Production and die machining are fundamentally different.
CAD/CAM for these applications must be fundamentally different.
Production machining vs Die machining
90% of the CNC machining
2D production Machining
Automobile
Textile machinery
Valves
Machine tools
Earth movers
Hydraulic equipment
Pumps
Power tools
Defence armaments
Material handling equipment
Bearings and oil seals
wood working
2D production Machining
Automobile
Textile machinery
Valves
Machine tools
Earth movers
Hydraulic equipment
Pumps
Power tools
Defence armaments
Material handling equipment
Bearings and oil seals
wood working
3D and 5 axis application
Die molds
Aerospace
Most CAD/CAM systems are essentially meant for die machining, with production milling and turning as offshoots. The reasoning behind this is that production machining is very simple and requires little or no programming skills, while die machining requires a lot of programming skills. The truth is that both are equally complex, but the complexities are different.
| Production machining | Die and Mold machining |
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| Accounts for 90% of CNC machining | Accounts for 10% of CNC machining |
| 2D profiles and hole positions | 3D surfaces |
| Wide variety of machining operations, each with unique tool path | Small variety : mostly milling of surfaces, pockets |
| Large variety of tools - 20 in milling, 15 in turning | Small variety, mostly end mills - less than 5 |
| Number of tools in a single part is large - typically 8 in turning, upto 50 in milling | Small number - less than 5 |
| Complex cutting parameters selection | Simple cutting parameters selection |
| Complex machining process sequencing | Few processes, simple sequencing |
| NC program has canned cycles and subprograms | Mostly linear interpolation motions |
| Cycle time is critical | Cycle time is less critical |
| Cycle time estimation is done often and is critical | Seldom done, not critical |
| Documentation is important : process sheet, tools list, cycle time calculation | Not required |
