Keeping CNC machining costs low can be difficult, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the elements of machining that take the most work and time. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to keep CNC machining and milling costs down for your project before it even reaches the machine shop. Here, we will identify the most costly elements of precision CNC machining and ways you can work around them to save money.
When considering the benefits of CNC machining vs. manual machining, it’s important to understand that the answer really lies in the kind of work being done. Flenar Manufacturing utilizes extensive experience and unique machining equipment that allows them to specialize in precision CNC machining. Some of our most unique machines used for CNC machining projects include:
- HAAS VF-2 w/ HRT160 Rotary (2) for 4-Axis Milling
- HAAS VF-1 YT w/ T5C2 & HAAS VF-2 SSYT w/ T5C2 for 5-Axis Milling
- Star SR-32 for Turning
- Hexagon 4.5.4 CMM & Starrett HB400 for Metrology
By exceeding our competitors in both capability and customization, Flenar Manufacturing is capable of presenting a number of methods to keep your CNC machining costs low.
Tips for Keeping CNC Machining Costs Low
CNC machining can be expensive, and having to redo any operation can seriously disrupt your budget. Identifying design and development factors leading to high CNC machining costs is key. If you can identify the following factors within your own project, your machinist can then adjust these factors, minimize their use, and eliminate any production-heavy aspects early on in the process. Some of the most common cost-increasing factors include:
- Expensive materials
- Elaborate surface finishes
- Overly specific tolerances
Here’s our biggest tip: Follow standardized radii for non-critical features to save on both time and expenses. Small, overly specific radii for inside corners is extremely time-consuming and often requires a special setup. The ideal inner corner radius for most machined parts should be 3mm, or ⅛”.
CNC Milling & Other Machining Capabilities
Flenar Manufacturing has experience machining tight tolerances (±.0005), as well as small components in various types and grades of materials. Some of the most common materials we work with include stainless steels, titanium, aluminum, carbon steels, and plastics. We work with these, to machine parts for medical applications, aerospace, robotics, automation, and more.
Flenar is capable of machining even the most complex parts quickly and efficiently; our vertical dual station 5-axis milling center allows for parts to be rotated during machining. We complete parts with limited operations, reducing setup time and ensuring close feature to feature tolerance. We also offer Swiss turning, which uses a sliding headstock lathe that clamps and pushes material through a bushing to a stationary cutting tool. This creates a very rigid machining condition which allows for production components that would typically challenge traditional slant-bed turning centers. Flenar’s Swiss turning machining center utilizes a bar feeder that provides some automation and continuous run options, once again allowing us to operate quickly and more efficiently than other precision machine shops
An FDA Registered CNC Machine Shop in Rochester, Indiana
Flenar Manufacturing is an FDA-registered precision CNC machining and milling shop in Rochester, Indiana. We have the experience and equipment necessary to machine your project on-time while saving you money where it really counts. Additionally, we offer a variety of metrology-related services to benefit your project, including CMM inspection, heat treatment, and media blasting.
By working directly with customers to reduce costs, Flenar is capable of completing your project at a fraction of the cost some larger machine shops would charge. Regardless of your industry, Flenar Manufacturing welcomes a challenge and can utilize all of the processes at our disposal to provide you with high-quality precision CNC machined parts.
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