19 Nov Sustainable Manufacturing with CNC: Reducing Waste in Production
Today’s manufacturing landscape faces many challenges – with none so important as sustainability. CNC machining plays a major role, offering precision and efficiency by reducing material wastage and driving down energy demands.
Over the past few years, the popularity of the process has grown exponentially. The market value already exceeds $81 billion (US dollars), and this is projected to reach at least $134 billion by 2030. This is thanks, in no small part, to the advancing of techniques that result in lower production costs and the drive for companies to actively pursue greener processes.
Why CNC Machining Offers a Sustainable Solution
CNC machining has much lower environmental impacts than many other traditional manufacturing methods. This is down to:
- Reducing material waste.
- Offering exceptional energy efficiency.
- Reducing emissions.
1. Reducing material waste
The CNC process is highly accurate. Once programmed, the cutting and shaping tools work uniformly to achieve the most precise material removal, with virtually no deviation from these instructions. This brings:
- Minimal waste. Pinpoint machining accuracy ensures that pretty much every part produced conforms to the programmed pattern. Therefore, little to zero raw materials are discarded, making the most of every square centimetre.
- Such precision extends the lifespan of the cutting tools as well, a further efficient use of valuable assets.
2. Exceptional energy efficiency
CNC machines optimise the tools, cutting speeds and material feeds. This accuracy increases energy efficiency, further reducing the process’s environmental impact. As CNC technology continues to advance, so too does energy-efficient operation. Today’s CNC machines have one of the lowest environmental footprints of all manufacturing processes.
3. Low emissions
Emissions are also an important area for sustainable manufacturing. The accurate, reliable, consistent operation of the latest CNC machines dramatically reduces the need for additional finishing processes. The less a machine runs, the lower the emissions.
Further Ways that CNC Machining Reduces Waste in Production
The process brings further methods that can be embraced for a greener footprint. The first is by incorporating a strict recycling and waste management system into the process. Efficient sorting and repurposing of materials play a major role in optimising assets. The value of this is significant, even with a highly accurate process, such as CNC machining.
The second method – and one that’s incredibly important – comes at the design stage. It’s here that industry expertise makes all the difference, creating a blueprint that streamlines the whole part production process. Taking advantage of cutting-edge technology, such as digital twins and generative design, increases prototype accuracy. The more a part can be tested in the virtual plane, the less complications are likely to arise when design moves into the physical realm.
Collaborating with an advanced design team, such as SixDe, is a key step towards reaching production goals that are both cost-effective and sustainable. Our experience with automation, digitisation and robotics, as well as the very latest CNC machining and other manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing, are just some of the reasons we lead the way in Australian precision engineering.Contact us today to discover more about how we can help you drive down manufacturing costs along with reducing your carbon footprint.