When developing a foot bath, the prototype process directly determines whether the product can meet user demands for safety (like anti-slip design), функциональность (stable heating, smooth massage), и долговечность (гидроизоляция). Among all prototyping methods, а CNC machining foot bath prototype process stands out for its ability to replicate complex structures—such as curved basins, massage roller tracks, and heating pipe slots—but what makes this process a reliable choice for foot bath R&Дюймовый? This article breaks down the core stages, преимущества, and key considerations of this CNC process to solve common development challenges.
1. Core Advantages of the CNC Machining Foot Bath Prototype Process
The CNC process addresses unique demands of foot baths (НАПРИМЕР., water circulation, Высокотемпературное сопротивление). Below are its four irreplaceable advantages:
| Категория преимуществ | Specific Performance | Value for Foot Baths |
| Complex Structure Machining | Handles curved basins (deep barrel/flat type), thin-walled heating pipe slots (<1.5мм), and precise roller tracks that 3D printing struggles with. | Enables integrated machining of basin slopes (15°–20° for smooth water circulation) and bubble vent holes (Φ0.8mm ±0.02mm) to avoid airflow blockage. |
| Multi-Material Compatibility | Processes plastics (АБС, ПК, акрил), металлы (алюминиевый сплав, нержавеющая сталь), and supports silicone (for anti-slip pads via CNC-machined molds). | – ABS/PC for lightweight, high-temperature-resistant basins (withstands 80°C+ water).- Stainless steel for rust-resistant bubble vents and drain valves.- Aluminum alloy for heat-conductive heating pipe brackets.- Силикон (molded via CNC molds) for anti-slip bottom pads. |
| High-Precision Control | Dimensional tolerance controlled within ± 0,05 мм, accurately reproducing basin depth, roller spacing, and heating pipe slot positions. | Ensures heating pipe slot clearance is 0.1mm ±0.02mm (for tight fitting, no water leakage) and roller track coaxiality <0.05мм (for smooth rotation, no jamming). |
| Rapid Functional Validation | Machines assembly structures (снимки, screw holes, drain valve seats) for immediate prototype assembly—no extra post-processing needed to fit heating systems or massage components. | Cuts R&D время за 25%: Test heating speed, massage uniformity, and water tightness right after machining. |
2. Step-by-Step Breakdown of the CNC Machining Foot Bath Prototype Process
The CNC process follows a linear, repeatable workflow tailored to foot baths. It consists of 8 Ключевые этапы:
- 3D Модель дизайн & Component Splitting
Используйте программное обеспечение CAD (Солидворкс / и) to design all components, сосредоточившись на:
- Basin: Outline (deep barrel: 300mm×400mm×150mm; flat type: 400mm×500mm×80mm), internal slope (15°–20° for water circulation), and water level line logos.
- Massage System:
- Roller type: Track curves (radius 10mm) and roller spacing (30mm ±0.5mm).
- Bubble type: Vent hole positions (evenly spaced 20mm apart) and air duct grooves.
- Vibration type: Vibrating plate fixing slots (depth 5mm ±0.02mm).
- Functional Structures: Heating pipe slots (width 12mm ±0.05mm), drain valve seats (Φ25mm ±0.03mm), and anti-slip bottom pad grooves.
Split complex models into machinable parts (basin, upper cover, панель управления, massage component bracket) for separate processing.
- Data Preparation & Tool Path Planning
- Импортировать 3D -модель в программное обеспечение CAM (Mastercam/PowerMill) to set the machining coordinate system.
- Plan tool paths:
- Грубая: Φ12mm flat-bottom cutter (remove 90% избыточный материал, leave 0.3mm allowance for basin contours).
- Отделка: Φ2mm ball nose cutter for basin slopes and roller tracks; Φ0.8mm drill for bubble vents.
- Special machining: Use long-edge tools (length 50mm) for deep heating pipe slots or electrical discharge machining (Эдм) for small drain valve holes.
