Category: 3D Printing

It’s no surprise that a CNC machine shop offers plenty of CNC milling services and CNC turning services along with cutting-edge techniques to batch produce your precision machine components.

However, if you’re not well-versed in CNC machining terminologies, it may lead to poor choices.

In case of a specific manufacturing requirement at a CNC milling shop or CNC turning shop, for example, it makes sense to understand the difference between CNC milling and CNC turning.

Knowing the difference can help you to make the best purchase decision for your application yielding better results and faster part creation.

To make things easier, we have compiled an entire blog to make things clearer for you to understand.

Ready? Let’s dig in!

What’s the Difference Between CNC Milling and CNC Turning?

Before you go ahead to learn what sets the two apart, let’s understand each machining operation in detail.

What is CNC Milling?

CNC milling or ‘Computer Numerical Control Milling’ is a type of machining process that uses a rotating cylindrical ad multi-point tool known as ‘Milling Cutter’ to remove material from the workpiece to produce a part of precise dimension.

The milling operation is computer controlled and is performed by dedicated CNC mills in varying directions on several axes, cutter head speed, and pressure.

Based on the requirements, machinists carry out different operations such as plain milling, face milling, side milling, angular milling, and more to bring out the exact form factor for the part.

What is CNC Turning?

CNC Turning, on the other hand, is also a type of manufacturing process. In this, the workpiece is held in a device called ‘Chuck’ and is rotated or ‘turned’ while a single-point cutting or boring tool cuts the piece to form a shape of the desired scale.

Like CNC Milling, the turning operation in CNC Turning is also computer programmed and requires minimal supervision, unlike manual lathe machines.

The Difference

While the core purpose of the two is to remove or subtract material from the workpiece, CNC milling and CNC turning differ greatly in how they operate to machine a particular part.

In cnc milling operations, the machine rotates the cutting tool while the workpiece stays stationary whereas in turning operations the workpiece is rotated while the stationary cutting tool performs the operation.

However, that’s not the only difference between the two. Both CNC Milling and Turning are used for producing different types of end parts. 

For parts that need to have complex shapes that include squares or custom ones,  CNC milling is preferred. On the other hand, for parts that require symmetrical and cylindrical shapes turning process is used.

Even though CNC Milling and CNC Turning produce completely different results they allow you to carve out patterns and details that are impossible to achieve by hand. By leveraging the power of both, you can precision machine almost any part as per your desire.

Where is CNC Milling and CNC Turning Ideally Used?

Due to the differences mentioned above, CNC Milling and CNC Turning both have different applications.

In spite of their differences, Precision CNC Milling and Precision CNC turning are utilized for creating regular as well as custom-built parts and can precision machine a wide variety of materials like plastics, metals, glass, wood, etc.

With respect to Precision CNC Milling, it is used in making anything from cabinets and furniture, woodworking to aluminum machining, prototyping, and sculpting.

Thanks to its ability to create cylindrical parts, Precision CNC Turning is best used for creating items such as bowls, crankshafts, dining room table and chair legs, gun barrels, etc.

CNC Milling and Turning is also suitable for a wide range of industries and used in everything from Aerospace to Oil & Gas and more.

What Factors Can Impact the Production of My Part?

When it comes to short-volume runs, CNC centers are best suited for parts that fall under the range of 2.5” OD. On the contrary, turning centers are ideal for parts that go an upward of 2.5” OD, though that also depends on the volume being produced.

Also, remember that dimensions play a crucial role in part turning. If your part falls under 1.25” OD it is assumed that turning might not be the best option for producing that part.

Another thing to note is that different types of CNC Centers provide different tooling options which dramatically could impact your part production. Things like the diameter limitations, power, volume, and speed specifications can also impact the overall cost of the part being made.

Final Thoughts

Well, now that you know the difference between CNC Milling Shop and CNC Turning Shop  you can safely pick the ideal method for your part manufacturing and bring out the best results.

If you’re not aware of what method works best for producing your part, you can always seek the opinion of expert machinists that can guide during each step of CNC milling and CNC turning.

The best part? You don’t even have to look for one.

We are a CNC milling Shop and CNC  turning shop based in Houston, Texas that specializes in providing excellent CNC milling services and CNC  turning services for major industries.

With our robust CNC mill Machines and CNC Turn machines, we can machine any type of part with extreme accuracy and tight tolerances.

Get in touch with us and we’ll help you manufacture your part in no time!

