If you work with old-fashioned lathes regularly, it may be time to consider upgrading to used CNC lathes. CNC lathe machines can be pretty pricey when you buy them brand-new, but they are much more affordable when you purchase used models. CNC lathe machines are growing in popularity because they can help you save time while gaining increased accuracy during production.
How CNC Lathes Work
The term “CNC” refers to Computer Numerical Control. A CNC lathe is one that uses computerized technology to create very precise cutting designs. The material to be cut is clamped to the CNC machine by a main spindle, which rotates the project and allows a mounted cutting tool to cut through the material. All cuts are specified by a computer that delivers information to the machine. The entire process is automated and removes much of the possibility for human error.
CNC lathes are frequently used to machine a variety of parts. They work best when used for parts that have symmetry around an axis. Since the CNC lathes use extremely fast spinning needles, they are highly desirable for companies that need to produce a lot of parts in a short period of time.
CNC lathes are commonly used in a wide range of industries, including:
- Woodturning
- Metal spinning
- Part reclamation
- Thermal spraying
- Metalworking
These machines can be used to create anything from baseball bats to musical instruments. Their applications are extremely diverse, which is why they are perfect for so many different industries and businesses. If you could use a CNC lathe to create parts for your own business or to create parts to sell to other businesses, you may want to start by finding a used CNC lathe for sale. Buying a used lathe can save you a lot of money while still giving you access to a reliable machine that will serve your intended purposes.
Different Types of CNC Lathes
There are a variety of CNC lathes available for purchase. To make sure you get the right type of lathe for your needs, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the different types and how they work. There are typically three different standards used to classify various lathes.
- Work requirements: Lathes categorized by work requirements include speed lathes, turret lathes, tool room lathes and engine lathes.
- Number of axes: Lathes can come with 2, 3, 4 or 5 axes.
- Lathe spindle position: Vertical CNC lathes have a spindle that’s perpendicular to the horizontal, while horizontal CNC lathes can be divided into slant guideway and flat guide rail categories.
When shopping for a used lathe, it’s important to keep these differentiating standards in mind. Determine what standards are most important to you so you can find a lathe that’s ideal for your professional purposes.
CNC Lathe Parts
Different types of CNC lathes may have slightly different parts. However, every CNC lathe is composed of the following basic parts:
- Main spindle
- Machine bed
- Sub-spindle
- Guideway
- Chuck
- Tailstock
- Headstock
- Monitor
- Tool turret
- Drive motor
- Carriage
- Control panel
You should become familiar with each of these parts and how they work if you plan to purchase a CNC lathe. The more you understand about its parts, the easier it will be for you to troubleshoot any problems that may arise when you operate the machine.
How a CNC Lathe Can Help Your Business
Owning a CNC lathe machine can benefit your business and your bottom line in a variety of ways. These machines are designed to protect against losses. Here are a few additional benefits to using a CNC lathe machine.
- Produces precise parts, unlike the natural variations that occur when using manual production methods.
- Can be put to work continuously to meet deadlines, while manual production methods require you to allow workers to take frequent breaks. Only occasional maintenance services need to be performed on continuously operating CNC lathes.
- Requires less labor to operate, which means you pay less to employ people.
- Produces parts of practically any size or shape.
- Updates automatically to include the latest and greatest technological advancements.
- Requires very little maintenance except for replacing cutting implements occasionally.
- Eliminates problems often associated with manual machining, including employee illness, vacation time and staffing shortages.
- Has the ability to do things many skilled engineers can’t do.
- Accepts precise specification and design information from software programs.
If you’ve been looking for ways to ramp up production while reducing your costs and risks of error, a CNC lathe is what you need. CNC machining applications are practically endless, which means you can offer a wider selection of products and parts than you currently offer.
If you still have any doubts about how beneficial a CNC lathe can be for your business, check with your business buddies and friends to see if they have one you can try. Once you see how easy it is to operate such a machine and how impressive its capabilities and accuracy are, you’ll probably want to get one for yourself as soon as possible. You can find affordable used CNC lathes at Premier Equipment, Inc. Contact us today!
