The Dutch floriculture industry is widely known as the leading industry in the world. It is the center for international marketing for cut flowers. The Netherlands has quite advanced methods of production and innovative marketing mechanism. The Netherlands makes up only 10% of the world’s total production but the country’s export volume accounts for 60% of world export (Market News Services, 2008).

It has centennial experience in the flower business. Growers are supported by several services in terms of research and development, and efficient distribution system well connected by air and by ground transportations with the most important producing and consuming countries. The driving force for the success of the industry is related to the crucial role of the auctions and the well developed infrastructure.

Production trends in the Dutch flower industry

The production share of the Dutch floriculture stands at 27% in the agriculture sector in the Netherlands. The total area of cut flowers, including propagation was 3,499 ha in This steadily decreased to 2,809 ha between 2007 and 2008. The number of ornamental plants cultivated under glass, the production of flower bulbs and propagating materials decreased considerably between 2003 and 2008.

This indicates the weakening position of the Dutch floriculture industry in production. The industry shows a correlation between value of production and cultivation area (ha). The production in millions of euros decreased by 13% in 2008 from €9,954 million to €9,743 million.

Despite the decrease in production the labor market in the industry experienced a slight increase in As the competition got stiffer, the number of exporters declined from 1,156 down to 911 between 2003 and 2008 (Flower Council of Holland, 2008).

That could be related to the high logistics requirements to export large volume of flowers, so only big and economically viable exporters could survive.

Export trends for Dutch flower products

The Netherlands play a pivotal role in the world flower industry and trade. The main export destinations for Dutch flowers are European countries, the USA and eastern Europe. African and Asian countries are the main destinations for the Dutch planting materials.

Majority of planting materials for Kenyan and Chinese flower producers come from The Netherlands. Export of planting materials to Kenya and China increased to 17.2 and
36.6% respectively, in 2008, making Kenya and China the 16th and 30th destinations for Dutch planting materials in the world (Market News Services, 2008). Germany,
United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, and Russia were the leading destinations for Dutch flower products in 2007 and 2008.

Import and local supply for the Dutch flower industry

During the last five years, the quantities of imported cut flowers increased by 15.2% and the average price increased by 12.9%. At the same time the locally-produced stems
decreased by 6.8%, while the average price increased by 8%. The total quantity of stems imported in 2008 was 3.7 billion and the locally-produced was 7.7 billion (Market
News Services, 2008) .

Auctions

The Dutch auctions are the largest flower market in the world. Four Dutch companies participated in the auctions in 2003 – 2007. However, in 2008 the number of Dutch
auctions reduced to two. The turnover of the auctions grew in 2007/2008 at an insignificant rate of 0.3 and 4% (Flower Council of Holland, 2008) for Flora Holland flower
auction and Plantition flower auction, respectively.

The Dutch flower auctions use a clock system to determine the price of flower products (Wijnands, 2005).

Stainless steel is a universal material that forms the foundation of innumerable industrial setups. Passivation of stainless steel is a core process in maintaining its quality and longevity.

In this article, we dive into the important questions of how to passivate stainless steel and what is it.

Contents
hide

I
What is Stainless Steel Passivation?

II
Why Passivated Stainless Steel is Needed？

III
3 Steps for Stainless Steel Passivation Process

IV
Common Industry Standards for Passivation of Stainless Steel

V
Equipment Features for Stainless Steel Passivation

VI
Good Practices for Passivated Stainless Steel Parts

VII
Conclusion

VIII
Choose A Reliable Post finishing Partner for Your Passivation Project

IX
FAQs

What is Stainless Steel Passivation?

Passivation of stainless steel is a chemical process to make it unreactive to moisture and oxygen, the primary substances that cause it to rust. The passivation process achieves this by creating a very thin layer (a few atoms wide) of Chromium Oxide (2Cr2O3) on the stainless steel’s exposed surface.

This layer prevents atmospheric compounds from reacting with the iron content in stainless steel, which deteriorates its quality. The results are quite similar to aluminum anodizing.

It serves a very important purpose in numerous industries like food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc. where equipment corrosion can lead to safety hazards and great losses. Properly passivated stainless steel also improves productivity and decreases maintenance load.

Why Passivated Stainless Steel is Needed？

The thin layer of chromium (and nickel) oxide on stainless steel makes it resistant to corrosion. However, sometimes this layer may not properly form by itself or may be damaged, leaving the stainless steel susceptible to corrosion. This is where the passivation process comes in. It serves the purpose of forming or restoring the protective layer to the desired quality.

There are several reasons stainless steel may require passivation, some of which are as follows:

–Low-Quality Raw Materials: Impurities from bad quality raw materials may not be fully extracted during steel fabrication. This can cause its chemical passivity to fall.

–Machining/Grinding: Most stainless steel parts go through manufacturing processes like machining and grinding. The tools used in these processes contain iron that gets embedded into the stainless steel surface during machining. Machining lubricants and cooling liquids can also accumulate in surface pits, introducing another form of impurity.

–Welding: Welding weakens the chromium oxide layer, especially in the heat-affected zone.

