With the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics technology, there is an unprecedented high demand for the manufacturing precision, functional integration, and material performance of their core components. Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining technology, particularly Milling, Turning, and Mill-Turn machines, has become key to realizing these high-standard components. This report will deeply analyze how CNC machining is applied in the AI and robotics fields and detail the specific processing characteristics and advantages of these three core machine types.
I. CNC Machining Requirements for AI and Robotics Components
A common characteristic of AI server and robotics components is the need for extremely high precision, excellent heat dissipation performance, and lightweight design to ensure the system’s efficient, stable, and reliable operation.
1. Robotics Components
Robotics components are mainly divided into transmission parts and structural parts, which require extremely high processing precision to ensure smooth and accurate movement.
Component Category | Specific Part Examples | Key Processing Requirements |
Transmission Parts | Gears, bearing seats, shafts, worm gears | Tight tolerances (micron level), low surface roughness (Ra 0.8 μm or less), high concentricity. |
Structural Parts | Joints, skeletons, connecting rods, brackets | Lightweight (often using aluminum or magnesium alloys), high strength, complex geometries, multi-axis machining. |
End-Effectors | Grippers, tool connectors | Complex surfaces, high-precision fit, excellent surface finish to reduce friction. |
2. Key AI Server Components
For AI servers, especially High-Performance Computing (HPC) servers, the focus of component machining is on heat dissipation and structural stability.
Component Category | Specific Part Examples | Key Processing Requirements |
Cooling System | Cold plates, liquid cooling connectors, heat sinks | Precise internal flow channel design, high sealing performance, excellent thermal conductivity (often using copper or aluminum alloy). |
Structure and Connection | Processor casings, connector pins and sockets, chassis parts | Precise dimensions, structural stability, surface treatment (e.g., anodizing) for corrosion resistance and insulation. |
II. Processing Characteristics and Applications of Three Core CNC Machines
Milling, Turning, and Mill-Turn machines each possess unique processing capabilities, and together they form a complete solution for manufacturing AI and robotics components.
Machine Type | Core Processing Action | Characteristics and Advantages in AI/Robotics Component Machining | Typical Application Components |
CNC Milling | Tool rotates, workpiece is fixed or moves | Characteristic: Excels at machining complex non-cylindrical parts, planes, grooves, and curved surfaces. Advantage: Through 3-axis to 5-axis machining, it can achieve high-precision, complex geometric structural parts, making it ideal for manufacturing robot skeletons and AI server cold plates. | Robot joints, skeletons, cold plates, complex brackets, mold cavities. |
CNC Turning | Workpiece rotates, tool moves | Characteristic: Excels at machining cylindrical parts, such as shafts, sleeves, and threads. Advantage: Ensures high concentricity and roundness of parts, which is crucial for shaft components in robot transmission systems. | Robot shafts, bearing seats, connector pins, circular spacers. |
Mill-Turn | Combines turning and milling functions, can perform simultaneously | Characteristic: Possesses all-in-one capability, completing turning and milling operations in a single setup. Advantage: Greatly improves processing efficiency and reduces errors from multiple setups, especially suitable for high-precision, complex rotational parts like robot drive shafts and AI server liquid cooling connectors. | Robot drive shafts (with keyways), complex bearing seats, AI server liquid cooling connectors, high-precision valve bodies. |
1. Application Characteristics of CNC Milling
CNC Milling machines are the primary force in manufacturing robot structural parts and AI server cooling components. Their core advantage lies in their ability to handle complex geometries.
• Robotics Structural Parts: Through 5-axis milling, complex curved surfaces and multi-angle features like robot joints and connecting rods can be machined in a single setup, ensuring perfect fit between parts and reducing assembly errors.
• AI Cooling Components: The internal flow channel designs of heat sinks and cold plates are often extremely fine, requiring precise micro-machining by a milling machine to ensure flow channel dimensions and surface finish meet fluid dynamics requirements for optimal heat dissipation.
2. Application Characteristics of CNC Turning
CNC Turning machines specialize in manufacturing rotationally symmetric parts, with the advantage of guaranteeing part concentricity and roundness.
• Robot Drive Shafts: Drive shafts and bearing seats in robots require extremely high concentricity to ensure stability during high-speed or high-load operation. Turning machines can efficiently and accurately complete the outer diameter and inner bore machining of these cylindrical parts.
• AI Connectors: High-density connector pins and sockets in AI servers are typically small, high-precision cylindrical parts, requiring turning machines (or more precise Swiss-type lathes) for mass production and high-precision machining.
3. Application Characteristics of Mill-Turn Machines
Mill-Turn machines represent the trend in modern precision manufacturing, integrating turning and milling functions into a single machine to achieve “one-time clamping, complete machining.”
• Robotics Transmission Systems: Many robot drive shafts not only require turning for their outer shape but also need milling for non-cylindrical features like keyways and threaded holes. Mill-Turn machines eliminate the process of transferring the workpiece from a lathe to a mill, eliminating positioning errors caused by re-clamping, which greatly improves part precision and production efficiency.
• AI Liquid Cooling Connectors: Connectors in AI server liquid cooling systems are typically cylindrical (requiring turning) and feature complex locking or sealing structures (requiring milling). The Mill-Turn machine is the best choice for manufacturing these high-precision, high-sealing composite parts.
III. Key Materials and Surface Treatments
The selection of materials and subsequent treatment are crucial for the success of CNC machining for AI and robotics components.
Material Type | Application Characteristics | Typical Application Components |
Aluminum Alloy | Lightweight, high strength, excellent thermal conductivity. | Robot arms, skeletons, AI server cold plates. |
Copper Alloy | Excellent thermal conductivity, used for efficient heat dissipation. | AI server liquid cooling connectors, heat sinks. |
Titanium Alloy | Extremely high strength, corrosion resistance, lightweight. | Critical structural components of robots requiring high strength-to-weight ratio. |
Engineering Plastics (e.g., PEEK, POM) | Insulation, wear resistance, low friction. | Internal robot insulation parts, low-friction bearings. |
Surface Treatments:
• Anodizing: Commonly used for aluminum alloy parts to enhance hardness, corrosion resistance, and provide an insulating layer.
• Electroplating/Electroless Plating: Improves the wear resistance, electrical conductivity, or corrosion resistance of parts.
•Polishing/Grinding: Applied to transmission parts to achieve extremely low surface roughness, reducing friction and wear.
CNC machining technology is the cornerstone of the AI and robotics industry chain. CNC Milling dominates structural and cooling components with its complex geometry processing capability; CNC Turning focuses on shaft-like parts with its high concentricity advantage; and Mill-Turn machines are becoming the future trend for manufacturing high-precision, multi-functional composite parts due to their high efficiency and integration. As AI and robotics technology continue to demand higher precision and complexity in components, the innovation and application of CNC machining technology will continue to deepen.
Contact us and let’s create a new AI world together.
Email: sales@de-yao.com.tw