If you are considering purchasing a CNC machine for metal fabrication and want to learn more about this popular machine tool, this guide will interest you. It will cover some of the basics related to automatic metal milling, cutting, engraving, and routing machines, which can help you understand what it is, how it works, and why it might make a difference in your next project. This guide will list all types of metal CNC machines for home shop, small business, hobbyists, training, school education, commercial use, and industrial manufacturing. Let's start understanding 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 one of the top rated CNC manufacturers & brands in the world, STYLECNC will be the best store & shop that can offer you the top rated new & used metal CNC machines on sale at cost price in 2023 within your budget with free expert customer service to fit your 2D/3D personalized cutting, milling, drilling, routing, milling projects and solutions.
Definition
A metal CNC machine is an automated computer numerical controlled machine tool capable of cutting, hollowing, milling, molding, drilling, twisting, embossing, and curve machining for all types of metals. It features with high precision, fast speed, low cost and no pollution, and is used for the cutting of 2D and 3D parts for manufacturing, as well as full 3D milling for creating prototypes, models and molds, corrugated & expanded metals, flat sheet materials and more. It has its own dedicated software that helps you easily convert existing drawings and designs into G-code files.
Working Principle
A metal CNC machine uses the following four easy-to-follow steps to get a job done: The first, you should design a CAD model; the second, you should convert the CAD model into a CNC program; the third, you should set up the CNC machine; the last, you should execute the machining operation.
Features & Advantages
• You can pause, increase or decrease the speed, adjust the depth at any time, and preview the 2D and 3D designs of the milling path. The stepless speed regulation is convenient for cutting different materials and is suitable for different industries.
• It has the ability to continue milling after power failure and timely error code files, and can automatically correct errors at the origin. It is convenient to deal with the broken cutter, and continue to mill at any time, without re-typesetting or returning to the original point for re-milling.
• It is easy to operate and master, and supports and is compatible with various CAD/CAM software and typesetting software.
• The fuselage has high bearing capacity and no deformation. The top brand ball screw ensures the milling speed, and the square linear guide rail effectively improves the milling accuracy.
• The optimized design of the bed frame adopts linear guide rails (cylindrical or square) with long service life.
• High-speed water-cooled frequency conversion motor, large distance, strong cutting, high frequency, long life.
• Much cheaper than waterjet and fiber laser cutters.
Applications
Metal CNC machines are used for milling and cutting all types of metal materials such as steel, copper, brass, aluminum, iron, as well as plastic, stone, wood, jade, glass, foam, ceramic tile and other materials. They are applied in copper electrodes, accessories, high-frequency molds, drip plastic molds, plastic molds and other small molds, industrial product patterns, text, bronzing, printing, metal templates, watch parts, positioning punching, shoe mold making, auto parts processing, electronics parts, glasses accessories, hardware processing and other industries.
Specifications
| Brand | STYLECNC |
| 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 are divided into 11 types & categories according to 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. In addition to the basic classification, the same type of metal CNC machines can also be classified according to other features.
1. Classification according to the scope of application, it can be divided into general-purpose types, specialized types and special-purpose types.
General Machine Tool
This type can complete different processes of various parts. It has a wide range of processing and high versatility, but its structure is relatively complicated. Turret mill, vertical and horizontal turret mill, tool mill.
Specialized Machine Tool
This type has a narrow process range and is specially used for a specific process of processing one or several types of parts, such as crankshaft types, gear types, whirlwind mills, hexagonal lathes, and keyway mills.
Special Machine Tool
This type has the narrowest process range and can only be used to process a specific process of a certain part. It is suitable for mass production, such as 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.
2. According to the classification of machining accuracy, it can be divided into ordinary precision types, precision and high precision types.
3. According to the degree of automation, it can be divided into manual, motorized, semi-automatic, automatic and CNC metal machines, such as ordinary vertical turret mills, digital display turret mills, CNC turret mills, automatic turret milling machining center.
4. Classified by quality and size, it can be divided into instrument types, precision tool arrangement types, desktop small types, large gantry machining centers, large gantry vertical lathes, large presses.
5. According to the number of main working parts, it can be divided into single-axis, multi-axis, single-tool or multi-tool.
6. According to the classification of automation functions, it can be divided into ordinary types, CNC types, machining centers, flexible manufacturing units and intelligent production lines.
Buyer's Guide
1. Consult:
We will recommend the most suitable metal CNC router to you after being informed by your requirements, such as the material you want to carve, the max size of the material (Length x Width x Thickness).
2. Quotation:
We will offer you with our detail quotation according to the consulted CNC metal machine. You will the most suitable specifications, the best accessories and the affordable price.
3. Process Evaluation:
Both sides carefully evaluate and discuss all the details(including technical parameters, specifications and business terms) of the order to exclude any misunderstanding.
4. Placing Order:
If you have no doubt, we will send you the PI (Proforma Invoice), and then we will sign a contract with you.
5. Production:
We will arrange the metal CNC router production as soon as receiving your signed sales contract and deposit. The latest news about production will be updated and informed to the CNC metal router buyer during the production.
6. Quality Control:
The whole production procedure will be under regular inspection and strict quality control. The complete metal milling machine will be tested to make sure they can work well before out of factory.
7. Delivery:
We will arrange the delivery as the terms in the contract after the confirmation by the computer-controlled metal machine buyer.
8. Custom Clearance:
We will supply and deliver all the necessary shipping documents to the metal carving machine buyer and ensure a smooth customs clearance.
9. Support and Service:
We will offer professional technical support and intime computer-controlled metal engraving machine service by Phone, Email, Skype, WhatsApp, Online Live Chat, Remote Service around the clock. We also have door-to-door service in some areas.
Troubleshooting
Abnormal Operation
Abnormal temperature rise, abnormal speed, excessive vibration and noise, impact sound, abnormal input and output parameters, and internal defects of the machine tool. All of the above phenomena are precursors and hidden dangers of accidents. In addition to some obvious phenomena (such as smoke, noise, vibration, temperature change) monitor.
Wearing Parts Fault Detection
Component Failure Detection
Including 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
There are mainly 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
Further apply new technologies such as electronic computer technology, new servo drive components, gratings and optical fibers, simplify the mechanical structure, improve and expand the functions of automated work, and make machine tools suitable for inclusion in flexible manufacturing systems.
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.
Improve machining accuracy and develop ultra-precision machine tools to meet the needs of emerging industries such as electronic machinery and aerospace.
Develop special processing machine tools to adapt to the processing of difficult-to-machine metal materials and other new industrial materials.
