MANUFACTURING DIARY #04

The CNC Could Make It.

So We Didn't Use It.

This is a manufacturing process-selection decision: when complex geometry makes CNC possible, but EDM more reliable.

A capable machine is not always the right machine.

Sometimes, the geometry is asking for a different process.

Sounds strange, right?

The drawing had deep ribs, sharp internal corners, and hardened steel.

Technically, our CNC could handle it.

But making it that way meant:

Long-reach tooling

 Deflection and chatter risk
 Multiple setups
 Tool-breakage risk
 More finishing
 More inspection

At that point, we weren't really optimizing the part.

We were optimizing the process around proving that CNC could do it.

So we looked at the geometry again.

And sometimes, the smarter answer is sinker EDM.

Not because EDM is better.

Because the geometry is asking for a different process.