There are significant differences between sheet metal processing and CNC processing in many aspects, the most intuitive of which is the difference in processing technology and processing equipment.
CNC processing requires milling machines and lathes, while sheet metal processing requires punching machines, bending machines, laser cutting machines, etc. The following are the main differences between the two:
Definition and process
Sheet metal processing
Definition: Sheet metal processing is a processing technology for metal sheets (such as aluminum sheets, iron sheets, stainless steel sheets, etc.).
Process: Including traditional cutting, stamping, bending and stamping forming methods, as well as filament power supply winding, laser cutting, heavy processing, metal bonding, metal drawing, plasma cutting, precision welding, roll forming, sheet metal bending forming and other processes.
CNC processing
Definition: CNC processing is computer numerical control processing, which controls machine tools through computer programs to complete the processing tasks of various complex parts.
Process: Including manual processing and CNC processing. CNC processing also covers a variety of equipment and technologies such as machining centers, turning and milling centers, EDM wire cutting equipment, and thread cutting machines.
Material shape
Sheet metal processing: mainly uses metal materials in the shape of sheets, formed and expanded metals, wires, etc.
CNC processing: mainly uses metal materials in the shape of solid round bars, tubes or sheets.
Precision and tolerance
Sheet metal processing: Although it has high precision, it may be slightly inferior to CNC processing when manufacturing high-precision parts.
CNC processing: using advanced control systems and servo technology, it can achieve micron-level or even nano-level processing accuracy to meet the processing requirements of high-precision parts.
Flexibility and adaptability
Sheet metal processing: It has high flexibility and can be cut, bent, stamped and other processes as needed to form parts of various shapes and sizes, and is suitable for a variety of metal materials.
CNC processing: It also has high flexibility. It can adapt to the processing needs of different parts by modifying the program, and can complete multiple processes continuously and automatically.
Application field
Sheet metal processing: It is widely used in construction, furniture, advertising, machinery manufacturing, aviation, automobiles and other fields, especially in occasions where rapid prototyping and processing of complex structures are required.
CNC machining: It is also widely used in aviation, automobile, mold, precision instrument and other fields, especially in occasions requiring high precision and high efficiency machining.
Of course, sheet metal machining and CNC machining have significant differences in definition and process, material shape, precision and tolerance, flexibility and adaptability, and application areas.
Simply put, CNC machining is the cutting of materials on metal parts, while sheet metal manufacturing is the bending, punching, laser cutting, and assembly of metal materials to finally become a complete metal part. The most important point is that the two metal processing technologies are completely different in their use scenarios, so they cannot be compared together. The choice of processing method depends mainly on factors such as specific processing requirements, material properties, and cost budget. If you need processing services for the above two metals. And the quantity is large, you can choose Mulan Group, which is a professional metal processing service provider in China. It is good at various metal processing technologies, has complete certification and qualifications, and cooperates with customers in more than 30 countries and regions around the world.
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