Stanley

The CNC machining process involves stripping an object off its material to create a specific part. The development of machining parts involves cutting using sharp tools and equipment depending on the application. The manufacturing process is fast, and the resultant parts are high-quality, accurate, and efficient. However, most parts are not ready to go until finishing is done. Some in the early stages of production are good to go, but finishing the surfaces is always good. In this article, we delve into the types of CNC machining finishes.

Types of CNC machining finishes

CNC machining finishing options come in different forms. They are used to enhance the surface appearance of parts and also better their performance. They make the parts smooth, sturdy, and corrosion-resistant. Choosing the right finish can be challenging, but we mention and discuss their use below for easier recognition.

1. Anodization

Anodization is known to thicken the outer oxidized layer of a metal product. The layer minimizes the effects of corrosion on metal and protects it from wear and tear. In addition, this type of finish enhances heat dissipation and makes part coloring easier. There are two types of anodization finishes; Type II and Type III. They are suitable for aluminum metals and are used to create parts like aircraft parts, automotive parts, medical components, architectural features, and consumer electronics.

2. Powder coating

This surface finish option involves the spraying of paint in powder form on CNC machined parts. The part is left to dry and later placed in an oven to bake. This procedure hardens the part making it highly durable. It also becomes wear and corrosion-resistant and is easy to color. Powder coating finishing is used on most metal materials to form components like bicycle parts, house appliances, architectural components, and automotive parts.

3. Coloring

Coloring is classified as a type of finish, but it’s made possible by applying powder coating and anodization finishes. Coloring the already finished parts makes it aesthetically pleasing to consumers. The finishing is suitable for use on most plastic and metal components. It is mainly used for consumer products and to demonstrate prototypes before the actual product is developed.

4. Bead blasting

The process involves forcing glass beads onto a part surface at high pressure to make its surface smooth. It is an effective method used to change the surface nature of a CNC machined part. Bead blasting finish is ideal for both mechanical and functional parts, but it is loved for the aesthetically pleasing look it leaves on products. It creates a matte finish that depicts luxury. It is used on various metal and plastic components such as automotive parts, household components, and signage.

5. As machined

This is where the machined parts are left as they are. All finishing options are great; however, some parts look good with their original appearance. Parts with this finish are more affordable, but their surface is not as smooth as the finished kind. It is used on fasteners, prototypes, and functional parts.

Bottom line

CNC machining is a very versatile machining process. The machined products can safely go through the finishing process to better their appearance, performance, and corrosion resistance. The multiple finishes provide you with a wide range of options to choose from. Select the best finish based on the materials of the machined parts or the look you want.

A PCB layout designing is critical because the wiring quality influences the performance of the system. The layout developed must be efficient, reliable, cost-effective, and still perform as required. Unlike the past years, the modern PCB boards are compact, complex, and lightweight; hence so much work is put into knowing the correct layout design. Several aspects must be considered for the PCB layout to develop a design that’s fit for the real world. We expound on the steps for designing a PCB layout below.

Steps for Designing a PCB Layout

PCB layout design has a significant role in the entire development process. Below are the six steps contained in the design process.

1. Determining the Concept

The process begins with the concept, but after knowing why you need a PCB. The concept involves identifying what the PCB is supposed to do, its qualities, and how it will be connected with other devices and circuits.

Still, in this first stage, the electrical engineer determines its placement on the end product and approximates its size and dimensions. PCBs are used in many applications in different environments with varying temperatures. Consider the maximum range of temperature the PCB can reach and the settings it can be used in and still function correctly.

2. Schematic Drawing

This step draws its idea from the concept phase. The circuit diagram is drawn to a smaller scale and consists of the names, ratings, and values of all the components connected to it. Any additional information related to how the electrical components operate is also included. Since all device names are now known, the material bill is developed in the process, and you can tell approximately how much money is needed to facilitate the design process. The documents are constantly updated in case any changes come up.

3. Board-Level Block Diagram

It is a drawing to show the final size of the PCB, with the exact measurements to be used by the electronic engineer. Divide the board into sections and put a mark where each block will be placed. In addition, Designate the components into sections based on their connectivity and similarity for short and more straightforward tracing.

4. Placing of Components

The fourth step is to determine the positioning of each component in the board. Component placement may not occur immediately because the chances of refining may be high until the designer gets a perfect position.

5. Routing

Routing is closely related to the placement step. Wires are added to the board to connect all components and form a complete circuit. In the process, all Integrated Circuit design rules are followed for proper functioning.

6. Testing

Product testing is the final step of the PCB layout design process. It determines how viable a product is and if it qualifies for use or needs to be worked on again. Conduct several tests to see if it meets all your requirements. If not, recommend the necessary adjustments required for it to operate as desired.

Conclusion

Proper PCB layout design prevents electrical problems like interference and promotes good signals. You should follow the step-by-step guide as it is for excellent results and ease of identifying any errors.

