This section provides an overview for nc machining as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 4 nc machining companies and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked nc machining companies as of November, 2024: 1.Working Kft, 2.Owens Industries Inc., 3.Penta Machine Co., LLC.
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Categories Related to NC Machining
1983~1988: Worked at Terumo Corporation. Engaged in the design of automatic assembly and transport equipment for disposable medical instruments (syringes, needles, infusion sets).
1990~2015: Worked at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Engaged in research and development, international joint development, and design of aircraft engines.
2015 ~ Worked at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engine Co., Ltd. due to spin-off. Engaged in technical management, R&D and intellectual property management. Currently working as a technical consultant, utilizing the company's side job and side job system.
NC Machining is a machining technology based on Numerical Control.
In recent years, in order to reduce costs at manufacturing sites, it has become necessary to improve the machining accuracy and work efficiency of machine tools, and to solve the shortage of labor at manufacturing sites. NC Machining allows for stable machining accuracy and mass production of parts without depending on the intuition and skills of skilled operators.
NC Machining was first introduced by John T. Parsons in the U.S. as an NC milling machine with a built-in servo mechanism. Subsequently, NC Machining technology was greatly developed in Japan, and in 1958, Fujitsu and Makino Milling Machine Mfg. developed the first NC Milling machine produced in Japan. Furthermore, automatic tool changers were developed in the U.S. in 1959, resulting in a significant reduction in machining time.
In the future, more advanced NC Machining technology incorporating artificial intelligence is expected to develop.
Figure 1. Types, features and uses of NC machining
The NC Machining lathe is mainly of the type in which multiple bites are mounted on a rotating device called a turret, and by rotating the turret, cutting by different bites is possible. This makes it possible to perform another process continuously after one process is completed while the workpiece is fixed in the chuck.
Major applications include external and internal peripheral cutting, threading, grooving, drilling, tapering, and knurling.
NC Machining machines are turning machines that do not have an automatic tool changer and perform turning while manually changing tools.
Major applications include plane milling, side milling, step machining, threading, grooving, drilling, and knurling.
Figure 2. NC lathes and turning centres
These centers can perform many types of machining, such as machining time reduction and high-precision machining, without setup changes for workpieces that require several types of machining, such as general-purpose lathes and general-purpose milling machines.
Major applications include turning and milling, as well as drilling, reaming, and tapping. The machine is also capable of boring, and has multiple functions as a multitasking machine.
Figure 3. NC milling machines and machining centres
Since these machine tools were developed from NC milling machines, most of the machining operations that can be performed on NC Machining machines can also be performed on machining centers. Major applications include boring, milling, drilling, threading, reaming, grooving, and face machining required for industrial equipment. The machine is characterized by its ability to perform a wide variety of complex precision parts machining in sequence.
The above is a description of typical NC Machining applications, but NC Machining technology is also applied to various other machine tools, such as honing machines used in honing, a type of polishing process, electric discharge machines used in electrical discharge machining, and laser cutting machines used in laser machining.
Figure 4. NC machining process
Every NC Machining machine is composed of an NC device (which sends NC programs to the lathe), an operation panel (where the operator gives various machining instructions to the NC device), and servo motors (which move the machining device according to the NC device's instructions). This program is called an NC program and is used to control the machine tool.
This program is called an NC Machining program, which is a workpiece machining program based on CAD data.
High Quality
General-purpose machine tools are operated by operators, which may cause defective products due to operation errors or variations in dimensions and surface conditions due to skill levels, which may result in inconsistent quality. NC Machining, on the other hand, automatically controls machining based on numerical data, resulting in higher machining accuracy, less variation, and more stable quality.
Mass Production and Lower Cost
General-purpose machine tools are operated manually by individual operators, which limits production volume. Furthermore, multiple machining centers can be operated at the same time, leading to higher productivity.
Another advantage is higher work efficiency, which reduces the loss of efficiency due to worker fatigue. Furthermore, it is also effective in terms of passing on skills, as even unskilled workers can perform machining to a certain level of precision.
Safety
Automated machining by NC Machining reduces the possibility of workplace accidents, such as workers being caught in the machine or injured by tools or knives. In addition, the machining operation area is enclosed by a cover or door, which improves worker safety.
Expensive Capital Investment
NC machine tools require a general-purpose machine tool, NC controller, peripheral equipment, software, etc., making the capital investment expensive at the time of introduction. Since general-purpose machine tools are more cost-effective for simple machining, it is important to plan for the future when introducing NC machine tools.
NC Program Creation, Quality Assurance, and Information Management
To create NC programs, it is necessary to train and secure engineers who have acquired programming knowledge. It is also important to verify that there are no problems with the program and ensure its quality.
Furthermore, since the program itself is intellectual property and a trade secret, it is essential to ensure information security.
Setup Time Is Necessary
Because setup work is required before machining, such as program loading, the operation time may be longer than that of general-purpose machine tools.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Owens Industries Inc., founded in Oak Creek, WI, in 1944 is a supplier of customized CNC machining services such as lathe/turning, deburring, and swiss machining. The company's product portfolio includes micromachining, 5 axis, sinker EDM, wire EDM, and Precision CNC Milling with 3 and 4-Axis Work and they can machine materials such as alloy steel, aluminum, carbon steel, and Hastelloy. They serve industries such as aerospace, military, medical, oil and gas, and optics. The company provides services such as Product Selection Guidance, prototyping, and Custom Manufacturing.
Penta Machine Co. (formerly known as Pocket NC Company), founded in 2011, is an American manufacturer based in Belgrade, Montana, producing five-axis computer numerical control (CNC) milling machines. These desktop-sized machines feature kinetic control software with tool center point control (TCPC) and website-based simulators. They are used for rapid prototyping and design iterations in various industries, ensuring high accuracy and consistency in specialized part manufacturing. Some of the industries include aerospace, consumer markets, and medical sectors. These machines also find applications in educational institutions that incorporate milling into their curriculum, such as research laboratories, universities, and vocational schools.
Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd., founded in 1955 and based in Iwata, Japan, is a manufacturer and distributor of motorized products. Its product range includes several lines of motorcycles, scooters, and motorized bicycles. Its motorcycles feature an electronic control system for stabilization and a responsive braking system for safety. The company also offers, recreational off-highway vehicles, outboards, and snowmobiles. The company has received several accolades such as the Red Dot Design Award for 12 consecutive years and operates the Yamaha Technical Academy for technician certification.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Working Kft |
33.3%
|
2 | Owens Industries Inc. |
33.3%
|
3 | Penta Machine Co., LLC |
16.7%
|
4 | Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. |
16.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the nc machining page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 1 | 33.3% |
Japan | 1 | 33.3% |
Hungary | 1 | 33.3% |