During the time of World War II, the United States rapidly produced ships, aircraft, and vehicles for military use. Production continued even after the war, with a surge in home construction, infrastructure expansion, and transportation. As a result, engineers and designers required efficient tools to meet the increasing demand for industrial products.

One of the pioneers of CNC machining was John T. Parsons, a renowned figure in the field of helicopter rotor blade production. He was among the first to advocate for the use of this advanced manufacturing technique. With the help of interpolation curves and computational methods, the team at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio was able to achieve the intricate tapers needed for their rotor blades. As the demand for complex aircraft parts increased, Parsons’ company utilized CNC machining and computational methods to produce the desired shapes.

The origin of CNC machining can be traced back to the innovations of Parsons and the advancements made by MIT’s Servomechanisms Laboratory. This led to the creation of a machine that could use computational methods to precisely fabricate machine parts. By utilizing servo-mechanisms and Cartesian coordinates, this machine could accurately guide its moving parts, resulting in automated precision. Throughout the twentieth century, this automation became increasingly advanced and is still progressing today.

When using traditional machining, a machinist with expertise operates a machine to remove or form metal in accordance with provided specifications. These specifications are typically relayed through an engineering drawing or blueprint and the operator utilizes various tools such as turn wheels, dials, switches, chucks, vices, and cutting tools made from hardened steel, carbide, and industrial diamond. The final step involves using measurement instruments to verify the accuracy of all dimensions.

CNC machining shares the same purpose as traditional machining – cutting, drilling, milling, boring, grinding, and other metal forming and removal tasks – but utilizes computer numerical control instead of manual control by a machinist. This automated process is controlled by code and created by programmers, ensuring consistent precision from the first cut to the 500th. This technology is widely employed in digital manufacturing and can be modified and adapted for various materials and modifications.

This method of machining is highly accurate and has replaced old-fashioned machining in various manufacturing, fabrication, and industrial production processes. It utilizes mathematical coordinates and advanced computing to achieve maximum precision. More precisely, computer numerical control relies on Cartesian coordinates, which are three-dimensional coordinates based on axes. The automation of cutting tool machines allows for precise control over cutting, boring, drilling, and other operations through the use of computerized numerical control. These coordinates were assigned by engineers within the digital drawing and design of the product.

CNC machining is a process that involves removing material from a feedstock in order to achieve its final form. This is done through methods such as drilling holes, boring lots and pathways, and shaping metal stock into new materials with varying tapers, diameters, and shapes.

In subtractive manufacturing, material is removed to create shapes, as opposed to additive manufacturing which adds, layers, and deforms materials to achieve a desired shape. This process differs from injection molding, which uses a mold to inject and shape material in a different state of matter.

CNC machining is a widely adaptable method that allows for the use of a variety of materials such as metals, plastics, wood, glass, foam, and composite materials. This adaptability has made it a favored option in various industries, providing a means for designers and engineers to efficiently and accurately produce their products.

CNC machining is a widely utilized process in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, robotics, agriculture, and more that often require metal components. It is also heavily utilized in the production of medical devices, household goods, energy, oil and gas, and other consumer applications. Overall, it is considered one of the most prevalent manufacturing processes globally.

• The local tolerances are .005”/-.005” in most metal geometries, and 0.010”/0.012” in plastics. The tolerances will vary for large parts, and especially when holding flatness over large parts after heat treatment.
• For CNC parts, “As Milled” finishes require a minimum 125 surface finish.
• The tolerances on all fabricated parts are 0.010″ dimensionally and 1° angularly.
• It is possible to machine tap holes that are not explicitly listed as features on the quoted CAD model to the diameters shown.
• No surface treatments, such as bead blasting, anodize, powder coating, iridite, etc., will be applied unless you have paid for them.

Tenral’s CNC capabilities in machining are extensive, both through our in-house shop and our Manufacturing Partner Network. If you have a project that falls outside of our machine size guidelines, please request a quote review and we will assess if we can accommodate your needs.

• 3 Axis Machining up to 60″
• 4 Axis Machining up to 36″
• 5 Axis Machining up to 26″
• Wire EDM with a part depth of 18″
• Dual Spindle Lathes with 18″ Max Diameter,32″ Swing, and 8″ Chuck

Yes! Tenral provides prompt lead times for rapid turnaround parts, with numerous options available within 3-4 days. Our company also offers an expedited service, and our team collaborates closely with clients to ensure timely delivery for critical deadlines.