7 Questions to Ask Yourself When Looking for a CNC Machine

Looking for a new CNC machine tool? Answering these 7 important questions will help you focus your search, save time and frustration, and ultimately guide you toward a sound financial investment.

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1. Why do you need a new CNC machine? You may be replacing an existing piece of equipment, wishing to add capacity, or upgrading to newer technology that will make you more productive. Or perhaps you want to move into new markets with more demanding requirements. Whatever the reasons, it’s important to keep your goals clearly in mind so you don’t end up with less machine than you need, or overpay for features you won’t use.
2. What materials will you be machining? If the CNC machine you’re looking for will work exclusively on easier-to-machine materials such as aluminum, a lighter-duty piece of equipment may be just fine. On the other hand, if the machine tool will be machining more difficult materials, such as titanium or stainless steel, you’ll need heavier-duty construction for greater stability, and a more powerful spindle drive to maintain higher spindle speeds and feed rates. You’ll also want to consider if there are possible material changes that may affect you in the future. For example, if you expect to make brass parts that carry potable water, recent regulations require the use of no-lead brass, which is a harder material to machine than traditional brass.
3. What tolerances do you need to hold? If you plan to run close-tolerance parts you’ll need a more rigid, stable machine tool that has the power and structural design necessary to quickly remove material while maintaining accuracy. You will also benefit from a machine that monitors inevitable temperature variations and provides thermal compensation to provide more precise machining throughout the cycle.
4. How much material do you need to remove? Again, lighter duty machines may be adequate for removing certain materials or near-net-shape parts. On the other hand, if you plan to work from solid stock, forgings or cast iron you’ll need a CNC machine that has adequate horsepower, torque and heavy-duty construction.
5. High-volume or one-offs? Manufacturers who produce high-volumes of parts need faster, sturdier and more reliable equipment to reduce cycle times and downtime than those who deal with prototypes or low-volume parts runs.
6. How complex are the parts that you produce? More sophisticated, multi-faceted parts, such as turbine blades, impellers and airframes, require a greater number of operations than simpler parts. Although you may be able to produce these parts by using multiple CNC machine tools, it’s often far more efficient to perform as many operations as possible on a single machine, such as a multi-purpose lathe or vertical machining center (VMC) capable of 5-axis machining. These machines require fewer costly fixtures and specialized tools, reduce operator time per part, provide greater flexibility and increased spindle usage.
7. Are you running families of parts? CNC machines with more sophisticated and interactive controls provide the flexibility to reduce setup times, manage production schedules and even monitor materials usage. For example, some machine tool controls enable users to simply enter the parameters for a family of parts and the control then writes the program. All of which leads to greater productivity and profitability.

There are more questions to ask, of course, and more answers to consider, including the true cost of CNC machine ownership beyond the initial price. That’s why it makes sense to talk to people who have the information you need. Gosiger CNC machine specialists have the experience and expertise to help you find the best solution for your unique requirements. Call them today.

Thanks to Gosiger CNC machine Sales Engineer and Project Manager, Jim Czekaj for his contributions to this article.

You’re not asking for much. Reliable CNC machined parts and products that make customers happy. Simple, right?

What’s not so simple is finding the right CNC machining partner. One that understands your needs, has the right people and capabilities, goes the extra mile, and keeps its pencils sharp so the RFQ process results in accurate quotes.

Let’s see what an ideal CNC machine manufacturer looks (and acts) like. Here are the six most important questions you should ask when evaluating a potential CNC machining partner:

1. “What are the CNC machine shop’s capabilities and size?”
2. “What kind of customers and industries do you serve?”
3. “What certifications have you achieved?”
4. “Are you able to procure castings?”
5. “Do you have an in-house engineering department?”
6. “What sets you apart?”

1. “What are the CNC machine shop’s capabilities and size?”

Scrutinizing capabilities is an obvious first step. Can the CNC machine company deliver what you need today and in the future? High-end machining is only possible by using best-in-class CNC machining equipment: CNC machine cutting tools, CNC lathes, milling machines, robotics, AI CNC machining, and other equipment.

Find out what casting materials can be handled by this CNC machine shop. What types of iron (gray, ductile, austempered ductile)? Aluminum? Steel and/or stainless steel? Brass? Bronze? Are there reasons why the shop doesn’t handle certain materials?