–Assembly: Stainless steel products are most often an assembly of various parts. During assembly, individual components rub against each other and the resulting friction can damage the layer of oxides, oftentimes to the extent that it may completely vanish at some points.

–Regular Wear & Tear: The chromium oxide layer weakens over time as the part sees various thermal, chemical, and physical environments during service.

All of these scenarios are very common in an industrial environment. Thus, professional engineers adopt a regular steel passivation schedule to prolong the life and quality of industrial equipment, saving money, time, and effort in the long term.

3 Steps for Stainless Steel Passivation Process

We will now discuss the passivation process in depth. Stainless steel passivation is a 3-step process: cleaning, acid bath, and quality testing.

Step 1: Cleaning

Cleaning the stainless steel surface is a crucial step for successful passivation. Accumulated surface impurities can block the passivating acids from reaching the surface, rendering all efforts useful.

Common surface impurities include dirt, grease, mineral and synthetic oils, hydrocarbons, and other residues from industrial environments.

There are various methods to degrease a stainless steel surface. Alkaline detergents and high-temperature baths (up to 65°C) are highly effective in dissolving and removing impurities.

Oftentimes, engineers also check the quality of cleaned surfaces via techniques like the camphor test.

Step 2: Acid Bath

The second step for the passivation of stainless steel is the acid bath. The cleaned stainless steel surface is immersed in a bath comprising an acid solution and some other additives like accelerators and inhibitors.

This chemical reaction removes free iron from the metal’s surface. The main goal is to achieve a high chromium-to-iron ratio so there is more chromium available for oxidation instead of iron.

Three parameters control this step in the passivation of stainless steel: the concentration, temperature, and duration of the acid bath. Different combinations of these parameters yield different results. The engineers’ experience and skill are critical in setting these parameters for the best results.

The most common acids for steel passivation are nitric acid and citric acid. In the following section, we briefly touch upon both of these and offer a comparison.

Nitric Acid vs. Citric Acid: A Technical Comparison

Nitric acid was the original passivating agent for stainless steel that works on the metal by dissolving iron, which the circulating bath then carries away. Its main features are:

• The concentration of nitric acid solution ranges from 10%-50%.
• Acid bath temperatures can be up to 60°C.
• Additives like sodium dichromate and phosphoric can further improve its passivation efficiency.
• Nitric acid makes passivated stainless steel more resistant to flash attacks.
• Only applicable to austenitic and duplex steel grades.
• Highly toxic and dangerous for the environment, requiring careful handling and disposal.

Let us move on to citric acid. It is a relatively new agent for the passivation of stainless steel. It chemically reacts with iron on the steel’s surface but also removes chromium and nickel. However, the prepared surface is well prepared to naturally react with ambient air to form a thick oxide layer.

• Acid concentration of around 10% is used.
• Passivates all grades of stainless steel.
• Citric acid is safe to use and is relatively more environmentally friendly.
• Approved for food processing.
• Passivation by citric acid is quicker and can be adjusted to achieve results in as less than 5 minutes.

Step 3: Quality Testing

The last step in stainless steel passivation is quality testing. The passivated metal passes through some checks that it needs to pass.

Engineers use several testing methods at this stage. One strategy is to create an environment where rusting is easy. This is known as the water immersion test, where stainless steel goes through continuous cycles of wet and dry environments and is constantly monitored for signs of corrosion. Usually, poor passivation leads to visible rust on the surface.

Chemical tests like the Ferroxyl test are also quite useful. It exposes iron by reacting with it and changing its appearance. Also, equipment like passivity meters is also quite popular to check the reactivity of stainless steel.

Meanwhile, it is also common to have quality checks during the acid bath step. Monitoring the iron concentration and acidity of the circulating acid bath indicates the progress and effectiveness of the passivation process.

Common Industry Standards for Passivation of Stainless Steel

Passivation of stainless steel is highly standardized due to its importance. Industry standards by ASTM and ASM are the most popular ones, covering passivation of useful stainless steel grades like 304 and 316 SS.

ASTM

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has two comprehensive standards for stainless steel passivation.

The ASTM A967/A967M standard covers various types of chemical passivation with both nitric and citric acid, as well as electrochemical treatment. It contains detailed information on the passivation process, quality testing methods and criteria, and recommendations for the initial steps of cleaning and descaling.

The ASTM A380/A380M contains detailed process guidelines and precautionary statements for passivating stainless steel parts, assemblies, equipment, and installed systems. This includes various steps of the process like cleaning, descaling, and passivating.

AMS

SAE International maintains the AMS 2700 standard detailing specifications for passivating stainless steel surfaces. It is more tuned towards professional practices in industries like aerospace and automotive.

It provides guidelines and procedures for dissolving iron and other less noble metallic elements from the surface of stainless steel to make it more corrosion-resistant.

Equipment Features for Stainless Steel Passivation

There is a wide range of machinery for the passivation of stainless steel. We will highlight some of the main features of the passivation equipment available in the market.

