What is a cnc lathe and how does it work?

What is a cnc lathe and how does it work?

What is a cnc lathe and what are its uses? The CNC machine is one of the important tools in the processes of turning, cutting, engraving and other related industries, in all of which accuracy is considered one of the main requirements for the production of advanced and complex parts. The use of cnc turning machine increases the speed and accuracy of the work to a great extent, and another point is that the execution processes are carried out by the cnc machine through computer programs, and this makes it possible to make the parts Produced and crafted the idea in great detail. Of course, we have explained to you what a cnc lathe is and how it works in the rest of this article in a simple and completely scientific language, so stay with us.

What is a cnc lathe?

In general, CNC turning involves the use of fixed cutting tools to remove material from the workpiece, which is held in place by a rotating chuck. This process is particularly suitable for creating parts with symmetry about their central axis and generally results in faster and more cost-effective production than milling.

In fact, this device executes a combination of numbers and codes; CNC turning is a common technique for producing cylindrical components. However, contemporary CNC multi-axis turning centers, equipped with CNC milling tools, can now also make non-cylindrical parts. Combining the efficiency of CNC turning with the versatility of CNC milling, these systems can create a wide variety of rotationally symmetrical geometries.

How cnc lathes work

CAD model production: Design software such as Solidworks and Autodesk Fusion 360 are used by engineers and machinists to produce a CAD model of their specific components.
Converting the CAD model for the CNC machine: Then the CAD model is entered into the production system with the help of a computer. Properly executed, this process produces a sequence of digital instructions called G-code that dictate the actions of the CNC machine. These G-code commands specify the movements and speeds of the machine, enabling it to accurately manufacture the desired part.
CNC Milling Machine Preparation: Secure the workpiece or block of material firmly in the lathe chuck and perform all necessary steps to configure the lathe.
Starting the turning process: Start the CNC turning process by loading the program. Specialized cutting tools, which rotate at high speed or are set to a fixed rpm, are used to remove material from the workpiece until the desired part is exactly replicated.

In simpler terms, at first, the operator generates the G-code using a CAD model and sets up the machine with a cylindrical or hollow material. In the next step, the workpiece begins to rotate at high speed, while a fixed cutting tool follows the desired profile and continuously removes material until the part with the desired geometry is obtained. .

It should also be kept in mind that if necessary, internal cutting tools and center drills can be used to create holes along the central axis of the workpiece. Another important point is that if the part needs to be rotated or moved, the process must be repeated; Otherwise, after material removal, the part is ready for use or additional post-processing steps.

What are the uses of the CNC lathe?

 

With the increasing progress of technology and the entry of advanced technology and equipment into various industries, lathes can be considered the trump card of mankind! Because before, it was customary to use manual machines, and the accuracy and speed of these machines were much lower than today's lathe machines, and this made the process time-consuming and suboptimal!

The increase in production and income is more than the advantages that today's cnc lathes provide to various businesses, which was not practical at all before when manual lathes were used. Today's CNC lathes are used in various industries for various tasks, including turning, cutting, drilling on metal objects, engraving, stone, wood, plastic, glass, etc. ... Cited.

It is interesting to know that the use of advanced lathe machines has currently revolutionized industries such as aerospace, automotive, weapon manufacturing, electronics, etc. or even sports science, and the production of 3D products with many details and complex designs only by using It is possible from these devices.

What are the important advantages of cnc lathe?

 

The possibility of 24-hour production;
reducing waste and increasing work efficiency;
saving in the use of human power;
The possibility of making necessary changes by the operator in order to reduce the delay time;
Ability to produce complex designs with very high accuracy in the shortest possible time;
It is possible to test CNC machine programs before production;
Due to the existence of various alarms of the device, troubleshooting in the CNC device is very simple;
No need for an expert and skilled operator and the possibility of carrying out the production process with the best quality and precision with a semi-skilled operator;
All types of CNCs are equipped with CAD, CAM and CIMJ systems and have the possibility of remote control;
The output parts from CNC turning machines cannot be compared with the output parts of manual machines;
The possibility of networking devices so that several devices work as a group and monitor them simultaneously;
All production parts are produced with the same quality and precision, and no discrepancies can be seen between the manufactured parts;
Due to the automaticity of the processBy the device, the possibility of human errors in production is greatly reduced; With the help of modern design software, the designer can easily simulate and implement the manufacturer's idea, and thus we see that there is no need to make a prototype or a basic model, and this is also very helpful in saving time and money. Is. The difference between a CNC machine and a laser The laser CNC machine uses laser rays to do things like turning, cutting, engraving and carving, and its laser power is also adjustable, and it can be used to work on wooden, stone, paper, metal and other parts. He even used leather, while the CNC milling machine uses a very sharp blade to separate different (extra) parts from the main work piece. It is interesting to know that the accuracy of milling CNCs is far lower than laser CNCs, but these devices are used more in inlay and engraving works. Additional notes on the CNC turning process Although the raw material is usually round, it can be other shapes such as square or hexagonal. Depending on the rod feeder, the length of the rod can be different; Keep in mind that this will affect the amount of handling required for bulk jobs. CNCs with "live" tooling options can stop bar rotation and add additional features such as drilled holes, slots, and milled surfaces. Some CNC turning centers have a single spindle that allows all work to be done on one side, while other turning centers have two main and secondary spindles. There are many different types of CNC turning centers with a variety of tool options, spindle options, outside diameter limitations, as well as power and speed capabilities that affect the types of parts that can be economically made on it. CNC lathes or turning centers have tools mounted on a turret that is controlled by a computer. Therefore, the more tools the turret accommodates, the more options for the complexities and details of the part will be available. Conclusion and final words CNC turning machine is a type of tool for performing industrial processes with high precision and speed, among which we can refer to processes such as turning, engraving, cutting and drilling in mechanical and industrial parts, etc., which according to the employer's opinion can be are production. On the other hand, the automaticity of these devices has caused the accuracy of working with parts to increase to a great extent, and this has resulted in an increase in the speed of work, which can be of great help in increasing the revenue generation of businesses and optimizing the production process of various parts to do.