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purchase rate

The Development Status Of Rapid Prototyping In China

Technological innovation, industrial production, new product development and shortening the development cycle, including artificial intelligence, 5G construction, these are already inseparable from rapid prototyping technology. The development of this type of technology in the West is nearly half century earlier than that in China.  with the development and application of new materials today, CNC machining and 3D printing have become popular all over the world. So, what is the status quo of China prototype technology development? We analyze from the following perspectives:

purchase rate

3D Printing

This production process was first introduced from the West, but currently Chinese prototype manufacturers have been constantly innovating and improving, and have produced many printing equipment that meet the needs of different industries, and the cost is very low, ordinary people can buy, for example: one set Ordinary 3D printing equipment can be purchased for 300USD, which can print models in many colors using PLA and TPU materials.

Since 3D printing is very autonomy, you only need to import the CAD model of the part (STL format), and you can print it yourself. For prototypes with complex shapes, it can save a lot of time, and does not require traditionally manufactured tools, chucking, and positioning. From this perspective, such a process is very suitable for the intelligent and unmanned production of Industry 4.0. However, there are not many 3D printing metal materials in China at present. Many prototype companies do not have such capabilities. Even if they are available, they will be enormous expensive. Moreover, the surface of the printed metal parts is relatively rough. Chinese suppliers prefer to use CNC to mill the metal parts. This processing technology has been very mature and professional in China.

CNC Machining Services

This kind of processing technology is the choice of most suppliers in China, including lathe, milling, grinding, EDM, etc. This is because the early labor cost was relatively low and the raw materials were cheap.At that time, CNC was only used for mass production. Later, it was accompanied by with the rise of rapid prototyping, people find that it can also play an important role in it. From CAD drawings to the end parts, it can be completed quickly in a short time.

Today, people have higher and higher requirements for CNC machining, so high-speed cutting and high-precision technology have developed rapidly and are widely used in high-end CNC machine tools. High-speed cutting has high processing efficiency, high precision, and low unit cost. Apply new machine tool kinematics theory and advanced drive technology, optimize the machine tool structure, adopt high-performance functional parts, lightweight moving parts, and reduce motion inertia. In high-speed machining, high speed, medium cutting depth and fast feed, and multiple strokes are more advantageous. With the support of tool materials and structure, it has developed from single tool cutting high-speed machining to comprehensive high-precision machining. As one of modern advanced manufacturing technologies, it has been more and more widely used. Aerospace, automotive, and mold manufacturing, coupled with the country’s emphasis on manufacturing, have pushed the technology forward.

Rapid Tooling

  • Silicon mold: currently it has become one of important rapid manufacturing processes for plastic parts low volume production, due to the process of making mold fast and easily ,in particular ,it could save money hugely to compare with the traditional steel mold ,for those people who want to get the products ready urgently ,no better process than this one .

 

  • Rapid injection mold: in the beginning ,Chinese prototype manufacturers prefer to use aluminum mold ,rather than steel mold ,because it’s more cheaper .However ,the tooling life is short ,and the quality of injected parts are not enough good, So aluminum mold is going to die step by step ,at least ,right now it rarely see people to make aluminum mold,in contrast, Steel mold is still the trend,although the molding time is a bit long .

Surface Finishing

Today ,Chinese government is very strict with the management of environment protection,so there are many anodized shops ,chrome plated shops..etc that are being demanded without pollution production,cleaning room, using the healthy original material. Thus, the quality of finished parts have been improved as well. In the meantime ,the government stuff often visit these shops to make sure and supervise the daily work is going well .

The Skills of Technician

Currently regarding of the skills of technician ,it is becoming less and less in China ,almost all prototype companies are eager to hire the technician who is an enthusiastic and motivated,talented ,smart and hardworking .However ,this situation is very harder, because more and more young people are not willing to join this sector .This is a big problem and challenge we have to face .Some entrepreneurs are adding the salary and reduce the work time to attract those excellent technician to join them . And also , some companies even hire the engineering member with vast experiences and knowledge who is phenomenal in the industry can be part-time job. Thus, they can help to make the training, technological guidance, and teaching job .

prototype industry in China

Conclusion

Due to be with rapid economic development, China has become the second largest economy in the world. Chinese government is more and more serious with the traditional manufacturing industry and technological innovation, to support and encourage enterprise reform and innovation constantly, even provides subsidies for some high-tech enterprises, So We believe that rapid prototyping technology will make great development and continuous progress in the future .

low volume manufacturing

The Process of Being Custom CNC Parts

CNC Aluminum Parts

For a single buyer, the current industry is growing increasingly specialized. Although the initial product contains certain typical foundation features, it is still tailored to a single client. It is due to an overall increase in manufacturing technological development, which increases service. Everyone would agree that we are all unique, and something built especially for you would better suit your needs than a typical product manufactured for everyone.

