Differences Between a CNC Lathe and CNC Mill | APEC USA

08 Jul.,2024

 

Differences Between a CNC Lathe and CNC Mill | APEC USA

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A CNC lathe and CNC mill are two of the most important machines for custom fabrication and machining services. These machines are the mainstays for many machine shops, and many jobs cannot be completed without these machines. The CNC lathe and CNC mill are similar and can complete many similar projects, but there are important differences between them as well. Let&#;s take a closer look at these important machines.

Differences Between a CNC Lathe and CNC Mill

What is CNC Machining?

First, what is CNC machining? CNC machining is a subtractive process, which means that the machine starts with a solid piece of metal (or sometimes plastic or other materials) and cuts away pieces to create a shape. Both CNC mills and CNC lathes are subtractive CNC machines. This differs from additive manufacturing, which adds material to create a shape. 3D printing is one type of additive manufacturing.

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, this means that the lathe and mill both use a computer control system to make precise cuts and create exact shapes. A CNC machine uses a digital plan to tell the machine what cuts to make, where to make them, and how to do it. This requires an operator&#;s help, but once the machine is set up, it can usually work independently. Though lathes and mills have been used for hundreds of years to create essential items, CNC machining makes this process much faster, safer, and more efficient than the traditional lathes and mills used many years ago.

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What is the Difference Between a CNC Lathe and CNC Mill?

Both a CNC lathe and a CNC mill use a digital, pre-programmed plan to create an object from a piece of metal, plastic, or other materials. CNC milling and CNC turning, which is done on a CNC lathe, are similar processes, but they have some differences, and each machine is ideal for particular parts.

The main difference between a CNC lathe and a CNC mill is the way the machine and the part rotate. A CNC lathe rotates the workpiece or bar stock against the cutting tools to make a shape. By contrast, in a CNC mill, the cutting tools rotate around the bar stock. This difference is subtle, yet they allow each machine to create particular objects or make particular cuts with speed and efficiency.

What Do CNC Lathes and CNC Mills Make?

The subtle differences in functionality between a CNC lathe and a CNC mill make each machine ideal for different parts. A CNC lathe is ideal for conical or cylindrical pieces, while a CNC mill can work with more complex shapes. A CNC mill can create flat surfaces as needed, make deeper holes, and make pockets, planes, grooves, or edges. A CNC lathe usually creates shapes, parts or objects that are mostly uniform across the conical or cylindrical surface, such as screws, shafts, knobs, disc cams, or crankshafts.

Types of CNC Lathes and CNC Mills

There are many different types of CNC lathes and CNC mills. The speed of the lathe or mill, the metals or plastics that it can work with, the size of the object it can produce, how accurate or precise it is, and the type of cuts that it can make all differ by machine. The type of part or item you are working with may work better on some CNC machines than others.

For simple components or products, a machine with a high level of precision or complexity might simply add unnecessary costs. However, if your parts or components have very tight tolerances, they&#;re made from very tough metals, or they are very complex, a more advanced CNC machine will probably do the job best.

What Materials do CNC Lathes and CNC Mills Work With?

CNC lathes and mills usually use metal bar stock to shape a part or item. Most commonly, this is some type of aluminum or steel, though it can also include many other metals, such as brass, copper alloys, or alloys containing high nickel, titanium, or carbon. Other CNC lathes and mills may also work with different types of plastic or wood as well.

How easily a CNC machine can work with a metal or another material depends on several factors. The material&#;s hardness, flexibility, melting point, conductivity, and other properties may play a role in the machining process. Some CNC lathes or mills are not designed to work with very tough metals. Some metals will crack or bend more easily, and machines designed for very tough metals might not be effective. It&#;s also important to consider the cost of the metals, and what you need the part or item to accomplish. Aluminum, for example, is easy to machine and highly affordable, but it might not work well for parts that will be subjected to intense stress, corrosion, or temperature extremes.

