![]() ![]() This provides another obstacle that you must plan and account for to avoid a crash when operating a CNC lathe. Also, because most of the tools are stationary, the workholding device, which is a large mass of steel, must spin. Each tool is indexed and brought into the work area with all its companions mounted in the turret. In the standard 2-axis CNC lathe, most of the tools are held stationary in a large turret while a workpiece of unknown size and weight revolves to provide the cutting action. This small factor, I believe, is the major reason why there are so many more CNC mill machinists than CNC lathe machinists it is so much easier to crash a CNC lathe than a CNC mill because of this basic design difference. In this system, all the tools are held in individual holders, which have a common mounting position and are safely stored well away from the work area. This would be the mill equivalent to the CNC lathe.Įarly in the history of CNC mills, a tool holding and changing system was adopted that simplified and helped eliminate the danger of spectacular crashes. The spindle mass of steel is about to shear off all the tools hanging from the magazine. As it does, it approaches the mill table, which is spinning at 4,000 rpm along with the workpiece. Imagine on a 3-axis mill that every time you do a tool change the entire tool magazine rapid traverses into the work zone. ![]() After all, the mill has at least three axes so it must be more complicated.īut that’s not so. I have heard the argument that the CNC lathe only has two axes and, therefore, can’t be that difficult to use. My theory is this is partly because the CNC lathe is more difficult to operate. In my experience, I have found there is a lopsided ratio of CNC mill machinists to CNC lathe machinists, with about 10 times as many being mill machinists. That includes CNC lathes, the next step up for aspiring machinists. I have a special place in my heart for lathes. ![]() Like many in the industry, when I started in the machining world it was on a manual lathe. ![]()
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January 2023
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