Cutting
- Processes
- 15
- Families
- 3
- Column
- Tolerances
Mechanical10
- 5-Axis CNC Machining±0.005 in (±0.13 mm) standard; ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm) precision; single-setup work avoids the 0.002–0.005 in (0.05–0.13 mm) datum shift multi-setup machining carries
- CNC Machining±0.005 in (±0.13 mm) standard shop practice, equivalent to ISO 2768-m; ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm) for precision work; ±0.0002 in (±0.005 mm) on ground and precision-turned features.
- CNC Milling±0.005 in (±0.13 mm) standard; ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm) precision; ±0.0005 in (±0.013 mm) on selected features
- CNC Turning±0.005 in (±0.13 mm) standard; ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm) on diameters; ±0.0005 in (±0.013 mm) achievable; concentricity within 0.0005 in (0.013 mm) TIR in a single chucking
- Die Cutting±0.010–0.030 in (±0.25–0.75 mm) for steel rule dies; ±0.005–0.015 in (±0.13–0.4 mm) for rotary and hardened punch-and-die tooling; print-to-cut registration typically ±1/32 in (±0.8 mm)
- Glass Scoring±1/32 in (±0.8 mm) with careful hand or CNC-table work; ±1/16 in (±1.6 mm) is common for architectural glass
- Punching and Blanking±0.003–0.010 in (±0.08–0.25 mm) on punched features; ±0.002 in (±0.05 mm) achievable in a well-maintained progressive die; features punched in one station relate to each other more tightly than features across stations
- SawingBand saw ±0.030 in (±0.75 mm) typical, ±0.010 in (±0.25 mm) with careful setup; cold saw ±0.005–0.010 in (±0.13–0.25 mm); abrasive saw ±0.020 in (±0.5 mm) or looser
- Swiss Screw Machining±0.0005 in (±0.013 mm) routine; ±0.0002 in (±0.005 mm) achievable on diameters; ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm) on lengths
- Water Jet Cutting±0.005 in (±0.13 mm) typical on thin material; ±0.003 in (±0.076 mm) achievable; ±0.010–0.020 in (±0.25–0.5 mm) on thick plate; 1–3° of natural taper unless a compensating head is used
Thermal4
- Electrical Discharge MachiningWire EDM ±0.0005 in (±0.013 mm) commercial, ±0.0001 in (±0.0025 mm) achievable with multiple skim passes; sinker EDM ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm) typical, ±0.0005 in (±0.013 mm) achievable
- Laser Cutting±0.005 in (±0.13 mm) on thin sheet; ±0.010 in (±0.25 mm) on plate and over long dimensions; edge taper roughly 0.5–1°
- Plasma CuttingConventional plasma ±0.030–0.060 in (±0.75–1.5 mm); high-definition plasma ±0.010–0.020 in (±0.25–0.5 mm); 1–3° of bevel on the cut face
- Tube and Profile Laser Cutting±0.005 in (±0.13 mm) on feature position within a setup; roughly ±0.020 in (±0.5 mm) cumulative over multi-meter lengths; overall accuracy is also bounded by the mill tolerance of the incoming tube
Chemical1
About cutting
Cutting processes remove material to arrive at the finished geometry, by mechanical shear, by melting and blowing, by erosion, or by chemistry.
Because most cutting processes need little or no dedicated tooling, they dominate prototyping and low volumes, and they set the tolerance ceiling for parts that other processes cannot hold.