The Use of CNC Machining for Peripheral and Face Milling

When it comes to machining, there are many types of operations that can be utilized across manufacturing industries. Milling in particular is a highly versatile operation applied on CNC machining operation floors in the majority of fabrication facilities.

 

The precision, flexibility, speed, and quality that CNC milling provides is vital to the operations of the MultiSource Manufacturing LLC network. As a contract manufacturer, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive fabrication and assembly services from start to finish of any project, including complete CNC machining capabilities, engineering and design, a Class 1000 clean room workspace, plastic fabrication capabilities, finishing services, and much more.

 

Within each type of CNC machining operation, there are even more specialized techniques that can be applied depending on the format, materials, and desired end result. Milling, for example, has two primary techniques applied to the majority of situations when milling is appropriate. These two primary techniques are face milling and peripheral milling.

 

Face Milling

This milling operation works with the cutting mill positioned to be perpendicular against the component that will be worked on. The cutting mill spins on a central axis and moves to cut away sections of the component with its perpendicular motion. Face milling is considered to be the most common format for CNC operations. It is highly effective for rapid heavy-duty milling, high-feed milling, and other general face milling processes. Mills will typically use cutters at a 45º angle, but square shoulder and round insert cutters or side and face mills are utilized in other specific applications. 90º cutters are also useful for machining thin-walled components or components with weak fixtures.

 

Peripheral Milling

In contrast to face milling, peripheral milling places the cutting mill parallel to the component that will be machined. The cutting mill spins on an axis parallel to the component as it cuts away material from the work surface. When the mill is positioned this way, the full sides of the cutting mill are being applied to the work surface. This makes peripheral milling much more effective for rapidly removing large amounts of material from the work surface. Because of this, peripheral milling is useful for fabricating a basic component shape quickly, readying it for finer operations. It’s also used in large-scale milling or milling harder materials.

 

For visual reference, this diagram of peripheral and face milling shows a basic format for both CNC operations. Both face milling and peripheral milling are critical CNC machining operations used daily throughout operations in the MultiSource network. Our fully outfitted fabrication facilities have complete CNC machining capabilities in addition to our comprehensive design/build services.

CNC Machining Services

To learn more about CNC machining and our services, contact MultiSource Manufacturing LLC today at (952) 456-5500. To get started with the MultiSource network, request more information or request a quote online.

Back to the Basics: Subtractive CNC Machining Operations

Machining operations of various types have been used in industrial settings for over 200 years. In the past 30 years, machining operations have developed exponentially to be faster, more precise, and capable of handling a wider range of materials. With the creation of digital technology and software systems, machining across industries is automated with computer numerical control (CNC). CNC machining is a highly accurate method of altering materials and fabricating even the most complicated parts. MultiSource Manufacturing LLC provides a wide range of services as a contract manufacturer, and CNC machining is a specialty across our six facilities.

 

The MultiSource network has been in operation for over 20 years, and our CNC machining capabilities have developed alongside computer technology, wireless network communications, and equipment improvements. Because of our experience and comprehensively outfitted machining production line, we can provide complete CNC machining services on multiple axes with quick, precision-based operations based on intelligent engineering designs.

 

Our facilities are outfitted with 140 CNC machines that all customers partnering with the MultiSource network can benefit from. Our CNC machining capabilities include 3-axis and 5-axis indexed milling centers as well as 80 mills, 20 Swiss machining centers, and 40 lathes all with vertical, horizontal, or multi-axis movement.

 

With a comprehensive repertoire of CNC machines, basic subtractive machining operations are all in our tool box for infinite combinations in manufacturing virtually any part. Basic, universal machining operations include:

 

  • Cutting: Cutting tools utilize one or more cutting edges that are harder than the component material. Single point tools and multi-cutting-edge tools are two standard cutting tool styles. Both perform more specific types of cutting operations. For example, single point tools perform planing, boring, and turning, while multi-cutting-edge tools perform drilling and milling.

 

  • Drilling: CNC drilling machines manufacture circular holes with two to four helical cutting edges. The drill operates parallel to its rotational axis as it is applied to the component.

 

  • Turning: A turning machine subtracts material from a component surface. A component is held on an axis and turned as a cutting edge removes material in a computer controlled pattern with precision and speed.

 

  • Reaming: Reaming machines are a valuable addition to any precision-based operation floor. Reaming serves to remove miniscule amounts of material from a drilled hole to create a specific size cut.

 

  • Boring: Boring is also used to finish roughly made holes with a bent single tip. The tip is advanced spinning into the pre-made hole and the cut is fine tuned. Boring is highly useful in precision machining and finishing operations.

 

  • Milling: Milling is applicable to the fabrication of many components. A mill with multiple cutting edges is slowly applied to a component surface and that component rotates on an axis. Both peripheral and face milling (cutting parallel versus perpendicular) are utilized on MultiSource operations floors.

 

To learn more about the basics of CNC machining and our services, contact MultiSource Manufacturing LLC at (952) 456-5500 and request more information, or request a quote online.

Benefits of Reverse Engineering for Semiconductor Electronics Manufacturing

When it comes to electronics manufacturing, extreme precision is needed to build a reliable, high-quality product. Printed circuit boards, electromechanical components, semiconductors, and any other part that goes into a full electronic assembly demands an exacting, well-tested design.

 

For over 35 years, MultiSource Manufacturing LLC has provided that level of precision in our electronics manufacturing, using reverse engineering to structure informed, pre-dissected design specifications. Our team of knowledgeable, experienced engineers applies reverse engineering techniques to the design of semiconductor components and other electromechanical parts and assemblies.

 

Reverse engineering provides a valuable analytical resource to our design technicians and engineers for a range of applications. By taking apart the physical parts of a component as well as the data of use and the theory of function, engineers are able to work backwards from a final part or assembly to reverse the design and start from the beginning with a usable analysis.

 

For semiconductor component design, reverse engineering gives our engineers a way to work backward from an existing design that fits a specific application and adjust certain aspects of it if needed, overall continually improving the component as a whole.

 

Using reverse engineering to take apart the parts of a semiconductor component or full assembly gives our engineers the information they need for design improvement, including:

 

  • theory in the design of parts and their operation
  • materials used and how they react to long-term use
  • overall structure of interior and exterior
  • manufacturing process
  • assembly order of operations
  • how an assembly reacts to stresses in operation, both expected and unusual
  • any other information that adds to our engineering database about the form and function of a part and a full assembly

 

With reverse engineering providing this information, our design team has several benefits to work with. First, they can save time in the engineering process because they are able to pull from a wealth of data gathered from the analysis of a part. This in turn saves costs of building unnecessary prototypes.

 

Secondly, our engineers can build higher quality parts with a range of improvements made to every aspect of the full assembly. This often eliminates time, energy, and resources spent on testing and inspections during final quality control processes. With a better product made more efficiently and quickly, our electronics engineers can improve your production schedule by improving our own.

 

To learn more about the reverse engineering processes we use to improve our electronics manufacturing services, contact MultiSource Manufacturing LLC today at  (952) 456-5500, request a quote online, or request more information.