Plastic Prototypes | CNC Machining | Rapid Prototyping
Find out all about CNC machining and CNC rapid plastic prototypes at X Rapid Technologies, a leading rapid prototyping and low-volume production company.
CNC Prototype: A Must-Have In This Digital Era
Some things are more embedded in our modern industrial system than the production of parts. As a profession in the industry of CNC machining prototypes, X Rapid Technologies provides a vast array of CNC machines. To get more details, visit our site today.
Recent decades have led everyone to a digital era where the computerized equipment that is automated in our personal, as well as industrial lives, has become an everyday aspect. With the development of the economy worldwide, the companies' capital investments are increasing in the research and development of innovative products.
To keep the engine of our economy humming, it is essential to be able to churn out a greater volume of high-quality parts. In the past couple of decades, the greatest innovation for the ones searching to develop prototypes is a digital design. However, with a CNC prototype, the total process of production is streamlined as designs are digitally created. This article will give you an idea regarding the CNC prototype, cnc plastic prototype, how it works, and the advantages of using CNC machining prototypes.
What is a CNC machining prototype?
CNC machining prototype is a process that is operated with the help of a computer as pre numerical data has been put in the machine. CNC machining prototype is very flexible and diverse, and it is known to be one of the best CNC systems methods to craft prototypes. CNC rapid prototypes are a must for verifying the R&D work.
CNC plastic prototype is the most commonly applied prototype. To make CNC rapid prototypes various plastics are available such as PTFE, POM, PP, PA, PMMA, PS, PC+ ABS, PC, and ABS. ABS is the most common and cheap among all that are used to make CNC plastic prototypes.
How does the CNC prototype work?
CNC machines are referred to as electro-mechanical devices that manipulate tools all over a changing number of axes having high precision. At the same time, it follows instructions from the computer program. The way of transforming a stock piece of material into a CNC prototype or CNC plastic prototype is referred to as machining. Computer software like CAD and CAM are used by engineers for building models using models that are design-based like Solidworks and Fusion 360 degree. A digital model is built with the help of software that is converted into G-Code and is sent to the CNC machine for the production of a CNC machining prototype.
Benefits of using CNC prototype
- Enhanced capabilities: When the CNC machine is used in conjunction with CAD or CAM software, it is able to develop model components or parts of CNC rapid prototypes of unbelievable accuracy.
- Controlled precision: With a CNC machining prototype, a computer program develops a 3D model of what the finished CNC prototype will be functioning and looking like, and then the CNC plastic prototype is generated accordingly. As computer software orders are followed by the machine, controlled movement is made for producing CNC plastic prototype models.
- Fast Turnaround: CNC machines have the capability to operate around the clock 24*7, unlike humans who need to take a rest at the time of production of CNC rapid prototype.
- Scalability: Hundreds of thousands of replicated CNC rapid prototypes and CNC plastic prototypes can be generated with the help of a CNC machine. New information is fed to the software program which lets the machine know how to prepare the required number of CNC plastic prototypes with extreme accuracy.
Reasons you need a CNC prototype service
- Digital to physical prototypes: In the CNC prototype, the digital stimulation or image of the prototype is created. Once the appropriate functions of the prototype are shown in the digital stimulation after that, only it is developed. This helps in ensuring that the CNC rapid prototypes are built as per specifications.
- Intricate prototype manufacturing: For manufacturing CNC rapid prototypes that are complex, CNC machining suites best. The designer gets the freedom to design any prototype they wish, such as a CNC plastic prototype. As the process of manufacturing is subtractive, the removal of material can assist to customize detailed features on the workpiece. Thus, CNC rapid prototype has the benefit of detailing.
- Less costly: There is no requirement to hire many people for CNC machining prototypes. CNC machining prototype ensures that the owners of the business need not spend much on wages.
Where to buy a CNC machining prototype?
With the advent of machining for CNC machining prototypes, manufacturers have completed complex processes efficiently and easily. When selecting the shop for a machine CNC plastic prototype, you need to make sure that you find the one that has a lot of experience in this process. Specializing in CNC prototypes and cnc rapid prototypes, our team at X Rapid Technologies can assist you in every aspect of the process of CNC machining prototypes. Remember, for the best cnc prototype and CNC rapid prototype service, you can trust us at X Rapid Technologies.
With the development of the global economy, companies increase their capital investment in the research and development of new products. Rapid prototyping is still a must to verify the R&D work. The most commonly applied prototypes are CNC machining plastic prototypes. This article discusses four things you must know about them.
1. Materials for CNC plastic prototypes
Many plastics are available to make CNC rapid prototypes. The commonly used ones are ABS, PC, PC＋ABS, PS, PMMA (acrylic), PA (nylon), PP, POM, and PTFE. It will take another article to explain them in detail. You only need to remember the following points:
- ABS is the most commonly used plastic material for CNC machining prototypes. And it is cheap.
- To make transparent or semi-transparent parts, you can choose PC or PMMA. And The transparency of PMMA can be over 93%.
- To make structural parts, you can pick PP or POM. They are highly resistant and have high tenacity but are hard to be painted.
2. CNC machines applied
The CNC machines for making prototypes are usually 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis machines.
The 3-axis CNC machines can only machine one face of the workpiece at a time, which is suitable for machining disk-shaped parts. It is hard to machine holes or recesses on multiple surfaces.
4-axis CNC machines add a rotary axis compared to the 3-axis. There is generally 360° rotation in a horizontal plane. However, it cannot rotate at high speed and is suitable for machining box-shaped parts.
If you need to drill holes in the side of a piece or the curved surface of a cylinder part, 4-axis CNC machining is the way to go. It largely speeds up the machining process. And the machining accuracy is high.
5-axis CNC machines have one more rotary axis than 4-axis machines, generally 360° rotation on the upright side. By clamping once, they can machine in all directions, thereby reducing clamping costs and avoiding scratching and bruising of the parts.
Due to their high versatility, 5-axis CNC machines can manufacture high precision parts, such as prosthesis or skeleton medical parts, aerospace parts, titanium parts, oil and gas mechanical parts, and military products.
It is not essential to make all prototypes with 5-axis CNC machines, even though they offer many advantages. Making CNC rapid prototypes that can be machined using 3-axis CNC machines through 5-axis machining will not only increase the cost, but you also might not get the desired results.
3. General tolerances of CNC rapid prototypes
Generally, the highest tolerance can be +/- 0.01 mm inner tolerance. With some Japanese CNC machines, the tolerance can be within +/- 0.001 mm.
However, the actual tolerance of the CNC machining prototypes depends on many factors such as the machines, the systems, the tools, the processing methods, etc. It would be wise to confirm with your CNC machining manufacturer per project.
4. Common surface treatments for CNC rapid plastic prototypes
For marketing purposes or to test the appearance of the design, you will need to post-treat the prototypes after they are machined. The main surface treatments are painting (matte, glossy, textured, etc.), silk screening, electroplating, vacuum plating, sandblasting, and water plating. After finishing, the CNC machining rapid prototypes look like the mass-produced ones.
As a profession in the CNC machining industry, X Rapid Technologies welcomes all kinds of communication. Just drop us a line!
