Six essential tools for CNC shop

The basic technology in a CNC shop has changed dramatically over the past 50 years. Once there were only manual mills, manual lathes and drill presses. But today, to be more competitive, machine shops need more basic tools in their mechanical arsenal.

Here are six essential tools you should have in your machine shop:

Multi-tasking lathes and 5-axis machining centers

5-axis machines have become standard when purchasing a new machining center, and they can be programmed using a CAM system much easier than before. These 5-axis machines, along with multi-tasking lathes, will allow machine shops to complete work faster and more accurately because they can complete more tasks than traditional CNC equipment. Parts are more complete with fewer errors, which is an important outcome to keep up with the current pace of the industry.

Robotics and Automation

Automation technology is essential to staying competitive. People need to make existing employees more efficient by eliminating repetitive tasks such as loading and unloading machines. However, robots and automation greatly improve the consistency of the shop floor, thereby improving productivity and quality.

Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs)

It’s imperative that a shop has a CMM now, and these machines can handle difficult measurements. CMMs are essential for measuring parts accurately, consistently and in a timely manner and they can also automatically record measurements to provide the necessary data for proof of measurement when needed.

3D Printing

It is great for prototyping and other uses, and more for making fixtures to hold parts and uses are being created every day. Every advancement in 3D printing has been made in parallel with advancements in machining and it is essential in a machine shop.

3D Scanning 

This tool complements 3D printing and is a more complete way to measure parts. The biggest problem with CMMs is that they usually don’t measure all the features of a part in 3D, while 3D scanning is more comprehensive when measuring the entire part and can better point out differences. At the same time, 3D scanning is also an essential tool for reverse engineering of parts.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems

ERP systems are becoming increasingly important to having a competitive machine shop. ERP systems can better manage your workflow, can manage scheduling jobs, materials and services all at once, and can help management and employees get a clearer picture of where jobs are and how they are performing. ERP systems will get closer to proactively monitoring machines to resolve manufacturing issues and maintenance problems.

Long gone are the days of competitive machine shops with only a few manual machines. Machine shops are essential and will continue to evolve as the industry evolves.