As valuable as capabilities are, size does matter. You need to be sure your CNC machining partner has the capacity to handle your needs. Obviously, a company increasing its capabilities or expanding its facilities is a sign of growth and the ability to take on large projects to meet customer demand. Be upfront about what your needs are and challenge the shop.

2. “What kind of customers and industries do you serve?”

It’s a good sign when a shop has experience in various industries; it shows flexibility and a willingness to take on unfamiliar projects. Plus, it likely means that a CNC machine shop can run complex parts with long cycle times just as easily as it can run high-volume (and less complex) parts.

Ask about specifics and listen for industries that demand high-performance parts, such as agriculture, construction, military, industrial equipment, and automotive. If professionals in those industries have experienced success working with a CNC machine manufacturer, you probably will, too.

Lastly, inquire about that shop’s Tier 1 relationships. Nothing will give you more peace of mind than knowing this shop has extensive direct OEM/Tier 1 customer interactions.

3. “What certifications have you achieved?”

Capabilities? Check. Recent growth? Check. Various industries? Check. So far so good.

Another quality check that every worthy CNC machining partner handling should pass is having an ISO -compliant quality management system (QMS).

Contact us to discuss your requirements of High‑Precision CNC Machining Services. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Plus, the IATF standard — designed to be implemented as a supplement and in conjunction with ISO : — helps ensure that products consistently meet requirements and quality is routinely improved.

4. “Are you able to procure castings?”

High-end CNC machining shops value and respect the casting process. They know that, without casting, many intricate metal commercial and industrial products would be too complicated and too costly to produce.

Speaking of costly, did you know that design decisions can make up 70% of a product’s manufacturing costs? It’s vital that a part’s tooling and casting needs and costs are explored during the casting design stage. A strong partnership between the CNC machine shop, the customer, and the foundry offers cost-effective input on casting/machining designs.

A respected machining partner should help you compare both the advantages and disadvantages of different types of molding processes. Look for solid, long-term relationships with many quality foundries, meaning customers enjoy a reliable supply and the ability to hit deadlines.

Even better? Find a CNC machine manufacturer that owns the supply chain. If that shop takes responsibility for managing foundry relationships and reliably delivers completed machine parts, your life is much easier and worry-free.

5. “Do you have an in-house engineering department?”

A helpful engineering team – with numerous professionals of varied expertise – gets involved at a project’s early stages, helping develop the best possible part, efficiently and economically. The expertise these folks bring helps with design for manufacturability and creates a trusted partnership between the customer, the CNC machining contract manufacturer, and the foundry.

Quality in-house design teams provide designs/tooling quickly and cost-effectively, and can rapidly prototype a project for cast and machine tools. In addition, great in-house engineering departments have a continuous improvement team that stays on top of the latest technologies, identifying applications that could benefit customers.

6. “What sets you apart?”

This open-ended question may seem unlikely to separate one shop from another, but the answers you get should tell you something. Here’s what you want to hear:

“Tolerances.” Different materials and processes involve different standards. Your CNC machining partner should put a premium on how its precise processes meet tight tolerances to satisfy customers’ requirements and specs.

Knowing associations’ guiding standards is critical, too. For example, a CNC machine shop that works with aluminum die casting should know and follow Aluminum Association standards and the North American Die Casting Association (NADCA).

“Quality control.” While all reputable CNC machine shops check parts, some do more by combining their workforce expertise with automated audits to ensure consistency and accuracy. Some examples: CMM inspection, Millipore testing, Custom Gaging, High Accuracy Bore Gages, Hardness Testing, Surface Finish Testing, and Roundness Testing.

The best quality control is error prevention, so ask about poka yoking, which removes mistakes from the machining process and ensures a superior part. Plus, ask about the shop’s Manufacturing KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), which evaluate performance in order to make strategic adjustments.

“Our people.” OK, this may sound cliché, but take note of exactly why people are so valuable. When you hear phrases like “better communication,” “culture fit,” “good collaboration,” “schedules and deadlines,” and “customer feedback,” it lets you know that your goals become their goals. And, because they’re a valued partner, they’re more willing to work hard for you and give you extra attention.

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