Buyer guide
CNC Process Selection: Milling, Turning, EDM, Molding or Additive
Choose the process from geometry, material, quantity, tolerance, finish and tooling constraints. A lower unit price is not useful if the process cannot meet the functional requirement.
Use CNC milling or turning when
- The part needs flexible geometry and no dedicated mould
- Quantities are prototypes, low volume or changing production
- The drawing requires material and dimensional control
- The part is best defined directly from a CAD model and drawing
Consider another process when
- Very high quantities justify dedicated tooling
- Sheet form, cast geometry or polymer moulding changes the economics
- Internal geometry is inaccessible to conventional cutting
- A metal additive route removes a tooling or assembly constraint
Compare the full decision
- Include tooling, setup, programming, inspection and finishing
- Compare lead time to first acceptable part, not only cycle time
- Check achievable tolerances and surface condition after post-processing
- Ask for a manufacturability review when the boundary is unclear