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Learn to design better parts with these CNC machining articles. Compare materials and surface finishes. Keep leveling up your hardware product development and production expertise.

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Engineer's Guide to CNC Machining

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CNC Machining Materials

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Mechanical Properties

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A machinist manually loads a cutting tool into a 3-axis end mill

What is CNC machining?
Graphic illustrating a good DFM part and a bad DFM part

What is GD&T?
Screenshot of a 3D CAD model with an open chat between engineers discussing DFM

What is DFM?
Screenshot of an engineering drawing with multi datums and feature control frames

What is an engineering drawing?
Coolant being sprayed onto workpiece in between milling operations

What is cutting fluid?
Screenshot of an engineering drawing with datums A, B, and C called out

What is a datum?
Machinist visually inspects an endmill while setting up a 3-axis mill

What is CNC milling?
CNC machinist finishes a setup on a Swiss type lathe

What is CNC turning?
A production specialist prepares parts for anodize

What is surface finish?
An engineer examines a piece of sheet metal

What is ductility?
Machinist tests an aluminum plate's hardness

What is hardness?
A milled component made of steel

What to know about machining steel?
Screenshot of a quote with the order price called out

What is machining cost?
A finished aluminum component sits on a work bench with an engineer working in the background

How to choose the right material?
A machinist loads an aluminum plate into a 3-axis mill

What is elasticity?
Close-up of a milled component made with Inconel

What to know about machining Inconel?
A milled component made of stainless steel

What to know about machining stainless steel?
A milled component made of copper

What to know about machining copper?
A milled component made of bronze

What to know about machining bronze?
A milled component made of Monel

What to know about machining Monel?
A milled component made of titanium

What to know about machining titanium?
Machinist manually inspects a part with calipers

What is strength?
A finished part sits on a work bench

What is toughness?
Close-up of an engineering drawing with the feature control frames highlighted

What is a feature control frame?
An engineer visually inspects a sheet metal part's flatness

What is fatigue resistance?
A milled component made of aluminum

What to know about machining aluminum?
A milled component made of brass

What to know about machining brass?
Engineers examine a milled component and review an engineering drawing

What is design intent?
Close-up of an engineering drawing with the maximum material condition called out in a feature control frame

What is a material condition modifier?

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