Turning to CNC: overview of what's available in CNC lathes

摘要

Let's say that your opportunity to increase shop capacity or replace high-maintenance equipment has come. Now you're looking at purchasing your first CNC lathe. Then the question becomes: "What type of lathe or turning center do I need?" It depends on the types of parts you produce. If you are machining prototype parts or small lots, for example, you may want to consider a combination lathe. Generally, they are for one-offs and short production runs. They offer a great deal of flexibility and are easy to set up. But if your workload includes long production runs, a CNC turning center may best meet your needs. CNC turning centers also offer flexibility and ease of setups, but they are designed for low- to high-production runs. There are many styles of lathes from which to choose. In the following pages, we review some of them.