Future of Automation in CNC Machining

Over the years, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) had a positive impact on industrial manufacturing. But there have been debates whether the current process of manual programming in CNC will be effective enough in the future too.

Because technologies like AI and IoT are impacting every field, and this opens the probability of automation being applied in CNC machine shops.

Terms like custom machine services and custom machine shops would be quite common in the near future. Thanks to automation, it can eliminate the human interference in CNC programming, and on top of that full customization in CNC’s can be possible.

In this article, we want to share a few things to expect regarding the future of CNC machining when automation is used.

Automated Machine Shops

In this day and age where we’ve seen, the concept of automated homes rises to its core. Smart homes are already becoming a new norm in various urbanized areas, and technologies like IoT have a big contribution to this.

Similarly to the fully automated homes, there is a good probability that automated machine shops could be available in the market. Smart technologies integrated within basic gadgets like our smartphones can help us create a network where basic devices on the production floor can be connected and operated with few clicks.

Many shop owners and managers want online CNC machining services. Due to internet access, people don’t need to visit the shops, and instead, they can share a CAD design file online and get a quote on the project.

A proper design file created using CAD is good enough to proceed with further CNC prototyping and machining. Here, automation can help with customer service and as well as operating machines on automation once instructions are given using an online application.

Integrating automation with CNC machine shops will always help customer machining services to evolve.

Custom Machine Services

As we touched upon on the point, that automated CNC machine shops are ready to crash the market and can provide better results for both manufacturers and buyers.

With the insertion of automation and programming in every device on the production floor. It helps manufacturers to focus on customizing the designs and design unique parts accordingly.

Since major operations carried in CNC machine shops are turning, milling, and surface finishing. It is said that these operations account for both complex prototypes and low-volume production runs of precision machined parts.

If these operations are fully automated, it leaves us with less manual programming. In the end, manufacturers can put their efforts into customizing the designs and parts with much precision. Thus this is how a new genre of custom machine services can be developed.

Custom machine shops can account for three aspects of the business when automation is applied, such as:-

1. Sharing instant CNC machining quotes
2. Giving instant Feedback
3. Instant order management dashboard

All of the above processes are taken care of. Thus it helps companies to be more focused on designing and production.

Smaller CNC Machines

A decade ago, companies were used to having huge CNC machines on their production floor. But recently our current CNC machines don’t take as much space as they used to do back then.

The evolution of small CNC machines have made the production floor seem less dangerous, and the factor of machine immobility is completely removed.

As the automation industry is growing every day, it's focusing on delivering bigger outputs with smaller devices. The best example will be, AI robots machines which are currently in the transportation sector.

Machines taking less space will contribute to multiple cost cut-downs. Small businesses and companies with smaller production floors can easily produce smaller parts in large quantities and still keep their prices very competitive.

Day-by-day CNC machines are making progress in prototyping smaller parts with precision and implementing automation in prototyping makes the whole process quick and sustainable.

Less Manual Workforce and Unemployment

People do fear that the use of automation in industries can result in the cut-down of multiple jobs and which can finally result in unemployment. But we need to look at this in a different way.

As on one end, automation helps companies to operate efficiently with less manual labor and eliminates their jobs. But on the other end, automation is also creating new jobs for more skilled laborers.

In CNC machines, a person with software knowledge is heavily involved in designing and delivering better-engineered parts. In the future automation, the software will outgrow us and it could perform reverse engineering services without a need for a manufacturer on the floor.

Most of the current software is built, developed, and used effectively by programmers. Thus a skilled programmer with the knowledge of engineering designs and operations is bound to get a good job with a good salary. Even though new programming jobs are being created, it will result in a less number of workforce on the production floor.

Apart from the inclusion of programming by automation which is resulting in less labor requirement. Many industries tend to rely on robots for quick and effective workaround time. Even though these robots are needed to be monitored (or) instructed by humans. They bring a few advantages especially in the CNC machining industry like:-

• Lifting, shifting, and transporting heavy materials on the production floor
• Working for long hours effectively with no downtime
• Requiring less attention when they’re pre-instructed properly

Conclusion:-

No doubt automation is on the verge of raising, irrespective of any industry. Technologies used in automation are bound to give better outputs for businesses with lesser efforts.

Soon automation is gonna create a new genre of CNC machining, and people might forget the current forms of CNC operations. The best example to share would be of 3D printers.

Before CNC machines came into play in designing engineered parts, 3D printers had a fair share in this market until people saw what CNC can bring to the table and how cost-effective CNC machines could prove in terms of prototyping.

Similarly, automation has the best chance to eliminate most of the CNC operations, especially eliminating manual operations and bringing in devices and software which can completely automate them.