A cutting tool, typically a non-spinning part of the lathe, removes material from rigid material during a CNC turning operation. Depending on the turning operation employed, this procedure generates forms and shapes of various sizes. It’s a simple idea, but a high-quality CNC turning operation is a little more complicated.
What Is It?
A CNC turning operation is a type of industrial machining that utilizes turning-capable machinery, such as a lathe or a turning center, and is computer-controlled. This operation’s axis of rotation might be either horizontal or vertical. The latter is typically utilized for workpieces with a large radius relative to their length.
What Shapes Does It Make?
Turning is a very versatile machining process that may produce a broad range of profiles depending on the turning method employed. Straight turning, taper turning, external grooving, threading, knurling, boring, and drilling are all capabilities of lathes and turning centers.
Lathes can often only do straightforward turning operations such as straight turning, external grooving, threading, and boring. Turning centers include tool turrets that enable them to do all lathe operations and more difficult ones like drilling of the axis of rotation.
Cones, cylinders, disks, or combinations of those forms are just a few examples of the many axially symmetric shapes that CNC turning can produce. Using specialized rotating tools, specific turning centers may even do polygonal turning, creating forms like a hexagon along the axis of rotation.
