Tariffs. Political divisions. A chronic skilled labor shortage. With all that’s going on today, no one can predict what’s next for manufacturing. Even so, there are several ongoing machining trends helping to shape the future for CNC machine shops, whatever they make. And going forward, the most successful ones will be those that followed the Boy Scout motto: be prepared.

Automate or Die

As many of us have found, one of the most nagging machining trends is the lack of skilled workers. Because of this, shops must do more with less. And since there’s no longer the luxury of one operator per machine, shops must automate wherever possible. With milled parts, the best way to do this is with a pallet-equipped horizontal machining center(HMC).

For starters, an HMC provides better chip flow than a vertical. Nor is there time lost to loading and unloading parts. Three-sided milling and drilling is a given. Ultimately, HMCs are the clear path to lights-out operation. 

Before then, though, shops must take certain steps. Firstly, gain robust process control. Be sure to generate efficient tool paths and ause the best cutting tools available. Similarly, high-quality, dependable machine tools are a must. Look for a large tool magazine, dual-contact spindle interface for rigidity, and enough horsepower to remove metal quickly and efficiently. Typically, such an investment yields overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) values double that of a manually-tended machine. 

Fast and Flexible

In the same vein, turning departments have long increased uptime by installing barfeeders on their CNC lathes, as discussed in this blog post. And yet, some shops have learned that having robots feed saw-cut blanks into their CNC lathes is a highly efficient alternative. But one of the most crucial machining trends of late is the ability to complete parts in fewer operations. 

For round parts, this requires a multitasking lathe. That’s because milling and turning in the same machine means there’s far less work-in-process (WIP). Part quality improves and lead-time falls. And by skipping a trip to the milling department, costs also drop. The bottom line? Mill-turn centers deliver the flexibility and throughput shops need to compete. 

Machining Trends 2025

Simply put, shop owners and managers must learn to navigate an ever more complex world. Smaller lot sizes and changing customer requirements call for the flexibility just mentioned. But machine shops should also look for machinery with an advanced, easy-to-use control, such as those offered by FANUC and Mitsubishi. 

Newer CNC models support real-time monitoring. Further, integrated Ethernet and Wi-Fi capabilities enable remote access and predictive maintenance. This reduces unplanned downtime. These controls also help prepare shops for the Industry 4.0 and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), two more trends that will affect all of us. 

With all of this comes demand for no-fail, on-time delivery. Making matters worse, parts have ever tighter tolerances, and are often made from tough materials. This calls for equipment with higher power than that of yesteryear, with greater precision and rugged construction. Finally, preparing for tomorrow means partnering with suppliers who know the industry. For machine tools, that supplier is Kent USA. Give us a call. We’ll help support you on this uncertain journey.