How do you identify a quality CNC machine? It’s a complex question, requiring deep engineering and industry knowledge. Without access to expertise, CNC router and laser cutter designs can seem identical, especially in the modern world of mass production.
Perhaps a more important question then is “how can your business know if a CNC router or laser cutter is worth a closer look?” While Heliner always recommends seeking expert advice, the most powerful tool you have is to ask the manufacturer what the max feedrate is.
Max feedrate gives an overview on the quality of a CNC machine. It is the product of every imperfection in the parts, assembly, and design. Issues with alignment, part quality, and material treatments place stresses on the machine during high speed travels. Performance will also quickly degrade at higher speeds if the parts and overall rigidity of the machine only just meet spec.
As a case study, let’s look at some of the manufacturing decisions that go into making the table of a CNC machine. Our tables are milled after construction to ensure flatness and alignment. The entire table is heat treated pre and post-manufacturing to prevent warping as the material relaxes. Finally, all mating surfaces are hand scraped for perfect levelling. All of this ensures the linear rails and other moving parts are in perfect alignment, preventing the buildup of stresses and loss of accuracy. Our machines are widely known to be extremely quiet during operation, even at high speed. This level of precision and care can be tracked throughout the design, manufacturing and testing of every part of our machines. Many manufacturers don’t take this level of care, because it is quality that isn’t immediately visible.
Our CNC routers achieve a max feedrate of 45 metres per minute, while our laser cutters can exceed 60m/min. This makes us unbeaten on the cost to quality ratio. This shouldn’t be the only metric used to make your final decision, but it is a useful tool for narrowing down your choices and streaming your decision making process.