- Generate G-code and simulate paths to avoid tool collisions (critical for thin-walled basin edges).
- Выбор материала & Подготовка
Choose materials based on component functions, then pretreat blanks:
| Тип компонента | Рекомендуемый материал | Pretreatment & Ключевая причина |
| Basin | ABS/PC | Cut into 500×600×200mm blanks; clean surface to remove impurities (ensuring smooth spraying). |
| Massage Rollers | Пома | Cut into Φ20×50mm cylinders; anneal to reduce hardness (for wear resistance and smooth rotation). |
| Bubble Vents/Drain Valves | Нержавеющая сталь 304 | Cut into Φ5×10mm blocks; deburr edges (to avoid scratching skin or blocking water flow). |
| Heating Pipe Brackets | Алюминиевый сплав 6061 | Cut into 80×40×15mm blanks; drill heat dissipation holes (Φ3mm) to improve thermal efficiency. |
| Anti-Slip Pads | Силикон (molded via CNC mold) | Machine an aluminum alloy mold (Допуск ± 0,02 мм) первый; then pour and vulcanize silicone (for anti-slip coefficient ≥0.8). |
- Зажим & Позиционирование
- Большие части (basin): Fix with vacuum adsorption platforms (avoids deformation from fixture pressure, critical for thin-walled basins).
- Небольшие части (ролики, вентиляционные отверстия): Clamp with custom fixtures (align to machining axes for coaxiality).
- Use laser edge finders to set coordinates (ensures ±0.01mm positioning accuracy for drain valve seats).
- Грубая обработка
Prioritize large surfaces (basin exteriors, Внутренние полости) with high feed rates (100мм/мин) to quickly shape parts, protecting delicate structures like bubble vents and heating pipe slots.
- Отделка
Focus on user-critical details:
- Machine basin slopes to Ra0.8 surface roughness (for smooth water flow and easy cleaning).
- Cut roller tracks (radius 10mm ±0.02mm) and bubble vents (Φ0.8mm ±0.01mm).
- Drill water level line logo grooves (depth 0.5mm) and heating pipe slot heat dissipation holes (Φ3mm ±0.05mm).
- Пост-обработка
- Выслушивание: Use 400-grit sandpaper to remove knife marks from basin edges and vent holes; use a polisher for internal basin surfaces (to avoid scratching feet).
- Поверхностная обработка:
- Пластиковые детали (basin, upper cover): Spray matte finish (anti-fingerprint, Антират) or laser engrave water level lines (permanent and clear).
- Металлические детали (вентиляционные отверстия, клапаны): Анодировать (anti-corrosion) or sandblast (anti-slip for valve knobs).
- Silicone parts (anti-slip pads): Secondary vulcanization (150° C для 1 час) to improve water resistance and elasticity.
- Сборка & Функциональное тестирование
| Тип теста | Цель | Pass Criteria for Foot Baths |
| Heating Test | Verify heating speed and temperature control accuracy. | Reaches 40°C from 20°C in ≤5 minutes; temperature variation ≤±1°C (avoids scalding). |
| Massage Test | Check massage uniformity and component stability. | Rollers rotate smoothly (no jamming); bubbles distribute evenly (all vents work); vibration has 3 adjustable levels. |
| Waterproof Test | Ensure no water leakage (critical for electrical safety). | No leakage at seams, drain valves, or heating pipe slots after 2-hour water immersion (0.1МПА давление). |
| Anti-Slip Test | Validate bottom pad effectiveness. | Anti-slip coefficient ≥0.8 on tile floors (no sliding when filled with 5L water). |
- Assemble components: Basin + massage system (rollers/bubbles/vibrators) + heating pipe + drain valve + панель управления (use waterproof glue for seams).