Size: There are several sizes of passivation equipment from benchtops to large-scale industrial units that can passivate huge parts.

Passivating Capacity: This is defined by factors like the number of tanks, their volumes, and overall throughput.

Functionality: Some passivation equipment comes as a complete package for degreasing, passivating, rinsing, and drying.

Manual/Automatic: Users can choose between manual and automatic units. Automatic units are more accurate, safe, and have intuitive human-machine interfaces. PLC-controlled systems add another level of precision and reliability to the machine.

Good Practices for Passivated Stainless Steel Parts

As with any industrial procedure, certain professional practices enhance the quality of steel passivation processes. Enlisted below are some of the major recommended practices for engineers who deal with passivated stainless steel.

1. Always Passivate New & Repaired/Replaced Parts

Every time a new component is added or an old one is replaced, passivation is a must. A chemically reactive part can very quickly catch rust and damage other parts and also the industrial process itself.

2. Regularly Monitor Equipment

Most industries use stainless steel parts whose passivity decreases over time with use or due to compounds like chlorides. The corrosion potential of such components must be periodically checked to see if they need re-passivation.

3. Separate Machinery & Tooling for SS

It is economically prudent to process stainless steel in a separate environment, where it may be less exposed to iron and impurities. In the long run, it can save massive passivation costs and downtime.

4. Quality Control of Industrial Fluids

An industry working with corrosive fluids should keep their composition under check. The fluids should be cleaned or changed if they become too dangerous for the stainless steel equipment.

5. Adjust Passivation Method to Steel Grade

Engineers must understand that every stainless steel grade is different and the same passivation cycle is not fit for all of them. Thus, some intuition and experience are required to tweak the process for each grade and part to achieve optimal results.

Conclusion

Stainless steel passivation is an important process that helps to keep stainless steel looking new and prevent it from corroding. So, it is inarguably a powerful method to boost productivity and quality of service.

While the process is not complicated, common passivation even can be done at home with a simple kit. If you want production-grade stainless steel passivated parts, then you will need to hire a professional company.

Choose A Reliable Post finishing Partner for Your Passivation Project

For manufacturing services ranging from part production to the passivation of stainless steel, WayKen is your right choice. With advanced technology and a rich experienced team, we can handle all your requirements and deliver results in the shortest time.

No matter stainless steel passivation to all the other surface finishing processes, you’ll confidently get parts with durability and perfect performance. Contact us for your passivation projects, and we’ll give you an instant quote and DFM feedback within the next 12 business hours.

Get A Free Quote

FAQs

Does 304 vs. 316 stainless steel need to be passivated?

Passivation is recommended for both 304 and 316 grades for long service life. While 316 SS does have better corrosion resistance due to its higher molybdenum content, it does not provide enough protection for most industrial environments.

How often should you passivate stainless steel?

The frequency of passivation for stainless steel depends on your industrial application. Parts that are exposed to too much dirt, friction, wear or other extreme conditions should be passivated more frequently than parts in a mild industrial environment. Parts carrying high chloride content, for example, should be passivated 2-3 times a year. Generally, SS parts should be passivated once a year for normal applications.

Can you passivate stainless steel twice?

Yes. The protective oxide layer on stainless steel gets weaker with time and use. When this happens, stainless steel should be re-passivated to restore its corrosion resistance. Depending upon the condition of the SS parts, they may be passivated more than twice as well.

北京时间9月14日消息，今天，著名记者扎克·洛维在节目《NBA Today》中谈到了洛杉矶湖人队。

Lowe说道：“我上赛季一直在说，湖人是一支不错的球队。在西部中，这可不是一件容易的事。如果他们进入季后赛，他们可以赢得一轮季后赛。但除此之外，很难看出这支球队的前景。每场比赛、每场胜利对他们来说都很艰难。”

接着Lowe说道：“也许文森特新赛季会健康，范德比尔特也可能会健康，但他们的其他球员，都是由很多新秀、很多未被验证的球员组成的。如果湖人的主力新赛季又受伤，你可能并不想让这些年轻球员们进入轮换阵容，这让我有点紧张。所以我认为他们的状态和上赛季差不多，这没什么错，但他们并不是争冠球队。”

上赛季，首轮湖人大比分1-4被掘金淘汰。

本教程适用版本：WPS 365 点击免费使用

在Excel表格当中统计数据时，在大量输入相同或者相似数据时，比如人力资源部统计员工性别时，该如何将这一步骤简化，提高工作效率呢？今天小编就来教大家，设置性别公式快速输入的方法。

首先，制作一张员工信息表，选中性别单元格，如下图所示：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

单击右键，选择设置单元格格式：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

然后选择数字选项，在分类中选择自定义格式，然后在类型的输入框当中，输入公式[=1]”男”;[=2]”女”，单击确定，如下图所示：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

然后我们检验一下，在单元格当中输入1，单击回车即可显示为性别“男”，在单元格当中输入2，则显示为性别“女”：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

这样，用户只需要输入1或者2就可以轻松录入员工性别了：

>>免费升级到企业版，赠超大存储空间

那么，在Excel表格当中，设置性别公式快速输入的方法，是不是非常简单呢，你学会了吗？

In the late 15th century, Leonardo Da Vinci sketched a simple rolling mill that demonstrated the possibility of bending sheet metals. However, it wasn’t until 1590 that this sketch became a reality as metal workers started using two heavy cylinders to press metals, altering their thickness and shape.