Take, for example, shoes. Many people have distinct shoe sizes for their left and right feet. Consider the fact that modern industry can create shoes just for your feet. When we talk about the industry, machine shops are at the top of Custom CNC Parts. They are the ones where a single customer can come to have a single part manufactured just for him. Sure, the cost of such a service is currently reasonably high, but it is lowering as new techniques are adopted. We can adapt each product for each client at some point. Here is a comprehensive guide to custom machined components that may help you understand the industry.

What Options Are There for Product Customization?

A consumer can obtain a customized product in a variety of ways:

  • Personal development. For example, if a client already knows what part he needs, he can produce a sketch or even a 3D model of it and bring it to the machine shop to have it built.
  • Development in collaboration. When customers are unsure about the design or look, this is a good approach for them to get their custom-designed and machined pieces. It necessitates the establishment of specific criteria for a machine shop, such as a design department. The customer and this department collaborate to produce the custom design.
  • Adaptive personalization. This strategy simplifies the job of manufacturers while imposing a lot of constraints on buyers. The process entails designing a base portion that we may customize to meet the needs of the customer. Using this strategy, the manufacturer may produce vast quantities of products with some degree of personalization without spending much time readjusting the manufacturing process.
  • Cosmetic customization entails designing a conventional product and a variety of distinct “styles” for it. As an example, different colors. It is the simplest method for creating custom CNC parts for mass production, but it only provides a basic level of customization.

Machine Shop Requirements

If a machine company wants to make single customized components for their customers, they must alter their products specifically. Bespoke machining entails a low volume of a large number of various pieces of manufacturing. It means that the producer will have to develop a new manufacturing process and CNC program for each part from the ground up, making CNC machining services for a new product easier.Given that there are thousands of different parts, each with its own set of material and geometrical specifications, reducing lead time is the most important and difficult one for the manufacturer to solve.

To reduce the time it takes to find resources, the manufacturer must keep standard stockpiles of the most common materials on hand. In addition, the shop should contain as many different machine tools as feasible. It’s a horrible strategy to lose orders because you only have two lathes and no grinding equipment. The same can get said for tools and cutters. The producer must be prepared to generate as many distinct parts as feasible. To put it another way, be prepared for anything.

Precision Machined Parts

We can find machined parts everywhere in our daily lives. We can understand details from simple designs, machining, labor done to every surface finish using diverse tooling in exact locations. Manufacturing these unique components necessitates either speedy and cost-effective right technology or extensive experience.

We have multi-axis machines that can turn, cross-drill, mill, and engrave workpieces all in the same machine. We can obtain tolerances of 0.0005′′, and versatile multi-tool 3,4,5 axis CNC machining can be as small as 0.010”. In any case, our CNC machining centers allow us to provide unique and integrated solutions that can help you minimize production time and manufacturing costs.

low volume manufacturing

CNC Machining Of Custom Parts

Modern low volume production is not the same as mass production. With an increased need for custom milled parts, this sort of production is becoming increasingly popular. Therefore much research and development are directed at improving the efficiency of flexible manufacturing systems.

CNC machine tools play a significant role in part creation flexibility. Only 10-15 years ago, it took a lot of additive manufacturing to create a part with some complicated surfaces (i.e., to develop a pattern for a machine tool to keep up with the manual work required). Therefore complex components were primarily made for mass production or manual labor that was time-consuming and costly. All of those things get now replaced by CNC software. Furthermore, specific computer-aided manufacturing methods have to be developed, significantly reducing the time required to generate such a program. Modern tool mechanisms enable the maker to place many tools on the lathe, reducing the time required to replace them during the machining process.

We must develop a set of standardized fittings and jaws to fulfill most of today’s machining demands. Those fixtures are often made up of several discrete pieces that can be placed together on the machine tool’s operating surface to secure the part during the machining phase. True, they have less precision than specialist fixtures, but current measuring techniques have offset this disadvantage.

A customized touch probe can get placed on almost any current CNC machine tool. This probe gets used to measure the stock’s actual dimensions and position once it is repaired, effectively eliminating the locating error. We may also use it to measure the exact dimensions of the product at various production stages so that any errors may be found and remedied as soon as possible and as quickly as possible.

Conclusions

Recent advancements in manufacturing automation and computerization have significantly reduced the lead time required for the product to get built. A flexible manufacturing system, specially designed to produce a vast number of single unique parts, is the pinnacle of contemporary industrial development. All of this allows for lower rates for custom machined parts to get made for individual customers and consumers. It is possible to argue that machine shops will eventually be able to produce one-of-a-kind things for everyone.

