With so many CNC machines available today – each engineered for specific tasks, materials, and industries – choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re cutting metals, engraving plastics, forming sheet metal, or winding precision coils, every CNC process is purpose-built to solve a different challenge. This guide is designed to help engineers, manufacturers, and fabricators quickly understand the options available – and identify the type of CNC machine that fits their application best.
From subtractive techniques like milling and turning, to advanced processes like EDM, hybrid machining, and automated sewing, this reference covers every major CNC machining process used in industrial settings. You’ll find out how each method works, why it’s used, and which sectors rely on it most.
This guide outlines every major CNC machining process used in industrial settings, explaining how each one works, why it is used, and which sectors commonly rely on it.
The guide is structured like this:
- Subtractive CNC Machining
- Finishing & Secondary Operations
- Thermal & Non-contact Machining
- Cutting & Forming
- Hybrid & Specialised CNC Processes.
Subtractive CNC Machining
1. CNC routing
CNC routing is a high-speed machining process for softer materials like wood, plastics, MDF, and composites.
How it works: A gantry-style CNC router uses rotating router bits to carve or cut out patterns from sheet materials. High spindle speeds and lightweight construction make routers ideal for large panels.
Applications: Furniture panels, signage, exhibition stands, aerospace interiors, and boatbuilding.
Browse our 3-axis CNC routing machines or 5-axis CNC routing machines.
2. CNC turning
CNC turning uses a stationary single-point cutting tool to shape a rotating workpiece, typically producing cylindrical or conical parts.
How it works: The workpiece rotates at high speed while the cutting tool is moved linearly to remove material. CNC lathes can perform turning, facing, boring, grooving, parting, and threading.
Applications: Shafts, pins, bushings, nozzles, and components for the automotive, medical, and oil & gas industries.
3. CNC drilling
CNC drilling involves using computer-controlled drill bits to create round holes in workpieces.
How it works: A drill bit is precisely positioned and plunged into the material to bore holes of various depths and diameters. It can include operations like peck drilling, spot drilling, and deep hole drilling.
Applications: Fixture plates, mechanical housings, PCB boards, engine blocks, and valve bodies.
4. CNC milling
CNC milling uses rotating multi-point cutting tools to remove material from a workpiece, guided by computer-controlled movements along multiple axes.
How it works: Material is clamped to the machine bed or held in a vice, and rotary cutters are moved in various directions (X, Y, Z) to shape the part. Machines range from 3-axis to advanced 5- or 6-axis configurations, allowing for complex contouring and multi-face machining.
Applications: Aerospace components, automotive moulds, precision mechanical parts, and mould tools.
5. CNC grinding
CNC grinding uses an abrasive wheel as the cutting tool to achieve extremely fine surface finishes and tight dimensional tolerances.
How it works: The rotating grinding wheel removes material through friction, wearing away small amounts of material. Machines include surface grinders, cylindrical grinders, and internal grinders.
Applications: Aerospace turbine shafts, medical implants, injection mould tools, precision hydraulic parts.
6. CNC sawing
CNC sawing automates material cutting using powered saw blades, often for raw stock preparation.
How it works: CNC saws (band, circular, or panel types) cut materials to length or shape based on programmed lengths and feed rates.
Applications: Aluminium extrusions, bar stock, sheet material, timber framing.
7. CNC broaching
CNC broaching uses toothed tools to cut keyways, splines, or internal shapes in one pass.
How it works: A broach is pushed or pulled through a part, with progressively larger teeth removing material to shape internal features.
Applications: Gear hubs, transmission parts, firearm components, aerospace fasteners.
8. CNC boring
Precision enlargement and finishing of an existing hole.
How it works: A boring bar enters a pre-drilled hole and removes small amounts of material to ensure size and concentricity.
Applications: Hydraulic cylinder bores, bearing seats, gear housings.
9. CNC threading
Creating screw threads on external or internal surfaces.
How it works: Using thread mills, taps, or single-point turning tools, CNC creates standard or custom thread forms.
Applications: Screws, nuts, flanges, threaded fittings.
10. CNC tapping
Creating internal threads in pre-drilled holes.