As the manufacturing industry is getting more and more competitive, there is a considerable scarcity of top quality manufacturers that industries can rely on. Also, conducting every single manufacturing activity in-house can add a huge burden on a company on top of other managerial activities.

To solve this issue, many industries nowadays prefer to outsource multiple manufacturing tasks to specialized third-party manufacturing experts. However, having multiple service providers can add even more burden and uncertainties to the business.

The best way to have a third party manufacturing is to opt for a turnkey machining service. These specialized manufacturing experts provide fast manufacturing services and cover every important aspect of product manufacturing.

In this blog, we will take a look at what turnkey machining service is and why it’s an ideal manufacturing approach for your business.

Without further ado, let’s get right into it.

What is Turnkey Manufacturing?

The term “Turnkey” is derived from the idea that the product that comes out of this manufacturing process is ready to use and anyone can start using it by turning the key.

In simple terms, turnkey manufacturing service providers carry out all the essential tasks in product manufacturing such as product design, production, quality control, packing, shipping, and delivering finished products to end customers.

Turnkey machining services work as third-party manufacturing experts that undertake all aspects of production and bears the risk of the product’s quality and functionality.

The biggest strength of a turnkey manufacturing company is they are we equipped with a plethora of manufacturing tools, CNC machinery, and expert team to optimize the manufacturing process. Being well-equipped in manufacturing tools and hands-on experience in manufacturing for various clients, they provide fast machining service with top-notch results and quality control.

With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the core benefits of opting for turnkey machining services compared to in-house manufacturing.

What are the Benefits of Turnkey Manufacturing?

The core function of a third-party turnkey manufacturing company is to alleviate the burden of manufacturing activities on the companies.

Companies often look at turnkey projects as a separate entity on its own. They delegate the most important manufacturing tasks which companies can’t do on their own or when they want to optimize the entire production.

In this case, turnkey machining projects take care of the crucial task of bulk manufacturing, quality control, design updates, and overall production optimization by working closely with their clients.

Another benefit of choosing a turnkey manufacturing company is that you get every feature of production optimization at one spot. You don’t have to look out for a specialized product designer, prototyping agency, or a CNC workshop. Turnkey manufacturers take care of everything related to product manufacturing.

Here are some of the additional benefits of having a turnkey machining services.

• You can opt for turnkey manufacturing in case of unpredictable breakdowns in your manufacturing firms. Skilled manufacturing companies can provide an emergency breakdown service so that your production won’t get hampered for a long period.

• Turnkey manufacturing companies work as third-party manufacturing experts for your business. They can provide you some valuable manufacturing expertise and product design insights.

• You can work in conjunction with turnkey machining services to maximize your production by combining your in-house manufacturing efforts.

• Delegating the manufacturing activities to external expertise is more cost-effective than creating your manufacturing workshop from scratch, especially for a smaller business.

• It can save you a fortune on purchasing heavy machinery, periodic maintenance, hiring qualified engineers to operate them and bear the risk of sudden shutdowns. Turnkey manufacturers carry out each of these functions with their expertise and also provide emergency machining services in case of CNC malfunction.

Which Industries Can Benefit From Turnkey Manufacturing?

Turnkey manufacturing is beneficial for every industry that requires bulk manufacturing with superior quality control. If you are a product based company, you can opt for turnkey manufacturing to streamline your business.

It is especially beneficial for smaller businesses, local product manufacturers, and young entrepreneurs as it provides cost-effective manufacturing support with emergency machining services.

For an established manufacturing firm, turnkey machining companies can boost their manufacturing quantities by fast machining services. Companies have reliable third-party support which can carry out every manufacturing activity in case of an emergency shutdown. It works as a backup manufacturing plant.

Turnkey manufacturing approach is perfect for packaging, product designing, rapid prototyping, spare parts manufacturing, product testing, and finishing activities. These are the core functions in manufacturing that you can outsource to reduce excess stress on your own company.

How to select the Right turnkey Machining Service for Your Business?

You must’ve got a clear idea of what turnkey manufacturing is and how it can benefit your business.

Now the question is, how to select the right turnkey machining company for your product?

Here are a few crucial tips for choosing the right manufacturing partner and how to make the most out of them.

• First of all, take a look at the company portfolio to get a better idea of their fast machining services and industries they’ve worked with.

• Choose a local manufacturing partner to reduce logistic cost and risk of damaged goods during shipment.

