New at meviy: Freeform Surfaces for CNC Machining Avaialble
meviy, the AI-powered procurement platform for machined components, has launched automated quoting for freeform surfaces in CNC machining. This breakthrough enables the production of complex parts featuring smooth curves, bottom radii, and other intricate geometries that were previously unsupported.
By continuously expanding its services, MISUMI remains committed to providing value-driven solutions to the industrial automation sector, supporting global productivity improvements and optimised lead times.
The Need for Freeform Surface Machining
Traditionally, sourcing parts with freeform surfaces has been challenging due to machining complexities, limited manufacturing partners, and extended lead times. Many customers have expressed the need for seamless production of such intricate designs. In response, Meviy has developed an innovative shape recognition technology, allowing support for radius end mills and ball end mills. This advancement ensures that even previously non-quotable complex geometries can now be manufactured with predictable lead times and streamlined procurement.
New Machining Capabilities
With this update, meviy now supports:
- Radius End Mills – Designed with smooth, rounded corners at the cutting edge, ideal for achieving R-machining in box-shaped components.
- Ball End Mills – Featuring a hemispherical tip, these tools are essential for machining concave surfaces, complex contours, and freeform geometries.
What is a Freeform Surface?
Freeform surfaces are complex, smoothly curved shapes that do not conform to simple geometric formulas like planes, cylinders, or spheres. Unlike standard machined surfaces, which follow straight or circular paths, freeform surfaces have continuously varying curvature, making them essential for applications that require aerodynamic efficiency, ergonomic comfort, or advanced aesthetics.
These surfaces are commonly found in automotive and aerospace components, where optimised airflow and structural integrity are crucial. They are also widely used in medical implants and prosthetics, where precise organic shapes are needed to match the human body. Additionally, mould and die manufacturing relies on freeform surfaces to create intricate product shapes for plastic injection moulding, casting, and consumer electronics.
Traditionally, machining freeform surfaces has been challenging due to their complexity and high computational demands. However, advancements in AI-powered shape recognition and multi-axis CNC machining have made it easier to manufacture these intricate geometries with high precision. With meviy’s latest update, engineers can now automate the quoting process and produce freeform surface components efficiently, reducing lead times and expanding design possibilities.
Benefit of Freeform Surface Machining
Freeform surface machining unlocks greater design flexibility, allowing engineers to create aerodynamic, ergonomic, and aesthetically refined components. By leveraging AI-powered shape recognition, meviy simplifies the procurement process, reducing the time and cost traditionally associated with complex machining. Additionally, with automated quoting and stable lead times, manufacturers can improve production efficiency and streamline supply chain management.
Applications of Freeform Surfaces
Freeform surfaces are widely used across various industries, including:
- Aerospace & Automotive – For optimising aerodynamic performance in aircraft and vehicle body components.
- Medical Devices – Used in prosthetics, implants, and ergonomic surgical tools that require precise contouring.
- Mould & Die Manufacturing – Essential for producing complex tooling used in injection moulding and precision casting.
- Consumer Electronics – Helps achieve smooth, aesthetically pleasing designs in product casings and enclosures.
With meviy’s latest enhancement, engineers and manufacturers can now easily integrate freeform surfaces into their designs, pushing the boundaries of innovation while ensuring reliable and cost-effective production.