Since Da Vinci’s fantastic sketch, the sheet metal bending process has advanced; we now have several sheet metal bending technologies with different capabilities today. However, one thing has remained constant over the years: the success of your sheet metal forming project starts with you understanding the different bending methods and their suitability for different design scenarios.

Here, we discuss what you ought to know about the sheet metal bending process. If you want to get your sheet metal forming project done right the first time, this article is for you!

The Sheet Metal Bending Process

The sheet metal bending process involves applying a force to a sheet metal part to change its geometry. This force causes stress on the sheet metal beyond its yield strength, causing the material to physically deform without breaking or failing.

The press brake is a commonly used tool to bend sheet metal. It works by lowering a punch onto a sheet metal positioned on a die, creating the desired geometry.

(Sheet metal bending process animation. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Although this process is pretty straightforward, there is more to sheet metal bending than meets the eye. For example, there are several sheet metal bending methods, all of which are similar in function but differ in operation. Therefore, knowing the ideal method to choose is the first step you need to take to succeed with your sheet metal forming project.

6 Sheet Metal Bending Methods

Method #1 V-bending

V-bending is the most common sheet metal bending method. As its name implies, the v-bending method employs a v-shaped die and a punch to bend metals at desired angles. The v-shaped punch forces the sheet metal workpiece into the “v-shaped” groove in the die, forming sheet metals with different bend angles. For example, you can achieve acute, obtuse, or 90° bend angles, depending on the v-shaped punch and die angle.

Figure 1: The v-bending method

Method #2 Air Bending

Air bending is quite similar to the V-bending method: it relies on v-shaped punch and die to bend sheet metals. However, unlike the conventional v-bending process, the punch in the air bending method does not force the sheet into the bottom of the cavity. Instead, it leaves space (or air) underneath the sheet, allowing more bend angle control than conventional v-bending.

Figure 2: The air bending method

For instance, let’s say you have a 90° die and punch. With the air bending method, you can achieve bend angles anywhere between 90° and 180°. This method also ensures a more accurate result since it experiences less springbackㅡwhich describes the partial recovery of a bent sheet metal part to its geometry before bending force was applied. Springback is undesirable as it causes inaccurate bends.

Method #3 Bottoming

Bottoming (or bottom bending) is a type of v-bending that also solves the springback challenge. It involves deforming the sheet metal in the bend region by applying additional force through the tip of the punch after completion of bending.

Figure 3: Bottom bending

Like the air bending method, bottoming offers a precise bend angle control. However, it requires a higher tonnage press than bottom bending.

Method #4 Wipe Bending

In the wipe bending method, the sheet metal is held against a wipe die by a pressure pad. The punch then forces against the edge of the sheet that extends beyond the die and pressure pad, causing it to bend over the end of the die.

Figure 4: Wipe bending

This method offers a good mechanical advantageㅡwhich means it allows you to apply less force to create desired bends (and bend angles). However, it might not be ideal for creating obtuse bend angles as you’d require a more complex piece of equipment capable of delivering horizontal force.

Method #5 Roll Bending

The roll bending method allows you to bend sheet metals into rolls, tubes, cones, or curved shapes. This unique sheet metal forming process uses sets of rollers that feed (and bend) the metal stock to the desired curvature.

Figure 5: Roll bending

Roll bending can form metal sheets into various cross-section profiles, consisting of several bending curves. It is especially useful for creating very long sheet metal parts with thicknesses ranging between 0.004 inches and 0.125 inches and widths of up to 20 inches. For example, you can create parts like panels, tracks, and shelving (typically used in buildings for lighting, roofing, and HVAC applications) using the roll bending machine.

Method #6 Rotary Draw Bending

In rotary draw bending, the sheet metal is clamped to a rotating die and drawn around the die to form a geometry whose radius matches the desired bend radius. This method often employs an internal supporting mandrel to prevent wrinkling on the wall of the bent sheet metal.

Figure 6: Rotary draw bending

The rotary draw bending method offers a few advantages over other sheet metal bending types. For instance, it doesn’t scratch the metal’s surface, unlike the wipe bending and v-bending processes. In addition, it can bend materials into sharp corners with obtuse bend angles.

Related Post: 5 Things Product Designers Should Know About Sheet Metal Prototyping

5 Tips for Bending Sheet Metals

The following tips will help you create accurate and reliable sheet metal parts.

1. Ensure that the bend is located in regions where enough material is present.
2. Use a single bend radius for all bends to eliminate the need for additional tooling.
3. Ensure that the inside bend radius equals (or is greater than) the sheet thickness.
4. Bend hard materials perpendicular to the rolling direction to prevent fracture.
5. Avoid designing features like holes and slots very close to the bend as it may distort the feature. As a rule, you must keep all features away from the bend at a distance equal to at least three times the sheet thickness.
6. Work with a machine shop with a track record of providing high-quality sheet metal forming services.

