Prototype CNC Machining for Design Validation

Kaierwo can offer prototype CNC machining service including CNC rapid prototyping & custom CNC machining for product developer who need prototype parts fast

Design Validation is an important step in product development. It is at this stage that we prove to ourselves that our idea and it's constructive representation is not only manufacturable but efficient and can compete at the market. In order to complete design validation, manufacturing a custom prototype is absolutely necessary. In the majority of projects, you'll have to make more than one prototype to validate the design. One of the ways to manufacture a prototype is CNC machining. Here are a few reasons why using machining is beneficial for you during this stage and the latter stages of product development and production.

CNC Machining Technology Can Be Easily Modified

One of the advantages of CNC machining a prototype is that you can adapt the technology for the rapid prototype manufacturing. The NC programs are extremely flexible and that is very helpful when you are not yet completely satisfied with the design. That way, once you've  manufactured a first prototype, it will be much easier to manufacture consecutive variations. That is, of course, if you are dealing with the same company both for the first and the consecutive options. That is highly preferable since in some cases the machine shop may have to set up the fixtures in a special way (they have those "Lego" – type fixtures that can be easily assembled into any configuration).

High Precision Prototypes are only available with CNC machining

CNC machining is the most conventional among rapid manufacturing processes and partly due to that and its specifics, machining is the most precise of all the methods. One of the reasons for machining precision is the rigidity of all the elements in the machine tool. Another reason is the precision of the machine tools themselves, they are manufactured to a 0,0001 mm tolerance and with mirror-like surface finishes. In addition, such manufacturing methods as casting, forming and 3d-printing use a phase change in the material ( it is heated to a liquid or plastic form and its form is changed, afterward, it cools down) and that brings about a lot of deformation during the cooling phase. CNC machining uses a lot of coolants to keep the part from overheating and thus offers increased quality. In general, if you want your parts done with a precision of up to 0,012 mm and a surface finish of Ra 0,32 micron, you can rely on CNC machining and nothing else.

You can make the prototype from the intended material right away

A lot of rapid manufacturing techniques for design validation rely on material substitution. For example, 3D-printers mostly use ABS plastics and all the casting and molding techniques - some kind of polymer. CNC machining can process literally any material known in the industry. From the softest flexible ones ( you must freeze them before machining so that they become brittle) to the aluminum alloys and up to the most complex nickel and titanium alloys. The cutting tools are so hard they can take even some of the ceramics and composite materials. So, if it is important for you to test out the design specifically on the required material ( for some cases where prototypes are later to be used for strength tests or heat exchange experiments), you should stop on prototype CNC machining.

CNC Machining Services are Common

CNC machining shops can be found in every big city of every country and the majority of them ship nationwide. Such open access makes the market very competitive and influences machine shops to constantly improve, lowering prices and increasing quality. Some countries have improved their processes so much that they can be called international leaders in prototype CNC manufacturing.One such example is China. Its Special Economic Zones project has resulted in tremendous success.