You may have seen the terms Turning and Milling while reading about CNC machining. If so, you may be unsure about what these processes entail and want to understand their differences.
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Here, we cover the essential information about these two manufacturing processes, including how they work and their most suitable applications. Read on to gain an understanding of turning and milling, what each is capable of, and which process might be better for your project.
What is CNC Turning?Turning is a process in which a workpiece rotates while a cutting tool removes material from it. The cutting tool is typically a single-point, non-rotating tool that moves along the workpiece and continually removes layers of material according to the design until it matches the desired shape.
Before computers were applied to this industry, the procedure was manual and required constant supervision to achieve defined goals. Nowadays, turning is typically performed by automated machines following algorithms and numerical rules.
CNC turning can effectively produce different shapes, like cones, cylinders, disks, polygons, and sometimes even hexagons or other regular polygons. Different shapes are developed by combining numerous processes, including turning (taper or straight), external grooving, threading, knurling, boring, and drilling. While you can use many materials for turning, wood, plastic, or metal are most common.
CNC turning has many applications ' from simple screws and bolts to high-precision aerospace or automotive parts. For more information about the process, read our in-depth article on CNC turning.
What is CNC Milling?Unlike in turning, the workpiece does not rotate during milling operations. Instead, the cutting tool rotates and moves while the workpiece remains stationary, although the workpiece can move between operations. Additionally, tool movement can take place along several different axes to achieve more complex designs.
Since the '60s, computer numerical control (CNC) milling has increasingly been used in place of manual milling. CNC milling is much faster and can produce both simple and complex shapes, from rings, necklaces, and key holders to automotive and aerospace parts with complex geometries, such as engine components.
Milling can include any combination of face milling, plain milling, or angular milling processes to achieve highly complex shapes. Metals, plastics, composites, and wood are all suitable materials for this process.
The applications for CNC milling are endless ' it's even used to produce the body of a guitar. For more information about how this process works, read our in-depth article on CNC milling.
The Differences Between CNC Turning and MillingThe most significant difference between turning and milling is how the workpiece and tooling move.
This simple difference reflects the shapes that each method can produce. And the following table highlights the key differences between these manufacturing processes for easy reference.
Should You Use Turning or Milling?The next question is, which one is better for your project? Well, if your piece is axially symmetric, you'll probably want to consider CNC turning.
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As long as the base material is suitable for turning, a lathe or turning center can effectively manufacture your part to precise dimensional tolerances, even for relatively large lengths and diameters! See our CNC turning services page to learn more about how we can help you.
If your project has more complex geometry than CNC turning can accommodate, you may want to consider CNC milling instead. Milling can produce an endless variety of shapes, and like CNC turning, can meet extremely tight tolerances. Visit our CNC milling services page to learn more about the options available.
What are the different parts of a CNC Lathe Machine? How do these different components of the CNC Machine Tool fit together?
In general, CNC Lathe machines comes in the following main configurations:
Depending on their configuration, CNC Lathes may have the following components.
The bed of a CNC Lathe or CNC Turning Centre forms the main base for the whole machine. It is where the different components of the machine are mounted on. For example, the spindle stock which houses the machine's main spindle; tailstock body; X and Z axis slide; optional Y-axis; and sub-spindle.
To ensure longevity, Hwacheon manufactures machine beds using high quality Meehanite cast iron. These help to limit heat distortion and provides solid mechanical stability. This ensures that the parts machined are consistently accurate.
Often known as the heart of a machine tool, the main spindle consists of a spindle assembly and the spindle drive system. These are some of the moving parts of the CNC machine tool, and they include motors, gears, and the chuck (more on it later). The C-axis drive which helps to position the material will also be assembled together with the spindle.
Tool holders are normally installed at the turret disk (a rotating disk allowing tools to be positioned and switched), they include both fixed and life tool holders. The life tool drive system is built-in.
To ensure greater quality, Hwacheon manufactures 100% of its own spindles and parts of it. These can tolerate standard or higher optional rpm ranges, run with minimized vibration levels, depending on the application requirements.
Separate from the main spindle as an option, the sub-spindle works in sync with the main spindle to complete the first and second cutting operation in a CNC lathe. This improves efficiency and throughput per cycle. When named as a second spindle, the mechanism has the same capacity and power as the main spindle.
Designed with the end-users in mind to achieve higher flexibility and performance, sub-spindles are available optionally on most of Hwacheon's Hi-TECH Series.
A chuck is a vice-like structure that grips the workpieces to be machined. It is attached to the main spindle that rotates both the chuck and the workpiece.
To achieve greater productivity in manufacturing, you should consider CNC lathes that offer a variety of options, allowing you to switch to the right tool for your turning jobs. Some of Hwacheon's machine tools have the flexibility and size to accommodate extra-long oil pipe machining and other long shaft applications.
The guide way enables the tool to move horizontally and vertically to achieve a smooth cutting process. To ensure durability, rigidity and the highest accuracy are needed for this structure.
Hwacheon incorporates highly rigid solid box guides on all axes for its Hi-TECH line of machines to cut down time between processes and to enhance machining precision.
Comprising the main motor, the headstock holds the main spindle where the chuck is mounted on. To ensure high performance, you need to consider if your machine tool's headstock can handle high torque at low speed. This is an important consideration for tough materials.
For Hwacheon's Hi-TECH Series, our gear-transmission system provides power and stability. The transmission assembly and spindle motor are also designed to limit heat and vibration transfer.
Tailstock are used to provide an extra support force on the other end of the component. This is necessary when machining long and extra-long work pieces (e.g. Shafts).
For Hwacheon's Hi-TECH Series machines, the tailstock can be programmed to be positioned in semi-auto mode. This allows it to provide firm support and greater precision to the machined parts.
The turret provides the possibility to change the cutting tools required for machining. Hence it is mounted on the tool turret. The size of the turret is determined by the number and size of tools that will be mounted on it.
To ensure stability and precision in machining, the turret in, for example, Hwacheon's Hi-TECH 550 provides a powerful clamping force, offering an index time of 0.2 sec/setup for fast and more stable machining.
Some of the options available include:
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