CNC Machining Best Practices for Design Engineers

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For design engineers, creating a part that meets functional requirements is the primary goal. However, considering how that part will be manufactured is equally critical for success. Adhering to CNC machining best practices not only ensures a highquality result but also significantly reduces lead times and costs. As a provider of comprehensive CNC machining services for the global market, we recommend focusing on these key design principles.


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1. Optimize Internal Corner Radii
A cutting tool, like an end mill, is cylindrical and cannot produce a perfectly sharp internal corner. Always design internal corners with a radius. Ideally, use a standard tool size for these radii. Specifying a radius slightly larger than the tool's radius allows it to trace the corner smoothly without stopping, reducing machining time and tool wear. Avoid sharp corners; they are a source of stress concentration and are impossible to achieve.

2. Limit the Depth of Cavities
Machining deep cavities or pockets is challenging and timeconsuming. It requires long tools, which are prone to deflection (bending), leading to inaccuracies and poor surface finishes. As a best practice, restrict pocket depths to four times their diameter. For example, a 10mm end mill should not mill a pocket deeper than 40mm. If a deeper feature is necessary, consider designing the part as an assembly or using alternative processes like casting.

3. Design with Standard Tooling in Mind

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Custom tooling is expensive and increases lead times. You can avoid this by designing features that can be machined with standard, readily available cutters. This includes using standard hole sizes for threads and avoiding nonstandard slot widths or extremely small features. When text is required, embossed text is more machinable than engraved text, as it requires less material removal.

4. Specify Tolerances Only Where Critical
Tight tolerances drive up costs exponentially due to the need for additional setup time, specialized equipment, and meticulous inspection. Apply tight tolerances only to critical features that interface with other components. For noncritical areas, use standard, looser tolerances. This simple step can dramatically reduce the part's cost without compromising its function.



5. Choose the Right Material
Material selection impacts machinability, cost, and lead time. Aluminum alloys, for instance, are generally easy to machine, fast to process, and costeffective. Harder materials like stainless steel or titanium are stronger but are tougher on tools, take longer to machine, and are more expensive. Select a material that offers the best balance of properties for your application and budget.

By integrating these design for manufacturability (DFM) principles into your workflow, you create parts that are not only functional but also efficient and economical to produce. Partnering with a seasoned manufacturing provider early in the design phase allows for expert DFM feedback, ensuring your project is optimized for success from the start. This collaborative approach is the cornerstone of our onestop service, delivering highquality, precisionmachined parts that help bring your designs to market faster and more reliably.