Are you looking for a dependable prototyping firm or a custom manufacturer? We specialize in making machined parts from various materials using modern CNC machines and secondary finishing procedures. We have served numerous customers from different backgrounds with over twenty years of expertise, including giant corporations, small-medium-sized businesses, and hobbyists.

 

 

CNC Machining

How Much Do You Know For CNC Machining Services?

Organizations today are simplifying the product development process with CNC machining services. It helps speed up manufacturing machined parts with the highest degree of quality and accuracy, ensuring consistent product quality, increased production speed, and product efficiency. CNC machining  include a range of complex processes like grinding, turning, routing, milling, punching, and lathing. In this article, we will tell you what exactly CNC machining is and its capabilities in detail.

What is ​High Precision CNC Machining?

In Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) Machining, the technology uses fast, repeatable, and programmable systems to make parts more effective.  It signifies one of two methods like 3D printing technology and FDM to generate prototypes from a digital software file. The operation is, therefore, more straightforward since the CNC controllers control the CNC devices. The method allows computers to produce objects with complicated geometries that may be impossible to achieve with a manual process. Replacing traditional instruments and expertise with high-precision machines will help factories save time and resources.

CNC Machining

What are the benefits of CNC machining?

CNC machining is a subtractive production technique that uses computerized equipment to extract surplus content from the block and complete tasks using the CNC system and its tools. These are the advantages of CNC machining services:

  1. The fully automated operation results in reduced overhead costs.
  2. High precision, resistance, accuracy, and dimensions;
  3. It can handle accelerated prototyping with low to high volume requirements.
  4. A more simplified method of development

The CNC Machining Process:

This production method is a fully integrated machine that uses computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software and computer-aided design (CAD). For components with a simplified architecture, the user may explicitly input command programs to the computer. However, for more complex structures, a CAM or CAD drawing must first be created and inserted into the device. Alternatively, use coordinate measurement machines (CMMs) to map the configuration directions to the device physically. The program would automatically build and provide the necessary steps for the system to produce the output.

There is less space for error since the computer would follow the letter’s instructions to produce the object. What’s much cooler is that this operation is easily repeatable, allowing the manufacture of similar parts more quickly. Previous applications of CNC machines are sluggish and are used only for high-volume processing. Now our technology has advanced considerably. Using complex technologies and tools now enables the direct introduction of computer-generated models into the application to make the operation much quicker. It also makes the use of low-volume CNC machining facilities to be more economical and practical.

Different Capabilities of CNC Machining:

CNC machining facilities to customers provide the following service of CNC machined parts from rapid prototyping to the manufacturing of parts and tools and the manufacture of end-use parts.

CNC Milling

It is the most traditional method that starts from a solid piece of raw material. This material forms by a CNC milling cutter operating in a circular motion. CNC milling machines can make parts of any shape, from primary keys to complicated parts, and can be horizontally or vertically aligned.

CNC Turning

This technology is a quick and fast-repeatable device that uses a lathe to extract excess material from a block by making grooves, gaps, and cuts. It uses a lathe or CNC spinning core that rotates at high speed as the cutting tool shifts in a rotating axis.

CNC Drilling

It is a cutting mechanism in which the block gets set and aligned with the cutting center as the tool rotates to make a circular hole.

CNC Milling and Turning

It is a fusion of two machining methods in which both the cutting tool and the workpiece rotate to create a component with a unique shape—the CNC computer design to perform several tasks in a short turn-around period.

Materials for CNC Machining Services

CNC machining facilities are the most cost-effective way of making a component or a prototype. There are several ways this machining method can make out of a complicated design and diverse materials. Companies ensure that the finest raw materials get used to producing a variety of goods with a high degree of integrity. Here are some of the components used by the Company for CNC Machining products.

  • Copper
  • Aluminum
  • Titanium
  • Polycarbonate
  • Stainless Steel
  • ABS
  • PMMA/Acrylic
  • Magnesium
  • Brass
  • Nylon

Machining Companies can also accommodate other fabrics of your choosing. With your CNC designs, companies will produce prototypes, limited batch models, and low-volume manufacturing of finished components.The following factors influence the entire CNC machining process:

  • Blade angle
  • Coolant
  • Cutting parameters
  • Speed and feed
  • Machine tool
  • Material

CNC machining is a subtractive production technique that uses computerized equipment to extract surplus content from the block and complete tasks using CNC machining. Make sure to choose the state-of-the-art CNC machined parts facility to increase your product’s sales and quality.

