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When To Use Turning Operations

Turning Operations
By jbc-admin

At JBC Machine, we work with a wide variety of Original Equipment Manufacturers and companies. In some cases, we work with startup companies with very limited experience in working with contract manufacturers. With other orders, even with established companies, there may be some confusion as to the exact type of machining operation that is ideal for the production of a particular part or component.

One of the most misunderstood options in machining is the use of turning operations. Many people assume that turning is a manual lathe operation, which may be true for some applications. We offer CNC or computer numeric control of our turning processes, which provides precision and accuracy in production to the tolerances required by our customers.

The Basics
All turning operations, both CNC and manually operated processes, are a subcategory of machining. As with all types of machining, they form a particular shape through the removal of material from the workpiece.

In the turning process, the workpiece is set into a fixture in the machine. Then, the workpiece will rotate at a specific high speed. At the same time, a cutting tool that is controlled by the CNC program will make contact with the surface of the rotating workpiece on a specific axis and path.

This, in turn, will create a symmetrical shape on the surface of the workpiece that is an exact replica of the original CAD/CAM drawing that has been loaded into the system. Each unique workpiece created will be an exact copy of the original, which is essential in precision machining operations.

With the use of turning operations, it is possible to create tapers, holes, grooves, steps, contoured surfaces and even threads. Fast, efficient and very precise, this is an ideal option for both original part machining as well as for adding precision shaping to a roughly formed part.

To learn more about the benefits of using turning in part production, contact us at 920-779-4075.

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