CNC Lathe Machine – Types, Comparison, Operation in Detail

Have you ever got an opportunity to use a CNC lathe machine in your life? Often, students work on a lathe machine during their college years in the workshop sessions. And the mechanical stream people get an opportunity to work on a lathe machine throughout their career. For all those readers who don’t have any association with mechanical stream might not have any idea about this type of mechanical device. But there is no point of worrying as we have explained in detail about this wood lathe CNC machine, its types, and operation. Apart from this, we have also made a comparison between different types of lathe machines and mentioned the complete detail on choosing the right lathe for a particular work.

All About CNC Lathe Machine

A lathe is a machine that is used in order to cut a given workpiece into a symmetrical object by removing the excess material from it, while rotating it on a spindle, with the use of cutting tools and drill bits. Such machines are used to produce different shapes according to different requirements by placing a given object on a rotating object. In the case of a CNC lathe machine, it is possible for a machinist to cut tough materials into different shapes by programming a machine. Below, we have mentioned the types of CNC lathes in detail.

Horizontal CNC Lathes

In the case of the CNC horizontal lathe machine, the horizontal-configured lathes are used. Under this, a workpiece is rotated cylindrically and tooling shapes help to cut away excess materials from it. Horizontal CNC lathe machines are suitable to use for smaller workpieces that are placed in a vertical position because this category of lathe machines take more space for operations. In addition to this, lighter materials are used in horizontal lathes because of the effect to reduce the gravitational pull of the object. If an operator doesn’t take into account this thing then it may result in damaging the part of a machine.

Vertical CNC Lathes

Vertical CNC lathes require less space in comparison to horizontal lathes and in this type of lathe, the workpiece is rotated upright to allow the spindle to cut hard materials at different angles. Mostly large workpieces are inserted into this type of vertical CNC lathes to create the desired shape. As gravity also supports the vertical design of the machine, it helps to keep the workpiece stable during the entire process. This simply contributes to ensuring the steady movements of spindle and helps to ensure highly accurate cutting. However, the cost of operating the vertical CNC lathes is more in comparison to the horizontal CNC lathes.

Selecting the Appropriate Lathe Machine

Buying a CNC lathe machine requires a lot of care and one must take into consideration certain things in order to execute this process. The following are the points that one needs to take into account while choosing a lathe machine for a given operation.

  • High-Quality Clamps – It is important for you to buy a CNC lathe machine with high-quality clamps. This is necessary to keep the workpiece steady while the excess materials are being removed by the tooling. In addition to this, the use of high-quality clamps also helps to ensure accurate measurements.
  • Tolerance Power – Always choose a lathe machine with a high tolerance power as it will prevent you from performing finished operations time and again while completing a piece.

Comparison

  • Cost – Horizontal lathes are less expensive in comparison to vertical lathes.
  • Type of Workpiece – Horizontal lathes are suitable to use for smaller workpieces whereas vertical lathes are capable of handling heavy workpieces easily.
  • Space – Vertical lathes have more space and this makes them suitable for larger pieces of workpieces. While it is better to use horizontal lathes for small pieces of workpieces.

In a nutshell, we can conclude that each type of lathes has its own advantages and disadvantages. Hence, it is better to choose a lathe machine based on the business requirement of any unit. There are certainly other factors that play an important role when it comes to selecting the right CNC machine for any operation. Hence, one should consult the advice of an expert before purchasing a certain type of lathe machine.