If you’ve been contemplating the acquisition of a CNC machine for metal fabrication and yearn to delve deeper into this ubiquitous machinery’s realm, this guide could be your key to understanding it better. The document encapsulates fundamental aspects related to automated metal milling, cutting, engraving, and routing machines, elucidating their identity, functionality, and potential contribution to your upcoming projects.
You will find here a list of various types of metal CNC machines suitable for a home shop, small business, hobbyists, training, school education, commercial use, and industrial manufacturing. So, let’s embark on a journey to understand the best buying guide in 2023 for makers, DIYers, homeowners, shop owners, beginners, operators, machinists, merchants, brokers, distributors, agents, commercial users, wholesalers, industrial manufacturers, artisans, builders, and fabricators.
As a leading figure among global CNC manufacturers, Hymson Laser promises to be an optimal shopping destination that can offer you top-notch new & used metal CNC machines available for sale at cost price in 2023. Moreover, these offerings come within your budget and include complimentary expert customer service to fit your 2D/3D personalized cutting, milling, drilling, routing, milling projects and solutions.
What is a Metal CNC Machine?
A metal CNC machine is a sophisticated, computer numerically controlled machine tool proficient in executing tasks such as cutting, hollowing, milling, molding, drilling, twisting, embossing, and curve machining for a variety of metals. Its hallmark traits include high precision, expeditious speed, economical operations, and zero pollution. The machine is typically employed for manufacturing 2D and 3D parts as well as full 3D milling for the creation of prototypes, models, and molds. It also deals with corrugated & expanded metals, flat sheet materials, and more. This machine comes equipped with dedicated software that facilitates effortless conversion of existing drawings and designs into G-code files.
How does a Metal CNC Machine Work?
A metal CNC machine operates based on four straightforward steps: First, a CAD model is designed. This model is then converted into a CNC program. Following this, the CNC machine is set up, and finally, the machining operation is executed.
Features & Advantages
- The machine enables pausing, modulating the speed, adjusting the depth at any point during the operation, and provides a preview of the 2D and 3D designs of the milling path. The feature of stepless speed regulation makes it adaptable for cutting different materials and caters to various industrial needs.
- It has the capacity to continue milling after power failure, timely error code files, and can automatically correct errors at the origin. This facilitates handling the broken cutter and continuing to mill at any point without re-typesetting or returning to the original point for re-milling.
- The machine’s operation and mastery are simplified, and it supports and is compatible with various CAD/CAM software and typesetting software.
- Its structure boasts high bearing capacity and no deformation. The top-brand ball screw ensures optimal milling speed, and the square linear guide rail significantly enhances milling accuracy.
- The bed frame’s optimized design uses linear guide rails (cylindrical or square) that have a long service life.
- High-speed water-cooled frequency conversion motor enables large distance, robust cutting, high frequency, and prolongs operational life.
- This machine is significantly more economical compared to waterjet and fiber laser cutters.
Applications
Metal CNC machines serve to mill and cut all types of metal materials such as steel, copper, brass, aluminum, iron, and non-metal materials including plastic, stone, wood, jade, glass, foam, ceramic tile among others. They are employed in a wide array of sectors including but not limited to copper electrodes, accessories, high-frequency molds, drip plastic molds, plastic molds, industrial product patterns, text, bronzing, printing, metal templates, watch parts, positioning punching, shoe mold making, auto parts processing, electronics parts, glasses accessories, and hardware processing.
Specifications
Brand: Hymson Laser Work Table: T-slot Cooling Type: Water Cooling Drive Motors: Stepper Motors Command: G code Voltage: 3Phase AC380V, 50-60Hz or 220V Price Range: $5,000.00 – $23,800.00
Types
Metal CNC machines can be categorized into 11 types based on their working principles: lathes, drilling types, boring types, grinding types, gear processing types, threading types, milling types, planing and slotting types, broaching types, sawing types, and other special types. Beyond this fundamental categorization, the same type of metal CNC machines can be subdivided according to other characteristics:
General Machine Tool
This type can execute different processes on a variety of parts. It boasts a wide processing range and high versatility, but its structure is relatively complex. Examples include turret mill, vertical and horizontal turret mill, tool mill.
Specialized Machine Tool
This type has a narrow processing range and is specifically used for a particular process of processing one or several types of parts. Examples include crankshaft types, gear types, whirlwind mills, hexagonal lathes, and keyway mills.
Special Machine Tool
This type has the narrowest processing range and can only be used to process a specific process of a certain part. It is suitable for mass production. Examples include the special boring machine for the spindle box, special round table mill for connecting rod, gantry drill and mill for automobile axle, special mill for engine casing.
Buyer’s Guide
The process of acquiring a metal CNC machine can be broken down into the following steps:
- Consultation: We will recommend the most suitable metal CNC router to you based on your requirements.
- Quotation: We will offer you detailed quotation based on the consulted CNC metal machine.
- Process Evaluation: Both sides carefully evaluate and discuss all the details of the order to avoid any misunderstanding.
- Placing Order: Once the details are clarified, we send you the PI (Proforma Invoice), and then we will sign a contract with you.
- Production: Upon receiving your signed sales contract and deposit, we will arrange the metal CNC router production.
- Quality Control: The entire production procedure will be under regular inspection and strict quality control.
- Delivery: We will arrange the delivery as per the contract terms after the confirmation by the computer-controlled metal machine buyer.
- Custom Clearance: We will supply and deliver all the necessary shipping documents to ensure a smooth customs clearance.
- Support and Service: We offer professional technical support and in-time service around the clock. We also have door-to-door service in some areas.
Troubleshooting
Potential issues include abnormal temperature rise, abnormal speed, excessive vibration and noise, impact sound, abnormal input and output parameters, and internal defects of the machine tool. All these phenomena could be precursors and hidden dangers of accidents.
Wearing Parts Fault Detection
Component Failure Detection: This includes rotating shafts, bearings, gears, impellers. Among them, damage to rolling bearings and gears is more common.
Damage Phenomena & Faults of Rolling Bearings
Damage phenomena include ball smashing, fracture, crushing, wear, chemical corrosion, electrical corrosion, lubricating oil fouling, sintering, rust, cage damage, cracks. The detection parameters include vibration, noise, temperature, and wear residue analysis and component gaps.
Gear Unit Failure
This category mainly covers gear body damage (including tooth and tooth surface damage), shaft, key, joint, coupling damage, and bearing damage. The detection parameters include noise, vibration, oil leakage, and heat from the gearbox.
Trends
The sector sees further application of new technologies such as electronic computer technology, new servo drive components, gratings, and optical fibers to simplify the mechanical structure, improve and expand the functions of automated work, and make machine tools suitable for inclusion in flexible manufacturing systems.
Moreover, there’s a trend to increase the speed of power main movement and feed movement, and correspondingly increase the dynamic and static stiffness of the structure to meet the needs of new cutting tools and improve cutting efficiency.
Lastly, there’s a push to improve machining accuracy and develop ultra-precision machine tools to meet the needs of emerging industries such as electronic machinery and aerospace. There’s also a development of special processing machine tools to adapt to the processing of difficult-to-machine metal materials and other new industrial materials.