What are the differences between CNC lathes and milling machines?

CNC machine tools appeared as early as the 1940s, when it was the first time to use motors to control the movement of existing tools, thus realizing the milling process. With the emergence and development of computer technology, the ability of analog computer is enhanced, which promotes the rise of CNC machining

According to the different cutting direction and structure mode, CNC machine tools are divided into milling machines and lathes to meet the processing requirements of different curved surfaces

CNC lathe

The lathe is the processing method of workpiece rotation. The fixed longitudinal horizontal tool movement is used to process circles and surfaces. It can be placed outside to turn the axle, placed at the rotation center to drill holes, and placed inside to process the inner wall. The thread can be turned by controlling the rotation linkage of the tool and the workpiece. The larger the tool, the irregular shape can be turned on the shaft

How to select a machine tool?

The lathe is most suitable for manufacturing cylindrical parts. The cross section of the parts must be circular, and the same central shaft must run through its entire length.

The milling machine can process cylindrical features, and can process plane (horizontal plane, vertical plane), groove (keyway, T-shaped groove, dovetail groove, etc.), tooth splitting parts (gear, spline shaft, sprocket, spiral surface (thread, spiral groove) and various curved surfaces on the milling machine. In addition, it can also be used for processing and cutting off the surface and inner hole of the rotary body

But if the part is purely cylindrical, the lathe is a better and more accurate choice

How does CNC machine tool process?

CNC machining process starts from the digital 3D model design of parts, and the design software uses CAD. During the design process, engineers need to render the vision of the part: the 3D shape can be adjusted on the screen as needed, and the software can sometimes simulate to predict how the design works in the real world.

After CAD design is completed, CAM software is used to convert it into a series of instructions of CNC machine, which is called “G code”.

This is because the machine itself cannot understand the 3D shape on the drawing, but it can understand a series of simple instructions. When following these instructions, we can print the 3D shape we want

The G code contains information such as when and where the machine should move, and how fast they should run. The CNC machine guides the machine according to the instructions of the G code so that it can remove material from the appropriate part to make the workpiece.

After all the instructions are followed, a complete part can be obtained. If the car does not roll over, the part is the same as the original design made on the CAD software.

Then the parts can be produced in batches repeatedly according to this procedure