Ultra-Precision CNC Turning

Computer numerical control (CNC) turning is a computer-led manufacturing process that many industries capitalize on to accurately, efficiently, and cost-effectively make precision components. At Advanced Industries Inc., our ultra-precision CNC turning services offer these benefits and more as compared to manual techniques. Read on to learn about how the process works, its advantages, common material options, and how the Advanced Industries team can support your operation with ultra-precision CNC turning solutions.

CNC Turning Process

An advantageous alternative to milling, CNC turning is a subtractive manufacturing technique in which a mounted material blank spins on a lathe’s rotating chuck at high speeds. Depending on the needs of your application, the chuck’s rotations per minute, or RPMs, will vary. Unlike other cutting processes, CNC turning applies stationary cutting tools to a rapidly turning workpiece, removing material until you achieve a part in the desired shape. The process is particularly common for circular and cylindrically shaped components as it creates products requiring center-axis symmetry, but lathes can also work with square or hexagonal workpieces.

Turning used to be a manual process. However, modern turning equipment leverages CNC technology, which enables precise oversight and control of machinery movements. The process starts with a computer-aided design (CAD) file of your part’s design. This file gets converted into a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) program written in a type of programming language called G-code. The coding ultimately dictates the minute positioning of the tools and rotating workpiece to make accurate cuts.

CNC lathes can operate at various speeds, as needed, and can also incorporate different spindles and cutting tools of the preferred shape and size. This lends the process great versatility, allowing the Advanced Industries team to create precision parts in myriad geometries.

Benefits of CNC Turning

Many benefits of automated CNC turning make it a preferable option compared to traditional lathing, milling, or manual manufacturing methods. Some of these advantages of CNC turning include:

• Superior accuracy. CNC lathes are effective for delivering high-precision parts with tight tolerances as close as ±0.0001 inches, a feat that isn’t possible with manual processes.
• Minimized risk of human error. Lessening the need for human-machine interaction, you also decrease the likelihood of human workers introducing errors during the production process. As a side benefit, fewer defects equate to reduced material waste.
• Leveraged CAD/CAM technology. As CNC turning equipment easily integrates with CAD and CAM software technologies, this effectively enhances production efficiency and speed. From initial design to final component production, you successfully streamline the full process.
• Repeatable uniformity. After an operator programs the CNC turning machine, it will generate uniform parts with high repeatability, assuring consistency across small to large production runs.
• Ability to produce parts with complex or intricate geometries. While it doesn’t have quite the design freedom that CNC milling does, CNC turning can produce more detailed features and complex shapes than traditional turning methods.
• Enhanced material surfaces. Manual turning operations often necessitate secondary finishing to achieve your preferred surface finish. With CNC turning, secondary finishing isn’t typically necessary, cutting costs as well as your project’s time in production.
• Improvements to worker safety. Less manual intervention during the machining process leads to fewer accidents, supporting better safety outcomes in the workplace.

Materials for CNC Turning

Materials that are compatible with our versatile CNC turning processes include the following:

Partner With Advanced Industries for Ultra-Precision CNC Turning

Clients trust Advanced Industries Inc. to manufacture high-quality products using our suite of machining services that deliver reliable results every time. We combine advanced technology, innovative techniques, and a team of some of the industry’s most talented machinists to achieve tight-tolerance, economic machined part solutions with short cycle times.

Our ever-evolving CNC turning services utilize automated systems to move components from one spindle to another and perform complete machining processes in one cycle. Our facility operates multiple 2-axis CNC lathes, a 4-axis lathe with pinch turning abilities, and cutting-edge 8- and 9-axis multi-spindle CNC lathes that can turn each end of a workpiece.

A number of our CNC lathes utilize live tooling so that we can mill and turn components using a single machine. This innovative integration lets us tackle projects of varying materials, shape complexities, and more — often using only one setup. With Advanced Industries, your project will benefit from superior operational precision, faster turn times, and lower production costs for high-quality CNC-machined parts created to your exact specifications.

Why partner with Advanced Industries? Contact us to learn more about our ultra-precision CNC turning capabilities, or request a quote today for your next project.