DFM for CNC Machining Webinar

Jul 25, 2024

DFM for CNC Machining Webinar Notes

Date: Veterans Day Host: Christine Evans, Director of Product Marketing and Content at Fictive

Webinar Objectives

  • Interactive discussion on DFM (Design for Manufacturing) for CNC machining
  • Address participants’ top questions and concerns
  • Outline key principles and best practices

Speakers Introductions

  • Mike Martin
    • Head of Mechanical Engineering at Synapse Product Development
    • 30 years of experience in product development
    • Expertise in various industries: consumer, medical, industrial
  • David Mayer
    • Senior Technical Project Manager at Fictive
    • Extensive machine shop experience
    • Focus on U.S. self-service CNC operations

Agenda Overview

  • Introduction to manufacturing effort in CNC machining
  • Discussion of various factors affecting DFM:
    • Geometry
    • Tolerances
    • Material
    • Part Size
    • Look and feel
  • Q&A Session

Key Concepts of DFM

  1. Manufacturing Effort:

    • Measure of effort, time, and challenge involved in manufacturing a design
    • Lower effort results in quicker lead time and reduced costs

  2. Five Parameters to Consider:

    • Geometry:
      • Minimize the number of setups (aim for a maximum of two)
      • Use stock geometries to reduce machining time
      • Design for workholding features to ease machining
    • Part Size:
      • Keep longest dimension under 6 inches for ease of handling
      • Small dimensions should be above 3 inches to avoid handling issues
    • Material:
      • Prefer materials like plastic (e.g., Delrin), aluminum (preferably 6061), or steel (1018)
    • Tolerances:
      • Use ISO 2768 as a guide for tolerances (coarse, medium, fine)
      • Apply tight tolerances only where necessary
      • Keep tolerances relative within a single setup
    • Look and Feel:
      • Use fillets and radii, avoid sharp corners
      • Specify surface finish only where necessary

Poll Results

  • Majority of attendees have experience working through DFM on a few projects

Q&A Session Insights

  • Complexity does not inherently equate to high effort; focus on specific design aspects that add effort
  • Resources available for understanding machining challenges include ISO tolerances, machine shops, and online resources like McMaster-Carr

Key Takeaways

  • Aim for least effort designs by understanding the interplay between geometry, size, material, tolerances, and surface quality
  • Design with effort in mind to optimize production and cost efficiency

Upcoming Webinars

  1. Building Banter Session: Interactive discussion with live video participation (Next Thursday)
  2. Module 2 of CNC Master Class: Focused on further DFM principles (December 2nd)

Thank you for attending the DFM for CNC machining webinar!