CNC LATHE TURNING
WHAT IS CNC LATHE TURNING?
CNC Lathe Turning is a plastic forming process in which the plastic material rotates around a stationary cutting tool to cave the plastics into a desired shape. CNC turning creates symmetrical and round in cross section (e.g. cylinder, shaft, sphere, cone) parts with great precision and smooth finishes. Usually, cylindrical rod-shaped plastic materials are used in turning. Parts such as bushings, bolts, bolts screws, and other threaded components are commonly made with CNC lathes.
CNC TURNING vs. CNC MILLING
CNC Turning
- Tool is mostly stationary (linear movement only). Plastic rotates.
- Best for symmetrical and round in cross section parts, like cylinders, shafts, spheres, and cones.
CNC MILLING
- Cutter rotates on multiple axes. Plastic is static.
- Best for complicated 3D parts with multiple faces or that have flat or curved surfaces, such as brackets or housings.
ADVANTAGES OF CNC LATHE TURNING
- No costly tooling required
- Single setup can have multiple cutting operations which reduces cost and time
- Tight tolerances
- Smooth surface finishes
- No specialty cutters needed to create grooves and undercuts
MATERIALS OFTEN USED IN CNC LATHE TURNING
- ABS
- Acetal (POM/Delrin)
- Acrylic (PMMA)
- Nylon 6
- Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK)
- PTFE
- UHMW
