A Compact Machining Centre is the general purpose workhorse of a machining workshop, configured to complete several operations in one clamping. This page covers the Compact Machining Centre configured with a Siemens 828D control and 12,000 rpm spindle and supplied to aerospace suppliers: multi-axis CNC machining with probing and through-tool coolant. The headline figure is spindle speeds to 15,000 rpm, and the rest of the page explains what it means in daily use.
In practice the difficulty is rarely the nominal size. ±0.008 mm is held on the features that locate the part in the assembly, and the process is set up so that the first piece and the five hundredth measure the same way.
Specification
| Process | Multi-axis cnc machining with probing and through-tool coolant |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | a Siemens 828D control and 12,000 rpm spindle |
| Size / capacity | spindle speeds to 15,000 rpm |
| Tolerance | ±0.008 mm |
| Surface finish | machined finish, Ra 0.8–1.6 µm |
| Application | compact machining centre for aerospace suppliers |
| Inspection | Dimensional report, material certificate, first article report on request |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days for samples, 3–4 weeks for production |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for prototypes, from 50 pieces for production pricing |
Manufacturing process
Production begins with a drawing and material review. Stock is certified, the operation sequence is fixed, and multi-axis CNC machining with probing and through-tool coolant is carried out on equipment maintained to hold ±0.008 mm over a full shift, not just on a first piece.
Material is purchased against a certificate and checked on receipt, so the composition is known before any cutting starts. Work in progress is identified by part number and operation, and the finished parts are deburred, cleaned and protected before they leave the machine area.
Typical applications
Most of the work supplied in this category falls into the following examples.
- Housings and gearbox casings.
- Mould plates and inserts.
- Structural aerospace brackets.
- Manifolds and valve bodies.
- Jig and fixture bodies.
Quality control and documentation
Inspection is not a final formality. Dimensions are checked during the cycle and again at the end, so drift is corrected while there is still stock to remove.
Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, dimensional reports and first article inspection reports are issued with the shipment where the application requires them. Calibration dates and measurement uncertainty are recorded alongside every result.
Ordering, lead time and packaging
Orders start from a single piece. Samples are quoted from the 3D model, and production pricing follows once quantity, finishing and inspection are agreed.
Frequently asked questions
How many axes are needed?
Three axes cover prismatic parts. A fourth adds features around a cylinder and a fifth reaches compound angles and undercuts, removing setups and the tolerance stack that comes with them.
What does probing actually add?
Tool setting, datum finding and in-process measurement. Drift is corrected while there is still stock to remove, instead of being found at final inspection.
What file formats do you need for a quotation?
STEP or IGES for the 3D model and a PDF drawing with tolerances, material and surface finish called out. Native files from SolidWorks, Creo or Inventor are also accepted.
Send the drawing or the 3D model for a quotation. Include material, quantity, tolerance and finish, and a detailed quote with lead time is returned within one working day.
