Manufacturing

CNC Machining 

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology has dominated the metal forming industry in recent years, as it offers advanced precision and repeatability that can be impossible to achieve with manual processes alone. With so many CNC technologies on the market, it can be difficult to distinguish between them and what they are used for. While there are many similarities between CNC milling and turning, there are also distinct, important differences.

What is CNC Milling?

CNC milling is a machining process relies on rotary cutters to remove metal from a workpiece. CNC milling is responsible for revolutionizing the machine shop, granting the ability to mass produce detailed components more rapidly and with more accuracy than traditional manual machining methods. Once a CNC process is programmed and setup, machinists can produce more pieces at faster speeds with good part repeatability, making the process ideal for high-volume manufacturing and prototyping.

We support continuous 5-axis, 5-axis-indexed, and 3-axis machining, accommodating approach vectors for complex geometry from any angle.

What is CNC Turning? 

Turning is a machining process used to make cylindrical parts in which the cutting tool moves in a linear fashion while the workpiece rotates. Commonly performed with a lathe, turning reduces the diameter of a workpiece to a specified dimension and produces a smooth part finish. Like CNC milling - this is also called “subtraction machining” since it involves material removal. If the turning center has both turning and milling capabilities the rotation can be stopped to allow for milling operations.

We support continuous 5-axis, 5-axis-indexed, and 2-axis machining with work piece transfers to complete parts in one continuous operation.

Prototyping

Refined Manufacturing utilizes a wide variety of prototyping techniques and tailors the process to your product’s specific design and needs.  We understand that prototyping is an iterative process that is meant to improve and perfect your products so they can easily be manufactured and eventually sold to your customers.  In between prototype stages, we work on product testing, design, functionality, and continuous process improvements. Refined Manufacturing fabricates custom prototypes for concept validation, marketing, demonstration, product improvements, and to prepare for manufacturing.

What differentiates Refined Manufacturing from other prototyping houses is that we are well versed in the following prototype techniques.  We combine these different methodologies, as needed, to custom fabricate functional and demonstration grade prototypes.

• Custom Fabrication for Working Prototypes

• Rapid Prototyping, 3D printing and 3D Scanning

• CNC Machining and Metal Fabrication

• Temporary Molds and Castings for Product Testing

• Low Run Production

Materials

We are well versed in most materials used in CNC machining processes and work with the best material distributors in the Midwest. Our machinists are highly skilled and have decades working with all kinds of materials available. We commonly work with these materials: