Computer Numerical Controlled lathes are the single most significant technological development in the sector of metalwork manufacturing during the last decades. Lathes didn’t just became automated, but also gained milling and processing abilities that exceed traditional manually operated lathes by miles. In addition to this, modern CNC lathes can streamline and accelerate the manufacturing of a wide range of products, using advanced tool swapping systems, automated chock speed control and precise cutting tool positioning.
These designs can also be CAD/CAM files so the CNC interprets the series of milling actions by itself. All the operator has to do is make sure the processing is going well and the produced piece is materialized according to the specifications. This automation allows the streamlining of the manufacturing process, and thus significantly reducing the production and workshop running costs.
Because of the wide range of available CNC lathes in the market, buyers may have a difficult time choosing the right one for their needs. The following types are the most commonly used lathe categories that can serve different purposes:
Flat Bed
The most widely used CNC lathe type is the flat bed lathe. This type is preferred for its rigidness as it is the most stable lathe type of all. This is due to the fact that the cutting force is pushing the workpiece table downwards, stressing the frame evenly and eliminating any vibrations. The price to pay for this advantage is the relatively larger floor area that is required by flat bed lathes.
Turning Centers – Slant Bed
Some decades ago, the workshop sector witnessed a growth boom that made them overcrowded with large pieces of machinery taking every available floor space. Slant bed lathes were developed as a solution to this floor area efficiency problem. The bed is tilted along the x’ axis and so the lathe can be built upon a significantly smaller frame. The cutting forces though are applied on an inclinated plate, resulting in vibrations that can lead to fatigue of the frame.
Vertical Lathes
Another choice could be the vertical turning lathes (VTL). This approach puts the cutting head on a perpendicular position to the workpiece that is placed on a rotating bed. Cutting vertically enhances the rigidness and allows for great milling precision. VTLs can cut at high rates (cut deep) and require the least floor area from all the described types.
Turning Centers – Multitasking
Why go for a milling head when you can two or three of them working together though? Apart from the raised cost of purchase, multitasking CNC lathes are the best available solution for high manufacturing rates. Boasting the ability to auto-change tools and perform multiple machining tasks at once makes this type of CNCs the most efficient automated machine in a workshop. All that they require is some monitoring and validation work from the operator.
CNC Swiss Lathes
Swiss type lathes are high-precision tools that can produce workpieces of unprecedented dimensional accuracy, in the rate of tenths of thousandths of an inch. This is achieved through the combination of multiple holding points and guides that make the workpiece rotate at zero deviation from the set center point. If swiss type lathes are combined with “live tools,” manufacturing rates of small products can reach very high levels.
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