Gensun Precision Machining is a leading sheet metal forming services provider across Asia. We offer high-quality bending services to companies serving a broad range of industries. In addition, our sheet metal bending services complement our other manufacturing capabilities (like 3D printing and CNC machining), providing you with an all-encompassing manufacturing solution.

Learn more about our bending services.

What makes a great precision milling machine shop?

This question must have crossed your mind if you’re looking to outsource the manufacturing of your products (or parts) to a third-party precision CNC machining company. Chances are, every manufacturer you contact tells you that they provide the best precision milling services in the world.

But you shouldn’t take their word for it. Instead, you want to make sure you’re asking them the right questions. Their response will help you determine if truly they are the best fit for your precision milling project.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five essential questions you need to ask every machine shop before doing business with them.

Question #1: What Certifications Do You Have?

This is one of the most important questions you must ask a machine shop. Top-tier machine shops are ISO 9001 certified, meaning that they adhere strictly to statutory and regulatory requirements by ensuring high-quality parts.

Another crucial certification you want to be sure the manufacturer has is ISO 14001. An ISO 14001 certified machine shop adheres to the requirements for an efficient environmental management system. They efficiently utilize your resources and reduce wastage, allowing you to drive down manufacturing costs.

You may also have to ask about specific certificates if you’re looking to create parts for specific industries. For example, if you want to fabricate parts that will be used in the medical industry, then you should opt for a manufacturer that meets all the requirements in ISO 13485.

Question #2: What Industries Do You Serve?

This may seem obvious, but most times, we tend to quickly outsource manufacturing to so-called precision machining companies without even asking if they can meet the requirements of the industries we serve.

Some industries demand extremely complex parts to be made from specialized engineering materials that are difficult to machine. A good example is the aerospace industry, where parts are complex, enormous, and made of specialty plastics, composites, and lightweight metal alloys. Only a few third-party machine shops can meet the strict requirements of the aerospace industry. (Related Post: CNC Machining Aerospace Parts: 5 Things You Need to Know).

The electronics industry demands miniaturized electronic parts with tolerances as small as 4μm. A slight mistake during machining, and you can be sure that the machined electronic component will be unusable for its intended purpose.

Question #3: What Type of Milling Equipment Do You Have?

Milling equipment comes in many varieties and with different capabilities. Conventional milling machines feature a cutting tool that rotates against the direction of the feed and relies on operators to control the cutting tool and machine the parts. In contrast, CNC milling machines operate independently through the use of computer numerical control (CNC) technology.

You want to be sure your third-party manufacturer will be utilizing CNC milling technology for your project. Not only will this ensure high-quality CNC machined parts, but it will also reduce labor costs and ensure consistency, especially if you’re looking to manufacture large volumes of identical parts.

Evidently, not all machine shops utilize CNC technology, but even among those that do, there are several types of CNC milling machines that can be used for your machining project. 2-,3-, and 4- axis CNC milling machines are suitable for machining parts having simple designs, whereas 5-axis machines are best suited for machining complex geometries.

Question #4: How Experienced are Your CNC Operators?

The majority of the product recall issues that arise in the machining industry are traced back to the level of expertise of the CNC operators, technicians, or engineers. You want a machine shop with highly qualified technicians capable of identifying design flaws, suggesting feasible design modifications, and fabricating high-quality parts.

Question #5: How Do You Manage Quality Control?

We can talk about certifications, milling equipment, and the level of expertise of the machine operators all day, but the quality of machined parts you’d be getting still depends on the quality management system your manufacturer has in place.

Top-tier manufacturers have a dedicated team of quality control experts who carry out various article inspections using height gages, programmed probes, microscopes, and coordinate measuring machines (CMM), among others. (Related Post: What You Need to Know About Quality Control for CNC Machining)

Gensun Precision Machining has been in business for nearly two decades serving companies in many industries across the globe. We provide high-quality CNC precision machining services, and our facility is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO: 14001:2015 certified.

Tell us about your project today, and our highly experienced engineers and quality control experts will ensure you get high-quality parts exactly to your specifications.

In the past, CNC milling and CNC turning were two distinct processes carried out using two distinct machines – a milling machine and a turning machine, respectively. However, as technology advanced, both of these processes can be integrated into the same machine. Together, milling and turning processes are now known as mill-turn machining.

This article will serve as a guide in CNC mill-turn machining, considering the working principle of the mill-turn machine, common configurations, benefits, and possible fields of application.

Contents
hide

I
What is CNC Mill-Turn Machining?

II
Working Principle of CNC Mill Turn Machines

III
Common Configurations of CNC Mill Turn Centers

IV
Benefits of CNC Mill-Turn Machining

V
Applications of CNC Mill-Turn Technology

VI
Get Quality CNC Mill-Turn Machining Services at WayKen

VII
Conclusion

What is CNC Mill-Turn Machining?

