The Features and Diversity Between CNC and 3D Printing
Time:2016-01-28 11:33 source:
Leecheer Author: Leecheer Click:
The Features and Diversity Between CNC and 3D Printing
CNC is the abbreviation of Computer numerical control. Numerical Control Machine
Tools is the lathe equipped with CNC, which CNC lathe for short.
SLA is the abbreviation of Stereo lithography Appearance, which is forming
method of three-dimensional photocuring.
The comparison of processing technic between CNC and SLA
The processing technic of CNC
1. The parts need to be programmed according to 3D drawing. The parts with complicate
structure need to be splitted to manufacture and glue them after manufacturing finished.
2. The fixture needs to be designed and used during processing. About the big size and
complicate structural parts, the special gauge should be taken into consideration to
ensure the stitching precision.
3. The material is the real material, which can directly manufacture the material of ABS,
PMMA,PP and metal. The synthesized mechanical properties of material is better that SLA.
The processing technic of SLA (3D printing)
1. High flexibility. It can complete complex structural part in one time. And manufacturing
cost and manufacturing speed have nothing with the complexity of parts.
2. Fast speed of manufacturing. It can finish parts in several hours or several ten hours
from getting data to finishment.
3. CAD\CAM seamless connection. CDA data can be directly manufactured on machine.
It don’t need data programming or splitting.
4. It don’t need to design and use fixture during processing.
5. The tenacity of ABS is not alway good . It cannot be completely in conformity with real material.
The cost structure of CNC
The material of CNC is ABS,PP and so on. The material cost is lower. But CNC processing
need to programme and split. One CNC machine nees 3-4 emplyees,
so labor cost is higher. Therefore, the cost of CNC depend on the complexity and material
of parts. The more complex of parts, the greater workload of programming, the post- processing
will be more complex. The more man-hours, the higher cost.
The cost structure of SLA (3D printing)
SlA can achieve unattended operation. One employee can operate 3-5 SLA machines
at the same time. But the material of SLA is photocurable resin. The purchasing cost is higher.
Therefore, the cost of SLA have nothing with the complextity of parts , which is depend on the weight of parts.
Aboved comparsions, CNC machine is suitable with the simple structure, and heavy solid part.
And SLA machine is suitable with all kind of complex structure.
Keywords: Features ; Diversity ; CNC ; 3D Printing