- Conduct critical tests (См. Таблицу ниже) для проверки производительности:
3. How Does the CNC Process Compare to Traditional Prototyping Methods?
The CNC process outperforms 3D printing and silicone duplication for foot baths. Here’s a direct comparison:
| Evaluation Metric | Процесс обработки с ЧПУ | 3D Печать | Silicone Duplication |
| Точность | ± 0,05 мм (ideal for heating pipe slots/bubble vents) | ± 0,1–0,3 мм (risk of water leakage or roller jamming) | ± 0,2–0,5 мм (poor for functional parts like drain valves) |
| Material Suitability | Металлы + пластмассы + силикон (via molds) (supports high-temperature, водонепроницаемые детали) | Only plastic filaments (can’t replicate metal vents or heat-resistant basins; deforms at 60°C+). | Epoxy/resin (no metal compatibility; silicone parts lack water resistance). |
| Качество поверхности | Гладкий, deburred edges (Ra0.4–Ra0.8) for safety/comfort | Layered texture (requires extra sanding; rough basin surfaces scratch feet). | Smooth but lacks fine details (can’t replicate precise roller tracks or vent holes). |
| Экономическая эффективность (10+ Единицы) | Lower per-unit cost (reusable G-codes/molds) | Выше (материальные отходы + post-processing for waterproofing). | Выше (silicone molds degrade after 5–7 uses; нуждается в частой замене). |
4. Key Precautions for the CNC Process
To avoid common flaws (НАПРИМЕР., water leakage, roller jamming), follow these three critical steps:
- Thin-Wall & Slot Protection
Use low cutting force (≤200N) и высокая скорость (8,000 об/мин) when machining thin-walled basin edges (<1.5мм) to prevent deformation. For heating pipe slots, machine in 0.5mm incremental layers to ensure uniform width (avoids loose fits and leakage).
- Waterproof Structure Calibration
After machining drain valve seats and heating pipe slots, use a feeler gauge to check clearance (0.1mm ±0.02mm). If too wide, apply waterproof glue; if too narrow, perform 0.01mm secondary cutting—ensures tight fitting without damaging components.
- Silicone Mold Machining
When making anti-slip silicone pads, machine the aluminum alloy mold with precise groove patterns (depth 1mm ±0.02mm). After molding, trim flash with a sharp knife (avoids uneven pad thickness, which causes foot bath instability).
5. Yigu Technology’s Perspective on the CNC Machining Foot Bath Prototype Process
В Yigu Technology, we believe this CNC process is the backbone of reliable foot bath R&Дюймовый. Its ±0.05mm precision solves two core pain points: waterproof structure accuracy (critical for user safety) and massage component stability—issues 3D printing can’t fix. Например, a client’s deep-barrel foot bath prototype used our CNC-machined ABS basin and stainless steel vents: it passed 2-hour waterproof tests, heated to 40°C in 4.5 минуты, and had zero roller jamming. We recommend combining CNC (for basins/functional parts) с 3D -печати (для нефункционального декора) to balance cost. В конечном счете, this process validates user-centric details early, снижение рисков массового производства.
Часто задаваемые вопросы
- How long does the CNC machining foot bath prototype process take?
It takes 9–16 days: Простые прототипы (flat-type with basic heating) take 9–11 days; Сложные дизайны (deep-barrel with roller + bubble massage) take 13–16 days (including silicone molding and waterproof testing).
- What’s the cost range for a prototype using this process?
The cost ranges from 1,000 к 4,500 юаней за единицу: plastic-only prototypes (ABS basin + basic heating) cost 1,000–2,000 yuan; metal-silicone prototypes (stainless steel vents + silicone pads + multi-massage functions) cost 2,500–4,500 yuan (due to mold and material costs).
- Can this process make customized basin sizes (НАПРИМЕР., compact travel foot baths)?
Yes—we use 5-axis CNC machines to make compact basins (250mm×300mm×100mm) for travel use, with the same ±0.05mm precision for heating slots and drain valves. The process also supports custom massage layouts (НАПРИМЕР., targeted roller positions for acupressure).