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Precision and hands-on expertise for your most demanding applications
Compare metals and plastics for CNC machining with full property details, tolerances, and suitability notes. Engineered to help you make informed decisions for precision, durability, and performance.
Fathom customers love our hands-on approach to engineering and production. This personalized approach is reflected in these CNC Machining technology case studies.
Metal and plastic are the most commonly machined materials. Foam and wood can also be shaped using CNC machining, ideal for creating molds for different types of casting and FRP part production.
A 5-axis CNC machine tool, the cutting tool can move on the X, Y and Z linear axes and the workpiece can be rotated in the A and B directions. This enables the cutting tools to reach any point on the surface of the part. 5-axis machines are used to produce more complex part geometries often required by the aerospace, defense and medical industries.
Fathom commonly machines stainless steel, low-carbon steel, aluminum, brass, titanium and Inconel. Plastic materials include HDPE, polycarbonate, ABS, nylon and acetal.
Updating the design of a part is as simple as modifying the CAD file and then generating new code to drive the CNC machine tool. That’s it. No additional tooling or preparation is needed. You can immediately start machining the new version of your part. That’s the beauty of digital manufacturing!
It can significantly impact:
For hard materials, special tools are often required to withstand the increased wear and tear they cause. Instead of carbide steel tools, you may need to use tungsten carbide or diamond-tipped tools that are designed for this type of work. Improper machining techniques can cause excessive heat or tool wear, leading to poor surface quality.
CNC machine cutting tools have a cylindrical shape and a flat or rounded end. This can restrict the possible geometry of CNC-machined parts. For example, the inside vertical corners of the part will have a radius, even if a small cutting tool is used. Sharp inside corners may be difficult to achieve because of the shape of the cutting tool. If you require a part with sharp internal corners, you may need to use wire or sinker EDM cutting.
Tool access is another potential limitation of CNC machining. The workpiece cannot be machined if the cutting tool is unable to reach a surface. This limits parts that require hidden, internal geometries and sets a limit on the maximum depth of an undercut. For parts with complex geometries, internal cavities or deep undercuts, consider using metal 3D printing instead. Fathom can produce high-density metal parts using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS).
The geometry of the part will dictate how it will be positioned in the CNC machine and the amount of setup required. Manually repositioning a part can increase the chance of error. Repositioning will impact not only accuracy but often increases the cost of the project. Parts that have rounded or irregular shapes may be hard to secure before machining.
Every quote is reviewed by an experienced engineer to ensure optimal design, materials and manufacturability, so your part gets made right, the first time.