 

industry4.0

Will Industry 4.0 Affect CNC Machining Services?

The concept of Industry 4.0 was mentioned for the first time at the Hannover fair (fair dedicated to industrial technology) in 2011 with the intention of launching a project that would carry out the conception and development of the smart factory associated with the fourth industrial revolution, a vision of computerized manufacturing with all its interconnected processes making use of the internet of things (IoT), nowadays called the industrial internet of things (IIoT).

It is said that two years later the German government launched this initiative with the idea of ​​coping with the great advances in industrial matters that were taking place in emerging countries such as China, and that by not being able to compete in production costs, the idea was to be able to exceed them in industrial technology and in the ability to custom machined parts products individually. Although, as has been seen, these countries have not been slow in wanting to get on the bandwagon of this fourth industrial revolution once it is launched in Europe and the United States, where by the way the concept of Industry 4.0 or Industrial Intelligence, unlike in Europe, is called Smart Manufacturing or Industrial Internet. The term Industry 4.0 encompasses many concepts and purposes, but the first advances in this area imply the incorporation of greater flexibility and individualization of custom machined parts processes. The automotive industry is a pioneer in the need to implement these flexible and individualized manufacturing processes, and it is where great advances are already being seen in this area because manufacturers have to adapt vehicles to the individual needs of customers of fast and efficient way.

industry4.0

Principles of design

The design principles on which custom machined parts companies and organizations are based to implement Industry 4.0 are the following:

  • Decentralized decisions. Cyber-physical systems have to be able to make decisions for themselves and to carry out their tasks in the most autonomous way possible.
  • People, devices, sensors and custom machining have to be able to communicate with each other. Here the Internet of Things (IO • Technical assistance) plays a very important role. Cyber-physical systems have to offer support and collaboration to humans in all those tasks that are dangerous, produce fatigue, tiredness or are unpleasant. And on the other hand they have to offer help or support that is capable of adding visual information intelligible to humans so that possible problems can be advanced and / or solved in the shortest possible time.
  • Informational transparency. Information systems have to be able to create a virtual copy or “Digital Twin” of the physical world that surrounds them through the data collected through their sensors and other connected devices in their ecosystem.

Challenges of Industry 4.0

It is expected that the new concept of Industry 4.0 associated with the fourth industrial revolution and Cyber-physical Systems, will be able to promote fundamental changes at the same level as the three preceding revolutions. Let us remember that in the first revolution, mechanics moved by the energy generated by water and steam were introduced, in the second, electricity and mass production invented by Henry Ford were introduced, and the third automation and the proliferation of technologies. of the information. If we had to define the most important challenges that companies and organizations that implement Industry 4.0 are going to have to face, they would be the following: The development of software and analysis systems that turn the deluge of data produced by smart factories into useful and valuable information. T).

CNC machining and Industry 4.0

We hear about the 4.0 revolution and the technologies that are going to transform our world as we know it. Robotics, IoT, Big Data, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, 3D Printing… are just some of these technologies. But what is not discussed so much is that many of these innovations are based on technologies that are already well established in our industry.This is the case of additive manufacturing or 3D printing, which uses CNC machining technology as one of its fundamental elements.

The abbreviations precision CNC machining correspond to “Computerized Numerical Control”. It is applied to machines that, unlike conventional or manual ones, use a computer to, based on numerical codes assigned to their degrees of freedom, define the movements that must be made, allowing great precision in drawing circles, diagonals or complex three-dimensional figures.

CNC manufacturing services are capable of moving a tool, in up to five degrees of freedom, to obtain complex three-dimensional figures. Once the computer is programmed, the custom machines parts works alone, allowing the operator to dedicate himself to other tasks, with the consequent optimization of the use of personnel.

Apple Watch in Titanium Case

Titanium Case For Apple Watch Series 5

Around 15 years ago ,Titanium has not been used widely yet ,because titanium machining is very difficult ,and the material is very expensive ,most of manufacturers had not the ability to work with Titanium. What’s more ,they lacked of titanium milling skills and experiences . At that time , it only applied for the aerospace and military installation upscale industry .Less common people can touch it .

However , today with the capability of manufacturing is improved and in progress rapidly. Due to Titanium has gained widespread applications in aerospace industries. They are light weight, possess high strength, have excellent fatigue performance and offer high resistance to a bad condition environment. Titanium has become more and more welcomed premium metal material, it has came into common people’s life . So you can see and touch it in our daily life.

