Metal Cutting

Turn/Mill & Multitasking 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.

» The Five Levels of Multitasking

Featured Zone Content

May 2011

Multitasking is Multiple Choice


Different levels of multitasking machine tools address different types of parts.

June 2009
Parts

A One Stop Shop


 Combining flexible manufacturing with volume production capability helps this shop cover all the bases.



June 2013

Taking on Bigger, More Complex Work with Multitasking Machines

By: Modern Machine Shop
Using multitasking machines, Hartman Enterprises was able to increase its part-processing capabilities by taking on more jobs involving larger sized multitasking work.

June 2013

Consolidating CAM Software Cuts Programming Time

By: Lori Beckman (editor)
At Trillium Machine Inc., there’s no room for thinking within the comfy confines of “the box,” working in the “comfort zone,” or refusing to try the untried. 

June 2013

Mazak Event Targets Aerospace, Medical

By: Chris Felix
While in the area for EASTEC last month, I attended Mazak Corporation’s “Discover More with Mazak” event at its Northeast Technology Center in Windsor Locks, Conn. The 3-day event highlighted a lineup of the company’s manufacturing systems.

May 2013

Shop Grows its Multitasking Operations

By: Chris Felix
Here's a look at what this shop's expanded multitasking capabilities have meant to its success and how it plans to continue building momentum.

April 2013

Multitasking Benefits a Process in Many Ways

By: Lori Beckman
Multitask machining is the ability to perform various manufacturing operations unattended, without moving the part to other machines.


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