What Is CNC Turning?

CNC turning (lathe machining) is a subtractive process where the workpiece rotates at high speed while a stationary cutting tool removes material along its axis. It is the most efficient way to produce cylindrical or rotationally symmetric parts: shafts, bushings, threaded fasteners, flanges, and turned housings.

Our turning cell includes 2-axis lathes for simple shafts, live-tooling lathes for off-center features, and multi-axis mill-turn centers that combine turning and milling in one setup — eliminating secondary operations and improving concentricity for complex parts.

Turning Capabilities at a Glance

Capability	Specification	Notes
Machine types	2-axis lathes, live-tooling, mill-turn	Up to 8-axis mill-turn available
Max turning diameter	Ø 500 mm	Larger on request
Max turning length	1,200 mm	Bar feeder to 65 mm diameter
Standard tolerance	± 0.05 mm	Per ISO 2768-m
Precision tolerance	± 0.01 mm	For critical diameters and threads
Thread types	Metric, UNC, UNF, BSP, NPT	Internal and external
Surface roughness	Ra 0.8 µm standard	Ra 0.4 µm with fine finishing
Production lead time	2–4 weeks	Scheduled monthly supply available

Materials We Turn

All common metals and engineering plastics. Our bar inventory covers aluminum, brass, copper, mild steel, stainless steel 304/316/17-4PH, and engineering plastics (POM, PEEK, PTFE). Custom alloys and certified mill batches (with traceability) on request.

Common Turned Parts We Make

Drive shafts and motor shafts (with keyways, threads, grooves)
Bushings, sleeves, spacers
Threaded rods, studs, bolts, specialty fasteners
Knurled grips, knobs, hand-adjustment components
Pneumatic and hydraulic fittings
Sensor housings and instrument bodies (mill-turn)

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use turning vs. milling?

Use turning for parts that are mostly rotationally symmetric — shafts, bushings, threaded parts. Use milling for prismatic or box-shaped parts. If your part is a hybrid (off-center holes, cross-drilled features, flats on a shaft), our mill-turn centers handle it in a single setup with better accuracy than separate turning + milling.

What tolerances can turning hold?

Standard turned tolerances are ±0.05mm. On critical diameters, threads and concentric features we routinely hold ±0.01mm. The exact tolerance for your part is reviewed during DFM and stated in the quote.

Can you produce long shaft parts?

Yes. Our largest lathe handles parts up to 1,200mm long. For longer parts we suggest a center-driven approach or split machining — we will advise during DFM.

Do you support small batches and prototypes?

Yes. We have no MOQ. Prototype quantities of 1–10 pieces are common, and we can ramp to monthly production of 10,000+ without changing fixtures.

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