CNC Turning Service

CNC Turning 101

CNC turning is one of the basic technologies of manufacturing. Together with CNC milling, drilling, and grinding, it is one of the most important metal-cutting processes. In earlier times, metal-turned parts were still made by hand on a lathe, but this is now completely automated using CNC turning – a CNC lathe does the work. The abbreviation CNC stands for “Computerized Numerical Control,” which means that the turning process is computer-controlled and requires no manual intervention. 

How does CNC turning work

In contrast to CNC milling, CNC turning involves clamping a bar of material into the machine and turning it. As the workpiece rotates, the material is removed from the surface with the tool’s cutting edge. This is how the finished parts are made. For this purpose, CNC machines have a large range of different tools. CNC machines are equipped with many different tools inside, and they will automatically select the preset tool during the turning process. The entire turning process is programmed by the operator using CNC software.

The benefits of CNC turning

Precision: Arguably, the greatest benefit that CNC turning offers is the manufacturing process’s precision. This is also why it has been widely used in medical, aerospace, motorsports, microtechnology, and the watchmaking industry with micro-turned parts. While conventional turning can primarily be used to machine round metal parts, modern CNC lathes also allow the production of parts that would otherwise only be possible with a milling machine. In addition, the constant working conditions in CNC turning also offer the potential for cost reductions. On the one hand, this translates into reduced tool wear noticeably. On the other hand, production times and deadlines can be adhered to more easily and precisely. 

What do you need to make a CNC turned part?

All the processes begin with your artwork. Maybe you have made some drawings of the parts, but that’s not enough. We have to transfer it into a CNC machine-understandable language for production. So the first step is to create a 3D file with AutoCAD or SolidWorks for your custom parts.

Once the file is production ready, we dive into the turning process. There are two variables you need to keep in mind. The first is the turning speed, the velocity of the rotation of the workpiece. The second is the feed rate, the velocity at which the cutting tool moves along the rotating workpiece.

An expert must determine these values, as improper estimations will affect your results. Some materials could cause an uneven finish or irreparable damage to the workpiece.

That said, lower turning speeds and a higher feed rate are generally used for “roughing” out the shape. Then a high turning speed combined with a lower feed rate is used to create a smooth finish and parts that meet precise tolerance requirements.