Heat treatments can be applied to metal alloys throughout the manufacturing process. For CNC machined parts, heat treatments are typically applied either:
Before CNC machining: When a standardized grade of a metal alloy is requested that is readily available, the CNC service provider will machine the parts directly from that stock material. This is often the best option for reducing lead times.
After CNC machining: Some heat treatments significantly increase the hardness of the material or are used as a finishing step after forming. In these cases, the heat treatment is applied after CNC machining, as high hardness reduces the machinability of a material. For example, this is standard practice when CNC machining tool steel parts.The following is about Auto Parts Heat Treatment Rapid Prototypes.