How it works: A rigid tap rotates and advances into the hole to cut threads. May be done with a rigid tap holder or floating holder.
Applications: Threaded holes in brackets, casings, fixtures, and mechanical assemblies.
11. CNC knurling
Forming patterned textures on a surface for grip.
How it works: Hardened knurling wheels press patterns into the rotating part surface.
Applications: Tool handles, instrument knobs, mechanical fasteners.
12. CNC tool and cutter grinding
Regrinding or manufacturing of rotary cutting tools.
How it works: Specialised CNC grinders shape and resharpen tools using bonded abrasive wheels.
Applications: End mill production, drill regrinding, custom tool shaping for aerospace or moulding.
Finishing & Secondary Operations
13. CNC honing
CNC honing is a finishing process that improves the geometry and surface finish of internal bores.
How it works: An abrasive tool rotates and reciprocates within a bore to remove minute amounts of material.
Applications: Cylinder liners, engine bores, pump bodies, hydraulic components.
14. CNC deburring
Automated removal of burrs, sharp edges, or rough surfaces.
How it works: Abrasive brushes, tools, or special pathing smooth sharp corners post-machining.
Applications: Aerospace components, automotive gears, medical devices.
15. CNC lapping
A fine abrasive polishing process that achieves extremely flat and smooth surfaces.
How it works: A slurry of abrasive particles is applied between the part and a flat lapping plate. Relative motion removes tiny amounts of material.
Applications: Optical lenses, gauge blocks, semiconductor wafers, sealing faces.
16. CNC polishing and sanding
Finishing process to enhance appearance or surface texture.
How it works: Sanding heads, polishing wheels, or abrasives are moved under CNC control to smooth surfaces.
Applications: Wood furniture panels, stainless steel covers, aircraft interior parts.
17. CNC engraving
Fine line cutting for logos, text, or detailed surface markings.
How it works: V-bits or ball nose tools are guided by CNC to engrave shallow patterns or lettering.
Applications: Nameplates, branded components, control panels, awards.
18. CNC laminating/kiss cutting/scoring
These processes involve cutting through layers of materials, either partially or completely, for fabrication or packaging.
How it works: Kiss cutting uses light force to cut through only the top layer (e.g. labels), while scoring indents the surface for easy folding. Laminating bonds layers together under pressure.
Applications: Labels, stickers, RFID inlays, cardboard packaging, gaskets.
Thermal & Non-contact Machining
19. CNC laser cutting
A thermal cutting process using a high-powered laser beam to cut, engrave, or mark materials.
How it works: The laser melts or vaporises material along a programmed path. CNC control adjusts power, speed, and focus.
Applications: Sheet metal enclosures, signage, decorative panels, electrical housings.
Browse our CNC laser cutter machines.
20. CNC plasma cutting
Thermal cutting for conductive metals using a plasma arc.
How it works: An electrical arc ionises a high-velocity gas stream to form plasma, which cuts through metal. CNC guides the torch path.
Applications: Steel plate cutting, automotive repair, shipbuilding, construction.
21. CNC waterjet cutting
High-pressure water (with or without abrasives) cuts through material without heat.
How it works: A narrow jet of pressurised water (up to 90,000 psi) erodes material precisely. CNC systems move the cutting head along X-Y paths.
Applications: Stone countertops, aerospace composites, glass parts, food processing blades.
22. CNC EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining)
Non-contact machining that erodes metal using electrical discharges (sparks).
How it works: Wire or electrode sparks create micro-explosions in conductive materials. Ideal for hard materials and complex shapes.
Applications: Injection mould cavities, dies, aerospace fasteners, turbine blades.
23. CNC ultrasonic machining
High-frequency vibrations combined with abrasives to machine hard and brittle materials.
How it works: An ultrasonic tool vibrates at 20–40 kHz while an abrasive slurry facilitates cutting.
Applications: Ceramics, glass lenses, semiconductor components, dental implants.
24. CNC electrochemical machining (ECM)
Non-contact machining process that uses electrolysis to remove metal.
How it works: An electrolyte flows between a shaped electrode and the workpiece, dissolving metal without heat or tool wear.
