May 20

May 20 CNC Machining Process Planning - 25 Considerations

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist

When planning a CNC machining process there are many considerations and options to choose. From cutting tool selection to cutting parameters, the choices have a major effect on the end results. Here is what it might take to define a CNC toolpath:

Job Name
Part Number
Part Revision
Stock Size X
Stock Size Y
Stock Size Z
Material
Work / Fixture Offset
Programming Operation Name
Cutting Tool Type
Cutting Tool Diameter
Cutting Tool Corner Radius
Cutting Tool Flute Length
Cutting Tool Shoulder Length
Number of Flutes on a Cutting Tool
Cutting Tool Speed
Cutting Tool Feed Rate
Ramp Entry Feed Rate
Plunge Entry Feed Rate
Stepover in X/Y
Stepdown in Z
X/Y Stock Allowance
Z Stock Allowance
The Maximum Depth of the Toolpath
The Cycle Time

Leave a comment

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Matthew started his manufacturing career while in high school as a youth apprentice. He went on to study Tool and Die making while pursuing a apprenticeship. Upon completion of the 10,400 hour apprenticeship he used his Journeyman Tool and Die making skills to make tooling for the motorcycle industry. From there he spent ten years making surgical instrumentation for spinal surgery, while leading the machining department. He most recently became a manufacturing engineer at a global manufacturing company, while focusing on machining processes. He started this website after researching what kind of information people pursuing or starting a manufacturing career need to succeed, and how the information should be presented.