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.

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Video: Two-Spindle Machine Turns and Mills Turbo Housings
7/19/2010 Modern Machine Shop: This five-axis, two-spindle machining center shows how multitasking machines can be used for production applications.
Connecting the Technologies
6/17/2010 Production Machining: This Missouri shop uses new advances in machine to machine communications to achieve its goals of lights out manufacturing and quick changeover.
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6/11/2010 Modern Machine Shop: Hunt and Hunt’s president says adopting turn/mill machines was one of the most challenging endeavors his 55-year-old shop ever undertook. He also says it’s the best thing the shop could have done to become more efficient at contract work.
Making Hire to Retire Work
5/19/2010 Production Machining: This Canadian shop builds its succes around advanced machine tool tecnology, such as turn-mill, and an enlightened approach to employee relations.
Multitasking Turning Center Enables Value-Added Service
5/19/2010 Production Machining: Going the extra mile for customers is something that not all shops take advantage of for one reason or another.