What is CNC milling?

CNC milling uses rotational cutting tools to remove material from a workpiece to produce finished parts and products. This manufacturing process works well for many materials, including metals, polymers, wood and glass. CNC milling systems generally have 3 linear degrees of freedom: the X, Y and Z axis. This allows for top-notch precision and detailing. Protolabs Network also offers more advanced, 5-degree systems, where the tool head and machining bed (A and B axis) can also rotate. 5-axis CNC machines can produce parts with high geometric complexity without needing multiple machine setups.

What is CNC turning?

CNC turning produces parts by mounting a blank on a rotating chuck and removing material using stationary cutting tools. This technology is ideal for manufacturing parts with symmetry along their center axis. Turned parts are typically produced faster (and at a lower cost) than milled parts.