Although primarily known for the quality of its urethane components, Marine Urethane can also provide CNC machining services to create custom designed and fabricated parts. Computer Numeric Control, or CNC, is the primary method of material working and component fabrication in many industries, including the polyurethane industry. CNC offers a level of precision that manual and cam-driven methods can never achieve, and it’s also highly repeatable and efficient, which minimizes cost and lead times for clients.
Many facilities can offer CNC services – so what makes Marine Urethane’s version of the technology superior? In short, a team of experienced engineers and top-notch CAD imaging technology back Marine Urethane’s CNC machining services. This allows for a huge variety of component designs, including custom designs that can be designed by the client or by the engineering team.
CNC Machining Features
There are several ways to approach CNC machining, and Marine Urethane’s approach comes replete with features. Some of those features include:
1. Precision contoured surface mold milling – Before any polyurethane components can be fabricated, a mold has to be created for casting. With precision contour milling, it’s possible to create nearly any mold design, even those that have complex changes in depth.
2. Precision vertical milling, with 2D, 2.5D and 3D tool paths – Vertical milling is preferred for more detailed work and is also the best option when die sinking. Die sinking is the process of machining out a cavity in a steel block, which is a standard process when creating high quality urethane molds. And with 2D, 2.5D and 3D tool paths, Marine Urethane’s CNC machines can make every cut possible in creating a custom mold or component.
3. Milling with adaptive roughing technology – Adaptive roughing is a more efficient and more expedient
method of milling, compared to offset roughing. During adaptive roughing, the machine constantly assesses how engaged the tool is, using this value to prevent full width cuts, which tend to be slower and less precise. Adaptive roughing ensures greater tool stability and uses several passes to surgically remove material during cuts. Using adaptive roughing, a CNC machining facility can produce higher feed rates and reduce machining time. This, again, will shorten lead times on critical projects.
4. Turning with both 2D and 3D tool paths, along with Y-axis capabilities – Turning is a standard machining method that works using a cutting tool that moves mainly on an X-axis. The material that is being machined is placed on a lathe and spun at high speeds, while the cutting tool is moved along the material to produce cuts. Marine Urethane’s CNC turning machines can make cuts along the Y-axis as well, which allows for a greater variety of designs.
5. Milling capacities (measured on an X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis scale) up to 64”, 32” and 30”, and turning capacities (measured on an X-axis and Z-axis scale) up to 25” and 60” – Marine Urethane’s CNC machines are large enough to fabricate molds and components of any size, so component size is not a limitation.
CNC machining is, by far, the most efficient and repeatable method of component fabrication available, and can meet a client’s diverse project needs, whether that project includes high volume or custom designs.