CNC turning process
Turning is a machining process in which a cutting tool (usually a non-rotating head) describes a helical tool path by moving more or less linearly as the workpiece rotates.
Generally, the term "turning" is reserved for the outer surface created by this cutting action, and when the same basic cutting action is applied to the inner surface (hole or holes), it is called "boring." Therefore, the phrase "turning and boring" classifies larger machining processes called turning. Whether you use a turning tool or a boring tool to cut a surface on a workpiece, it is called an "end face" and can be classified as any subset.
Turning can be performed manually with traditional forms of lathes, which often require continuous operator supervision or the use of unneeded automatic lathes. Today, the most common type of such automation is computer numerical control, known as CNC. (In addition to turning, CNC is often used in many other types of machining.)
When rotating, the workpiece (a piece of relatively hard material such as wood, metal, plastic, or stone) will rotate and move the cutting tool along the axis of motion to produce a precise diameter and depth. Turning can be done both on the outside and inside the cylinder (also known as boring) to produce tubular parts of various geometries. Although rare nowadays, early lathes could even be used to produce complex geometries, even platonic solids. Although the use of non-computerized toolpath control for this purpose has become uncommon since the advent of CNCs.
The turning process is usually performed on a lathe which is considered to be the oldest machine tool, and can be of different types such as straight turning, taper turning, profiling or external grooving. These types of turning processes can produce materials of various shapes, such as straight, conical, curved or slotted workpieces. Generally, turning uses simple single-point cutting tools. Over the years, each group of workpiece materials has a set of optimal tool angles. Scrap metal scraps from turning operations are called chips. In some areas, they may be called turns.
The axis of motion of the tool can actually be a straight line or a set of curves or angles, but they are basically linear (in a non-mathematical sense). Parts that can be turned can be called "turned parts" or "machined parts." Turning operations are performed on lathes that can be operated manually or CNC. In operations in a machining shop, CNC turning is used in the manufacturing process of cylindrical parts, where the tool moves in a linear manner as the workpiece rotates. Using a lathe for rotation, the turning process reduces the diameter of the workpiece, which can usually be sized and produces a smooth part finish.
During CNC turning, metal, plastic, wood and other materials are rotated by computer digital control. CNC turning can be performed outside or inside the workpiece (also known as boring) to produce tubular parts with a variety of geometries.
The turning process is usually performed on a lathe that is considered to be the oldest machine tool. There are four different types of turning: straight turning, taper turning, contouring or external grooving. These processes produce materials of various shapes, such as straight, conical, curved or slotted workpieces. Generally, turning uses simple single-point cutting tools. Over the years, each group of workpiece materials has a set of optimal tool angles.
Lathes are one of the oldest machine tools for linear, radial and taper turning of parts. The introduction of computer numerical control (CNC) has improved lathe turning technology to a new level. Today, CNC machines provide extremely high accuracy at extremely high speeds during the manufacture of precision machined parts. The turning process has been developed to include live tools (rotary tools) to make CNC milling-type functions more efficient for turning operations.
Vertical CNC turning centers or lathes rotate metal parts in the vertical direction during processing. The raw material is fixed in the chuck through a jaw, a mandrel, a collet, or an end face driver, and is connected to the headstock assembly, which rotates the workpiece through a heavy-duty motor. The turret assembly travels along the Z axis, holding a single-point cutting tool close to the workpiece to remove material each time it is "up and down". This is a multi-axis subtractive manufacturing method.