CNC Horizontal Machining for High-Tolerance Parts [20+ Years Expertise]

Steps of Operation on a CNC Mill
Design & Preparation (The Digital Plan)
This step is done completely on the computer before the machine is touched.
1 CAD (Computer-Aided Design):
A part is created in 3D space using CAD software (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, AutoCAD, etc.).
The output is a digital model (like a .STEP or .IGES file) that defines the exact geometry and dimensions of the part.
2 CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing):
The CAD file is moved over to CAM software.
3 The programmer uses the CAM software to:
Select the desired CNC machine from a tool list.
Define the raw material (aluminum, steel, plastic, etc.).
4 Select the cutting tools: Choose the required end mills, drills, and face mills from the digital library.
Create Toolpaths: Describe how the tools will be moved or walked to cut through the material. Determine operation types: facing, pocketing, contouring, drilling, etc.
Set Machining Parameters: Specify the key values such as the spindle speed (revolutions per minute, or RPM), the cutting tool feed rate (inches per minute, or IPM), and the depth of cut.
The output of CAM is a Gcode file (.NC and .GCODE, text-based files containing the commands of all the G-codes and M-codes that inform the CNC machine exactly what to do).
5 Setup (Setup)
This step is action-based, in which the machine is prepared for the work.