For 3D printing equipment, many internal and structural components need to maintain stable dimensions and reliable performance throughout repeated operation. For customized metal parts, the challenge is not simply machining the required shape, but controlling the complete manufacturing process from material preparation and heat treatment to machining, finishing, sizing, grinding, and final inspection.
In this project, Hehua Machinery Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. manufactured a customized Cylinder block for customer Zenithsoar, with the component designed for use in a 3D printing machine.
The project involved 304 stainless steel material, a relatively large component size of 570 × 570 × 430 mm, and a defined airtightness requirement. The manufacturing process included material purchasing, solution treatment, CNC machining, radial drilling, chamfering and deburring, sizing, grinding, and gantry machining.
Rather than treating the component as a single machining operation, Hehua managed the different stages as one connected manufacturing process. This helped ensure that the material condition, machining accuracy, surface condition, dimensions, and airtightness requirements were considered throughout the project.
The main project information was as follows:
Part name: Cylinder block
Customer: Zenithsoar
Application: 3D printing machine
Material: 304 stainless steel
Part size: 570 × 570 × 430 mm
Treatment: Solution treatment
Manufacturing: Material purchasing, solution treatment, CNC machining, radial drilling, chamfering and deburring, sizing, grinding, gantry machining
Airtightness requirement: After sealing the top and bottom surfaces, maintain a pressure of 0.02 MPa for 10 minutes. The pressure change must be no greater than 0.005 MPa.
Alternative airtightness test: At 0.02 MPa, submerge the cylinder body in water and maintain the pressure for 10 minutes with no air leakage observed.
Material preparation was the first important stage of the project.
The component was manufactured using 304 stainless steel, a material commonly selected for applications requiring corrosion resistance and stable mechanical performance. For a component used within 3D printing equipment, material condition can have an impact on subsequent machining and dimensional stability.
Hehua therefore included solution treatment as part of the defined manufacturing process.
Solution treatment is not simply an additional step before machining. For a customized component of this size, the condition of the material after treatment needs to be considered when planning subsequent machining operations.
The project began with material purchasing according to the required specification, followed by solution treatment before the main machining operations.
This sequence allowed the manufacturing team to establish the required material condition before moving into the dimensional and structural machining stages.
The component has an overall size of 570 × 570 × 430 mm. This size requires suitable machining equipment and process planning rather than relying on a simple standard CNC operation.
The manufacturing route for the project included CNC machining and gantry machining, with radial drilling used for the specified hole features.
Different operations were arranged according to the geometry and requirements of the component. CNC machining was used for the relevant precision features, while gantry machining supported the processing of the larger workpiece.
Radial drilling was incorporated into the manufacturing process for the required holes. Hole positioning and machining sequence were considered together with the surrounding features to avoid unnecessary interference between different operations.
For a larger stainless steel component, machining stability is important because the workpiece size can affect clamping, tool access, machining sequence, and dimensional control.
This is why process planning is an important part of customized manufacturing at Hehua Machinery Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
After the primary machining operations, the component went through chamfering and deburring.
These finishing operations are particularly relevant for industrial equipment components. Machined edges can affect assembly, handling, sealing, and the condition of adjacent components if they are not properly finished.
The project also included sizing and grinding.
Sizing provided an additional step for dimensional control, while grinding was used as part of the finishing process to achieve the required surface and dimensional condition.
For customized parts, these operations should not be considered cosmetic finishing alone. They are part of the overall manufacturing process and can influence whether the final component meets the customer's functional requirements.
The manufacturing team therefore needed to coordinate the sequence of machining and finishing operations rather than treating each process independently.
One of the most important requirements for this project was airtightness.
The specified test required the top and bottom surfaces of the component to be sealed before maintaining a pressure of 0.02 MPa for 10 minutes. During the test, the pressure change was required to be no greater than 0.005 MPa.
An alternative testing method was also specified. At a pressure of 0.02 MPa, the cylinder body could be submerged in water and maintained under pressure for 10 minutes. No air leakage could be observed during the test.
This requirement meant that the project could not be evaluated only by checking external dimensions and machining appearance.
The manufacturing process also needed to support the integrity of the relevant surfaces and structures.
Machining quality, surface condition, sealing surfaces, drilling operations, and finishing all had to be considered in relation to the final airtightness test.
This is one reason why Hehua treated the project as a complete manufacturing process rather than a simple CNC machining order.
The project demonstrates the importance of connecting different manufacturing stages.
Material purchasing establishes the starting condition. Solution treatment prepares the material for subsequent processing. CNC machining, radial drilling, and gantry machining create the required geometry. Chamfering and deburring improve the finished edges, while sizing and grinding provide additional dimensional and surface control.
The final inspection then verifies whether the completed component meets the defined requirements, including the airtightness test.
For customized metal parts, problems at one stage can affect later stages. A machining issue may influence sealing performance, while an unsuitable processing sequence may make dimensional control more difficult.
By managing the project through a defined manufacturing route, Hehua can coordinate the different processes around the final application rather than focusing on individual operations in isolation.
The Zenithsoar project is part of Hehua's broader experience in customized metal component manufacturing for high-end equipment.
Shanghai Hehua Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2005, and its subsidiary, Hehua Machinery Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd., was established in 2018.
Hehua specializes in key metal parts and components for automotive, rail transit, aerospace, wind power, nuclear power, industrial machinery, semiconductor sealing and testing equipment, new energy equipment, and other high-end equipment manufacturing applications.
The company operates a manufacturing plant of more than 17,800 square meters in Lujia Town, Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, with more than 160 employees.
Its professional project technical team can provide services from design and development through manufacturing. Both Shanghai Hehua Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. and its Kunshan subsidiary have independent import and export rights, allowing the company to provide customers with services covering production and export.
Hehua has passed ISO 9001 quality management system certification and IATF 16949 automotive quality system certification. The company has also obtained EN 15085 certification for rail vehicle and component welding systems, while its welders have obtained EN ISO 9606-1 qualification certification.
Although the Zenithsoar Cylinder block project is a machining-focused component, the same quality management principles apply: clear project requirements, controlled processes, appropriate inspection, and complete coordination between manufacturing stages.
Hehua also manages its business processes through the Zhibang International ERP intelligent management system. The system covers sales, customers, projects, production, inventory, procurement, human resources, finance, and office operations.
This provides a structured way to connect customer requirements with production activities and project management.
The Zenithsoar project shows how a customized metal component can require several manufacturing processes to meet one final application requirement.
For this 304 stainless steel Cylinder block, the key points were not limited to the 570 × 570 × 430 mm dimensions. The project required solution treatment, CNC machining, radial drilling, chamfering and deburring, sizing, grinding, gantry machining, and a clearly defined airtightness test.
By coordinating these processes as one manufacturing route, Hehua Machinery Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. provided Zenithsoar with a customized component manufactured according to the specified application and inspection requirements.
The case also reflects Hehua's approach to customized metal manufacturing: understand the application, define the manufacturing process, control each important stage, and verify the finished part against the customer's requirements.
For 3D printing equipment and other high-end machinery, these details can make a practical difference in the final component.
From material purchasing and solution treatment to machining, finishing and airtightness inspection, Hehua continues to provide customized manufacturing services for customers requiring complex metal components.
Cylinder block manufacturing is one example of how Hehua applies its production capabilities to specific equipment requirements, with the focus remaining on process control, dimensional consistency and reliable final inspection.
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