The Secrets of Efficient CNC Lathe Machining Revealed Here

In CNC lathes and turning centers, in order to improve accuracy, it is important to consider different manufacturing processes, such as burrs, extrusion direction, fluctuations in caliper readings, positioning pins for turning, and so on. No shop owner or CNC lathe operator wants to see parts damage and scrap at the end of CNC lathe machining.

Although the combination of the right technology and the right tools can complete the job on time, other variables should be considered before reaching the finishing stage. In this article we share some tips and tricks with you on how to get the best CNC lathe machining finishes.

Efficient CNC Lathe Machining Starts with the Design

Before the actual machining process, you need to design the workpiece. Here, you can lay the foundation for efficient CNC lathe machining. Here are some basic design tips.

• Avoid designs that require additional machining
  Unnecessary CNC lathe machining will prolong the manufacturing process and delivery time and directly lead to the increase of production costs. Try to simplify the design and avoid additional processing, such as cutting off the remaining material. It is more efficient to cut out the required parts from the block.
• Avoid small text and too complicated features
  Custom CNC machining parts may require some text or markings, such as serial numbers, company logos, special signs, etc. Adding text will definitely increase the cost. The smaller the text and the more complex the marking, the higher the cost and the longer the running time. Try to apply larger text within the allowed range. Also, choose recessed text instead of protruding text. The CNC lathe machining process will remove the material to achieve the desired result, which is faster. To design CNC parts according to the functions of machine tools and cutting tools, it is best to use the advantages of the equipment to maximize efficiency. Avoid using functions that cannot be produced or take a long time, otherwise the final product will not be obtained and a lot of manpower and material resources will be wasted. Unnecessary aesthetic features should also be abandoned.
• Try to reduce the amount of custom unique tolerances and too tiny features
  Too small or too large tolerances will only increase processing time. In fact, many CNC parts do not require unique tolerances. Different CNC machines have common standard tolerances. If you are not sure about the tolerance, please use the standard value of the size. Unless necessary, try not to specify tolerances. Some parts are designed with small internal corners or recesses for assembly or weight reduction, but if the small recessed corners and square corners are too small, some machines have the smallest tool diameter, which means that features smaller than the diameter will be difficult to machine. Multiple cutting tools are required for CNC lathe machining on the corner material, so the processing time will be changed. Avoid too small corners and try to increase the radius when designing the inner edge. This is also a technique to reduce tool wear and increase cutting speed.

Tips for Efficient CNC Lathe Machining Operations

Setting fine serrated upper jaws in a CNC lathe power chuck is a common challenge. The 1mm serration can easily extract a tooth and center it on the blank. In addition, it is difficult to measure the three jaws and set them in the middle of the jaw stroke. I made a special label with basic dimensions engraved on it, so I can quickly set the jaws within the diameter range and hit all the serrations with the same radius. It cost just five dollars and spent a little time carving on the mill. Make sure to thoroughly clean the jaws where these labels are applied before performing your CNC lathe machining job. When reinstalling the upper jaw, get in the habit of removing fine serrations from the jaw with a scraper.

When spinning tricky plastics, try to turn off the constant cutting speed. Manually controlling the cutting speed can better control the filamentary chips. CNC lathes chip control can be a significant barrier to the unattended manufacturing of some types of plastics. By slowing down the spindle speed or increasing the feed rate to thicken the chips, you will raise the chip load. Often even basic tasks such as turning off the coolant will help to monitor the chips during CNC lathe machining.

:: Read more : The Secrets of efficient CNC Lathe Machining revealed here

Bar Pulling Machining on a CNC Lathe

Sometimes, when the manufacturer does not provide a flat surface on the tool, it is difficult to align the boring bar with the axis and centerline of the machine tool. To solve this problem, face the end of the setting bar and dim it with a marker. Then use a turning tool to draw a tenth or two deep lines along the turret axis. This line is located very accurately in the center and is angularly aligned with the X axis of the turret. It allows you to twist the boring strips into a ball, and there is something to make the cutting edges line up neatly. You can use a mirror to align the tool upside down with the specified centerline. This will improve your CNC lathe machining efficency.

After setting up and using the tool, do yourself a favor: at least report the X-axis offset on the storage tube, or directly on the instrument, when extracting the instrument from the lathe. The next time you use the app, this will speed up the tool's initialization. The offset is not perfect, but it can be compensated very closely.

For all external boring tools, add a backstop screw that rests on the turret. If the bracket is taken out of the machine, this will allow me to maintain an accurate X offset during CNC lathe machining. In the next setup of the tool, keep the X offset.

For tie rod operations during CNC lathe machining, it is best to make the spindle bushing close to your original size. I made a single-spindle bushing, which fell into the headstock. They use common off-the-shelf pipes and pipe sizes. Next time your cutting order is less than the minimum cutting order, let the water jet or laser cutting machine pull out a bunch of blank discs. Throw them on the shelf and the next time you need a special liner diameter, half of the work has been done. Break a piece of test tube into shape and weld the disc.After a few quick welds, you have a cheap spindle bushing that can meet the needs of the strange ball size you need to run.

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