Today, Tech giants like Apple, Samsung, and Sony are churning out phones like never before. Every October, or Techtober, as it is popularly called, new iPhones, MacBook, Smartphones, iPads, and Smartwatches are ushered into the cash-ready population.
As the smartphone continues to evolve in capabilities and sophistication, the design aspect of electronic gadgets has not been left out. From notches to thin bezels, tight tolerances, and aerospace-grade material elements, CNC machining has allowed smartphone and gadget companies to offer range, versatility, and unparalleled portability. Today, we take a look at some of the few ways that CNC machine services have enhanced the development of smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
· Molding tools
While casings and exterior accessories for smartphones and gadgets are not often made with CNC machining, the technology is widely used to make tooling and mold components for injection molding.
Most durable phone cases are made from polyurethane, rubber-like resins, and silicone materials. These cases are usually manufactured with injection molding and, at times, vacuum casting. The master patterns and mold components used to make these parts are machined with CNC technology. This is to ensure a high level of repeatability and precision.
· Frames and exterior bodies
Apple is one of the world’s biggest user of CNC milling and machine services. With tens and thousands of milling machines at their disposal, Apple manufactures high precision and high-quality MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iPhones.
CNC machines are the perfect method for making the internal and externally-rounded corners at the iPhones’ edges. CNC machining also helps in getting the customary radius edge for the MacBook and iPad. The high precision and repeatability of the CNC machine operation allow for tighter tolerances in design execution. The speed of CNC machining also means that Apple can make roughly 41,000 units of iPhones every hour. Since Aluminum unibody is a crucial component of Apple phones, the company leverages the ease and high machinability of the material with CNC machines to make strong, abrasion-resistant, and aesthetically-pleasing devices.
· Protective glasses and Screens
In the future, roughly 90 percent of all smartphones to be made will feature three buttons or less. The newly announced iPhone 12 smartphones only have the power button, the volume-up, and volume-down buttons. Popular display expert, Samsung, uses CNC technology to make tough, tempered, and responsive display units for its smartphones and its competitor, Apple.
As smartphone screens continue to get bigger and better, there is an undeniable need for protective covers and glasses for smartphones. CNC machines, through milling and grinding, are used to make gorilla, dragontrail, and other protective glasses to shield smartphone displays from the impact and shock of falls, slips, and cracks. The high level of precision needed to lay each layer of glass calls for a dedication to excellence. Even the new iPhone 12 is made with a “ceramic shield” technology, described by Apple as the toughest glass in a smartphone ever.
· Aesthetic finishes
CNC machine services deliver excellent aesthetics and compliment the overall appearance of smartphone parts through design finishing services. By using CNC machine to engrave, emboss, anodize, or texture the gadgets’ body, companies can develop a more functional and user-centric range for consumer picks.
· Rapid prototyping
CNC machining is a great way to validate design ideas and product iterations before proceeding to build parts. With a CAD file, CNC machines can make quick prototypes for phone casings, dummy forms, design mockups, or even near-final concepts for functional testing, marketing exhibition, and investor pitches.
· Complimentary accessories
Complimentary accessories like casing and charging stations are made with CNC machining to offer quality protection, compliment appearance, and boost functionality. From wooden-trim phone cases to ceramic charging blocks, magnetic mats, and battery phone cases, CNC machines can cut and match the exact trim, edge, angles, and corners of the casing material to ergonomically fit the phone or house certain accessories.
While some phone cases are made by hand, the high precision and accuracy of CNC operations in this regard are what make it a win-win for all producers. CNC machining can also be leveraged to create stronger yet lighter accessories like selfie sticks, tripods, and even Apple credit cards more with materials like titanium that outperform plastics and aluminum where required.
FirstPart CNC Machining in China
FirstPart is one of China’s leading manufacturing hub for Additive, CNC and Conventional manufacturing techniques. We boast of excellent in-house capacity, labor force and logistics while delivering exceptional value for money.
Our array of services include CNC machining, CNC turning, CNC milling, 3D printing, Rapid Tooling, Die casting, Rapid prototyping, Plastic Injection Molding, Urethane Casting, Aluminium Extrusion, Post-machining/Finishing services and much more.
As we understand the global challenges that is faced by new and existing businesses in these times of the Coronavirus, we offer product tooling, mass production, bridge tooling and low-volume prototyping/manufacturing with very flexible minimum order quantities (1 to 100,000). Our services are online, scalable and innovative, with a team of engineers and design experts available to support you through your entire product development cycle.
