There are many ways you can make metal parts. Each process has unique pros, cons, and compatible materials. To choose the best one for your application, you need to understand the most common ways. Here are the most popular manufacturing processes that you can use to create metal parts.
CNC Machining
There are two basic CNC machining technologies, although most people use milling. CNC mills use automated cutting machines. These have a spindle head that rotates and cuts away unwanted materials to create a part. This process works well with many metals, including aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, and precious metals.
Extrusion
Extrusion is the process of pushing heated metal through a die. It’s almost like squeezing a tube of toothpaste. The die creates a specific shape, such as a tube, L-structure, or something more complex. It is ideal when you need a high volume of parts with the same base shape. However, this process typically requires cutting, drilling, or machining after it is finished.
Metal Casting
Metal casting has been around for a long time. It involves pouring liquid metal into a mold. The liquid cools and hardens inside the mold, producing a finished product. Once it is finished curing, it can be extracted and used.
Die Casting
Die casting is ideal when you need a high volume of complex parts. It uses steel molds to form metals with low melting points. Engineers often use it because it provides a high degree of accuracy, reliability, and quality.
Sheet Metal Stamping
Stamping involves cutting parts from a piece of sheet metal. The blank sheets are then bent and pressed to create 3D parts. Stamping is one of the most common metal services because it can produce parts at a rapid pace. In fact, it is faster than any other metalworking process.
There are a variety of ways to produce metal parts. The key is to choose the right one for your project. Be sure to understand more about the available options before making a decision.