Oil and gas equipment does not give a machined part much room for error. A component may need to contain pressure, maintain a seal, guide another component, control fluid flow, or keep two mating parts aligned while exposed to corrosion, heat, vibration, or repeated loading. That is why CNC machining...
What Is Billet Metal? How It Is Made, Machined, and Used
If you have searched for billet metal, billet aluminum, or a billet machined part, you may have noticed that the word “billet” is used in several different ways. That can make the term confusing. A billet is not a metal grade like 6061 aluminum, 7075 aluminum, or 17-4 PH stainless...
Thin Wall Machining for Aluminum Housings: How to Control Tight Tolerances and Chatter
A thin-wall housing does not become difficult simply because one wall is 1.2 mm thick. The real difficulty is how the part changes as material is removed. A housing can begin as a rigid aluminum billet and finish as a structure with walls only slightly over 1 mm thick. During...
Aerospace Bracket CNC Machining | Hole Patterns Across Faces
Aerospace Bracket CNC Machining An aerospace-type bracket is a multi-face fitting whose holes have to pick up two structures at once. The print looks like a gusset until you try to hold true position from a sloped face back to a base. If those holes walk, the assembly pulls whatever...
Marine Impeller CNC Machining | Simultaneous 5-Axis
Marine Impeller CNC Machining A small pump impeller is one of the few parts on our industry list that actually wants simultaneous 5-axis. The blades are twisted. The hub and the eye have to stay true to the bore. 3+2 will rough a pocket. It will not fair a blade....
What Is CNC Machining and What Does CNC Stand For? A Complete Beginner’s Guide
CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. CNC machining is a subtractive manufacturing process that uses computer-controlled machine tools to remove material from a workpiece and produce a finished part. Depending on the machine and tooling, CNC machining can create holes, pockets, slots, threads, contours, and complex multi-sided features.CNC machining is...