The Premium Material For Watch Case

The list of titanium benefits and favorite properties is lengthy. This makes it incredibly useful for all kinds of industries, including the electronic products .Such as : Some of the most common uses for titanium are the case of consumer electronics product. Last year Apple announced that they launched the Apple Watch Series 5 with titanium case , it is as strong as stainless steel but much less dense, obviously the new premium material in the titanium watch case is lighter than stainless steel cases they made in the past years. Although the original material is expensive, it is really different .Titanium makes the most sense to compare with those aluminum ,stainless steel material choices for the Apple Watch .

Apple Watch in Titanium Case

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source : from the Apple Watch

What Is the Difference With Titanium?

1) Exceptionally strong, lightweight

2) Better prevention of scratch

3) Special characteristics to help it wear better over time.

4) More fashionable.

The Cost Factor

When a new product is launched into the market, in addition to paying attention to appearance and function, consumers also have a particularly important factor, which is price. Obviously, the cost will be increased too much for the whole watch product to use Titanium material as the watch case .People will have to consider it when they are going to buy it .Maybe many people are not affordable for this type of luxury. Apple Watch needs to consider improving the production process or vast production scale to bring the costs down, so that more and more people can accept reasonable prices range.

How Can We Help You ?

We are experts at machining Titanium prototype parts and low volume production ,if you have some projects which are related with Titanium components .We can provide custom Titanium CNC Machining services within the shortest possible lead times. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for a quote ,send us your CAD files and PDF drawings if have threads ,tolerances ,surface roughness,parallelism..etc requirements. You will see how we can be your strategic partner on your key projects .

CNC machined parts inspection

How to Offer the Best CNC Machining Services for Customers?

You are able to find out a lot of machining shops through by searching on the Google. Bing. Yahoo. They are from many nations and serving all kinds of industries accordingly .Almost these manufacturers could provide CNC prototyping services and a series of volume production. However, as a professional and excellent machined supplier, how to offer the best CNC machining services for your customers?

Response Fast to Customers Questions and Quote

 The sales should reply quickly after received the RFQs from the customers, for some of uncertain issues, sales should discuss with the engineering team to get a confirmation before answering, especially on the design issues. In fact, most of the machining customers are designers, they like to communicate with the manufacturer to discuss their ideas and designs in order to optimize the design better. Even you can also provide some suggestions or solutions to help customers save cost.

 Choosing the Correct Materials According to Customers Requirements

After received the order from customers, the first step is prepared for original material ordering .You have to provide the correct materials, if customers require Aluminum 7075, then, you cannot provide Aluminum 6061 instead. And also, for some of material colors difference, you need to pay attention too, for example, there are both white and black POM. You have to confirm with customer which one they prefer .

Checking the CAD Models before Making CNC Programming

In China , engineering people like to work with PROE or UG software ,but most of western designers and engineers like to use SolidWorks as their working software ,when converting 3D files ,maybe some issues will be happening ,such as : perhaps some of caves will be incorrect or broken. Thus, programming maker should repair it before starting programming job.

Checking the Programming before Inputting the Machines

After the programming done, it should be checked by the leader or another coworker before inputting the machines to make sure it correctly. If you have not checked it ,once the machine running , the work piece will be incorrect if some of programming made a mistake .So this step is very important for the whole CNC machining process .

Quality Control

Parts need to be Inspected and Checked after Machined

 In fact , the machinist should pay attention to the work piece during machining step , and observe if it is running according to the programming of setting up ahead .Especially for some of stiff metal cutting. Such as, it probably produce huge noise and smoke during titanium machining process. These factors the machinist should know. After machined parts done, you need to check and inspect them before starting deburring, polishing, anodizing or other finishing. Such as: if customers request threading? Or some tight holes? The clearance of sharp corners?  It will cost too much if you did not inspect after machined, and directly make the process of finishing, when you looking back to make an inspection on the parts. The operators should check the drilling tools with Caliper before drilling holes to keep the tools what they use are 100% correct, rather than feeling with their experiences.

Make the Final Inspection before Parts Packing

You need to check and inspect the quantities, dimensions, tolerances, threads, and some finishing again before packing the parts .QC should be responsible for the whole quality control process. And make a full inspection on each part. For some of customers who are demanding the report of quality inspection. QC will be prepared for it. In the meantime, if customer has emphasized the fitting relationship between some of parts, then, the manual workers must try to fit them.

CNC machined parts inspection

Keep the CNC Programming Well for Future Production

In machining industry, usually customers will make one CNC prototype or a few pieces as test and checking. Once the prototype approved, then, the next step is production running .So the manufacturer has to keep the programming,if the customer modified their design ,programming makers can also adjust and remake it accordingly on the former programming, thus ,it can save lots of time .