• Make sure that the company is well equipped with the latest machinery and required expertise for your product needs.

• If the company provides product design consultation and prototyping services, its a bonus.

• Make sure that the company understands your product needs and flexible enough to make changes whenever necessary.

Final Thoughts

To sum it all up, turnkey machining services provide all-around manufacturing support to a variety of product-centric businesses. Although a bit on the pricey side, the benefits of 360-degree manufacturing support are worth the price.

Are you looking for a local turnkey manufacturing company in Houston, Texas? Well, look no further.

We are a well-equipped CNC manufacturing workshop from Houston and happy to help you with our specialized turnkey manufacturing services. We also undertake emergency machining services and fast machining services with top-notch quality control.

Just send us your queries and we’ll help you decide the right manufacturing approach for you.

Since its introduction in 1940, Computerized Numerical Control, or CNC Machining has become the most used tool in almost every manufacturing industry. It stands as a proud reminder of how long we’ve come in manufacturing technology.

That being said, let’s have a look at how CNC machining has become synonymous with modern-day manufacturing.

Here are the 5 qualities that make CNC machining the ultimate manufacturing tool of today’s era.

1: Automation

The most striking feature of CNC machining is its automation capacity. With simple commands and data input, you can manufacture a variety of products in a short time.

CNC machines are designed to process numerical data to use electro-mechanical equipment so that they can change the shape and dimensions of the raw material. This significantly reduced the time and increased the rate of manufacturing.

Also, automation has significantly reduced human efforts as a single person can manufacture thousands of products within a day.

These machines carry out a plethora of specialized tasks like lathe, plasma and laser cutting, milling, etc. From custom parts to complete product manufacturing, CNC machines have become the most reliable bulk manufacturing tool for every industry.

For instance, the automobile industry can manufacture cars in bulk using CNC machine features like custom metal fabrication, paint coating, manufacturing supporting parts and creating a functional prototype. It also reduces the time between product designing and manufacturing the final product.

2: Accuracy

Before CNC machining, manufacturing was mostly done by human labor which was prone to errors and miscalculations. Also, the rate at which products were getting manufactured was significantly lower. That was the main reason why CNC machining came into existence.

As it works on a pre-set computerized commands, it can work tirelessly to manufacture products in bulk with extreme accuracy.

The only time it might create a faulty product is if there are some errors in command input, or problems in the hardware itself, which can be rectified easily.

CNC machines are used in industries where precision is crucial for the product. For instance, medical equipment, automobiles, and aircraft require high precision in manufacturing to make a quality product. Any error in manufacturing can cause product malfunction that may even cost a person’s life.

All these factors make CNC machining an ideal choice for rapid manufacturing with minimal errors.

3: Customization

CNC machines provide the ultimate customization for product dimensions and carry out a variety of tasks.

All you have to do is change a few specifications in your data input and the CNC machine will create a product with various dimensions.

These machines also come in a variety of specializations like 3D printers, custom lathe and mills, precision cutting, etc. which makes it the perfect subtractive manufacturing equipment for every machine workshop.

Industries usually need to make a few tweaks in the raw material processing to save on costs and increase the production rate. With CNC machining, you can do it without stopping the entire manufacturing process.

4: Bulk Manufacturing

As I’ve mentioned before, CNC machining has accelerated the manufacturing rate by thousandfolds. If your product requires bulk manufacturing of various parts and accessories, CNC machining is ideal for you.

Every company wants to increase its production and release products in the market as soon as possible. CNC machining gives you a first-mover advantage and creates a steady buffer of finished products.

5: Guideline for Future Technologies

CNC machines are the earliest innovation that changed the entire landscape of manufacturing. It has made product manufacturing much easier, cheaper, and faster.

However, the most important thing it did is to lay a foundation and benchmark for every manufacturing equipment of the future.

We’ve seen shifting paradigms in manufacturing technology since the first industrial revolution. Technology has improved drastically in the past few decades. But the only thing that remained constant was the presence of CNC machines.

Every new manufacturing tools made in the past few decades had CNC machines as a first outline. This new product should work as good as the traditional CNC machines if not better. CNC machines have opened tremendous possibilities in production technology.

The modern CNC machines are now equipped with an interactive display with a touch screen, user-friendly interface, a higher degree of customization, and the ability to work on various products at once.

Bottom line: CNC machines have transformed the manufacturing industry and set the right path for the future of product manufacturing technologies.

