There are significant differences between CNC machined parts and castings in multiple aspects. The following is a comparison and distinction between these two:
Processing principle:
CNC Machined Parts: Using computer programs to control machine tools for processing, removing materials through cutting, drilling, milling, and other methods to achieve the desired shape and size of parts.
Casting: A part that is formed by pouring molten metal into a pre designed mold and allowing the metal to cool and solidify to obtain the desired shape.
Accuracy and tolerance:
CNC Machined Parts: With extremely high machining accuracy and tolerance control ability, it can produce high-precision and high-quality parts.
Casting parts: Although casting technology is constantly improving, its accuracy and tolerance control ability are relatively weak compared to CNC machining, especially for parts with complex shapes and sizes.
Material adaptability:
CNC Machined Parts: Suitable for processing various materials, including metal, plastic, wood, etc.
Casting parts: mainly suitable for the manufacturing of metal materials, especially large and complex metal parts.
Production efficiency:
CNC Machined Parts: Once the machine tool is programmed and set up, continuous automated processing can be carried out, resulting in high production efficiency.
Casting parts: The casting process is relatively complex, including multiple links such as mold design, manufacturing, melting, pouring, etc., and the production efficiency is relatively low.
Flexibility:
CNC Machined Parts: By modifying computer programs, it can quickly adapt to the machining needs of different parts and has extremely high flexibility.
Casting parts: The design and manufacturing of molds require a certain amount of time and cost, and for the production of small batches and multiple varieties of parts, their flexibility is relatively low.
Cost:
CNC Machined Parts: The initial investment may be high, including the purchase cost of equipment such as machine tools and programming software, but in the long run, due to high production efficiency and precision, production costs can be reduced.
Casting parts: The design and manufacturing costs of molds are relatively high, but once the mold is successfully manufactured, parts can be mass-produced to reduce the cost of individual parts.
Application field:
CNC Machined Parts: widely used in aviation, automotive, electronics, molds and other fields, especially for high-precision and high-quality parts.
Casting parts: mainly used for manufacturing large and complex metal parts, such as engine cylinder blocks, turbine blades, etc.
Therefore, there are significant differences between CNC Machined Parts and castings in processing principles, accuracy and tolerances, material adaptability, production efficiency, flexibility, cost, and application areas. When choosing which processing method to use, it is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as specific part requirements, production conditions, and economic costs.