CNC mill-turn machining is a machining process that combines both CNC milling and CNC turning functionalities. To better understand this concept, let’s consider the differences between milling and turning.

CNC milling is a machining process involving computerized controls and rotating cutting tools to progressively remove small pieces from the workpiece. This process is the most common CNC machining type. On the other hand, CNC turning is a machining process that involves holding bars of materials in place and rotating them while a tool associated with the machine removes materials to achieve the desired shape.

For a long, these two processes were performed independently. Now, the two processes can be integrated and done simultaneously by a highly precise and accurate CNC mill-turn machine. This can then lead to the creation of various shapes and geometries for different materials, including metals and plastics.

Working Principle of CNC Mill Turn Machines

CNC mill-turn machines can perform milling and turning at the same time. By implication, the CNC mill-turn centers do the work of both a mill and a lathe. Here’s an overview of the working principle of CNC mill-turn machines.

First, a part is created. The CNC mill turn center starts work on the workpiece, which is a large block of material. The initial process, which is the turning process, is done using various cutting tools to remove material from the rotating workpiece. The aim of this stage is to shape the workpiece into cylindrical parts.

After the turning process, the workpiece moves past a rotational cutting tool, which also removes material from the workpiece. This is the milling stage, and the aim is to create flat and irregular surfaces.

Mill-turn machines produce CNC turning milling parts with a high degree of precision, accuracy, and speed. Also, the machine is flexible and is useful for several different shapes on a variety of materials.

Common Configurations of CNC Mill Turn Centers

Depending on the way the machine tool holds the workpiece, CNC mill-turn centers can belong to either of two configurations. They are:

Horizontal CNC Mill-Turn Machine

This is the commonest configuration in many CNC turning centers, but its use in CNC mill-turn machines is not as pronounced. Here, the spindle of the CNC mill-turn machine has a horizontal orientation, and workpieces are therefore held horizontally. The cutting tools are out of the side of the holder.

This configuration is not as strong as the vertical configuration because gravity does not contribute to fixing the workpiece into the holding. Therefore, it is rarely used for large and heavy workpieces.

Vertical CNC Mill-Turn Machine

In vertical CNC mill-turn machines, the spindle of the machine has a horizontal orientation, and workpieces are held vertically. The cutting tools in this configuration are in a similar direction as the holder. Because of gravity, vertical CNC mill-turn centers are stronger and more stable than their horizontal counterparts.

This configuration is particularly useful when machining large and heavy workpieces, as gravity contributes to the solid seating of these large materials into the holding.

Benefits of CNC Mill-Turn Machining

CNC turning and milling parts are becoming increasingly common in many industries today. This is large because of its benefits over traditional individual milling and turning machines. Below, we consider some of these benefits.

Machining Complex Parts

There is a limit to the geometric complexity that traditional machining tools can handle. Also, when machining some complex parts, machinists may need to transfer parts from one machine to another machine.

The CNC mill-turn machine solves this problem as it can create complex geometric shapes, and without the need to transfer materials as well. This improves both the quality of the product and the efficiency at which manufacturing companies can create these complex products.

Improve Speed

One of the major selling points of CNC mill turn machines is the speed at which they carry out their operations compared to traditional machining tools. Traditionally, machinists would need to set up a workpiece on a lathe and complete turning operations on a part, before setting up the workpiece on a mill and commencing milling operations.

But since the CNC mill turn machine can carry out both processes simultaneously, machinists only set up the workpiece once and don’t have to move the parts until the process is completed. This hastens production and increases productivity in manufacturing industries.

Better Accuracy

CNC machines generally are very accurate, and this holds true for CNC milling and CNC turning operations. However, there is even increased accuracy with CNC mill-turn centers. This is largely because there is no need for the machinist to set up the raw material (workpiece) more than once over the course of the entire operation. This is in contrast to handling milling and turning operations on separate machines where operators still need to adjust and move parts after one of the operations is complete.

The high accuracy and reproducibility that CNC mill-turn machines offer are of even greater benefit when manufacturing parts where tolerance values are marginal. With such parts, even the slightest of errors when moving and readjusting parts can lead to the failure of the entire CNC machining process.

Other Machining Activities

Aside from milling and turning, CNC mill-turn machines can be programmed to perform several different tasks. This, in turn, means manufacturing industries can use the machines for a variety of machining projects.

Also, some of the tasks that machinists would otherwise concern themselves with, like loading workpieces, removing parts, and probing can be fully automated and handled by the machine. The result is more time for the operator to handle other tasks, and generally, an increase in productivity in the industry.

Applications of CNC Mill-Turn Technology

Considering the fact that operators can program CNC mill-turn centers to carry out a wide variety of complex operations, it is no surprise that they are employed for a lot of tasks in a lot of industries. Some of these industries include:

Aerospace: CNC mill-turn machines can help in the manufacturing of airplane and satellite components.

Medical: The medical industry is not new to CNC machining, and manufacturers often turn to CNC mill-turn centers for implants and prostheses, and other medical equipment with similarly complex designs.

