the industries are covered, as long as there are machining industries, CNC machines will be the optimal choice.
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