Applications: Turbine blades, fuel system parts, delicate medical components.
25. CNC cryogenic machining
Machining with tools or workpieces cooled by liquid nitrogen.
How it works: LN2 is delivered to the tool zone to reduce heat and improve cutting performance.
Applications: Aerospace alloys, titanium parts, medical implants requiring fine finish and dimensional stability.
Cutting & Forming
26. CNC knife cutting
CNC knife cutting uses a sharp blade to slice through soft, flexible, or fibrous materials with high precision.
How it works: A computer-controlled blade follows a programmed path (2D or 2.5D), cutting without heat or abrasion. Depending on the application, different knife types may be used: drag knives, oscillating knives (reciprocating up/down), rotary blades, or tangential knives (which rotate to maintain cutting angle). These machines can cut with very fine detail and leave clean edges without fraying or distortion.
Applications: packaging, textiles, composites, signage, automotive interiors.
Browse our CNC knife machines.
27. CNC punch pressing
CNC punch pressing uses programmable tools to stamp or punch holes and forms into sheet metal.
How it works: A CNC-controlled ram forces a punch through the sheet metal against a die, producing holes, cut-outs, or embossments. Used for rapid 2D part production from sheet stock.
Applications: Electrical enclosures, HVAC ducts, server cabinets, appliance panels.
28. CNC nibbling
CNC nibbling is a variant of punch pressing that uses a small round or rectangular punch to make a series of overlapping cuts.
How it works: The tool moves incrementally, “nibbling” away the material along a complex path or curve. Effective for irregular or intricate 2D shapes.
Applications: Custom sheet metal brackets, perforated screens, signage.
29. CNC hot wire cutting
CNC hot wire cutting uses a heated wire to slice through foam and low-density materials.
How it works: A taut wire (often Nichrome) is electrically heated and moved along CNC-programmed paths to melt through materials without dust or debris.
Applications: Foam packaging, polystyrene signage, aerospace insulation, architectural models.
30. CNC turret punching
CNC turret punching uses a rotating turret of different punch/die sets to quickly perform varied sheet metal operations.
How it works: The turret rotates to align the correct tool set before the ram punches down. Ideal for fast, flexible punching operations with a wide range of tool shapes.
Applications: Sheet metal fabrication, switchgear housings, electrical panels.
Hybrid & Specialised CNC Processes
31. CNC additive-subtractive hybrid machining
Machines that combine additive manufacturing (e.g. 3D printing) with CNC milling or grinding.
How it works: Metal or polymer is deposited layer-by-layer, then precision-cut to final geometry with milling heads.
Applications: Custom aerospace brackets, mould inserts with conformal cooling, turbine repair.
32. CNC friction stir welding
Solid-state welding technique using a rotating tool to join metals without melting them.
How it works: The tool stirs the material on both sides of a seam, plasticising and bonding them below melting point.
Applications: Aerospace fuselage panels, automotive body structures, railway carriages.
33. CNC robotic machining
Use of multi-axis industrial robots equipped with cutting or finishing heads.
How it works: Robots provide extreme flexibility for large parts, trimming, or composite machining where traditional CNC machines are limited.
Applications: Aircraft panels, automotive body trimming, sculpture, large-format moulds.
34. CNC coil winding
CNC coil winding precisely winds wire into coils for inductors, motors, or transformers.
How it works: Wire is fed from a spool and wrapped around a core or bobbin, with CNC-controlled tension, spacing, and winding patterns.
Applications: Electric motors, solenoids, ignition coils, RFID antennas.
35. CNC stitching/automated sewing
CNC-controlled sewing machines stitch fabric or flexible materials with consistent patterns.
How it works: Fabric is fed under a sewing head that follows a programmed path. Stitch type, spacing, and patterns are set digitally.
Applications: Automotive seats, upholstery, technical garments, industrial textile prototyping.
This guide serves as a reference for engineers, fabricators, and manufacturers to understand the full spectrum of CNC capabilities available today. Whether shaping metals, polishing plastics, or producing aerospace components, the right CNC process ensures precision, repeatability, and production efficiency.