How Can You Choose the Right CNC Machine?

Your machine shop or fabrication facility can tell you more about the metals that they work with, machine tolerances, and the level of complexity their machines are capable of. It&#;s also helpful to ask about design files and how to simplify a design to reduce costs. Take a look at the custom fabrication guide to learn more about machining services at APEC, or contact us to get a quote.

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Difference between CNC Lathe and CNC Milling

Difference between CNC Lathe and CNC Milling

What are CNC Mills and CNC Lathe Machines?

Milling and Lathe Turning are fundamentally similar processes that use subtractive manufacturing to create the desired output. However, they differ in process. While CNC milling involves holding the source block of material steady while the tools move to cut it into shape, the CNC lathe process involves holding the tools steady while the block is moved to get the desired output. Let us understand the difference between CNC Mills and CNC Lathes in detail.

Difference between CNC Lathe and CNC Milling

We all have used duct tape or at least seen someone use it. If you need a piece of tape, you can pull out as much as you need, hold it steady, and use a pair of scissors to cut at the desired length. On the other hand, you can use a duct tape cutter where you pull the tape up to the desired length and then tug at it sharply for a stationary blade to cut through. This is the simplest way to explain the difference between a CNC Lathe and CNC Mill. The primary difference between a CNC Milling Process and CNC Lathe Process is the way the part and machine rotate.
  1. CNC Lathe &#; rotates the part or material against fixed cutting/shaping tools
  2. CNC Mill &#; keep the material stationary and rotate the cutting/shaping tools around it
While the difference is subtle, it allows them to create specific objects. A CNC Conventional Lathe is good for creating objects that are symmetrical and uniform across a cylindrical or conical surface. Some examples are knobs, disc cams, crankshafts, screws, etc. CNC Milling helps create flat surfaces, create pockets and grooves, and drill deep holes across a wide range of objects.

Which One Should You Opt For?

CNC Mills and CNC Manufacturing Lathes are ideal for different outputs. Hence, to choose the right option for your needs, it is important to consider your requirements and analyze the design carefully.

Conclusion

While Also Read: What is FDM 3D Printing technology?

Milling and Lathe Turning are fundamentally similar processes that use subtractive manufacturing to create the desired output. However, they differ in process. While CNC milling involves holding the source block of material steady while the tools move to cut it into shape, the CNC lathe process involves holding the tools steady while the block is moved to get the desired output. Let us understand the difference between CNC Mills and CNC Lathes in detail.We all have used duct tape or at least seen someone use it. If you need a piece of tape, you can pull out as much as you need, hold it steady, and use a pair of scissors to cut at the desired length. On the other hand, you can use a duct tape cutter where you pull the tape up to the desired length and then tug at it sharply for a stationary blade to cut through. This is the simplest way to explain the difference between a CNC Lathe and CNC Mill. The primary difference between a CNC Milling Process and CNC Lathe Process is the way the part and machine rotate.While the difference is subtle, it allows them to create specific objects. A CNC Conventional Lathe is good for creating objects that are symmetrical and uniform across a cylindrical or conical surface. Some examples are knobs, disc cams, crankshafts, screws, etc. CNC Milling helps create flat surfaces, create pockets and grooves, and drill deep holes across a wide range of objects.CNC Mills and CNC Manufacturing Lathes are ideal for different outputs. Hence, to choose the right option for your needs, it is important to consider your requirements and analyze the design carefully. Phillips Machine Tools offers a range of tools to help you leverage the power of CNC Machining into your operations. For Milling and Lathe Turning machines, we have partnered with one of the top industry leaders in CNC Manufacturing. HAAS CNC. We also offer CNC machine pairing with additive manufacturing tools and robotics and provide training to help users use these machines to their utmost capacities.While CNC Milling machines offer a wider range of tools for cutting and shaping, CNC Lathes are ideal for cylindrical objects. Make sure that you assess your production needs and choose one accordingly.

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