CNC machining is part of almost every industry linked to manufacturing. It is the future of manufacturing with great demand all over the world owing to benefits like high precision, easier to scale, consistency, less wastage, higher accuracy and more.
CNC machining can solve a lot of challenges for small, micro companies and startups, which is why there is a lot of demand for CNC machining in India and the world. However, introducing CNC machining in your manufacturing is a challenging task for startups, micro and small companies because of numerous problems and restrictions.
CNC Machining Challenges faced by manufacturing industry
These restrictions stop companies from launching new product variations, slow manufacturing, and prevent them from slashing down manufacturing costs. Karkhana.io’s CNC machining services have solved these challenges with its digital manufacturing platform, which was started to address these concerns. This blog explores the top challenges experienced by companies and how Karkhana.io is solving them.
CNC Challenge #1: Need for technical expertise, know-how, and expert inputs
Before production starts in a CNC machine, companies have to make a lot of decisions that will directly impact the cost, quality, and success of the product. These decisions require inputs from manufacturing expert engineers and specific technical know-how.
Simple choices like the type of material, tools, material finish, or machine to choose can impact the final manufacturing output by a large degree. When companies interact with a CNC machining company, they may or may not get access to the kind of technical expertise the product demands.
Also, DfM (Design for Manufacturing) feedback on the CAD model of the product/part needs to be part of pre-manufacturing checks to ensure manufacturing is in line with the end goal of the product/part.
Technical know-how and DfM feedback help companies make informed decisions about:
- Materials to choose for manufacturing
- Surface finishing to choose
- The process to follow for manufacturing
- The complexity of the geometry
- Software and technical instructions being fed to the machine
- Compliance and testing issues linked to the part/product
- Tools to choose for manufacturing
- Assembly of the product/part
- Number of parts
- Competitor review of the design
- And many other factors
These inputs are necessary for companies to benefit from CNC machining and prepare a strategy that would drastically benefit the production process.
CNC Challenge #2: Finding reliable manufacturers, especially with low-volume orders
Most reliable and established CNC manufacturers are keen on taking high volume orders. They prefer taking OEMs and large companies as their clients and are usually reluctant to take low-volume orders.
Companies must look for and compare numerous manufacturers while dealing with cost, technical expertise, and reliance issues. You need manufacturers who have past experience in manufacturing parts in your sector to scale manufacturing efficiently.
CNC Challenge #3: Increased costs because of unnecessary precision (tolerances) to the grade of a few microns
Usually, companies are unaware of the required precision in tolerances and how these affect manufacturing costs. You might suggest precision in specific microns, which would increase the cost tremendously without the actual need.
An expert can help companies decide on tolerances, and understanding the need of the end product is necessary to make sure you are balancing both accuracy and cost optimisation. Karkhana CNC machining services solve these challenges with inputs from engineering and manufacturing experts.
CNC Challenge #4: Choosing between a 3, 4, or 5-axis CNC machine
A lot of factors impact the cost of manufacturing, and one of them is the type of machine to choose. Every company has the option to choose between a 3, 4, or 5-axis machine for their manufacturing, and the decision for this should be based on product requirements.
Companies can very easily overspend on choosing a more expensive production process without having the need.
CNC Challenge #5: Vetting suppliers, QC, and creating an efficient process
The manufacturing process has a lot to do with the quality of your production. You have to vet suppliers and manufacturing partners before finalising the production process. After selecting the manufacturer, quality control and constant follow-ups must be part of the process to ensure you have an efficient manufacturing system for your product/part.
This is a challenge for companies, and without past experience, companies often suffer from delayed timelines, substandard quality, increased costs, and other issues.
CNC Challenge #6: Procurement
After deciding on the material to choose for CNC machining, in some cases, procurement becomes a challenge for companies because of different limitations. All types of materials are not readily available, and finding the best price for the suitable material is also a challenge.
Karkhana CNC machining services include the option of digital procurement through our wide network of suppliers and vendors, which helps companies access effortless sourcing at competitive prices.
CNC Challenge #7: Turnaround time
One of the biggest reasons to have reliable manufacturers is the need for quick turnaround times for companies. Turnaround times can affect the time to market, product competitiveness, revenue, emergencies in some cases, and other scenarios.
Companies need to ensure that the manufacturer has a good track record of quick turnaround times and has developed manufacturing SOPs that make sure production takes place on time and efficiently.
Simplifying CNC machining for companies with Karkhana CNC machining services
Our digital manufacturing platform has solved all these concerns and challenges for companies. This platform is built on key challenges and solutions for CNC machining that include:
- Helping companies identify reliable and verified vendors
- Understanding RFQs (Request for Quotation)
- DfM feedback by expert engineers
- Cost optimisation of products/parts to be manufactured
- Understanding supplier capabilities and vetting them
You get to access all these along with our extensive network of engineers, designers, manufacturing experts and other professionals who have faced and solved all manufacturing challenges you might have to face in your journey.
Karkhana CNC machining services and benefits you can avail of include:
- CNC Turning
- CNC milling
- 3, 4, 5 Axis Machining (HMC/VMC capabilities)
- Wide variety of materials (Aluminium, Stainless steel, copper, ABS, Nylon, P20 tool steel, and many others)
- High precision tolerances
- Digital procurement
- Wide variety of surface finishing options (Anodizing, Black Oxide Coating, Powder Coating, Zinc Plating, Nickel Plating, or Electropolishing)
- Electrical discharge machining
- Gear hobbing
- On-demand manufacturing
- Rapid manufacturing
- Precision manufacturing
- Cloud manufacturing
For any of the above services, you get access to instant quotations, DfM feedback via our expert engineers, end-to-end project management, sharing project files within your organisation, viewing your CAD files, regular QC, audits of suppliers, logistics, payments, and more.
Our CNC services expand into all kinds of materials that comprise of ABS, Aluminium, Brass, Nylon, PVC, Stainless Steel, Teflon, and Titanium. Our top-of-the-line CNC services include world-class CNC milling, CNC turning, Electrical discharge machining, and Gear hobbing services.
Ready to experience the future of manufacturing with Karkhana.io’s CNC machining services? Start by filling out the form below and we will get in touch with you.
