Lathes and turning centers have many benefits. They can perform a variety of tasks that would be difficult or impossible to do manually, such as cutting a taper.
These machines are also capable of creating knurled patterns, which helps to improve grip. They can cut a wide variety of shapes, including cylinders and cones.
CNC Lathes
A CNC lathe is a rotating machine that cuts away material to produce a machined surface. The simplest machines are 2 axes and have 1 spindle, while more advanced lathes can have up to 5 axes and multiple spindles.
Lathes have been around for most of human history, and the technology continues to evolve and improve. Today’s lathes are used to create everything from artisan wooden bowls to large parts for heavy machinery. A CNC Turning Center takes a lathe into the 21st century by adding more axes and allowing for a variety of other functions, such as milling, reaming, drilling, boring, expanding and tapping threads. This added functionality reduces turnaround times for finished parts and makes it easier to manufacture complex pieces.
CNC Turning Centers
A CNC turning center is an evolution of the CNC Lathes and Turning Centers, equipped with 3, 4 or 5-axes for more versatile machining capabilities. They can perform multiple functions in one setup, reducing the number of workpieces needed for production runs.
Turning centers include a headstock, tailstock and carriage that support the tool turret, guiding it against the workpiece. They can also come with a sub-spindle (dual spindles), Y axis and live tools with powered rotary tools for milling operations. Like a traditional lathe, a CNC turning center can be used to cut various shapes from a piece of metal including parting, taper turning and threading. It can also be utilized to machine cylindrical parts with complex features such as helixes, square pockets and slots. Inverted vertical turning centers can also be used when larger pieces are required, with the chuck and spindle in reversed positions. This allows for higher RPMs and machining of larger diameters. It can also be used for angled cuts to create specific shapes.
Vertical Lathes
Vertical lathes (VTL’s) feature a main spindle that’s oriented vertically. This allows them to utilize gravity for workholding, helping them seat larger heavy parts without the need for hard clamping. This is perfect for foundries, aerospace departments, automotive parts suppliers, and energy field companies that need to produce chucked parts in large quantities.
These machines can also be configured with a rotary C-axis to give them 4-axis capability, making them capable of turning and milling in a single setup. Some VTL’s are equipped with live tooling turrets that allow them to make contouring cuts as well, reducing part set-up time even further. CNC has a wide selection of new and used vertical lathes from manufacturers. Contact us today to see how a Surplusrecord can help your shop! We’re here to answer any questions you may have. Whether you’re looking for a specific machine or just curious about our entire inventory, we’d love to hear from you!