![]() Most CAD software allows you to save your file in the dxf file format, which can then be imported into a CAM program and converted into CNC programming language (also called the G-code). Therefore, you need to convert these models into a format compatible with the CNC machine.Īn acceptable format for CNC machines is the dxf file format. However, the CNC machine does not understand these 3D models. The CNC CAD design rules help achieve optimized 3D CAD models, allowing any CNC machine shop to create your parts accurately and cost-effectively. Related Post: How to Solve Your Product Design Challenges With Subtractive Manufacturing Preparing Your CNC CAD Design Model for CNC Machining ![]() This is because the CNC machine removes lesser material to achieve engraved texts than engrossed texts.Īdditionally, we recommend that you use Sans-serif fonts (like Arial, Avenir, Verdana) with a font size greater than 22 points when designing parts with text and lettering. One thing to note, though: it’s more cost-effective to design parts with engraved texts instead of embossed text. Texts and lettering are quite straightforward to achieve with CNC machining. The higher wall thickness dimension requirement for plastics is because they are more prone to softening and warping than metals during machining operations. We recommend that you design walls to have a minimum wall thickness of 0.8 mm for metal parts and 1.6 mm for plastics. This is because thin walls are generally challenging to fabricate accurately due to vibrations from machining. You have to place close attention to the wall thickness when designing walls for CNC manufacturing. Therefore, the same requirements we mentioned for designing cavities also apply here. ![]() However, if the functionality of your design requires holes with non-standard diameters, then a machinist will create these hole features using an end mill tool. This eliminates the need for additional tooling, leading to lesser manufacturing costs. We recommend that you design your holes to have a dimension similar to any of the standard drill bit sizes. These drill bits come in standard sizes (or diameters), ranging from 0.5 mm to 38 mm. #3 Designing HolesĬNC machine shops typically create holes using drill bits. In that case, we recommend that you include a T-bone undercut instead of reducing the corner radius in your CAD model. However, suppose the functionality of your design requires smaller internal corner radii (or a sharp 90° angle). Additionally, we recommend that you design your internal corner radius to be at least one-third of the cavity depth. The internal corner radius dimension depends on the size of available end mill tools that meets the cavity depth requirement we mentioned earlier. Product designers account for these rounded corners by including an internal corner radius dimension in every internal edge in their CAD drawing. #2 Designing Internal Edgesīecause of CNC machines’ subtractive nature, they create rounded corners (or fillets) between the internal edges of a cavity. Learn more about the different types of CNC cutting tools. ![]() However, if the functionality of your design requires larger depth, you might want to consider using specialized tooling to create your cavities. This helps to prevent inaccuracies in machining caused by tool deflection and vibration. As such, we recommend that you design cavity depth to be at most four times the cavity width. End mill tools (used in CNC milling cavities) typically have a cutting length of about 3-4 times their diameter.
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