Ao desenvolver um instrumento de beleza (como purificadores de pele ultrassônicos ou dispositivos de elevação de RF), o processo de protótipo determina diretamente se o produto pode atender aos requisitos de precisão (como ajuste de pele de sonda) e necessidades funcionais (como impermeabilização). Entre todos os métodos de prototipagem, o CNC machining beauty instrument prototype process stands out for its high accuracy and functional validation capabilities—but what makes this process a top choice for beauty device R&D? This article breaks down the core stages, vantagens, and key considerations of the CNC machining process for beauty instrument prototypes to solve common development challenges.
1. Core Advantages of the CNC Machining Beauty Instrument Prototype Process
The CNC machining process addresses unique demands of beauty instruments (por exemplo, delicate probes, transparent components). Below are its five irreplaceable advantages:
| Advantage Category | Specific Performance | Value for Beauty Instruments |
| Ultra-High Precision | Dimensional tolerance controlled within ±0,05 mm, accurately reproducing probe curves, button positions, and LED display slots. | Ensures the probe’s skin contact gap is ≤0.1mm (avoids irritation or uneven energy delivery). |
| Diverse Material Compatibility | Processes plastics (ABS, PC, acrílico) e metais (liga de alumínio, liga de zinco, aço inoxidável) to match different component functions. | – Acrylic for transparent viewing windows (to check LED indicators).- Stainless steel for conductive probes (por exemplo, microcurrent devices).- Aluminum alloy for lightweight, high-end housings. |
| Complex Structure Machining | Handles thin walls (<1milímetros), cavidades profundas (battery compartments), e superfícies curvas (punhos ergonômicos) that 3D printing struggles with. | Enables integrated machining of probe holders (thin walls to reduce weight) and waterproof sealing grooves (for IPX7 standards). |
| Functional Surface Treatment | Supports polishing, jato de areia, anodização, and laser engraving to simulate mass-production effects. | – Sandblasting on grips (improves anti-slip performance for wet use).- Anodizing on aluminum alloy housings (offers rose gold/silver finishes popular in beauty products). |
| Direct Functional Validation | Machines assembly structures (snaps, screw holes, bearing positions) for immediate prototype assembly and testing (por exemplo, probe vibration, impermeabilização). | Cuts R&D time by 30%—no extra post-processing needed to fit components like circuit boards or motors. |
2. Step-by-Step Breakdown of the CNC Machining Beauty Instrument Prototype Process
The CNC machining process follows a linear, repeatable workflow to ensure consistency. It consists of 7 etapas principais, each tailored to beauty instrument requirements:
- 3D Model Design & Otimização
Use CAD software (SolidWorks/UG) to design all components, incluindo:
- Probe parts: Ultrasonic/RF/microcurrent probe profiles (marked with ±0.03mm tolerance).
- Body structure: Grip curves, battery compartments, circuit board slots, and waterproof sealing grooves.
- Surface details: Anti-slip patterns (0.2mm profundidade), light-transmitting holes, and brand logos.
Mark material specifications (por exemplo, PC for LED covers) and assembly clearances (0.1-0,3mm).
- Seleção de Materiais & Preparação
Choose materials based on component functions (veja tabela abaixo), then cut raw materials into blanks (por exemplo, 100×80×50mm ABS blanks for housings).
| Component Type | Recommended Material | Key Reason |
| Probes (condutor) | Aço inoxidável 304 | Resistente à ferrugem, boa condutividade elétrica. |
| Transparent Windows | Acrylic/PC | Alta transmissão de luz (≥90%) to display LED indicators. |
| Carcaças | ABS/Aluminum Alloy 6061 | – ABS: Baixo custo, easy to machine.- Liga de alumínio: Leve, premium feel. |
| Decorative Parts | Zinc Alloy | Strong die-cast texture, compatible with plating. |
- Programação CNC & Seleção de ferramentas
Generate G-code toolpaths based on the 3D model, optimizing for beauty instrument-specific structures:
- Roughing: Use Φ10mm flat-bottom cutters to remove 90% of excess material, leaving a 0.2–0.5mm allowance (protects thin walls).
- Acabamento: Use Φ2mm ball nose cutters for probe curves and Φ0.5mm engraving tools for logos/anti-slip patterns.
- Optimization Tip: Use high-speed milling (5,000–10,000 rpm) for plastic parts to avoid surface melting.
- Clamping & Tool Setting
- Peças pequenas (probes, botões): Fix with vacuum adsorption platforms (avoids deformation from fixture pressure).
- Peças grandes (alojamentos): Clamp with bolt platens or custom fixtures.
- Use laser positioning or edge finders to set the workpiece coordinate system (ensures machining accuracy within ±0.01mm).
- Usinagem Desbaste
Prioritize flat and large surfaces (por exemplo, housing exteriors, battery compartment bottoms) to quickly shape the part while maintaining stability for delicate details.
- Acabamento
Focus on high-precision and user-centric details:
- Machine probe curves to Ra0.4 surface roughness (smooth skin contact).
- Cut waterproof sealing grooves (depth 2mm ±0.02mm) to fit rubber O-rings.
- Chamfer edges (C0.5–1mm) on grips and buttons (avoids sharp edges that irritate hands).