While creating CNC parts using CNC milling, vacuum casting can be used to make rubber and plastic components. This is done through the use of silicone molds. Just like injection molding, vacuum casting is quite adaptable and can serve in the production of cast nylon, polyurethane resins, and other complex parts.

Stick to this piece to see answers regarding some of your commonly asked questions regarding vacuum casting.

1. What is Vacuum Casting?

Vacuum casting refers to a process used for casting for elastomers. These elastomers often use a vacuum that draws materials made out of the liquid into molds. The process is typically used whenever there’s an air entrapment problem. Several undercuts and details are intricate. An example of this can be seen when the material wire or fiber gets reinforced.

2. What Keeps The Mold in Place During Vacuum Casting?

The master model becomes enclosed into a rubber mold that has two-part silicones. This mold gets cured under very high temperatures, which ensures that these two parts remain glued together. They are used to strengthen the entire mold and used to make it durable.

3. Why Do People Make Use Of Vacuum Casting?

Vacuum Cast Parts are known to be of high quality. The cast resin copies of mastered patterns show a high level of fidelity to the original patterns. This means that resin cast prototypes perform and will most likely look exactly like the plastic injection molded parts used for production.

4. What is Vacuum Forming?

Vacuum forming refers to a type of manufacturing method which is used to shape materials made of plastic. All through the vacuum forming process, plastic sheets get heated and are pulled using single molds through suction methods.

5. What Amount Of Vacuum Is Needed to Cast Resin?

The amount of containers that hold resins needs to have more than enough headspace to take about three times the actual resin volume. The vacuum gets pulled about twenty-nine inches to mercury.

6. What is the Molding Compression Process?

The molding compression process is seen as a molding process where the material used for feeding is placed into a heated open mold cavity. The mold is closed using a compressed top plugged in large hydraulic presses to contact all mold areas.

7. What is Pressure Die Casting?

Pressure Die-casting is a method that is used to massively produce metallic, low-temperature components using a high degree of repeatability and precision. It is not like gravity dies casting, the process is automated, and the alloy or liquid metal gets injected using very high force into a steel tool. The steel stool is mostly hard, strong, and durable for production.

8. What is Low-Pressure Casting?

Low-pressure casting refers to a production technique that uses pressure instead of gravity that fills molds using metal in molten form. These metals include magnesium and aluminum. Using this process, the furnace which is used for holding is located below the cast. The liquid metal is forced above using a tube that rises straight into the cavity.

Final Thoughts

And there it is! These are some answers to your questions. If you’ve always been confused about vacuum casting and all there is to it, then you should probably start here!

The confusion between Fused deposition modeling (FDM) and Fused Filament Fabrication has been on for a while now.

People keep wondering if they are the same. Some say they are, but others disagree and say they are different. The only way to find the answer is to look at the details.

In matters like this, it is always best to go back in time to see where each of these organizations started, to know how they have progressed over the years, their similarities, and their differences.

Putting the working principle of both processes before all is a good way to determine the differences and similarities. It will also compare the quality of their products.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

The FDM belongs to Stratasys, Ltd. Stratasys patented this technology in 1989. The well-known FDM machine a nozzle assembly, a table or built-platform, and a material filament.

when the filament enters the extruder, the extruder heats it with temperatures reaching 320 degrees Celsius. until it melts.

The filament then comes out through the nozzle and is carefully and selectively layered on the build platform.

The whole process of heating and melting and layering through a nozzle is isolated from the ambient environment.

The 3D printing process is built to maintain the temperature of the thermoplastic material that is used to print out 3D designs.

The temperature maintenance is done in order not to cause any structural damage that can result from sudden cooling damage to the design.

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)

When the FDM patent expired in 2009, a group came up to start manufacturing their version of 3D printers that FDM previously had.

This group called their equipment the Fused Filament Fabrication.

The purpose of the group that came up with FFF was to enable complex products to be manufactured without any industrial infrastructure set up.

They wanted people to be able to create complex components without big manufacturing bodies getting involved and using their industrial machinery to further it.

The FFF made a few changes in the design of their machine. The FDM used the process of heating the whole print chamber. The FFF did away with that part of the machine to save cost.

This meant that in the FFF, the filament goes through a hot extruder, then through an ambient environment, and then to a cold table.

The sequence of a hot to cold to hot pattern caused residual stresses in the model that was printed.

Conclusion

Back to the question. Are FDM and FFF the same technology? Well, yes. But that does not mean that they are the same thing.

They are both very similar but maintain some differences. Even though the FFF and FDM have the same architectural processes, the major difference is the output quality.

There is an obvious difference in the quality of their products. This is a result of the heating sequence in the different printers.

The FDMs heating sequence is a hot-hot-hot medium while the heating sequence of FFF is a hot-cold-hot medium.