Automotive: Steering equipment, engine components, and shafts are typical parts that manufacturers use CNC mill-turn centers to create.

Electronics: Complex electronic hardware parts, like motherboards, circuit boards, and amplifier housings, usually require a high degree of precision and accuracy to manufacture. As CNC turning milling parts usually guarantee this level of precision and accuracy, mill-turn operations are common in the electronics industry.

Energy: The oil and gas industry utilizes CNC mill-turn machining for parts that ensure the proper flow of fuel. Also, nuclear power plants often require complex parts with low tolerance limits, and CNC mill-turn machines can help accomplish this.

Get Quality CNC Mill-Turn Machining Services at WayKen

CNC mill-turn machining is getting more popular by the day in manufacturing industries. This is not surprising, considering the benefits it offers over traditional tools. However, the benefits of these mill-turn machining services are only maximized when done correctly and by the right professionals.

Fortunately, at WayKen, we have the right professionals to help you get high-quality mill-turn machined parts. We offer a full range of mill-turn services at affordable prices and fast turnaround. Just upload your CAD files and get DfM feedback today!

Conclusion

From CNC turning and CNC milling basics, it is clear that both operations are primarily different in that milling involves rotation of the tool, with the workpiece, held still while turning involves rotation of the workpiece. Traditionally, machinists had to complete one operation first before moving on to the next.

However, with the advancement of technology, it is possible to carry out both operations simultaneously using a CNC mill-turn machine. Aside from the relatively fast speed of production, CNC mill-turn centers also guarantee high accuracy and precision for complex parts. This has, therefore, justified its use in many industries today.

Kings and queens will love the FurHaven Farmhouse Cat Playground – Corrugated Scratcher House with Catnip!

• Two level home scratchers
• Hanging toys and wand
• Great for multiple cats
• Eco-friendly

Why We Love It:

Cats will love to stretch out and scratch in the FurHaven Farmhouse Cat Playground! Protect your furniture from damage with this eco-friendly cat scratcher, made with recycled materials and completely recyclable in return. Catnip also included to entice even the most finicky feline friends. With multiple levels for your kitty to scratch and nap on, the playtime possibilities are endless. Multi-cat households will appreciate the individual and private spots – no more furry fights over territory!

Dimensions: 

27.5” x 16.5” x 31”

谷歌地图是领先的位置数据和可视化平台的网络。你可能会用它来寻找最快的方式开车到你的朋友的房子，哪辆公共汽车去上班，或者在凌晨2点在哪里得到安慰食物。

然而，谷歌地图的功能远远超出了它的移动的应用程序-如果你运行一个商业网站或应用程序，并希望以任何方式包括位置显示，谷歌地图提供开发人员API，授予访问谷歌的大量地理数据。

使用Google Maps API，您可以显示交互式地图，并在您的网站上按您想要的方式进行自定义。如果你是一个旅游网站，你可以利用地图来帮助用户创建行程。送货或拼车服务可能会使用谷歌地图来显示司机路线。Google地图数据也会实时刷新，这意味着您使用Google API创建的地图将始终为访问者提供最新信息。

实际上有无数种方法可以将地图整合到您的网站中，并且有很多方法可以解压缩，因此让我们从基础知识开始：什么是Google Maps API，以及如何开始？

什么是Google Maps API？

Google Maps API是一种API（“应用程序编程接口”的缩写），允许开发人员访问Google Maps数据和功能，用于他们自己的项目。如果您想在您的网站或应用程序中加入自定义的Google地图，可以使用Google地图API。

目前，Google Maps Platform为其服务的不同方面提供了多个API。有一个用于简单Google地图嵌入的Maps Static API，一个用于交互式和可定制地图的Maps JavaScript API，一个用于访问有关兴趣点的数据的Places API，以及一个用于提供到某个位置的路线的Directions API，仅举几例。

您可能不会在您的网站上使用每个Google Maps API，但您可能需要几个API集成，具体取决于您正在寻找的功能。当您注册使用API时，您将可以访问所有这些API以及其他开发人员工具。

那么，你实际上如何访问谷歌地图API？第一步是注册并获得API密钥。让我们学习如何。

如何获取Google Maps API密钥

API键是与项目关联的唯一代码。API将密钥分发给用户，以便跟踪API的使用情况。您向API发出的请求包括您的API密钥，因此API知道是您发出请求。

API密钥还有助于调节API在任何给定时间接收的调用数量并防止攻击。如果没有API密钥，恶意请求的涌入可能会使任何API服务器崩溃。

要调用Google的API，首先需要获取服务的API密钥。获得密钥本身是免费的，谷歌提供了一个有限的免费试用，其中包括300美元的信贷，为您的前90天的使用。

试用后，Google将每月为您的地图API使用提供200美元的积分。当您超出此积分后，Google将以按使用付费的模式收费-请参阅下面的Google地图API定价以获取更多信息。

请注意，注册免费密钥时，您需要提供账单信息。但是，除非您在帐户中打开自动计费功能，否则Google不会因超出试用限制而向您收取费用。这意味着您可以测试API，而无需担心意外的费用。