Final Thoughts

To sum it all up, no matter what kind of products you manufacture, CNC machining will be the inseparable part of your manufacturing workshop.

Don’t have a CNC machine shop of your own? Well, you do now. We are among the leading CNC precision machine shop and more than happy to help all the manufacturers in Houston, Texas.

Take a look at our variety of CNC manufacturing services to find out what can we do for you.

Delegating partial or complete manufacturing to third party workshops has become common for product industries nowadays. Especially for small-to-medium-sized firms, contract manufacturing can be a great asset.

Companies have to take an important decision whether to manufacture a product or sell it, as handling both at the same time isn’t always possible.

Smaller companies have a limited pool of expertise in certain fields like marketing, product design, branding, etc.

But when it comes to manufacturing, it becomes difficult for those companies to handle production effectively and efficiently. In this case, you can outsource the manufacturing expertise to dedicated manufacturing workshops.

If you are still wondering whether it would be an ideal choice or not, then read along.

We have curated some top reasons why you should definitely choose contract manufacturing for your business.

But Before You Start

Ask yourself these questions to find out whether you really need contract manufacturing in the first place.

• Is your business product-centric or marketing-centric? (Contract manufacturing is ideal for companies more inclined towards marketing their products so that they can focus more on it.)

• What is the size of your business? (Huge enterprises can afford an in-house manufacturing unit. Small-to-medium-sized businesses, on the other hand, can’t.)

• What is the core expertise of your business? (If your core expertise is anything other than manufacturing, consider outsourcing.)

• Is your supply chain getting too complex? (Third-party firms can simplify the supply chain by streamlining logistics and reducing the risk of goods damage during transportation.)

• Do your manufacturing demands keep on changing? (Individual firms cannot adapt to sudden changes in the manufacturing process. Third-party experts can, however, adapt to these changes without losing efficiency.)

With that being said, here are the top reasons for hiring contract manufacturing services for your business:

Cost-effective

First of all, contract manufacturing is cost-effective for your business.

Here’s how:

These CNC machine workshops are well-equipped with CNC machines that can be used to manufacture your products, which is much better than purchasing a CNC machine yourself.

As CNC machines are only as effective as a person who operates them, you have to hire a CNC expert to operate the machine. This could mean additional cost for your company.

On the other hand, CNC machine workshops are well-equipped with manufacturing equipment and also have the required expertise to achieve significant results out of these equipment.

Help in Upscaling

Imagine this:

You are offered a contract from a big client that requires you to scale up your manufacturing process, but due to lack of sufficient equipment and expert personnel, you reject the contract.

Pretty bad situation, isn’t it?

Well, having a contract manufacturing partner can help you scale up your manufacturing process with the required machinery and expert personnel.

Also, outsourcing non-important manufacturing tasks help your employees focus on their targets and efficiently maintain the quality of your product.

Quality Management

Manufacturing being their core business, machines workshops ensure that their manufacturing services are top-notch and deliver products on time. Best of all, you literally get a third-party quality control for your product.

Selecting the right contract manufacturing firm significantly reduce the risks in manufacturing by maintaining the product standard, reducing waste, and the turn-around time required.

Also, having both in-house and third-party quality control for your products ensure that your customers get the best product from you every single time.

Expertise

Eventually, what matters the most is having the right manufacturing expertise that takes your business to the next level.

A product is at the core of every business. Having a successful product strategy from idea conception to bulk manufacturing sets you apart from your competitors.

Having a contract manufacturing partner brings valuable expertise on everything from manufacturing your product at optimum cost to producing it on time with minimum wastage.

These contract manufacturing partners provide services such as CNC machining services, robotics manufacturing services, pharma manufacturing services, etc. You can select the manufacturing approach suitable for your products and also decide whether you want to outsource your manufacturing partly or completely.

No matter what your requirements are, these agencies can fine-tune the manufacturing process to best suit your demands.

Final Thoughts

To sum it all up, contract manufacturing can take off the significant burden from SMEs by providing customized product manufacturing services.

Not only that, it brings valuable expertise to optimize your production process and help you take the right steps towards a successful business.

Most of the emerging businesses today make a smart choice by outsourcing their manufacturing efforts to a competent agency. If you are one of them and are looking for the best CNC machining services in Houston, Texas we can help you out.

Take a look at our CNC machining services which includes a variety of CNC equipment, emergency CNC machining solutions, and other essential services. We would be glad to be your strategic manufacturing partner of choice!