Ceramic parts machining
For more than two decades, CYCOSPRAY has been committed to providing the best ceramic CNC machining services with advanced ceramic machining technology. We always focus on our expertise, quality, and craftsmanship. We have a good and fast service, from a quick quote to final delivery of the finished product.
- High Precision: Standard dimensional tolerance of ±0.005mm(0.0002in)
- Various CNC machines: 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis CNC machines
- Various Work Techniques: CNC milling, CNC turning, wire EDM, etc.
- Get your products and parts ready in as fast as 24 hours
- Certifications: ISO9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016
Why Ceramic CNC machining
Products made from ceramics have become part of people’s daily lives, ceramic is widely used in the production of various of optical, mechanical and electrical appliances. The current trend in ceramic manufacturing is CNC machining. Ceramics can be CNC machined to make parts and products with unique feel and appearance. Unlike ceramic parts made in kilns, those made with CNC machines have excellent compressive endurance. The CNC machining process includes cutting ceramic materials into various shapes by utilizing computer-controlled routers. Additionally, using a CNC machine to cut ceramics provides for greater accuracy and control, enhancing cut precision. Due to the rigidity and brittleness of ceramics, CNC machining has become the preferred method over traditional machining. It makes it easier to produce ceramic parts with intricate shapes and precise tolerances.
Characteristics of ceramic material
Ceramic is the best option for parts in many industries because of its advanced merits.
Advantages
Heat resistance: Ceramic can withstand very high temperatures, at least 1,000℃.
Insulator: Ceramic is often used to insulate critical wires and components because it provides good electrical insulation.
Chemical stability: Ceramic does not react with other chemicals and it keeps sensitive instruments free from contamination. Ceramic can sustain performance in harsh conditions by resisting corrosion.
Durability: Ceramic is highly resistant to thermal cycling and friction with its remarkable resistance to wear and tear. The service life of the equipment can be extended by at least ten times under the same working conditions.
Colorful: Compared with cement or stone, ceramic retains its color for a longer time.
Cost-effective: In general, ceramic is cheaper than some other materials.
Operations for ceramic CNC machining
CNC machining facilitates the production of parts and products with high precision and tight tolerances, it makes it easier to produce parts with complex geometries and intricate designs.Below are some CNC machining operations best for fabricating ceramics.
CNC Milling
A process in which a computer-controlled machine uses a rotating cutting tool to remove material from a ceramic workpiece to create a desired shape or form. Using CNC milling for ceramics has several benefits, one of which is the ability to make intricate shapes with excellent accuracy. By cutting precisely according to what is stated in the design file, the computer-controlled machine ensures accuracy and reproducibility of ceramic parts. A flawless surface finish can be achieved with CNC milling, obviating the need for further polishing or finishing operations.
Core drilling
Core drilling is a drilling technique that involves removing cylindrical material from a solid block or component. In ceramic CNC machining, core drilling is used to make holes of a specific diameter in ceramic materials for a variety of purposes. For example, they can slot wires, mount components or create ducting or ventilation systems. A CNC machine guides a rotary cutting tool (usually a diamond-tipped drill) to open the holes. Computer software allows precise control of the size and location of the holes. However, core drilling of ceramic can be a challenge for machining ceramics due to their hardness and brittleness. To prevent breakage, technicians must carefully control the speed of the drill and often use coolants to reduce the heat generated during the cutting process. They may also need specialized cutting tools, such as diamond-tipped drills, to effectively drill through the material.
Surface grinding
Surface grinding is a machining process that uses grinding wheels to remove material from the surface of a workpiece. For ceramics, surface grinding is typically used to produce a precisely smooth surface on ceramic parts. Surface grinding of ceramics requires high precision, as any imperfections in the surface can affect the performance of the ceramic element. Manufacturers usually use this technique to create flat, parallel surfaces on ceramic components and also to remove any surface defects or damage.
Materials for ceramic CNC machining
Not all ceramic materials are suitable for machining with CNC machines because of their different mechanical, physical and chemical properties. However, the following are the most suitable materials for ceramic CNC machining.
Alumina ceramic
Also known as aluminum oxide, is a versatile material. It offers extreme hardness, durability, good electrical insulation, high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance. In ceramic CNC machining, alumina ceramics are a popular choice for manufacturing high-precision parts. In addition, the high hardness and wear resistance of alumina ceramics make them ideal for cutting tools.
Boron nitride
Composed of boron and nitrogen and with the chemical formula BN, is a unique ceramic. It has a low dielectric constant, thermal expansion and loss tangent. In addition, it is chemically inert, highly resistant to electricity and has good resistance to thermal shock. BN is a hot-pressed solid with plate-like crystals and a hexagonal structure. This makes it possible to machine this material to make complex parts with very tight tolerances. In addition, boron nitride ceramic parts do not require firing or heat treatment until they are ready for use.
Silicon carbide ceramic
Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics are a new generation of advanced technical ceramics with excellent properties such as high hardness, high thermal conductivity, high thermal shock resistance and high wear resistance. SiC ceramics are increasingly used in CNC machining to produce cutting tools, wear parts and structural components. In addition, the high hardness of SiC ceramics makes them ideal for machining hard materials such as high-strength alloys, hardened steels and superalloys. Its high thermal conductivity also allows for effective heat dissipation during machining, reducing tool wear and increasing cutting speed and accuracy.
Zirconia ceramic
Also known as zirconium dioxide, has excellent strength, toughness and chemical resistance, and its high hardness also improves cutting speed in machining. Zirconia has excellent heat resistance and has a melting point that exceeds aluminum oxide. Its toughness and mechanical strength are unrivaled at room temperature, making CNC machining the most suitable manufacturing process.
Quartz
Quartz ceramics are composed of high purity silicon dioxide and have excellent optical and chemical properties. It also has excellent tensile strength, good thermal stability and excellent thermal insulation. This material is particularly well suited for producing parts that require precision, contamination control and temperature resistance, making it ideal for CNC machining.
Why CYCOSPRAY?
Ceramic materials are widely used in mechanical, optical and electrical equipment. While there are several ways to manufacture ceramics, the use of CNC machines is one way to ensure CNC precision machining and tight tolerances. However, the properties of ceramics, such as brittleness and low tensile strength, make this process challenging. It is best to leave machining these materials to professionals like CYCOSPRAY. CYCOSPRAY is a reliable manufacturing company with years of experience in CNC machining of a wide variety of materials, including ceramics. We utilize a variety of machining design guidelines to ensure your ceramic products meet specifications. Want to manufacture high-precision CNC machined ceramic parts? Upload your design to our platform now for an instant quote.
Tolerances for our ceramic CNC machining
Once the dimensions, geometry and shape of the ceramic part have been determined, we can realize extreme tolerances.
Grinding: general tolerances of ±0.02mm, can achieve ±0.01mm with a surface finish of N2/N3
CNC turning: general tolerance of ±0.03mm, can achieve ±0.01mm with a surface finish of N4/N5
CNC milling: bed capacity of 1000mm in X and 510mm in Y, spindle speed of 12,000 rpm; general tolerance of ±0.03mm, can achieve ±0.01mm with a surface finish of N4/N5