Materials recycled by CNC machine shops are dependent on the types of products that the shops manufacture. However, common materials include steel, aluminum, copper and brass. Some shops may recycle various forms of plastics or other metals.
Machining Processes that Produce Materials to be Recycled
These materials can come from CNC machining processes like turning, milling and drilling that create “chips” as products are manufactured by removing some material. The chips can be recycled.
In fabrication operations like sawing and shearing, leftover material becomes too small to be usable. These pieces are called “drops” and can be recycled. Sometimes drops can be used by the shop for other purposes like tooling or prototyping.
Sometimes products are made by punching holes or other shapes into the material. The pieces punched out of the material are called “slugs” and can be recycled.
Trends in Recycling
An interesting article from IndustryNet points out several trends that are happening in the recycling industry.
New technologies like AI-driven sorting systems and robotics are being implemented for more efficient operations.
Political issues such as tariffs and trade negotiations have caused US recycling capacity to become a priority. Therefore, new investments are being made in recycling centers.
The increased use of electronics and EVs has led to the need for specialized recycling capabilities for materials like lithium, cobalt and nickel.
About C&C Machine
We are a precision CNC machine shop located near Tulsa, OK. We recycle our chips, drops and slugs. This helps us keep our shop clean and organized. It is also good practice for the environment.
