Overview Of:
Turn/Mill Machines

Turn/Mill Machines are machines that are capable of both rotating-workpiece operations (turning) and rotating-tool operations (namely milling and drilling). Generally these machines are based on lathes. The machine is typically recognizable as a horizontal or vertical lathe, with spindles for milling and drilling simply available at some or all of the tool positions. With a machine such as this, a part requiring a variety of operations can be machined in one setup, particularly if a subspindle allows the part to be passed from one spindle to another during machining. More recently introduced turn/mill machines depart from the lathe design into something much more like a hybrid machine—combining a lathe’s chucks and spindles with the travels and milling power of a machining center. One of the most significant issues with these types of machines in general is figuring out just which parts to run on them. Many shops have discovered that, even though these machines developed from lathes, they are not necessarily limited to round parts. Various non-round parts can be machined on the same platform as efficiently, if not more efficiently, than on a machining center.

Zone: Turn/Mill Machines

Applying Turn-Milling

Combining a rotating tool with rotating work produces a machining operation that is distinct from standard turning or milling.

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Cylinder Head Porting On A Turn/Mill Machine

This complex milling operation is performed effectively on a machine that does turning.

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Most Recent Content in this Zone:

Machining Reimagined As A Lean Resource
12/21/2009 Modern Machine Shop

It was a bold move for this company to install four new machine tools, including two turn-mills, at one time, but it was the only way to take the lean journey to a higher level.

A New Breed Of Turn-Mill Center
10/20/2009 Production Machining

The turn-mill center continues to evolve its capabilities. This new machine machine from Index is an example.

Turn-Mill Machines Turn a Shop's Situation Around
10/19/2009 Production Machining

It often takes seeing a machine in action to conjure up a solution to a shop’s problem. This was the case for Steve Walters, an engineer at TriContinent Scientific Inc.

CNC Turning Technology Protects Craftsmanship
7/16/2009 Modern Machine Shop

The consistency and efficiency provided by SNK's Prodigy GT-27 Gang-Tool Lathe enabled this manufacturer of custom, high-end flutes to concentrate more on craftsmanship and less on trivial tasks.

Turn-Mill Turns Flexibility From Vision To Reality
7/16/2009 Modern Machine Shop

A change in focus to lower-volume jobs led this manufacturer to sell its multi-axis screw machine and seek a new, flexible process to avoid tying up its traditional mills and lathes. DMG’s CTX 310ECO V3 turn-mill has helped the shop improve productivity and part quality while reducing labor costs.

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