CNC Machining Services

CNC Turning

At a glance

Lifecycle

Visual models (DVT), Fit/feature validation (EVT)

Lead Time

3 days

Tolerance

With drawing: as low as +/- 0.005 mmNo drawing: ISO 2768 medium

Materials

ABS, Acrylic, Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Delrin, HDPE, Nylon, PEEK, Polycarbonate, Polypropylene, PTFE, UHMW, Stainless Steel, Steel

Machines

The Fictiv network connects hundreds of highly vetted CNC machinists across the country. This gives engineers streamlined access to a wide range of 50+ models of CNC Lathe machines, including:

Haas ST-30SSY (live tooling) Akira Seiki SL-30 Doosan LYNX 300
Max Part Size [d, l] 318 x 584 mm 12.5 x 23 in 635 x 864 mm 25 x 24 in 450 x 765 mm 17.7 x 30.1 mm
Spindle Speed 4500 rpms 4,500 rpms 3,500 rpms
Tools 24-station turret 12-station turret 12-station turret

CNC Machining Materials

ABS

Acrylic

Aluminum

Brass

Bronze

Copper

Delrin

HDPE

Nylon

PEEK

Polycarbonate

Polypropylene

PTFE

UHMW

Stainless Steel

Steel

ABS

ABS is a low-cost engineering plastic widely used for pre-injection molding prototypes.
Lead Time:
As fast as 2 days
Colors:
Black, neutral
Price:
$
cnc machining abs plastic part
Download CNC Material Datasheet

Design Recommendations

Hole size

We can drill holes as small as 0.5mm (0.020″) in diameter.

Hole depth

Our maximum drillable hole depth is 12x drill bit diameter.

Feature length

We support features with lengths up to 5x their diameters.

Groove size

Internal and external grooves must be at least 0.4 mm (0.016″) wide.

Cost Saving Tip

To reduce costs, limit the number of part setups, the number of inspection dimensions or tight tolerances, and deep pockets with small radii.

About the Process

For cylindrical parts such as pins, shafts, and spacers, or parts with general rotational symmetry, ‘turning’ them on a lathe is usually the simplest and most cost effective choice. Contrary to a mill, a lathe operates by fixturing cylindrical stock, called a rod, into a rotating chuck jaw on the machine. As this chuck rotates at a high RPM, so does the stock, and a fixed-orientation tool then translates along and across the stock to cut part features.

A CNC lathe equipped with live-tooling has all the capabilities of a standard lathe, but instead of relying solely on stationary tools, it can have rotating cutters such as drills or endmills, allowing for greater machining freedom and the introduction of asymmetrical features into the part without additional fixturing setups.

CNC Turning FAQs

What is a CNC turning center?

A CNC Turning Center performs a turning type operation. CNC lathes, or turning centers, have tooling mounted on a turret which is computer-controlled. CNC Turning is a process in manufacturing where workpieces are rotated as various tools are used to remove material and create the desired shape.

What is the difference between rough turning and finish turning?

Rough turning removes as much material as possible without a focus on accuracy and surface finish, getting the workpiece close to the desired shape. Finish turning “finishes” the process, producing the desired smoothness and accuracy.

What is the difference between CNC turning centers and CNC lathes?

CNC lathes are most often only 2 axis machines with one spindle. They also don’t have high production capabilities and typically don’t have a protective enclosure around the machine. CNC turning centers are more advanced versions of CNC lathes with up to 5 axes and more versatility in cutting ability. They also offer the ability to produce higher volumes and usually integrate milling, drilling, and other capabilities.

What are the benefits of CNC turning?

In addition to using turning tools, a CNC turning center can also be equipped with rotating cutters such as end mills or drills, which allows for greater freedom in machining, such as having the ability to handle asymmetrical features in parts. This increases production speed and efficiency, cost-effectiveness and safer operations. Several aspects of turning that are unique and different from milling, include the ease of achieving radial symmetry, high precision due to mounting part in chuck, and good surface finish.

What parts can be made with CNC turning?

CNC turning is used for creating a variety of parts, including auto parts, knobs, tubes, gears, toy parts, flywheels, crankshafts, hubs & disc cams. It is most often used to manufacture parts for automotive, aerospace, medical, and other industries.

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