CNC LATHE

CNC machines are computer controlled, just like any other CNC machine tools. It can be programmed to do a variety of things such as drilling, cutting, grinding. CNC lathe wood or metal, depending on which project you’re doing. This machine can help reduce your production time and increase your business profitability in the end and is operated using different code series for example the G and M codes.

Figure 1- CNC lathe machine

Operators need to program the machine needed for the production of the products and the materials are loaded into the machine specifications. Machining is done with respect to the X and Y axis and this is a great use if we want several same products, the same size and the shape of lot of decorations. The computer software program continues to operate the machine, in circles of rotations until the required specifications have been reached.

CNC machine codes:-

• M00 - Program stop; Mill and Lathe

• M01 - Optional program stop; Lathe and Mill

• M02 - Program end; Lathe and Mill

• M03 - Spindle on clockwise; Lathe and Mill

• M04 - Spindle on counterclockwise; Lathe and Mill

• M05 - Spindle off; Lathe and Mill

• M06 - Toolchange; Mill

• M08 - Coolant on; Lathe and Mill

• M09 - Coolant off; Lathe and Mill

• M10 - Chuck or rotary table clamp; Lathe and Mill

• M11 - Chuck or rotary table clamp off; Lathe and Mill

• M19 - Orient spindle; Lathe and Mill

• M30 - Program end, return to start; Lathe and Mill

• M97 - Local sub-routine call; Lathe and Mill

• M98 - Sub-program call; Lathe and Mill

• M99 - End of sub program; Lathe and Mill

Some 'G' codes include:-

• G00 positioning (rapid traverse)

• G01 linear interpolation (feed)

• G02 circular interpolation CW

• G03 circular interpolation CCW G04 dwell

• G07 imaginary axis designation

As shown above, these are the 'M' codes and some 'G' codes used as commands, to operate a CNC lathe machine and guide it to perform specific tasks. They are inserted one after the other, in the order in which the processes are to be performed, by a skilled operator.

CNC Lathe Components:-

Figure 2- CNC lathe components.

1 - Protective housing that contain cutting chips and capture coolant for recycling.

2 - The door is used to protect us from any dangerous material approaching outside.

3 - The spindle is attached at one end the machine drive system. The other end attaches the chuck, which grips the part using hard jaws, soft jaws or collect. The most common used configuration is three jaw chuck.

4 - The turret holds and moves the tools. Tools are bolted to the turret using a variety of specialized holders, depending on the type of tool.

5 - The CNC control used to operate the machine.

Sub-components of a Turret:-

Turret also consists of many sub-components and some of them are as follows:-

Figure 3- Sub-components of a turret..

1 - Tool Station

The turret is divided into stations evenly spaced around the perimeter. Most common turrets have about 10 tool stations.

2 - Tool Block

Tool blocks act as the interface between the tool holder and the turret.

3 - Turn Tool

Turning tools, which includes face, OD rough and finish, groove and cutoff, are usually mounted radially with respect to the part.

4 - Face Groove Tool

Face groove tools are mounted axially from the part.

5 - Turret

The turret holds and moves the tools. To change tools, the turret unlocks, rotates to present the active tool to the work piece, and then locks again.

6 - Boring Bar

A boring bar is used to create a precision size and finish hole through the bore of the part. These are mounted axially with the spindle.

7 - Live Tool (Radial Mount)

A "live tool" is a tool that rotates, radially mounted live tools are used for cross drilling or milling on the diameter of the part.

8 - Live Tool (Axial Mount)

Axial mounted live tools mill or drill on the face of the part.

Bibliography:-

Text:-

HSMWorks. 2015. HSMWorks. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.hsmworks.com/docs/cncbook/en/#Ch08_LatheComponents. [Accessed 28 December 2015].

MachineMate Inc - Full List of CNC Codes. 2015. MachineMate Inc - Full List of CNC Codes. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.machinemate.com/FullListCodes.htm. [Accessed 28 November 2015].

Images:-

Figure 1- CNC Machining Lab, CNC Lathe Machine. Available at: http://www.marincnc.com/cnc-lathe-machine-uses-and-different-models/. [Accessed 25 November 2015]

Figure 2- HSM WORKS, CNC Lathe Components. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/global-cnc-lathe-market-2015-industry-analysis-trends-deshmukh. [Accessed 25 November 2015].

Figure 3- HSM WORKS, Sub-components of a turret. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/global-cnc-lathe-market-2015-industry-analysis-trends-deshmukh. [Accessed 25 November 2015].