About CNC Machines

In today’s manufacturing world, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines have revolutionized how products are designed and produced. By automating precision cutting, shaping, and machining, CNC equipment allows companies to achieve consistency, efficiency, and accuracy that manual methods simply can’t match.

Their ability to replicate the same parts consistently and quickly has revolutionized manufacturing over the last 50 years, and made many consumer goods affordable.

Types of CNC Machines

  1. CNC Milling Machines

    CNC milling machines are large stations that use rotary cutting tools to remove material from a workpiece. They can move along multiple axes (3-, 4-, or even 5-axis) to create complex shapes. Typically these are about 7’ tall and 9’ wide, though many may be smaller or larger.

    They produce the bulk of most machined parts including parts for the industrial, medical, agricultural, and aerospace fields. Most metal pieces will have had mills involved in some portion of their manufacturing process.

  2. CNC Lathes (Turning Machines)

    CNC lathes work very similarly to mills, only they rotate a piece against a cutting tool to produce cylindrical or symmetrical shapes. They are fast and precise and are the perfect option to cut into round parts.

    You’ll find many products that are made using lathes including shafts, bushings, pins, pipe fittings and medical implants.

  3. CNC Routers

    CNC routers are used for cutting and carving softer materials like wood, plastics, composites, and certain metals. They work similarly to milling machines but are optimized for larger panels. Though not as common as mills or lathes, they still have their own usage and make a wide variety of products including furniture, signs and displays, cabinetry and even some architecture.

  4. CNC Laser Cutters

    Using focused laser beams, CNC laser cutters can create highly detailed cuts with fine tolerances in metals, plastics, and other materials. Many electronics, and medical devices are made using laser and plasma cutters.

    You’ll also find many pieces of jewelry and sheet metal pieces that have been made using laser cutters.

  5. CNC Electrical Discharge Machines (EDM)

    EDM uses electrical sparks to shape hard metals that are difficult to machine with traditional cutting tools. There are two types: wire EDM and sinker EDM. Sinker EDM uses a shaped electrode that doesn’t move to make complex 3D blind molds, cavities, and other features deep into hard metals.

    Wire EDM uses a thin moving electrode that cuts high precision 2D shapes and designs. These are often used to make complex products including injection mold tooling, aeronautics equipment and dies for stamping.

  6. CNC Grinders

    CNC grinding machines use abrasive wheels to achieve fine finishes and high-precision tolerances. Many metal products where the finish is at all considered a priority will have had a grinder polish them.

  7. New Technologies

    It is exciting to see new technologies like 3D printers that can make car chassis and even houses start to develop, but we are likely a decade or two off before they become developed enough to compete with tried and true CNC machines in terms of production speed and cost.

Using CNC Machining for Making your Products

CNC technology plays a crucial role in modern manufacturing, enabling everything from mass production to specialized, custom-built parts. Whether your company needs prototypes, precision components, or large production runs, choosing the right CNC process is key to achieving both quality and efficiency.

At Global Trade Specialists, we help businesses buy from trusted factories in China that are equipped with the latest CNC technologies. They can hold the tightest tolerances and maintain quality with ease. From design to finished product, we ensure your parts are made to the highest standards, on time and within budget.

Contact us to learn more how CNC can help you product production.