A workpiece machining process and a numerically controlled lathe

摘要

A number of annular or short tubular elements (29) are obtained from an elongate tube (28) having a length calculated as a multiple of the length of the elements (29). A tube (28) is automatically transferred into a chuck of a twin-spindle lathe to turn the inner bore of an end portion of the tube. The end portion is then cut off the tube, thereby obtaining an annular element (29). The element is automatically reversed and fitted to a mandrel for turning its outer surface and its end where the cutting was performed. The so finished or partly-finished element is then automatically delivered to an outfeed conveyor (48). Such a sequence is repeated cyclically until the last portion (29) of the tube(28) is processed, leaving no waste tips of the tube. A numerically controlled lathe for performing the process is also disclosed. IMAGE