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Cylindrical components present unique challenges in manufacturing. While an experienced CNC machining company can handle the process, your design plays a crucial role in determining how well the component functions, how efficiently it can be machined, and ultimately, how much it will cost.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through the manufacturing process of cylindrical parts and share my top three design considerations to help you create more efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality components.
**How Are Cylindrical Components Manufactured?**
At Penta, we use a variety of methods to produce cylindrical components. Although many are turned on a lathe, some require milling or even a combination of both. Mill-turn machines, for instance, allow us to perform both turning and milling operations in one setup, which increases efficiency and precision.
As a designer, you don’t need to worry about the exact method used. Your CNC partner should evaluate your design and choose the most suitable approach—focusing on efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.
**Designing Cylindrical Components**
While the manufacturing is handled by the machine shop, your design has a big impact on the final outcome. Optimizing your design can improve functionality, reduce machining time, and lower costs.
Here are my top three design considerations when working with cylindrical components:
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**1. Wall Thickness**
Thin walls can lead to issues during machining, such as distortion or warping. The chuck holds the workpiece tightly, but if the wall is too thin, the force may cause deformation, making it hard to maintain the required radius. Thin-walled parts also tend to vibrate during machining, affecting surface finish and tolerances.
If thin walls are necessary, be prepared for longer setup times and higher costs. If not, aim for a reasonable thickness to keep things simple and cost-effective.
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**2. Length of the Cylinder**
Longer cylinders are more prone to wobbling and flexing during machining, especially as they move away from the chuck. This can lead to inaccuracies and poor surface finishes. To counter this, a center can be used to stabilize the part at both ends, improving precision.
Machining without a center is possible, but it often requires additional setups and time, increasing overall costs.
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**3. Feature Placement on Either End**
Ensuring features match perfectly on both ends of a cylinder can be challenging and time-consuming. If exact alignment isn't critical, specifying that "orientation is not important" gives the manufacturer more flexibility and helps reduce costs.
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**Conclusion**
When designing cylindrical components, you don’t have to worry about the manufacturing process itself. A reliable CNC machining supplier will handle that. What matters is designing with manufacturability in mind. This ensures better efficiency, fewer complications, and more predictable costs.
If you need guidance, partnering with a machining company that offers design support can make a big difference. They can help balance form, function, efficiency, and cost to deliver the best results.
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**Partner with Penta**
Penta is a trusted machining company with expertise in both turning and milling. We offer valuable design advice to help our clients optimize their parts for production.
We also have mill-turn machines that combine the benefits of both turning and milling, allowing us to produce complex cylindrical parts faster and more accurately.
If you’d like to discuss how Penta can assist with your next project, feel free to call us at 023 9266 8334 or email us at sales@pentaprecision.co.uk. You can also book a Discovery Call with us here.
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