- Tratamento de superfície & Teste Funcional
| Test Type | Propósito | Pass Criteria for Beauty Instruments |
| Probe Vibration Test | Verify motor/vibration module efficiency (por exemplo, ultrasonic scrubbers). | Vibration frequency stable at 20,000–30,000 Hz; no abnormal noise. |
| Waterproof Test | Check if the prototype meets IPX7 standards (common for washable devices). | No water ingress after 30-minute submersion in 1m water. |
| Temperature Control Test | Validate hot compress/cooling function accuracy (por exemplo, LED light therapy devices). | Temperature variation ≤±1°C from set value (avoids skin burns). |
| Assembly Test | Ensure easy disassembly for maintenance (por exemplo, battery replacement). | Battery cover removed in <10 segundos; no stuck snaps. |
- Tratamento de superfície: Polish acrylic windows (para maior clareza), anodize metal parts (para cor), or laser-engrave logos (permanent and wear-resistant).
- Conjunto: Fit components (probes, placas de circuito, batteries, Anéis de vedação) into the prototype.
- Teste: Conduct critical functional checks (veja tabela abaixo) to validate performance.
3. How Does the CNC Machining Process Compare to Traditional Prototyping Methods?
The CNC machining process outperforms 3D printing and silicone duplication in key metrics for beauty instruments. Here’s a direct comparison:
| Evaluation Metric | Processo de usinagem CNC | 3Impressão D | Silicone Duplication |
| Precisão | ±0,05 mm (ideal for probes) | ±0.1–0.5mm (risk of uneven probe-skin fit) | ±0.2–0.5mm (poor for functional parts) |
| Material Range | Plásticos + metais (supports conductive/transparent parts) | Only filaments (PLA, ABS; no metal or high-transparency options) | Epoxy/resin (no metal compatibility; degrades in water) |
| Qualidade de Superfície | Suave (Ra0.4–Ra3.2) with no post-processing | Layered texture (requires sanding; affects skin contact) | Smooth but lacks fine details (can’t replicate anti-slip patterns) |
| Functional Use | Ready for assembly/testing (por exemplo, impermeabilização) | Needs drilling/tapping to fit components (no immediate testing) | Only for appearance checks (no functional validation) |
| Eficiência de custos (10+ Unidades) | Lower per-unit cost (reusable programs) | Mais alto (desperdício de materiais + pós-processamento) | Mais alto (silicone mold degradation after 5–8 uses) |
4. Key Precautions for the CNC Machining Beauty Instrument Prototype Process
To avoid common flaws (por exemplo, thin-wall deformation, probe inaccuracy), follow these four critical precautions:
- Parede Fina & Deep-Cavity Protection
Para peças de parede fina (por exemplo, 0.8mm probe holders) or deep cavities (por exemplo, 20mm battery compartments), use layered cutting (0.1mm per layer) and reduce cutting force (≤300N) para evitar empenamento.
- Probe Accuracy Calibration
Depois da usinagem, use a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) to check probe dimensions. If the skin contact gap exceeds 0.1mm, perform secondary grinding to ensure precision.
- Plastic Material Shrinkage Compensation
Plastics like ABS have a shrinkage rate of ~0.5%. During programming, add a 0.5% margin to dimensions (por exemplo, a 100mm housing is machined to 100.5mm) to ensure final size matches design.
- Surface Texturing Optimization
- For anti-slip patterns: Use CNC engraving (alta precisão) for small areas (punhos) or laser etching (mais rápido) for fine textures.
- For color logos: Use printing or film (econômico) instead of CNC engraving (time-consuming) to reduce lead time.
5. Yigu Technology’s Perspective on the CNC Machining Beauty Instrument Prototype Process
Na tecnologia Yigu, we believe the CNC machining beauty instrument prototype process is the backbone of reliable beauty device R&D. Its ±0.05mm precision solves two core pain points: probe-skin fit (critical for user safety) and waterproof sealing (a must for washable devices)—issues 3D printing can’t address. Por exemplo, a client’s RF beauty instrument prototype used our CNC process: we machined stainless steel probes (±0.03mm tolerance) and aluminum alloy housings (anodized rose gold), which passed IPX7 tests and reduced R&D time by 25%. We recommend combining CNC with 3D printing (for non-critical decor parts) to balance cost and performance. Ultimately, the CNC process validates design flaws early, cutting mass-production risks.
Perguntas frequentes
- How long does the CNC machining beauty instrument prototype process take?
It takes 7–15 days, dependendo da complexidade: peças simples (por exemplo, ABS housings) take 7–10 days, while complex designs (por exemplo, multi-material prototypes with probes + transparent windows) take 12–15 days (including surface treatment and testing).
- What’s the cost range for a prototype using this process?
The cost ranges from 600 para 3,000 yuan per unit: plastic prototypes (ABS/PC) cost 600–1,500 yuan, while metal prototypes (aluminum alloy/stainless steel probes) cost 1,500–3,000 yuan (due to higher material and machining costs).
- Can this process handle custom-shaped probes for specialized beauty instruments?
Yes—we use 5-axis CNC machines to machine custom probe curves (por exemplo, curved RF probes for facial contours) with ±0.03mm tolerance. Depois da usinagem, we perform surface polishing to ensure smooth skin contact, meeting even the most specialized design needs.