Most CNC machine shops have been here: You win a project. You staff the right CNC operators. You receive the castings. You prepare a project setup cart. And then … an incomplete set of tools stops you before you get started.
What do you need out of a CNC machining metal cutting tool?
That’s simple, right?
- Easy installation/adjustment
- Reliable rigidity
- Solid durability
- High precision (of course)
How you want a tool to perform is cut and dried. What’s challenging for many engineers in CNC machine shops is how to select the right tool to make sure the job gets done properly. Of course, selecting a CNC machine cutting tool isn’t only about the performance of the tool. Cost is a huge factor, and we’ll address that in this article, too.