Advantages and disadvantages of CNC lathes and CNC milling machines

Compared with traditional machine tools, CNC machine tools have greatly improved production efficiency, precision and material utilization, and CNC technology has been widely used in the machinery production industry.

There are many CNC machine tools on the market. Each CNC machine tool has different operation methods, tools and applicable materials, and their respective uses and advantages and disadvantages are also different.

This article aims to introduce different types of CNC machine tools to let you understand the applicability of different CNC machine tools, so as to choose the machine tool equipment and production method that best suits your needs.

CNC lathe

CNC lathes are usually used to process parts with cylindrical features. By placing the workpiece on the spindle and rotating it, the workpiece and the cutting tool on the lathe are in contact. Drills, taps, reamers, dies, knurling and other tools are cut on the rotating workpiece, and finally produce workpieces with arc edges, radial and axial holes, slots and grooves.

Applicability of CNC lathes:

CNC lathes are very suitable for processing various cylindrical parts. Through the precise control of the tool’s motion trajectory by the CNC system, they can realize the internal and external surface processing of shafts and disks; the processing of cones, arcs, threads, boring holes, reaming holes; and the processing of non-circular curves, etc., which are often used in the automotive, aviation, shipbuilding and other industries.

Advantages and disadvantages of CNC lathes:

Since the processing method of CNC lathes is rotary cutting, its processing accuracy is relatively stable and easy to control, and it is often used to produce various axially symmetrical workpieces; but it has certain limitations in the production of workpieces with complex geometric shapes and asymmetric shapes.

CNC milling machines

CNC machine tools with more than three axes that process blanks into semi-finished finished parts through tool cutting are called CNC milling or CNC machining centers.

CNC milling machines without automatic tool changers are called CNC milling machines, and those with automatic tool changers are called machining centers.

CNC milling machines/machining centers usually process flat and block-shaped three-dimensional parts. They use high-speed rotating cutting tools on the workpiece surface and move along 3, 4 or 5 axes (that is, what we often call 3-axis, 4-axis and full 5-axis machining). They quickly process metals or thermoplastics into complex geometric shapes and precision parts, and achieve cutting or trimming of workpieces by removing materials.

Applicability of CNC milling machines:

CNC milling machines are highly applicable machines. Multi-axis machining enables them to cut various complex patterns and shapes in multi-dimensional space. They are suitable for processing aluminum, steel, composite materials and other materials, and are widely used in mold manufacturing, precision parts and other industries.

Advantages and disadvantages of CNC milling machines:

CNC milling machines just make up for the shortcomings of CNC lathes. Multi-axis machining has unique advantages in the production of multi-dimensional and asymmetric workpieces; but because of multi-dimensional machining, it is more difficult to program and more difficult to grasp the machining accuracy during machining, and it is prone to precision deviation and design problems.