如何创建一个谷歌地图API键免费

要注册并接收Google Maps API密钥，请执行以下步骤：

1.在Google Maps Platform主页上，单击“开始使用”。

2.如果您尚未登录Google帐户，系统将提示您登录或创建帐户。

3. Google将带您完成注册Google Cloud Platform免费试用版的步骤。阅读并同意服务条款，然后单击继续。

谷歌地图API免费密钥

4.在下一个屏幕上，输入您的电话号码以确认您的身份，然后单击“发送代码”。输入您收到的验证码，然后单击验证。

5.在下一个屏幕上，选择您的帐户类型（企业或个人）并输入您的企业名称。然后，输入您的信用卡或借记卡信息（或PayPal或银行账户信息）。除非您启用自动计费，否则Google不会向您收取使用费。

6.您将收到您的API密钥，您可以将其复制到剪贴板。请安全地保存此密钥，不要将其共享给使用API的团队成员。您还可以选择启用对所有Google Maps API的访问，并接收每月预算提醒。

7.如果愿意，请单击构建演示以了解地图API的基础知识。否则，请单击“以后再说”。现在，让我们选择以后。

8. Google还建议限制使用您的API密钥的请求，以防止在密钥被盗的情况下进行有害使用。要限制密钥，请从选择限制类型选项卡（取决于您的项目）中选择限制类型，以及限制所需的任何其他信息。然后，单击“限制密钥”。

完成这些步骤后，您就可以使用Google Maps API了。

如何查看Google地图API密钥

您可以通过从Google Maps Platform仪表板的侧边菜单中选择凭据来查看API密钥。

谷歌地图API定价

如前所述，在您打开自动计费功能之前，不会对您使用Google地图API的情况进行收费。免费试用限制您在90天内的信用额度为300美元。

API用户每月还可以获得200美元的API请求积分，相当于每月100，000个静态地图请求或大约28，000个动态地图请求。

除了试用和每月积分外，谷歌还根据请求数量的使用情况对地图API收费。收费因请求类型而异-例如，如果您只想在网站上显示静态地图作为图像，Google将收取每1000个请求2美元的费用。对于交互式地图，每1000个请求7美元。

您可以在Google地图API定价页面上查看所有API产品的定价，并按API类别（地图、路线和地点）分组。

如何在网站上使用Google Maps API

一旦你获得了你的API密钥，你如何在你的网站上放置地图将取决于什么CMS，网站建设者，或平台，你用来管理你的网站，或者如果你是从头开始创建你的网站。

如果可用，请阅读提供商有关合并Google地图的文档-有些文档允许您在提供API密钥后插入本地地图模块（例如，Shopify），而其他则需要第三方扩展（例如WordPress）。

如果您选择的网站工具没有对Google Maps API的本机支持，或者您正在从头开始编写网站，则可以按照Google Maps Platform文档中的说明编写所需功能的地图代码。如果你坚持谷歌的指示，发出API请求相对简单。

作为一个简单的使用案例，尝试谷歌的地图JavaScript API教程。地图JavaScript API处理您可能从Google地图中看到的许多交互式功能。在本练习中，您将在澳大利亚地图上放置一个标记。

谷歌地图API替代品

Google Maps Platform是交互式在线地图的领导者。但是，您可能更喜欢比Google工具更便宜或提供不同功能的替代品。以下是一些值得探索的Google Maps API的流行替代品。

苹果地图

Apple Maps的开发者工具提供与Google Maps Platform类似的功能，提供对详细地图位置数据、导航等的访问。苹果的工具可以用于网站和应用程序。另外值得注意的是它新的室内映射数据格式，对于在您的站点或应用程序上绘制室内布局非常有用。

TomTom

TomTom以其导航产品而闻名，它通过其高级API使开发人员可以访问其数据。它允许比Google Maps API服务更多的请求，以及各种地图视图。此外，还有查找位置，查看交通和公共交通，并获得方向的能力。

Mapbox

如果您希望为地图添加更多的视觉效果，可以利用Mapbox API中的自定义工具。这项高级服务提供的地图和服务类似于以前的选项，但也包括Mapbox工作室，一个地图定制器，让您调整您的地图显示，因为您可能在一个工具，如Photoshop。它可以让你调整你的地图的小细节，使你自己的视觉效果。

HERE

HERE是一个强大的位置数据平台，提供数据可视化，洞察报告和地图。地图本身视觉丰富，美观，以及可定制。您可以创建显示公共区域的地图以及私人空间的地图。但是，如果您只想在网页上显示交互式地图，那么此选项可能会大材小用。

将您的业务放在地图上

……或者我应该说，是你生意上的一张地图。Google Maps API有很好的文档记录，如果您通常熟悉API，那么开始使用并不太困难。

通过一些探索，你可能会发现一些你以前没有想到的应用程序，并整合地图来增强你的网站或服务。另外，获得免费密钥并使用您的免费请求来查看您可以做什么也没有坏处。

原文链接：https://blog.hubspot.com/website/google-maps-api