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Machining time is the time a machine spends cutting or altering a work piece, part of the machine’s cycle time. Processing time is the time a cutting tool removes material from a part. Calculating machining time can improve production efficiency and cost per cut, and help identify areas for improvement. It can also be used to determine the overall cost of the finished product and to schedule maintenance.
Machining time is a term used to describe the amount of time a machine actually spends cutting, milling, or otherwise altering a work piece. It’s part of what’s known as the machine’s cycle time, which is the total time it takes to load and unload a piece of material and the time it takes to actually cut that material. Machining time can be automatically calculated on many CNC or computer numerical control machines to help improve production efficiency and cost per cut.
Processing time is another term synonymous with processing time. This calculation only measures instances where a machine’s bit or cutting tool makes cuts or otherwise removes material from a part. If, for example, a table has to be cut on a table saw, the processing time would be the set of cases in which the blade is actually removing material; this means that the blade is moving and actively cutting the material for processing. Many machines, such as CNC lathes, will have additional run time, which is any case where the machine is active and material is on the work surface, but no cuts are being made or material removed. An example of such an instance would be when the bit is moved to a new location on the material in preparation for another cut.
A company could try calculating the machining time for various machines on a shop floor to understand where productivity has slowed down and how it can be improved. For example, a machine with a slow machining time can be upgraded or replaced with a more efficient tool that can complete the same job in less overall time. Some types of machines can combine functions to eliminate loading and unloading, thereby improving the efficiency of a machining process. Companies can also use this calculation to determine the overall cost of the finished product; it can be part of a formula that includes raw material cost, processing time, packaging cost, transportation cost, and so on.
Another important reason to determine the time spent machining is to prevent damage to the machines themselves and to know when maintenance might be needed. A manufacturer may recommend a maintenance schedule based on how long the machine has been in operation, and bits may need to be replaced even after some time of use.
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